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Is Retirement All It Is Cracked Up To Be

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Cherryann01
Just some thoughts of mine on retirement or the thought of retirement, in the Philippines or any other country including your home country.Is it really all it is cracked up to be. We work most of our adult lives, busting are arses to make enough money to support ourselves and our families, maybe end up divorced and loosing a good proportion of our hard earned cash in the divorce settlement, do not have that much time for fun and leisure activities and then you reach retirement age.

All of a sudden you have more time, lots more time to enjoy life but lets be honest, your not in your 30's or 40's anymore so if you are lucky all you have is a few minor aches and pains when you wake up in the morning. Your slower, have less stamina and it takes you longer to recover from any physical activity and at our age that includes just putting your trousers on. Or maybe you have asthma, high blood pressure or high cholesterol and a few prescribed meds a day. Even worse you may have had heart conditions, strokes or other major health issues.

So now we have all the time in the world to enjoy ourselves and take part in our favourite leisure activities but can we? We hurt our back when swinging a golf club or tennis racket, we are out of breath quicker and at our age, we cannot be too far from a toilet because we go more. If we want to go abroad on holiday, with all our ailments, the travel insurance costs about half the cost of the holiday, If we want do do any adventure activities, the insurance premium goes up especially for pensioners and let us be honest, having a shower at the age of 80 can be classed as an extreme sport for us. We need to pay for extra baggage just to accommodate the weight of our pills. inhalers and other prescribed medication and we eventually need help just to walk up the steps onto the plane and if our memory has gone, we cannot even remember what our suitcase looks like on the baggage carousel.

If we retire abroad we need to spend shed loads of cash on our prescribed medication, when it is free on the NHS in England. Our medication is harder to find especially in countries like the Philippines, we need to stand in line after line to process documentation while our bladders are saying I need the toilet and like we know from another topic on here, if we need a No2, better bring wipes or toilet paper. The food is not what we are used to so again back to carrying wet wipes or toilet paper, we need to pay ridiculous amounts of money for western comforts, including food and we may have to rely on a medical facility that is not up to western standards.

I guess what I am really trying to say here is that I admire the younger folks on this forum who have or will take the decision to move to the Philippines while they are still fit and healthy. These are the folks who can truly enjoy themselves and are fit enough to do so.

The end result though is just about the same, a cremation or hole in the ground looks much the same in any country and it will come to us all one day.
Harbred6051
I ditto those thoughts! Happy Retirement.....
Guest9272
@Cherryann01

Very insightful thoughts. They're definitely worth considering.

Health and comfort is a big one. I've heard a few stories about guys who threw caution to the wind, moved to the Philippines, lived like 20-year-olds, and when it all went "pear-shaped" with health, they ended up in a sad situation. One guy in particular was a close friend who would have lasted longer if he'd stayed away from the Tanduay. It didn't help that the folk around him had insufficient medical knowledge, and no budget to get him to a proper hospital when he needed. He had a stroke, and would have lived/recovered with timely care. Instead, we now drop by to visit his young widow, struggling to run their resto-bar.

The best thought-through retirement plan I've heard (which informs my current plan) comes from a Singaporean-Chinese pharmacist, who I worked with for 4 years. Kok Hui is one of the most sensible and methodical people I think I've meant. Briefly, he left Singapore as a young man, studied and worked in New Zealand for 20 years (became a citizen), and then worked another 10 years earning a tax-free salary in the Middle East. He never married (or got divorced), nor had kids. Just a quiet unassuming type - probably gay (I didn't ask, don't care). He retired to Malaysia where it's affordable and safe, living off his savings, has several close friends, and lives in a beautiful apartment overlooking the harbor at Port Dickson. He locks up and leaves for 2 months at a time while he travels. His health is excellent because he eats leaves, walks everywhere and does yoga.

But...here's the thing. His retirement plan extends to relocating back to New Zealand in another 10-15 years ,when he can no longer afford his healthcare, and he has been contributing to his NZ pension.

If only I could do it all again...I'd have included more of these elements.
Lotus Eater
According to surveys on 'Happiness' retired people are often at the high end of the scale. How do you define the word? : contentment, piece of mind, less stress, out of the rat race - you choose. For sure health plays a big part and becomes the Joker in the pack after 60.

Specific to the Philippines the two vloggers I follow Paul & Mark in Dumaguete have less stress and more contentment than they ever had Stateside. I don't doubt them on this as their vlogs pull no punches on the downside of life in their adopted country. There is a dichotomy at play as both these guys main income stream is from their US pension. They had relatively minor savings on arrival and both guys had been through traumatic divorces with not a dime to show for their hard work over the previous decades.

Mark (Every Man Has A Story) has had a quadruple by-pass. Who knows, with his state of mind before coming to the Philippines he may not be alive today if he'd stayed.
If the worst happens (God forbid) and he does not get proper hospital treatment in time at least he has passed away with a smile on his face.
Cherryann01

@Lotus Eater I am liking the post not the bloggers health issues by the way

coach53
For once I "have to" agree with Lotus Eater!!!  :)

Typical CherryAnn to think that much at the negative parts.
Yes, body isnt as when young, BUT there are so much POSITIVE ADDED when reaching retirement age (as "westerner")
not needing to bother/worry about earning money anymore
IF stressed before, then can skip that too
and get a lot of TIME, which can be used for fun/interesting things, which it wasnt enough time for before retirement.
(E g my father after retirement organiced and played league boccia, exersised working dogs, competed in regional quiz competitions - not the ones walking in park  :)  -  and started playing in as music band together with some retired profesionals (my father had only been semiprofesional as young.)
mugteck
Retiring anywhere beats the hell out of working full time.  I get to read all the books I ever wanted to read, never felt like doing reading after working 8 to 10 hours 6 days a week.  I can watch any sports at any time, I am on MY schedule.  Can travel anywhere at any time.  We really enjoyed spending 6 months in the Philippines and 6 months traveling and being in the USA May to October.  Looking forward to getting back to that schedule post Covid pandemic.  Get all our healthcare through Medicare Advantage in the USA,  get our teeth cleaned in the Philippines.
kristopherryanwatson

