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So, what are your plans?

Entertainment, Family, How to Move to the Philippines, Language Learning / by / 49 Comments

We all have plans in life.  Sometimes our plans all work out, most of the time, though, things don’t necessarily work out as we planned.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing, in fact, many times things out better than we had expected or even hoped for.

My first time to visit the Philippines was in the summer of 1990.  I married Feyma in August 1990.  I made a number of trips back to the Philippines between 1990 and 2000, for vacation, visiting the family, etc.  I guess it was in about 1996 or so that I really developed a desire to move to and live in the Philippines.  I had a lot of plans for the move, what I would do in the Philippines and such.  Mostly, my plans never came to be (except for the ultimate plan of living here), but the truth is, I am probably living a much better life here than I ever planned or expected.

What would I do for a living?

Of course, when you move here before retirement age, you have to figure out a way that you will earn a living in the Philippines.  I had a plan.  It was mostly based on the Internet, but not in the way that I am earning a living now.  At the time that I moved here, I only owned one or two domain names.  My big name that I owned was Mindanao.com.  I had big plans for the website, and ultimately I was planning to sell the site for a pretty big price.  Well, in the ensuing years, I have been offered some pretty good money for that domain, well into the 5 figure range (in US Dollars), but not as much as what I would want for the name.  As it turns out, I earn money from that site, but only a small amount, really.  I have many other online businesses that provide my income.  Really, back when I was making plans to live here, LiP was not even a flicker in my brain, I never even considered such a site, which ended up making the bulk of my income, to be honest.

What would I do for entertainment?

Bob & Nicole at T.G.I. Fridays in Davao
Bob & Nicole at T.G.I. Fridays in Davao

Of course, when you make plans to move to the Philippines, most people have dreams of sitting on the beach with an “umbrella drink” in one hand, watching the bikini babes as they pass by. 😆  Well, we go to the beach from time to time, but it’s not a place where we regular hang out.  Most of the bikini babes that I ever see are on my computer! 😉  But, I still have a very enjoyable life here in the Philippines.  What do I do here for entertainment?  Well, to be honest, my life is not all that much different from what it was back in the States.  Sure, I am in a much nicer climate and such, and I can go to the beach any time I wish to, so some things are quite different from back in the States.

What are you getting at?

I suppose what I am getting at is that it’s a good thing to make plans.  It’s nice to have an idea of what you are going to do to support yourself, to entertain yourself, and such.  But, don’t get your feet set in stone.  Allow some flexibility, you never know, it might work out even better than what you imagined!

For me, the things that have genuinely improved my life in the Philippines are things that I never even dreamed would happen when I moved here.  Here is a list of some of the things that have made me happiest about living in the Philippines:

  • Jean and Nicole – nieces that we have taken in and made part of the family.  They are genuinely daughters to me now, and I love both of them dearly.
  • Learning the language here – this improved my life so much that I just can’t believe it.
  • Family – This partly relates to the first listing with Jean and Nicole, but other people too in the extended family have brought me joy and happiness here, and I am very grateful for that.
  • Beautiful weather – Yes, the climate here is very nice, especially after living in an area where it rains constantly for 9 months of the year.  It’s sure nice to see that sunshine daily!
  • Flexibility – I am not tied down with a “real job” like I had back in the States where I had to go to work on a schedule and such.  Here, I am self employed and can choose what I want to do and when I want to do it.
  • The people – there are so many caring and friendly people here, it really brightens up my day.
  • Technology – The availability of technology that was not available even 10 years ago has really liberated our life in the Philippines.  Being able to communicate easy through Skype or other VOIP services makes “where you live” pretty unimportant these days, because you can stay in touch with anybody, anywhere in the world!

There are other reasons, of course, but these are the ones that come off the top of my head.

