Best Posts in Thread: Exit Plans

Exit plans, an overreaction I think. Because you can't smoke in public; already a law, bars to close at midnight, how could we possibly survive. In the UK we had laws introduced to allow 24 hour drinking in bars and clubs, as the view was that people wouldn't rush their drinks before closing time. Unfortunately, the result was drinking at the same rate over a longer period. The explosion in assaults and criminality exploded, police were unable to cope and law abiding members of the public stayed away from bars and restaurants. For most of us here with families would welcome a more disciplined and safer environment. People are overreacting to what Duterte may or may not do. Just wait and see as I'm sure that he will have to moderate his views and statements. People I know whom have visited Davao, say that it is one of the safest and well organised cities in the Philippines, although I must admit that I have never been there.

 

A huge component in the freedom you feel is a lack of enforcement. There are lots of laws, but little enforcement. The U.S. feels less free because the U.S. has the resources to enforce laws. The U.S. even has the resources to hound people overseas for not filing tax returns and to hit foreign banks with fees for not reporting accounts for U.S. residents.

I'm thinking what happens in Manila largely stays in Manila. For example, last I checked, poker was regulated by the state owned PAGCOR, which has a monopoly on gambling in the Philippines. In Dumaguete, none of the poker games have licenses with PAGCOR as far as I know. The games that do exist are allowed to run at the whim of the big wigs here. If you are messing with someone else's cheese, then you will get a phone call. PAGCOR enforces these regulations in Manila. Outside of Manila, it's anything goes unless you are doing something big enough to attract attention.

This is a cycle you can't get away from. Politicians create laws. Resources enable the politicians to enforce these laws. As long as the Philippines is resource starved, then these laws won't get enforced.

Of course, the above issue is also on Duterte's agenda. I believe part of the reason he wants to get rid of congress is so that he can setup a system which will give more power to regions outside Manila. As it stands, Manila is the ivory tower collecting rent from the rest of the nation. He wants to end corruption, which is part of the problem for lack of resources.

If you don't live in Manila, you won't be bothered by these laws.

 

Ahhh the trouble with getting older. I no longer drink after midnight, nor smoke, so the only change for me is that I may notice things are quieter here.

But I do agree that an exit plan is a good idea. Makes me wonder about buying a condo though. Just a dream at the moment but owning a condo (or anything you cannot pack in a suitcase) is not conducive to a quick exit.

 

What is interesting reading the DI Forum and living in the area is that their are so many different lifestyles among the foreigners. That provides different points of views and opinions to ponder. Most would probably not enjoy my lifestyle and I would probably not enjoy the late night bar scene. No worries, do what you feel like doing and enjoy. We are all adults and have to manage risks. I am more nervous riding on the Dgte-Bacong highway during the day than I would going into a late night bar.
In the military we always tried to go out with a couple buddies to enjoy the evening entertainment, seemed safer.

 

So how many on here now, were drinking between 1 AM and 6 AM this morning? Raise your hand, high. If you are too hungover to raise your hand, , then send a post when you sober up. Please remember if you were unable to function today because of last night/early morning's activities, you are falling behind in your alcohol consumption today already. It is time to sober up and get drunk again before you miss out on another 5 hours stretch of non-public drinking time.

 

At least the Philippines still has restrooms for men and women. I think the US is going to end up going to men's, women's and whatever's.

 

I would not be packing my bag yet.

There are a lot of laws announced, but let us wait and see what happens. If you look at the elementary school children and how they act in regards to littering consider that it will take decades to get the society here to accept and implement these laws, even if there is police enforcement. School children are not taught that littering is bad or that plastic trash kills fish in the ocean (or if they are taught they forget when they walk outside the class room - note the sari-sari stores located by schools and the trash surrounding them). Once you get outside Dumaguete it is still the willy wild west here, with very relaxed enforcement.