@mugteck

All of this is possible even if you do work. You just need to design your life around a business of some kind that rewards you with great work/life balance.

unfortunately older generations arent fully aware of these possibilities that are provided thanks to the birth of new business ideas that can be built and run online from the comfort of being in front of a laptop in your favorite boxers on the couch.




coach53

@mugteck
All of this is possible even if you do work. You just need to design your life around a business of some kind that rewards you with great work/life balance.

unfortunately older generations arent fully aware of these possibilities that are provided thanks to the birth of new business ideas that can be built and run online from the comfort of being in front of a laptop in your favorite boxers on the couch.

- @kristopherryanwatson
Well. Partly correct.
I have worked "at distance"  ( =from home)  almost all the time since 1978 so long before internet,
BUT undependimg of technology work take some time   :)
PalawOne
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Retirement .. the best time of life 1f495.svg
coach53
"The goal is to build a life that you dont need vacation from"

Yes. I got that after I had sold the business with employees, some to much to do sometimes. In the new I got only myself to keep order of  :)
At same time I moved to nice nature far from neighbours, just needed to open the door to be as at as vacation.  And all work in new was from home. When ok weather then I sat and worked at veranda and got close visits such as deers, fox and once a moose bull.
OR I went sailing/canoeing /tennis when nice weather and worked when raining   :)
Cherryann01
For once I "have to" agree with Lotus Eater!!!  smile.png

Typical CherryAnn to think that much at the negative parts.
Yes, body isnt as when young, BUT there are so much POSITIVE ADDED when reaching retirement age (as "westerner")
not needing to bother/worry about earning money anymore
IF stressed before, then can skip that too
and get a lot of TIME, which can be used for fun/interesting things, which it wasnt enough time for before retirement.
(E g my father after retirement organiced and played league boccia, exersised working dogs, competed in regional quiz competitions - not the ones walking in park  smile.png  -  and started playing in as music band together with some retired profesionals (my father had only been semiprofesional as young.)
- @coach53

It is called being realistic Coach. You, I and everybody out there were dressed, bathed and had our backsides wiped for us when we were young and incapable of doing these things. If we live too long, the same will happen again and there is nothing we can do to stop it.

But since you mentioned something about looking at the negatives and not the positives, I guess I won't be the one worrying about carrying toilet roll or wet wipes any more and by the time anybody gets to that age, who will care if they crap themselves.
pnwcyclist
Sorry but I agree with Coach and others on this one. Your post was so negative.. many stereotypes and generalizations.. We all have to create the life we want and find our happiness. And then set the priorites to get there.  In my case, that meant retiring at 57, even though it meant I would never be rich, and getting more healthy - because it was my priority. I met my GF when I was 59, so almost eight years together. I find this period of my life to be awesome. Better than every preceding decade.

I'm in my mid 60's now and am not on any meds yet, excepting the occasional use of an inhaler due to childhood asthma that can be exacerbated by things like wood smoke. Here in the Southwestern US I don't need it for a year at a time  but the Philippines provinces are a different story due to the burning..  So we have discussed that and it may be that I can't live in the province -  because I put my health first, and make it a priority to not have to be dependent on meds. We will just have to deal with that if it is the case.

I do bike 6-8 hours a week for cardio, do yoga, pushups and lift modest weights, don't drink or smoke, and hike a bit. Quite a bit of intimacy too, when I am in the PI, haha. We eat pretty healthy with not too many processed foods, but I admit that I eat out too often as I like ethnic foods and am not a great cook. My girlfriend is a decent cook but likes to eat out too, lol. We could do better but this is where enjoyment of life comes in. The balance. We also both love nature - I am surrounded by it here and there.

To your points, my life certainly doesn't revolve around the acquisition of medications or feeling physical limitations yet. I feel effing great!  Seriously. I also have a good friend in the States who is 76 and is in excellent shape - he only stopped jumping out of airplanes about 10 years ago. Ex Army officer. We still ride motorcycles together and get together for breakfast and a ride twice a month. Life is really good..

Life is what you make of it, man. But you have to take care of yourself first and foremost so you can have that life.
Cherryann01
@pnwcyclist I am glad you have found the right balance and are enjoying life. I was merely pointing out that the older we get, the more we ache, the more chance there is of a serious health problem and therefore the need for meds. You are completely right about us all having to look after ourselves, try stay in shape but sometime, if we live long enough, we will need help to complete basic tasks like eating and dressing.

I like the plan that gsturdee mentioned where the guy planned to return to New Zealand in 10 to 15 years when he can no longer afford his healthcare.
coach53
For once I "have to" agree with Lotus Eater!!!  smile.png

Typical CherryAnn to think that much at the negative parts.
Yes, body isnt as when young, BUT there are so much POSITIVE ADDED when reaching retirement age (as "westerner")
not needing to bother/worry about earning money anymore
IF stressed before, then can skip that too
and get a lot of TIME, which can be used for fun/interesting things, which it wasnt enough time for before retirement.
(E g my father after retirement organiced and played league boccia, exersised working dogs, competed in regional quiz competitions - not the ones walking in park  smile.png  -  and started playing in as music band together with some retired profesionals (my father had only been semiprofesional as young.)
- @coach53

It is called being realistic Coach. You, I and everybody out there were dressed, bathed and had our backsides wiped for us when we were young and incapable of doing these things. If we live too long, the same will happen again and there is nothing we can do to stop it.