What about you?  What are your plans for when you live in the Philippines?  Tell me about it by commenting below!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hi Bob – I suppose its vastly different from those of us living here who are still working and those of us retired. The age gap for one as mostly those of us who are retired are on average over sixty years of age or more. So I suppose general health and finances have a lot to do with forward planing as well as family commitments. Since our son got married recently I just know that my wife Marilou has a different perspective on the future with grand children in mind to say the least. As for me as long as I can eat three square meals a day and not owe anyone and still able to travel I’m quite happy. Not to be too morbid I do plan to wake up each morning for many years to come, I hope…………………
    Kind regards.
    Jim.

    • Hi Jim – Well, my friend, I hope that both you and I have many more wake ups ahead! Wouldn’t be any fun if we didn’t!

      For me, I am glad that I moved here at a young age. It worked out well for me, and I enjoy my life here.

      • hi bob,

        love your sight so imformative. wondering if you know of anybody that still works in the states but lives in philippines. for example i drive a truck and i can make enough here in 3-5 months to live there the rest of the time. ive talked to my employer and he has agreed to it witch is awsome. also my wife is from the philippines been here now for 22 years. just wondering if that would be somthing that i could do leaving and coming back like that.

  2. Bob
    I got to get there first. FL plans fell through so it may be sooner than later.
    But seeing it will not be cost effective for me to bring my Harley there in the Wife’s name I probably will pursue my other hobbies when I get there.
    I am a bit of a Old VW nut, so I will be bringing all my tools there for sure. I have built several 60s type street legal fiberglass Dune Buggies in the past so I am sure I can dig up some old VW parts to build one there. Hell you may even see me on the steets of Davao with a VW Powered Trike.
    I am Addicted to Fishing so I can see myself buying a small Bangka Boat and do some serious fishing there.
    I am in the process of buying a domain name at go daddy just in case I may want to dabble in that when I get there in RP. Kind of confusing though as I am not a computer website wizard. Recently got Skype and Vonage so I am getting better technology wise.

    • Hi Neal – Nice to hear from you. Sorry to hear that your FL plans fell through, hope to see you soon!

      Sounds like you have some good plans there! I have an Australian friend, Leon, who recently built a little dune buggy type vehicle, sounds a lot like you are doing. Leon lives here in Davao. Sounds like you and Leon need to talk and compare notes!

      If you buy that boat, you have to take me out fishing too, or I might ban you from the site! 😉 ha ha

  3. Like others I need to get there first. I see my golf game improving, I see my time with family improving, I see my stress level not being quite as prevelant, I see my children growing in different ways, I see my wife re-connectiong with her past and enjoying her present, I see myself traveling throughout Asia, I see myself growing a vegetable garden, I see myself visiting Paul T. and having a SMG once in a while. In summary I see what I think will be a good place for my family and my golf game. Ron

    • Hi Ron – It sounds like a nice life! A couple of things… first, I think it’s good to develop a plan before coming, not waiting until after you are already here to see first. That way, at least you have a roadmap to guide you and remind you of what you were hoping to achieve.

      There is only one thing I disagree with you about, which you said. You said you see your stress level going down, or not being quite as prevalent. On this… I have experienced myself, and witnessed countless others that when they come here their stress level goes way up instead of down. They can’t handle the culture, they can’t understand the language, they are faced with everything being different. What they saw on vacation turns out to not be the way life is, so they get very stressed out. I have seen people melt down and become emotionally unstable, almost go insane. This can happen for anywhere from 6 months to 5 years before you can adjust. It’s not an easy adjustment. I’ve been here 12 years, and I still have to fight adjustment at times, but certainly not like I did in the early years.

      Good luck, Ron.

    • I think Bob is right. Patience is defined differently in the Philippines. In addition to golf, you may have to take up meditation and learn effective deep breathing techniques. 😆

      • Randy;
        I guess each of us reacts differently to stress and change. We who have a military background I’ve found have an easier time adjusting. Now that is not a blanket observation as I’ve seen retired military fail here also, but for the most part they fit in well. I did all my adjusting while living in Puerto Rico, you would be surprised at the similarities between the two places. When I first started living here I followed the rules I’d learned there, and by also keeping my sense of humor and fit right in. The deep breathing I’ve found differcult, when you are trying to drink a SMB.

