Get Movin'…
No, I am not in a traffic jam caused by “Lookie Lou’s” and “Rubber-Neckers” who are slowly and ghoulishly passing the scene of a recent accident, and are being cajoled by the local constabulary to maintain a quicker flow of traffic. Nor am I helplessly being bombarded by radio or television ads that are stressing my need to purchase the latest in spot removers or laundry detergents (or, perhaps, some health-related product). I definitely do hear that voice, though, insisting that I need to “Get movin’.” Finally, the trance entwining my eyes, fingers, computer video screen and keyboard is broken. I gaze about me and see belongings, boxes and suitcases in various stages of disarray. It is time to “Get Movin’,” literally.
The first eight or nine waves of balikbayan boxes had been launched over this past year, and the final box is ready for pick-up. All of the possessions that my wife, Emy, and I want with us in the Philippines were shipped via the old, reliable door-to-door method. We didn’t want to ship any major possessions, furniture, etc. They just wouldn’t “fit in” to the décor of our retirement haven. The balikbayan boxes contained the little, important things as well as gifts.
In a stroke of good timing, our eldest son, who lives about 2,000 miles east of us, is building a new house. He will need furniture and other knick-knacks to fill it. It will be a far more efficient use of our belongings (and a cheaper choice) to ship all of it to him, rather than shipping it all to the Philippines or put it all up in storage. Yes, a much better use…if I could just “Get Movin’.”
Retirement in the Philippines has been a dream of mine for quite some time. Emy, a former OFW who never wanted to return to life in the islands, finally signed onto the idea a couple of years ago. She said the only way that she would retire there would be if she had a brand-new, custom built, American-style house to live in. Long story short: Dreams do come true. She now has her dream house and I’ll have my island retirement…if I could just “Get Movin’.”
So, it’s crunch time – “planning” shifts to the side burner and “action” moves to the front. Segregating items to be shipped east from those that will fly with us and those that will be distributed among family members living nearby seems to be the major hassle of the moment. We’ll pack some items for shipment; the shippers will handle the majority of our belongings, especially those big, bulky and heavy items. We’ll magically pack our suitcases to conform to airline weight limits while keeping their bulging appearance. (Did someone mention carry-ons?) We’ll gather up the leftovers, pack the car, and drive them over to the family members…if I could just “Get Movin’.”
Within the next few weeks, while the final steps of the grand master plan come to fruition, my connectivity to the internet will be spotty. Emy and I will drive cross-country those 2,000 miles (spotty internet courtesy of Wi-Fi hotspots) for a two week session of final hugs and kisses, instructions, reassurances, etc. (and solid internet at our son’s apartment). Then, in mid-July, we’ll fly to our new home and begin life anew (while being at the mercy of spotty Wi-Fi, etc.). I’m pretty sure that I’ll write more about life there – we’ll be living on the far northwestern tip of Luzon, and Bob is looking for an article or two from “up north.” So, one of my top priorities is to establish solid, high-speed internet connectivity (I’ve been “assured” that it’s available) while searching out Wi-Fi hotspots. Yes, life will be sweet…if I could just “Get Movin’”!
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Hi Paul – great article, I enjoyed it. I hope that everything goes well for you! Hey, your son should be very grateful for the furniture and such!
Oh, hey… one more thing.. you better get movin’!
Hello Paul,
Good luck with the move Paul, and as usual, you never know just how much stuff you have until you have to move it all..lol.
Take care, and will be nice to hear about life in that part of the Philippines after you are settled.
Ingatz,
Danny
How do we accumulate so much stuff? Much of it with very little importance to life, except for our emotional side. For 30 years I have been dragging around artwork, and photos. It just accumulates.
BEST WISHES in the move Paul, and hopefully Emy will be glad she moved home. Then you can let yourself be surrounded by your dream of island living……i2f……John
Hi Paul: Good Luck in your forthcoming move. Although, I was not in the army or navy we have moved 7 times( company move) here in US since 1960. Every move is an adventure. The latest move we had was in 2002 from the East Coast to the West Coast. This move was the hardest move we had, having accumulated a lot of “Junk” for over 50 years, that was hard to part. A garage sale and give away gifts to relatives, friends and neighbors help a bit, but there were still 500 boxes left and two cars that have to be transported across the continent. Moreover, the moving expenses came from my own pocket, since it is not a company move (I have retired). Anyway, kept movin’,Paul and have fun and keep your good sense of humor as always! A Move is always an Adventure!