But since you mentioned something about looking at the negatives and not the positives, I guess I won't be the one worrying about carrying toilet roll or wet wipes any more and by the time anybody gets to that age, who will care if they crap themselves.
- @Cherryann01
No its called being
extreem negative
and booring, which you accused ME to be!!! 1f923.svg
I am not even negative as you WITH my serious injury...

What you talk about DONT start when retirement start, normaly its MUCH later - if ever...
E g my mother is close to 90yo still living at home managing herself totaly (except relatives assist with shoping since covid started.) She even assist OTHERS, e g taking care of a dog when neighbour work and she shoveled snow not only for herself but also for some neighbours instead of waiting for anyway paid janitor to come and do it :)
And her father became 95,  needed to be in a caretaker home the last years just because it became to dangerous with fire hazard when he got bad SHORT memory e g fprgeting things when cooking himself. But he did all other than cooking and cleaning himself still. until last WEEK, then he became in bed after others had screwed up made him get bone break. On top of that, then in bed they started feeding him - and choked him to death by feeding to fast!  Btw he WORKED until he was 92, when he got FIRED  1f923.svg  because he had forgot to forward some lorry load orders. .

Much is about HOW to THINK, they stayed young in MIND by not even thinking they being old...
I believe I am older than you, but you are much older in mind    )    E g I am starting new businesses. Partly for the fun of assisting poor tribe people, partly to do something negative thinkers find impossible..   :)


What was your last crap writing?  :)
Cherryann01
For once I "have to" agree with Lotus Eater!!!  smile.png

Typical CherryAnn to think that much at the negative parts.
Yes, body isnt as when young, BUT there are so much POSITIVE ADDED when reaching retirement age (as "westerner")
not needing to bother/worry about earning money anymore
IF stressed before, then can skip that too
and get a lot of TIME, which can be used for fun/interesting things, which it wasnt enough time for before retirement.
(E g my father after retirement organiced and played league boccia, exersised working dogs, competed in regional quiz competitions - not the ones walking in park  smile.png  -  and started playing in as music band together with some retired profesionals (my father had only been semiprofesional as young.)
- @coach53

It is called being realistic Coach. You, I and everybody out there were dressed, bathed and had our backsides wiped for us when we were young and incapable of doing these things. If we live too long, the same will happen again and there is nothing we can do to stop it.

But since you mentioned something about looking at the negatives and not the positives, I guess I won't be the one worrying about carrying toilet roll or wet wipes any more and by the time anybody gets to that age, who will care if they crap themselves.
- @Cherryann01
No its called being
extreem negative
and booring, which you accused ME to be!!! 1f923.svg
I am not even negative as you WITH my serious injury...

What you talk about DONT start when retirement start, normaly its MUCH later - if ever...
E g my mother is close to 90yo still living at home managing herself totaly (except relatives assist with shoping since covid started.) She even assist OTHERS, e g taking care of a dog when neighbour work and she shoveled snow not only for herself but also for some neighbours instead of waiting for anyway paid janitor to come and do it smile.png
And her father became 95,  needed to be in a caretaker home the last years just because it became to dangerous with fire hazard when he got bad SHORT memory e g fprgeting things when cooking himself. But he did all other than cooking and cleaning himself still. until last WEEK, then he became in bed after others had screwed up made him get bone break. On top of that, then in bed they started feeding him - and choked him to death by feeding to fast!  Btw he WORKED until he was 92, when he got FIRED  1f923.svg  because he had forgot to forward some lorry load orders. .

Much is about HOW to THINK, they stayed young in MIND by not even thinking they being old...
I believe I am older than you, but you are much older in mind    )    E g I am starting new businesses. Partly for the fun of assisting poor tribe people, partly to do something negative thinkers find impossible..   smile.png

Yeh I think you are older than me but the simple fact is it will come to you like to us all. Even if your fit and able until in your 90's you know what is coming. Live too long, maybe till 110 but you will not be wiping your own arse at that age, will you?

Nobody can turn back time and all I have said in my post is I admire the younger members for living their dream early and time stands still for no man.

Anyway you don't have to worry do you because you will never make it abroad with your serious sports injury so you can get your backside wiped in Sweden when the time comes.

And if you think I am negative just for mentioning these points, then what about people who take out life insurance policies, they do it because they know death awaits us all. Why bother with travel insurance too.


What was your last crap writing?  smile.png
- @coach53
mugteck
@pnwcyclist I am glad you have found the right balance and are enjoying life. I was merely pointing out that the older we get, the more we ache, the more chance there is of a serious health problem and therefore the need for meds. You are completely right about us all having to look after ourselves, try stay in shape but sometime, if we live long enough, we will need help to complete basic tasks like eating and dressing.

I like the plan that gsturdee mentioned where the guy planned to return to New Zealand in 10 to 15 years when he can no longer afford his healthcare.
- @Cherryann01



The idea of  staying healthy by acquiring healthy habits  no matter where you live makes the most sense to me.  I have cut out all alcohol, drugs, coffee, meat and dairy products.  Low sugar diet and taking a 45 minute walk every day has allowed me to be medication free at age 73.  Eating brown rice every day keeps me energized and ready for more enjoyment.  Having a Filipina wife helps.
pnwcyclist
Mugteck, that's what I'm talking about!

There is no need for the significant health declines that many begin to experience at 60 then going on meds, which often have side effects, and suffering for two decades. One reason I quit working the corporate job at age 57 was that I saw too many colleagues suffering from the stress - drinking too much, overweight, cancer or other lifestyle diseases - all as a result of bad coping mechanisms. In fact, I drank pretty regularly myself when I was still working - on long days when I couldn't get to the gym, and as soon as I retired I quit and started exercising more, which is what dumps the stress for me now, although I don't really have much haha. Better to just focus on getting out as quickly as possible - live small,  get out of debt and then retire and enjoy life BEFORE it is too late.