  4. 1 Idea i am thinking i can instigate is: Lossing weight. I plan to be “not allowed in the kitchen” after we settle in. I hope, that rather then the bag of chips and glass of milk, after coming home, I will be handed a plate with great fruits / vegies and a glass water pre made by the house hold helper. It seems I just cant do it myself here in the states. So if I can’t open the frig or the cuboard, maybe my goal of loosing weight will come true….. plus the weather should “melt” 10-20 lbs off anyway……

  5. We have something in common Bob. My wife and I were married in the Philippines (on Mindanao) in August of 1990. Our silver anniversary is in sight! A visit to PI for our silver anniversary would be great(:-)

    Glad it has worked out well for you Bob. It will be a few more years before we can think of retiring to the PI, but we are working on putting the pieces of the puzzle together to make it happen.

    Mitch, I swear by weight watchers.

  6. LOL. If you are talking about nine months of rain you have to be talking about the state of Washington. My fiance is so sick of that place!! He does not have a retirement yet, and not enough income yet from his internet business….but getting closer.

    My fiance has been to the Philippines many times and lived here for months, and not in fancy resorts or anything like that. He has taken to the culture like fish to water.

    In fact he is amazed at some of the melt down scenes he has also witnessed. It seems like far too many people VISIT the Philippines but really don’t try to learn the culture and then they try to live there. Not a good way to do it.

    Bob, you and the family are living the type of life my fiance and I really hope to live soon. I congratulate you on thinking outside the box!

  7. Well we will see if I can join you with the weight loss. I’ll be glad with dropping 50lb. Moving to PI to loose weight and live a more healthy life style is actualy one of my main goals. The wife and I should be on our “oneway ride to PI” in about 55 days (already got the 13a visa). Already got 24 LBC boxes at my sister-in-laws, and maybe 12-15 more to go. Last big garage sale this Sat. Any recomendations concerning bringing our 3 lb chawawa(sp) on the plane as hand carried.

    • Mitch, have you completed all the necessary paperwork and acquired your pet’s “passport” so to speak? We also have pets we are going to bring and the sequence of required events to make it happen is almost mind boggling. Let me know if you had any difficulties with the embassy on getting your doc’s together. Thanks in advance. 🙂

  8. Bob

    What a great thread. A good thought provoking topic. Our plan is to retire in Nov 2014 to our property on Panay. Our goal is to raise our six month old son there. Our house will be paid for as well as the car. Plan on buying a trike to putt around in. Three blocks from the beach and giving Bible lessons to those interested. This all should keep us busy.

    P.S. Fishing also…lol

  9. My plans? Nothing set in stone, though I can’t realistically see myself ever living permanently in the Philippines. With virtual law-practices being established all the time now, I can see myself being able to move there and generate income, but I am definitely hesitant to leave America until our child has at least graduated high school. By then, I will be approaching “retirement” age, and with Medicare NOT being accepted abroad and it being iffy whether I would be reimbursed from my other medical insurance through work, I’m not sure I can economically justify giving up that benefit to pay cash for care in the Philippines. Therefore, my “plan” is to eventually have a place established where my wife and I can take extended visits to the Philippines, but probably never totally settle there. But who knows, plans change!

      • Ron, yes you can go to Guam and use Medicare, but how would you do that in an emergency? Scheduled surgeries could be accomplished, but then you need to consider the cost of travel and accommodations, and time and logistics involved in doctor referrals and advance scheduling. Unless you are having major surgery, it may be cheaper to purchase Philippine Health Insurance and maybe a supplemental policy.

    • Hi Brent – By the time you retire, there may not even be medicare… only way to know is to wait and see. Health care is cheap here. For me, living here is the best option, but we all have to weigh the pros and cons.