Hi Paul
I have such mixed feelings about your move…
On 1 hand I amd thrilled for you to finally get out of “Dodge” and find your retirement dream in Northern Luzon….
on the other hand I am VERY envious of your move….With the economy taking a tank my move has had to be moved back 2-3 years….
On the positive note I will be able to watch you set up your retirement and I will hopefully get some good tips from you.
So post pictures for us so we can see your :american house: that your wife swapped countries for and the the countryside near your new Shangri-La.
Best of luck in your move and when things get testy for you remember the beautiful weather that will surround you.
Regards
Tyleen
green with envy I am !!!!
Yes paul
I relate to excatly what you say in your artical. I too have sent most my boxes, and down to the final two. 57 working days, and my dream gets started. house been built, wife happy. Can’t help but smile when reading your artical. good luck, and who knows we may run to each other.
Paul I uderstand completely what is going on. My son was here last weekend with very large uhaul trailer to take what he and his brother wanted. The rest I have two weeks to sell or leave for the buyer of my house. I also will ship personal things over but most I made sure my kids had there. I plan on spending the rest of my years in the Philippines and wanted them to have those things dad has held on to for 40 years. Just before I board plane I am going to fly son from Texas to California to give him compurter, printer and a few other things. Last Collector car and let him drop me off at airport. He has wanted my 76 Camero for ever and now he gets. Other son got to have his with drive home my 63 Grand Prix. Sold all cars I drove already so all is gone. I have to be out of here in two weeks so new owner is hoping I don’t get rid of much more. I am scared but so anxious to be there. Like yu I am sure. Good luck with your new life.
Paul,
Good luck on your move to the Philippines and enjoy your new life. I’ll be packing those boxes in a few years.
Sorry bout that…how’d that happen (above)
Paul,
Good luck on your move to the Philippines and enjoy your new life. I’ll be packing those boxes in a few years. Kevin
Hi Kevin – Well, kind wishes from any source are truly appreciated and yours are most welcome: thanks. Here’s hoping your boxes are filled sooner than you expect!
Note to Readers: I want to apologize for the delay in responding to your most kind notes and wishes. Over this past weekend, we took a break from the boxes and were visiting one of Emy’s high school classmates whom she hasn’t seen for over 35 years. Unfortunately, the computer stayed at home.
For those of you who will be playing with boxes prior to your move, I suggest a break in the action at some point. Now that we are refreshed, the remaining tasks at hand don’t seem as large as they did last week!
Paul,
I enjoyed your article. As a former president of ours said, “I feel your pain”, and your joy.(The former president only said the former. Ha!) Anyway my wife and I will be retiring to Baybay Leyte in January, where we also own a house.
We are still in the planning stage. Right now we are trying to decide about renting our house. I am aware of the possible problems in renting, but I’m not willing to sell my house yet. We are also trying to decide whether to ship in our personal goods such as a television, our treadmill and maybe our lazyboys, or to just sell or give away everything. It sounds like you probably made the right decision in sending only small items and selling everything else. Anyway have a great retirement and I’ll try to “get moving”
Hi Richard – Thanks and we’ll try to be “actively” retired! I prefer a much simpler lifestyle than my contemporaries, so moving there with very little and purchasing what we need when we need it will serve as our goal. After all, a retiree needs nothing more than a hammock, a fan and a cold San Miguel!
Hi Paul,
Good Luck on your move to Laoag. My husband and I will be moving to Baguio City this October. He has just retired from the Irish Military after 28 years. I too am nervous about moving back to the Philippines having spent 7 years in Ireland. We are now starting to pack our balikbayan boxes. We both have feelings of fear and excitement, as we are both starting a brand new adventure. You see, I dont know anybody in Baguio City having been raised in Manila where my relatives are. I choose Baguio as our retirement home because I fell in love with it the first time I went there. Good luck and God bless…. Thess and Locky
Paul,
Why did the missus wants an american house in the Philippines? It’s really not suitable for the climate here. Why not get the services of an architect named Mañosa, he designed the Coconut Palacee it think, he advocates using the traditional filipino style of architecture. He once designed a modern rendition of the traditional nipa hut, boy was it good lookin, airy inside even though it was 12 in the afternoon yet warm in the evening and it was made out of indigenous materials.
Just my 2 cents worth.
What I am moving here with me and what I should have packed up.
I had to have my 61″ tv.fishing poles and hooks and such fishing gear.A good quality diving mask and snorkel too,with fins.