BTW, when my mom went into the hospital at age 94 the doctor asked me for her medication list. I named them.
He said "that's only 4, what are the others?"
I said "that's all she takes."
He said "that's why she is still alive at 94.."
coach53
No its called being
extreem negative
and booring, which you accused ME to be!!! 1f923.svg
I am not even negative as you WITH my serious injury...

What you talk about DONT start when retirement start, normaly its MUCH later - if ever...
E g my mother is close to 90yo still living at home managing herself totaly (except relatives assist with shoping since covid started.) She even assist OTHERS, e g taking care of a dog when neighbour work and she shoveled snow not only for herself but also for some neighbours instead of waiting for anyway paid janitor to come and do it smile.png
And her father became 95,  needed to be in a caretaker home the last years just because it became to dangerous with fire hazard when he got bad SHORT memory e g fprgeting things when cooking himself. But he did all other than cooking and cleaning himself still. until last WEEK, then he became in bed after others had screwed up made him get bone break. On top of that, then in bed they started feeding him - and choked him to death by feeding to fast!  Btw he WORKED until he was 92, when he got FIRED  1f923.svg  because he had forgot to forward some lorry load orders. .

Much is about HOW to THINK, they stayed young in MIND by not even thinking they being old...
I believe I am older than you, but you are much older in mind    )    E g I am starting new businesses. Partly for the fun of assisting poor tribe people, partly to do something negative thinkers find impossible..   smile.png
Yeh I think you are older than me but the simple fact is it will come to you like to us all. Even if your fit and able until in your 90's you know what is coming. Live too long, maybe till 110 but you will not be wiping your own arse at that age, will you?

Nobody can turn back time and all I have said in my post is I admire the younger members for living their dream early and time stands still for no man.

Anyway you don't have to worry do you because you will never make it abroad with your serious sports injury so you can get your backside wiped in Sweden when the time comes.

And if you think I am negative just for mentioning these points, then what about people who take out life insurance policies, they do it because they know death awaits us all. Why bother with travel insurance too.
- @Cherryann01
You go on with your extreem negative thinking...
My grandfather had it like that ONE WEEK in his 95 years life...
My father had it some bad the last years, BUT stayed at home until he died.
And it wouldnt suprise me if my mother "die with bots on" :) by she climb on ladder and such risks,

No it was NOT the only you said, it was a long post with NEGATIVITY...
You ARE obvious negative, which you have shown several times BEFORE this topic started too.

And you made an ignorant conclusion again.
The ONLY I worry about is never get to Phils, ending up in a SWEDISH nursing home...1f923.svg     Clinical, not good for mind.  Much better in an Asian country where they have much better attitude towards old...

If I hadnt got the sports injury, I wouldnt have worried about that neither   :)
then I would have expected becoming as mother and grandfather being in good shape at high age. (Most at father's side became close to 90 too - btw NOT needing assistance with wiping of ars   :D
Before the injury I were in extreem good shape. I STARTED playing tennis, table tennis and basketball at club level when I were close to 40yo, were occupied with other sports earlier.  Had better stamina than he who finnished second in region champions for 20year olds.  Once I played tennis against around 20year olds in almost 10 hours REPLACING the young guys when they got tired   :)   Total 4 different.  If it woudnt have become dark, I could have continued some more, although LEGS started to get tired, but NOT my stamina.


Cherryann01

@coach53 Ask yourself one question Coach. You said in a previous post that you and a nurse both knew what your sports injury was and the specialists or doctors did not or at least they did not know how to fix it. I bet you they know and I bet the reason your not getting your operation is because they think your bones/body will not heal properly if they operate. Ask yourself that?

Enzyte Bob


Cherryann01 said. . . . @coach53 Ask yourself one question Coach. You said in a previous post that you and a nurse both knew what your sports injury was and the specialists or doctors did not or at least they did not know how to fix it.

**************************************************************

Coach never said what sport injured him, may I suggest to keep in shape he should try out Cornhole.



Enzyte Bob
CherryAnn001 . . . . Just some thoughts of mine on retirement or the thought of retirement, in the Philippines or any other country including your home country.Is it really all it is cracked up to be. We work most of our adult lives, busting are arses to make enough money to support ourselves and our families, maybe end up divorced and loosing a good proportion of our hard earned cash in the divorce settlement, do not have that much time for fun and leisure activities and then you reach retirement age.

All of a sudden you have more time, lots more time to enjoy life but lets be honest, your not in your 30's or 40's anymore so if you are lucky all you have is a few minor aches and pains when you wake up in the morning. Your slower, have less stamina and it takes you longer to recover from any physical activity and at our age that includes just putting your trousers on. Or maybe you have asthma, high blood pressure or high cholesterol and a few prescribed meds a day. Even worse you may have had heart conditions, strokes or other major health issues.

So now we have all the time in the world to enjoy ourselves and take part in our favourite leisure activities but can we? We hurt our back when swinging a golf club or tennis racket, we are out of breath quicker and at our age, we cannot be too far from a toilet because we go more. If we want to go abroad on holiday, with all our ailments, the travel insurance costs about half the cost of the holiday, If we want do do any adventure activities, the insurance premium goes up especially for pensioners and let us be honest, having a shower at the age of 80 can be classed as an extreme sport for us. We need to pay for extra baggage just to accommodate the weight of our pills. inhalers and other prescribed medication and we eventually need help just to walk up the steps onto the plane and if our memory has gone, we cannot even remember what our suitcase looks like on the baggage carousel.
If we retire abroad we need to spend shed loads of cash on our prescribed medication, when it is free on the NHS in England. Our medication is harder to find especially in countries like the Philippines, we need to stand in line after line to process documentation while our bladders are saying I need the toilet and like we know from another topic on here, if we need a No2, better bring wipes or toilet paper. The food is not what we are used to so again back to carrying wet wipes or toilet paper, we need to pay ridiculous amounts of money for western comforts, including food and we may have to rely on a medical facility that is not up to western standards.