  11. Hi Bob and Family some great comments on living there and some interesting
    replies. My brother and his family are over there from Australia at the moment having a holiday and they seem to be really happy. I am very excited and can’t wait to get there in a few months as well, I also sent you an email of one of your other websites this afternoon just as an inquiry to the WowPhilippines store and
    what you can do for me in relation to the inquiry, take care
    Philip

  12. Bob,
    Great read and very thought provoking too. I’ve been reading LIP for about three yrs now. And have taken alot of the wisdom of the writers and readers to heart.
    My planning is being finalized now. I am proud to say we have set a move date and it is Feb 2014. I retire in Aug of 2013 but we agreed that moving during the rainy season probably not a great idea. So we will get my 13a visa and spend one last Christmas in Florida then my Asawa will fly over to set up house. When she returnes we will pack our BB Boxes and leave. Time is getting close.
    Did I mention we will be there in Oct for a month to double check on things.

    • Bob,
      I’ve been planning for the last year or so for the move in 2014. I’ve been running all kinds of scenarios in my head. The biggest thing i’m worried about is health care. Will probably get a private policy through Blue Cross or another carrier, plus philhealth too. Prices are not bad for premiums. Take care and be safe

  13. Bruce, How is that Grandbaby doing? It looks like you got me beat by only 5 months now lol. Take care and looking forward to those cold SMB’m in Oct.

    • PapaDuck,
      Grandbaby doing fine Asawa is down there right now doing the gochi gochi goo stuff. 🙂 . Guys I have to get home to the PI I’m just tired of punching the clock and living this fast past robotic life. Same stuff different day.

  14. Plans? Many! I don’t know that I would call them plans exactly, but more like possibilities. Things that I think MAY help em to make a little money, or more precisely, help my wife make some money. I have some ideas of private tricycle taxi service, videoke rental services, having a small fruit farm, and raising a few pigs(maybe 10) and some chickens. Not necessarily to sell, but to raise and feed the family. Eating the fruit from the trees ourselves, providing some to family, and if there is some left over, selling at the market for resale. Or, possibly selling them in our own little sari-sari store. I have read a lot about the failures of businesses like these I mention, and I am not really looking at them as businesses, as more of a way to offest soem costs, and keep my wife and myself busy. I would also love to travel around the islands a little to get the history and culture, and take it in and try to make it part of my new culture. I plan to roll with the punches and see where it all takes me. But, retiring at 40, is a rare luxury and I plan on living life to it’s fullest regardless of what comes my way, good or bad. I blieve that God has intervened in my life to allow this to happen 10 years earlier than planned, and I intend on doing some good things while I am there.

    I also have hopes for some sort of charitable organization dealing with childrens education, and have lots of ideas, but have been railroaded from the U.S. with Filipino red tape. So, I am hoping that coming there will allow me easier access to helping the children get an education.

    There’s also an organization in Oregon that works in South America to start businesses that make concrete rocket stoves for poverty stricken areas. They provide employment for locals, sell a product at low rates which reduces the need for wood to cook, as it uses 75% less wood to cook the same amount of food, and is also safe to the touch on the outisde to reduce injuries to children. I thought that it would be GREAT for the Philippines, and might be a good place to give back to the community. They also take donations from around the world in order to provide free stoves to those that are very destitute. Another nice thing is that there is almost no smoke emitted as it is highly efficient and burns off instead of being sent into what is often a small room, so it reduces lung damage to children as well.

    So many ideas in my head, and I’m waiting until next year when I will see which of these will come to fruition. Or perhaps, something else will come to fruition once I get there and see a different need.

  15. I’m keeping my plans as flexible as possible.. but for the most part I have plenty of interests that should keep me busy. Photography, swimming, eating healthier (i love fruit/veggie smoothies) but most of all writing, both blogs and a few novels. I’m fortunate to have just a small amount of money coming in from a rental but I still need to earn money online so that will keep me busy as well. Plus.. I just want to explore and visit nearby islands doing a whole lot of nothing but some much needed walking. 🙂

  16. Yeah, Skype is great! $13 a month and $12 every 3 months gives me a local phone number in my home town back in the States and unlimited calls to landline and mobile. Clear sound also.

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