And a couple back up set ups for my diving buddies to use.
Next,I recorded many hours of premimum cable tv shows.
Also I loaded up on whitetening tooth paste(a good move).
One of the best deals here is upolistrey(s.p.)so the wooden native style furniture is here or have some soft seats made local.
pepto bismol(bring some)vegtable seeds are a must too,if you like your style of eats.
teflon pans are kind of expenceive here like $25.00 bucks for a 10″ pan.
200 volts here so just buy local,I did bring several laptops and I use a transformer for that.
I watch the local builders use a hand saw and hand planner,chisel.some of the guys use an electric drill.
No safety boots here,slippers are the norm
Paul
I don’t even know why I shipped so much stuff her?
I shipped a 61″ tv,but I don’t have time to watch tv now!
Margie keeps me too busy
Hi Bob – Thanks! I’m sure Emy will figure out a way to “monetize” gratitude from our son. She may insist on a little “pocket money” for our upcoming adventure!
Hi Danny – Thanks for the kind wishes. To tell you the truth, I’ve known approximately how much “stuff” we have. Having had a career in the Navy and moving “stuff” around the world about every three years or so, the amount has always haunted me!
(The other day, I ran across a sealed box of “stuff” that was packed in 1984 on the island of Guam. Though I wonder what’s in it, off it goes!)
I’m excited to get “back home” and provide a little different view from “the top of the rock”!
Hi John – Sorry for the delayed response, but was out of town for the weekend (USA time) and without my computer.
Thanks for the kind wishes – I can assure you that they will be fulfilled!
Hi David – Thanks for your kind wishes and words of wisdom! Keeping a sense of humor, even when they are pulling your fingernails out, helps one to live life as the adventure it is!
Hi Tyleen – Thanks for the kind wishes and fine words. Don’t worry about the mixed feelings, I’m sure I’ll have mixed feelings right up until the airplane’s wheel touch the tarmac is Laoag, I.N. The moment we’re off the plane, we’ll know for sure that we’ve done right!
Retirement is a state of mind for me, now. I was very lucky to do what it took to get to this point, but I’m very tired now and will have to unwind for at least a month or two before the real adventures begin. Photos will appear!
Hi Kenney – who knows, we may just bump into each other at some point in time. I’m a restless soul (when I’ve the energy – it’s that age thing, you know!) and need to have adventures. If you’re adventurous, there’s a good chance our paths may cross! Thanks for the kind wishes and, hopefully, we’ll both be “single-digit-midgets” real soon on our countdown to moving.
Hi Andy – Are you sure you haven’t been reading my journal? Things sure sound r-e-a-l familiar!
Thanks for your kind wishes and for sharing “our” plans! You know, the more I think about it, we may be using our family members as our personal garbage collectors!
Hi Mike – Thanks for your kind wishes. You’ll find out that you are going to enjoy packing boxes for once in your life! I know I am enjoying it tremendously – so much so that I unpack and repack them a couple of times. Baketko (asawako) [my wife] tells me the reason I repack them so much is because I don’t know how to squeeze 10 pounds of stuff into a 5 pound bag. I like to think I enjoy it, though.
All the best of luck and God’s blessings to you both, Thess & Locky. Yes, moving is quite an exciting and anxious time. It’s like awaiting one’s birthday, hoping for a certain birthday present, then waiting to see if the present ever shows up!
Baguio City is a very nice location – the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” is day long ago. The late “ber” months (Nov, Dec) as well as the months before summertime can be quite cool in Baguio, so don’t forget your Cardigans!
P.S. You’ll love adventure when you’re finally moved in. It will be an adventure from the moment you leave your present residence!
Hi Ernest – So sorry for the delay in responding – the move is getting in the way of my “on-line” life.
Your 2 cents is well spent, and I agree. I should have been a little more precise and relate that “American-style” refers more to functionality than anything else. From the outside, it looks like an elevated, 3 bedroom bungalow that one would find in newer developments in the Philippines. The interior layout is open and airy. Functionality, however, is where the difference is: dual 110/220 VAC wiring; large formal kitchen with center isle, running hot & cold water, granite counter tops, American style bathrooms and CRs, large master suite, . . . you get the picture!
My only happiness is seeing my wife’s happiness – this is her dream house!
I’ll keep your 2 cents in my pocket – after all, no house in the Phils is really finished when it comes to construction – I may be able to use the change later!