I guess what I am really trying to say here is that I admire the younger folks on this forum who have or will take the decision to move to the Philippines while they are still fit and healthy. These are the folks who can truly enjoy themselves and are fit enough to do so.

The end result though is just about the same, a cremation or hole in the ground looks much the same in any country and it will come to us all one day.



****************************************************************
I agree with Cherryann01 post, especially if you are retiring someplace other than your home country and especially in a third country like the Philippines.

The real negativity are the folks pointing a finger at his post.

There are a few good men here,

That Can't Handle The Truth,

Even if you live to 95.


coach53

@coach53 Ask yourself one question Coach. You said in a previous post that you and a nurse both knew what your sports injury was and the specialists or doctors did not or at least they did not know how to fix it. I bet you they know and I bet the reason your not getting your operation is because they think your bones/body will not heal properly if they operate. Ask yourself that?

- @Cherryann01
Of course I have. Dont you know by now I check everything?!!!  1f923.svg

That got checked, needed A LITLE improvement, got that done and found good, so I thought I would get a surgery after that but didnt!!!

Btw I forgot to mension earlier a general practising doctor said correct  too direct after I gpt the injury, but NONE "specialist" have never said correct still!!! 1f621.svg
But the "specialists" have said a lot of stupid things  as e g "Can it be pain there? "     Of course it can, "everyone" know that except the HEAD doctor for the "specialist" clinic!!!   1f923.svg
Moon Dog
I consider retirement as a time to live instead of waiting to die. I'm a throw caution to the wind sort of guy I suppose. I'm 70 years old and in process of adopting a 1-year old. My blood pressure is normal, I don't take any medication. My mom was 101 when she died and still lived by herself, only sick the last 2 weeks of her life. That's how I want to live and die. I'm living in a province that doesn't have a hospital that I know of and I'm not interested in the proximity of the nearest medical center. That sort of thing never entered the equation when I was planning to retire in the Philippines. My current lifestyle keeps me busy most of the day and that's the way I like it.

"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?" Satchel Paige
coach53
I agree with Cherryann01 post, especially if you are retiring someplace other than your home country and especially in a third country like the Philippines.

The real negativity are the folks pointing a finger at his post.

There are a few good men here,

That Can't Handle The Truth,

Even if you live to 95.

- @Enzyte Bob
Not suprising you agree with him, he has agree with your BS posts...  :D

SO WHAT if a WEEK* of a  95 YEARS life become as CherryAnn said as it became for my grandfather. 
(Only ONE have - after long illness - been a few years in such nursing home in bad shape, of all my ancestors counting three generations back including them of their sibblings I know of, which are many at my great grandfather straight line at father's side because they got old and still alive when I were kid. Plus my other grandfather spent a while in such after he came direct from working to surgeant screwed up so grandfather ended up in coma in intensive care, woke up and survived a year after that.)
Its still extreem negative by CherryAnn undepending of you agree with him 1f923.svg

*I dont know exact how few days, but it was SHORT between he was in good shape except his short memory,  others messed up so he got broken bone and I got the news of that and when they had choked him to death.  Sure much less than two weeks because I visited him every time I could coordinate with business travels, which were rather often by I scheduled them myself   :)  and that was two weeks before he died and then he walked around in his normal good shape.

So hospitals have killed both my grandfathers by imcompetense, so perhaps I better NOT get surgery 1f923.svg
manwonder
Omo
"Previlaged" is the word I'd use...for me being able to be a retired expat anywhere I wanted....in my case I chose the Philippines....many others my age may never be able to have that same opportunities/resources to do the same even if they wanted to.
A)  Yes I too had to work my butt off for some 35yrs in various MNC's in the oil and gas industry always being 24hr contactable (No ifs & no buts) work life balance was non existent as far as I was concerned as that didn't put quality food on the table nor helpful being able to pay for the education of my 3 kids whom now have all got their respective foreign degrees & all 3 are gainfully employed back at home all of this was carried out being a sole bread winner with my x-wife whom till today remains a duty bound homemaker. (Kudos to her she did her duty too for which I left the only home I owned for her to carry on when we finally got divorced) as deep in my heart I had always this goal/plan to get out of the rat race & retire when I reached 55 which I finally did in 2019.
B)  I was again "previlaged" to be pretty well paid for all those years & always taking nothing for granted (Like what my late dad (rip) used to  remind his kids to take nothing for granted...he had his reasons as he actually had been through the atrocities of the world war both in Singapore/Malaysia)  so I stuck to my strict disciplined/economic life style.
I'm enjoying every minute of my newfound "ffffrrreeeeddddoooommmmm"
Guest9272
I consider retirement as a time to live instead of waiting to die. I'm a throw caution to the wind sort of guy I suppose.
- @Moon Dog



Probably a healthy philosophy, and the reason you're doing well...I mean living well, by the sounds. Maybe that's the secret? I really couldn't imagine adopting a 1-year old at 70 years of age.

There's a theory about attitude and positive health. Now infamous, Dr Hans Eysenck published research about the relatedness between smoking and cancer. His findings startled the world at the time. Paraphrasing, he said, "there are two types of smokers, those who smoke for enjoyment, and those who smoke to relieve stress". He concluded that those who smoked for enjoyment were less likely to get cancer by a large margin. Eventually, Eysenck was discredited, because it came to light some of his research was funded by tobacco companies.