But OMG what if they have strict enforcement of the smoking ban like they do here in Dumaguete now? Remember how proud the Mayor was when he passed the no smoking ordinance. There are nice big signs on the entries to the City proclaiming Dumaguete a no smoking town, which make for a nice show, but how many tickets have been given for non-smoking here. How many smokers have been confronted? I was told (so rumor: not fact) the food establishment that the mayor here owns has a smoking section and it is one of the only "legal" smoking areas in town. Politics and economics is still going to be more important than law enforcement here for a long time, in Dumaguete and the Philippines as a whole. It is the attitude of the citizens that will make a difference, not necessarily the enforcers, who sit on the street corners and wave to their friends. Duerete has some good ideas, but he was still voted into office with less than 40% of the people voting for him. It will take a long time to see most things change. Do not pack yet....
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He doesn't think much of Philippines, I think his travels here were limited. It's also interesting to review the other places he doesn't care for, like Vilcabamba, Ecuador. The street scenes, compared with here, are another world. The gringos complain of smog when one pickup drives by. It's fun to make a list of other places to consider but let's hope we never need them.

 

Sounds like those laws are already enacted in a couple of cities in the States (Davis, California comes to mind re:the smoking thing).

On a national level and as an ex-pat living as a foreign body in another country, freedom to and freedom from are important factors to weigh.

In my mind, I have the following places around your region to keep in mind should I begin to feel cramped:

Cambodia
Vietnam
N. Thailand
Guam (if I have to stay inside US soil)

It's easy to get a Cambodia VISA - easy to renew.

Vietnam has just recently relaxed it's VISA process, too. I have American friends who have lived in VN for 10 years now. They are a regular, everyday-looking Cuacasian couple. They live just fine, eat well, and are able to regionally travel about on less than 1,500 USD per month. Both smoke cigs and drink socially (don't live in the bars, but drink with their meals). Another person I know (US male Caucasian) lives in Cambodia on even less than that.

There is an English-speaking university in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where about 10% of the total population of CM are ex-pats from all over the world. There is also a world class hospital there (thanks to Warren Buffet - the 3rd richest man from the USA). He had property up there (may still have for all I know). I know I'd move there as I've been there, and like the elevated and less tropical climate zone of N. Thailand (still hot but less so than in Bangkok). I like their religious/social holday spirit throughout the year (Buddhist).

It's good to have a sure knowledge of where to go if TSHTF.

V/R,
nwlivewire

 

HAHAHA

You are so right my friend.

So very right!

I suppose at my age, I've already played through a deck or two and am just starting this hand from a new deck.

I think when my spouse died suddenly, that game ended, and for these past few years "the Dealer" was busy re-shuffling the deck (sometimes I think with me in it). Good Grief!

Life for me was very unsettling for awhile as everything most folks consider "major" just happened to hit me all at once (son off to the Navy, death of spouse, myself injured in service, death of best friend, etc). 12 months of pure hell, never-ending multiple losses, with feelings of deep sorrow, pain, and anguish. Took me five years to get to an even keel again from those life quakes, and it seemed during that time, even the smallest ripple of an after-shock was likely to capsize my boat.

But for sure, I've now got a new hand dealt to me and am greatful for this. Just now looking at these new cards in my hand, sizing up my chip stack, watching the players, and determining the size of my bet.

Just being patient now and waiting my turn, knowing I've paid off almost all my backers (still working on the IRS - but not for much longer). And I do my best to focus on the here and now, all the while remembering and valuing the steps I've taken to come this far.

For sure, I'm not getting any younger. But I do want to play my hand wisely so my Son can take over my seat and stack when I'm gone and hopefully, give him something to play with.

The forestry agriculture thing I want to do is a win-win situation for my family. I get to have my outdoors "Jones fix", be close enough to the ocean to go fishing when I want to, and I get to leave something for my Son that he'll be able to use when he gets old - and/or his kids, too. In the meantime, they can always come down to visit Granny Annie. I'll only be a few hours by plane - still in the same Earth quadrant as they're in.

But yepper yepper. Not getting any younger. And I'm doing everything I can to be patient for these last few months while I finish breaking these large rocks into smaller ones.

My freedom is near!

V/R,
nwlivewire