What is the reason most expats leave their respective countries? As a prospective expat, I primarily think about financial reasons and adventure, but maybe I'm just not getting this whole expat thing. I'm hoping to hear positive reasons for deciding to be an expat.
People leave their respective countries because the grass is greener on the other side. That means either the girls are easier, or the cost of living is cheaper, or the weather is nicer, or the scenery is better, or there is more adventure, or any combination or above (or more)/ Bottom line is there is no one reason why expats leave their respective countries. *** Personal Attack / Confrontational Content Removed. ***
Everyone is going to have their own reasons. At first for me it was because I thought it was cheaper to live the same lifestyle as in the US (I was wrong) and the government here has no interest in your private life so long as you don't hurt anyone else (yet to see if that trend will continue). I stayed because of the cheap booze and smokes and the "friendly nature" of the women (that got old after a couple years). Stuck around after I got tired of that because I got in a serious relationship (that ended a couple months ago after 3 1/2 years). After that I stuck around because of an investment (which isn't looking too promising at the moment) and I have also accumulated a lot of stuff that I won't walk away from.
I left looking for a cheaper and simpler lifestyle, away from all the fakers watching/judging who is and is not "keeping up with the Joneses", and the holier than thou politically correct nonsense. I also wanted to return to an adventure seeking out, living among, and understanding different cultures. *** Off-topic - Moderator deleted content removed. ***
I retired at the end of April and am planning to go there in the near future, so my perspective is one not living in the Philippines yet. First, I am worried that if I stayed here all I would do is stay at home, thinking of me not working! Second, although my retirement income is sufficient to live a more modest lifestyle, I would expect to have a comparable standard of living for less, although I know if I try to duplicate a USA lifestyle it would be very expensive. Third, going to the Philippines will be a good CTR-ALT-DEL going from a work life to a retired life. Fourth, allows my wife to partially retire also (does an asawa ever truly retire?) by getting part-time help. Fifth, an opportunity to give back. Sixth, experience other cultures and countries nearby. Seventh, maybe this old Kano can learn Bisaya! Eighth, live a simpler lifestyle. Ninth, enjoy and appreciate the Philippine land, culture and people! Got many more. We will do a trial run of about two years and if we thing the positives outweigh the negatives then we may make the Philippines our permenant home. We feel that two years is about the right time. Gary
I could retire now at 54, but choose to stick it out till 58. I can easily just remain in the West till my end days but the decision to move to the Philippines is to fish, dive the reefs of Asia. Will kick over to Australia, mosey up to Thai land, and other Asian Countries. All in all the reason is to travel, stock a farm and lay back!
I leave for the Philippines to live in 10 days so my prospective is from someone going to live there. Last year I was at the end of my marriage and I knew a change was needed. I made the decision to live closer to the ocean. I looked into Florida but the costs are too high for my meager pension. I looked into Mexico, Panama, Ecuador but didn't find anything on the internet that suited me. I've always liked Asian women and wanted to visit Thailand . Thailand's visa situation didn't look good so I looked at Cambodia next, I read somewhere it's the most landmined country in the world so no thank you. Vietnam didn't feel right because of the war even though I joined the military after the war in 1979. When I found out the Philippines had 7,107 islands and spoke English I wanted to try it. Then I found out about the girls being willing to date older men I said bonus. I'm 55 and dating a filipina who is 47. So I'm not interested in 20 year old girls but to each their own. A 3 month test run convinced me to try living in the Philippines. I will take a one month vacation in Japan before heading to Dumaguete. That's my boring story of why I'm moving there.
I think for most it comes to the same reasons while may flip around which is the top reasons depending on who. For me, I'm a disabled veteran on disability compensation. My compensation every month was enough for decent food and a nice apartment in the states but that is about as far as it would stretch most months due to costs of living. If I wanted to go to the movies or out to eat I had to budget it carefully. Due to by status it was very hard finding a decent gal as while I got a check I wasn't moving upwards financially, didn't have a car, and pretty much seen as undesirable to western women unless I wanted an older woman with a couple of kids who was desperate. So the top two reasons for me in the Philippines was financial freedom where I can do things within reason whenever I want without always having to look and worry on the bank account and then a woman that didn't have all the big materialistic and financial demands most western women do. Beyond that it was also wanting to see and experience something new and different.
I came to the Philippines because all the competition for getting laid here is twice my age and twice my belt size. Shooting fish in a barrel.