That said, there is increasing evidence that positive attitude is strongly related to positive health. The opposite is also true. (Dr Barbara Hayes etc)

Unfortunately, Moondog, I'm only half-way wired the way you seem to be. I travel, experience and live pragmatically etc, but then think of my two teenagers' futures, and my finances, what I'll do when I'm 70. I'm 55 and still working.

That's the thing, many of the guys on this forum are already retired, while my aspirations are theoretic. So I 'm learning a lot.

More strength to you. Hope you make 101 like you mum.
coach53
I consider retirement as a time to live instead of waiting to die. I'm a throw caution to the wind sort of guy I suppose. I'm 70 years old and in process of adopting a 1-year old. My blood pressure is normal, I don't take any medication. My mom was 101 when she died and still lived by herself, only sick the last 2 weeks of her life. That's how I want to live and die. I'm living in a province that doesn't have a hospital that I know of and I'm not interested in the proximity of the nearest medical center. That sort of thing never entered the equation when I was planning to retire in the Philippines. My current lifestyle keeps me busy most of the day and that's the way I like it.

"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?" Satchel Paige
- @Moon Dog
Exactly.  Thinking like that keep you young  1f44d.svg

My grandfather was in very good shape, still even running some when he was 85, working more than full time during season (selling lorry loads of foder, chickens, seeds and such to farmers.) Then he got hit by a car when walking so his foot pointed to the side. Then he broke it back, "walked" home 500 meters to pack some things to bring.  Doctor complained at he had brokle it back.
-But bloody hell,  I couldnt walk otherwice...
:)
Doctor put him in a nursing home to recover, but the day after he write himself out himself and went home on cruitches, which worried my mother because all relatives where working living far away so could get there only at weekends. When she told that to grandfather he said:
- I couldnt be among such old people.
He were older than them himself  1f923.svg but not in his mind...
coach53
@gsturdee
There are bad effects of PASSING smoking too at people living with smokers.  Luckily its understood now and smoking are forbidden at many places and many smokers take responcibily to reduce smoke reaching others 1f44d.svg but there are  many crap selfing smokers still claiming THEY have right to damage for others  1f621.svg

When most of us were kids there werent any such.

((Because of I couldnt avoid as lot of passive smoking as kid - inspite I exersised so I got extreem good heart capacity part of stamina, better than world champions in stamina sports, but the oxygen intake part never became better than average by passive smoking in combination with grew up in poluted city air.  This made I couldnt be a "star" in long distance running just around 10th in highschool championships, but I could run "for ever" in sports as football and tennis because they have breaks where my oxygen intake could catch up. 
* It was impossible for me to reach 120 pulse beat per minute in intervall exersises, even moving much faster thanthe others I reached only 80.  Stamina is suppoused to be a "fresh product" reduce fast when stop exersising, but 1.5 years AFTER I had been forced to quit I had 33 in rest pulse still so a nurse got shock thought I were dieing  1f923.svg    (These world champions in stamina sports had 31 and 34 when they were at top.))

Tobacco companies have damaged a lot by their PAID scientists 1f621.svg
Enzyte Bob
coach53 said about his father . . . . .he was in good shape except his short memory, 
*********************************************************************

You must have inherited a short memory from him, you are repeating yourself several times on this thread.

Better get checked out.




coach53
Btw for you still before retire age, so you can need methods giving you more time  - and for us retired too who WANT more time than we have anyway  :)

Beside stop smoking - and none or small alcohol intake. Actualy a HALF glass RED wine per day seem to have good effects   (although at least some of the positive effects can be goten by e g apple juice too  :)

The NEED of SLEEP can be reduced much.  Some say they sleep less anyway, BUT they are some tired after their normal sleep so they become some less effective.
Here are how the sleep need can be reduced FAST in a normal not retired life too:
1. Back when I were employee before I started own business, I worked normal office hours. Olympic games were coming and much would be at Swedish night time. Luckily I saw an article saying vegetarians need less sleep by the body get less tired by geting less work to clean out not wanted parts of food - and drink intakes.  Depending of what eating before, but if normal "western" eating before then its common the sleep need get reduced 2 hours per night by becoming vegetarian.
So I tested and it functioned.  I slept between TV showed live  = 11pm to 1 am and 5 to 7 am.  Got A BIT tired but managed the very speedy office work.   So I continued after Olympic Games too.

2. Mental training.  E g same basic RELAX part of mental training as elite sportsmen use, but e g the meditation part of yoga functions too. 
Even normal people, NOT counting themselves as streesed, tence the body some unnecesary anyway. For such can the sleep need be reduced even (1) 2 hours, of course more at much stressed people.

3. Follow your SLEEP CYCLES.
They are between 1.50 to 2.10 hours for different people. Can be found out by note which time get sleepy. Perhaps some have noticed you can be sleepy but then become less sleepy and then become sleepy again around 2 hours later?  Thats the sleep cycles showing themselves   :)  Its around 20 minutes per sleep cycle made to fall asleep.
The period soon before each sleep cycle ENDs the sleep is as deepest so its BAD to be waken up during that by an alarn clock. Actualy get LESS tired if be woken up during the 20 minutes "transfer" period in the beginning of each sleep cycle if sleep almost 2 hours LESS than if be woken up during the deepest sleep.
Some can be adjusted anyway by change a bit when to put on the alarm clock and nowadays many employers allow flex hours.
AND there is a "body clock" (= ther body can KNOW when its time to wake up) which can be exersised to wake you up. Then it dont become that tireding effect from an alarm clock waking you up from the deepest sleep.  (If someone need an alarm clock to not get stressed by not being sure to wake up in time, just put it at 10 minutes later than you tell your body to wake you up   :)

Summary:  Living remote so nothing woke me up - except sometimes by gees when they passed in spring and autumn   :)  -    I went to sleep 5 am and woke up by myself not needing any more sleep 9 am. rarely 11 am.   
(I am "night person".  For others there are other ideal sleeping hours.)

Of course having babies/toddlers complicate things  :)

but there are A LOT of time to gain in a lifetime by this, to get more time to do fun/interesting things    :)

coach53
coach53 said about his father . . . . .he was in good shape except his short memory, 
*********************************************************************
You must have inherited a short memory from him, you are repeating yourself several times on this thread.
- @Enzyte Bob
You have even shorter short memory by I suppouse you did read it just before you wrote that  1f923.svg
It was my 95 yo GRANDfather, who  got damaged short memory at high age...
(My father had excellent memory until he died 84yo. He ended up top 3 in regional quiz contests several years in line (which had qualification rounds first every year and he reached final every year until the last, when he knew the answers but wasnt fast enough anymore   :) for the seconds available.)

But I AGREE I have some problem to remember WHO and WHERE I told things by I communicate with so many.  And extra hard when its during my sleep hours   :)   I am often  awake when it suit my business partner and answer here sometimes in between when I wait for his answers.

Whats your excuse for your many BS posts?  1f923.svg
whackerdog123

@Cherryann01 Wow!  I'm really glad you brought this topic up @Cherryann01.  I mean the topic really has no reason except for entertainment, to let off steam and let people share life experience.  Also, to have people attack your post indignantly.  I will never directly do that to someone's post no matter how inane it might be.  There are people on this website who don't even bother with grammar or spelling.  One could comment on that and even refer to a post about not being able to get work here because you speak better English and Filipino's are obstinate and hate to be corrected! Having stated that, "NO"  retirement anywhere, unless you have prepped your psych and put away a good amount of money for said retirement, is definitely not all it's cracked up to be.  I worked for the US federal government for 40 years and they have a good retirement plan if you avail, but like a moron, I didn't!  To be honest, I was a hard drinking, hard partying, chain smoking, drug abusing idiot and I really, really didn't think I would make it to retirement.  So, unfortunately for me, I didn't really prep financially or mentally.  One major issue of mine when I retired was, what do I do with all this extra time?  I mean I went from a 8 to 10 hour workday (overtime) to jack sh@#!  I went to a plethora of retirement seminars, read pamphlets and not one of them mentioned this issue.  Luckily, for me, I have a lot of hobbies and interests.  However, that doesn't mean diddly if you don't have the health and stamina to pursue these hobbies and interests.  I, in my present state, am not the picture of health.  All the years of abusing myself have taken its toll.  That being stated, I rescued dogs in Tacoma, Wa from 1991 until 2017.  I rescued and trained over 300 dogs during that time.  I kept a lot of the ones that nobody would adopt.  I adopted over 30 dogs in that time frame.  Now, being a animal lover, not just dogs, I take the responsibility seriously.  Like a good dog owner, I walked those dogs 2 miles a day.  In my younger years, I was able to walk 5 dogs at once with training of course!  As I aged, this amount became less and less, so my walking increased from 2 miles daily to sometimes 6 miles daily.  I do believe this is the only reason I'm still alive.  That physical activity really made a difference for me now.  The main reason I'm here is cost of living period.  Ok, maybe all the beautiful beaches and girls too!  As I've conversed with many retirees all over now, one common thread is "I wished I had planned it better".  Well, I totally agree and as we all know "hindsight is 20/20"!  Later alligators!

PalawOne
Thirty three posts in this thread, written by ..

our expat league of extraordinary gentlemen

1f380.svg1f380.svg1f380.svg
Cherryann01
@whackerdog123 Thank you for your very informative reply on this subject and I am glad that you found an interest with the rescue and training of dogs, a very worthwhile cause and like you say, walking the dogs each day will sure help regarding your physical and mental health. I also walk a lot here in the UK. I live in West Yorkshire and we have many wooded areas, canal paths, river banks and parks make walking interesting although sometimes I just walk round the town.


The main reason I posted this subject was that I recently started to receive my Royal Air Force preserved pension which in my case was paid when I became 60. The amount is small, about £3,500 per year. I will not receive my state pension, my private pension and my other Work Pension for a few years. It did however start me thinking about what I wanted to do when I retire and how I would occupy my days. Like you said, when you have worked for 8 to 10 hours a day (add on the commuting time also), all of a sudden you have to fill that time. I know men who have retired and not had a clue what to do, some of whom have also had relationship problems because of this because they also had to get used to spending more time with their wife at home.

During my time in the Royal Air Force I was also a hard drinker and smoked a fair bit but I also played football, squash and tennis on a regular basis and liked to travel and see different places, both in the UK and when I was stationed in Germany. I only tried smoking some weed once with a girlfriend in Washington (The UK one), I concluded that all it did for me was make time seem to pass slower so I stuck to beer and never dabbled again. Funny thing is that although I did drink a lot for about 20 years in total, both while serving and while out, I sort of came off booze naturally without even really knowing it. I rarely drink at all now apart from when I visit a friend near Liverpool or when he comes to see me and that does not happen often. There were a couple of boozy trips to Nice with him also and I can still drink a fair quantity, just choose not to. My English daughter is home at the moment so I enjoy spending time with her, going for meals, to the cinema, day trips, etc.

My post was not actually mean to be negative, just honest and I can not see one thing that is not honest in it. People are more likely to have minor and major medical problems when they are older, travel insurance does cost more when your over a certain age and especially if you have multiple medical conditions and from what I read on another topic, a guy was struggling to get a particular prescribed med. That does not happen in the UK. You simply see the doctor, he prescribes medication and then you can order repeat prescriptions online and pick them up from a nominated pharmacy. In other words no need to travel, go to different pharmacies, etc.

I am like you, if I choose to retire in the Philippines, two things and only two things matter and they are the cost of living and my daughter and girlfriend or ex (not sure yet). So the money I get from my pensions needs to provide for me a comfortable retirement and if it can be done I will then think about the negatives and I do have a lot of them when it comes to the Philippines so I would say my chances of retiring there are slim at the moment. If it were to happen though it would be a retirement, no work involved apart from maybe some voluntary work to help out and give me something to fill my day. Golf and Tennis would also be good. Who knows I may retire to another country also, I stumbled onto the Portugal Ex Pat Forum the other day and that is a lot nearer to me and I have also had a few holidays there and like what I have seen very much.
PalawOne
Well we hope you choose the Pacific Ocean there-abouts to hang Cherryann

And, thank you again for this popular and good expat.com Phils topic thread.

Now if you do join expat.com Portugal, to remember us by, please accept the:


E L E G A L   1f380.svg   "Expat League of Extraordinary Gentlemen And Ladies"

                                          "Philippines Merit Lapel Badge"


Cheers, Cherryann
Cherryann01
Well we hope you choose the Pacific Ocean there-abouts to hang Cherryann

And, thank you again for this popular and good expat.com Phils topic thread.

Now if you do join expat.com Portugal, to remember us by, please accept the:


E L E G A L   1f380.svg   "Expat League of Extraordinary Gentlemen And Ladies"

                                          "Philippines Merit Lapel Badge"


Cheers, Cherryann
- @PalawOne


Ha ha, Thank you very much. I will accept and wear it with pride but I am not leaving the site just yet.
PalawOne
E L E G A L   1f380.svg   "Expat League of Extraordinary Gentlemen And Ladies .. Philippines Merit Lapel Badge"
Ha ha, Thank you very much. I will accept and wear it with pride but I am not leaving the site just yet.
- @Cherryann01
`
All good to hear Cherryann1f600.svg
Cherryann01
Btw for you still before retire age, so you can need methods giving you more time  - and for us retired too who WANT more time than we have anyway  smile.png

Beside stop smoking - and none or small alcohol intake. Actualy a HALF glass RED wine per day seem to have good effects   (although at least some of the positive effects can be goten by e g apple juice too  smile.png

The NEED of SLEEP can be reduced much.  Some say they sleep less anyway, BUT they are some tired after their normal sleep so they become some less effective.
Here are how the sleep need can be reduced FAST in a normal not retired life too:
1. Back when I were employee before I started own business, I worked normal office hours. Olympic games were coming and much would be at Swedish night time. Luckily I saw an article saying vegetarians need less sleep by the body get less tired by geting less work to clean out not wanted parts of food - and drink intakes.  Depending of what eating before, but if normal "western" eating before then its common the sleep need get reduced 2 hours per night by becoming vegetarian.
So I tested and it functioned.  I slept between TV showed live  = 11pm to 1 am and 5 to 7 am.  Got A BIT tired but managed the very speedy office work.   So I continued after Olympic Games too.

2. Mental training.  E g same basic RELAX part of mental training as elite sportsmen use, but e g the meditation part of yoga functions too. 
Even normal people, NOT counting themselves as streesed, tence the body some unnecesary anyway. For such can the sleep need be reduced even (1) 2 hours, of course more at much stressed people.

3. Follow your SLEEP CYCLES.
They are between 1.50 to 2.10 hours for different people. Can be found out by note which time get sleepy. Perhaps some have noticed you can be sleepy but then become less sleepy and then become sleepy again around 2 hours later?  Thats the sleep cycles showing themselves   smile.png  Its around 20 minutes per sleep cycle made to fall asleep.
The period soon before each sleep cycle ENDs the sleep is as deepest so its BAD to be waken up during that by an alarn clock. Actualy get LESS tired if be woken up during the 20 minutes "transfer" period in the beginning of each sleep cycle if sleep almost 2 hours LESS than if be woken up during the deepest sleep.
Some can be adjusted anyway by change a bit when to put on the alarm clock and nowadays many employers allow flex hours.
AND there is a "body clock" (= ther body can KNOW when its time to wake up) which can be exersised to wake you up. Then it dont become that tireding effect from an alarm clock waking you up from the deepest sleep.  (If someone need an alarm clock to not get stressed by not being sure to wake up in time, just put it at 10 minutes later than you tell your body to wake you up   smile.png

Summary:  Living remote so nothing woke me up - except sometimes by gees when they passed in spring and autumn   smile.png  -    I went to sleep 5 am and woke up by myself not needing any more sleep 9 am. rarely 11 am.   
(I am "night person".  For others there are other ideal sleeping hours.)

Of course having babies/toddlers complicate things  smile.png

but there are A LOT of time to gain in a lifetime by this, to get more time to do fun/interesting things    smile.png

- @coach53

Coach was woken up from his sleep cycle while in a remote place by the by gees, no doubt singing “Staying Alive”.
coach53
but there are A LOT of time to gain in a lifetime by this, to get more time to do fun/interesting things    smile.png
- @coach53

Coach was woken up from his sleep cycle while in a remote place by the by gees, no doubt singing “Staying Alive”.
- @Cherryann01
Do you claim that being anything else than ignorant?  :D


Btw - The post I wrote is a summary of a book I got approved by an AMERICAN-Spanish publisher company many years ago,  which I suppouse is a sign of my English isnt as bad  - when I bother when it is important 1f923.svg - as some ignoranrts claim repeetingly.  I suppouse they claim such BS by they dont understand whats important AND haventmanaged to correct me even a single time about Phils inspite of they claim I am wrong often!!!  :D
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