Best Posts in Thread: Retirement plans

I moved there (Dumaguete) in 2009 with my Filipino husband not knowing how long I would be there. He was terminally ill and wanted to go home to die, so we uprooted us and our 10 year old daughter and made the leap. It was very hard the first couple of years, I missed Oklahoma and my family terribly. My mother, my older daughter, her husband and my granddaughter were all in Oklahoma. I learned to adapt to the ways and became to love the people, which isn't difficult at all. My daughter and I returned to Oklahoma a year after my husband passed. If I had had a permanent monthly income I probably would have stayed, but I had to come back to go back to work. We have been back 4 years now. I have no regrets at all of moving to the Philippines, I feel very fortunate to have had that experience, and I know that I could live there when I retire, which is something I am seriously considering, but that is several years away. My daughter considers Dumaguete her home, as that is where she spent her most formative years, plus she has many family members and close friends there. She is saving money to make a trip back next year, possibly.
I would say if you are concerned about your health as you age, then your plan is probably a sound one. It is difficult to find medical care there that you find here, especially if you need specialized care. But spending a few years there so that your wife can be with her family and you can experience life there, that would be very rewarding and I am sure you would not regret it. You might even find that you don't wish to return.

 

Great stuff in this thread - one of the worthwhile threads I have read over the years!

As to the kids visiting, each have different experiences. I am from Australia and have 2 kids 31 and 28 years old and whilst their first trip was last Xmas/NYE. I have one returning with his girlfriend in September and both coming with partners to my 60th in Manila in November with the other coming back to Dumaguete/Valencia afterwards with her boyfriend. They both love it here, love my chilled life and all looking to make this a base for further adventures from around here. They can't get enough of it and love it because they get free board and opportunities to explore a truly incredible area filled with natural beauty which is relatively cheap to experience.

It goes without saying but seeing them happy here makes me ecstatic.

 

I fully understand where you are coming from - you want assurances before you change your 'comfort zone' to another place. But life does not work like that - you might as well ask people here what YOU should choose from the menu when at a restaurant. You are an individual and, as such, will have different worries and different coping methods. Best to just flow in the river that you find when you get there - if medical emergencies arise then decide at that time how best to deal with them and, depending on your ability to travel due to the illness, where to get treated. If you feel you want to stay forever then do so (but I know of someone who was certain in his mind to stay in the Philippines forever but after 30 years went back to the USA for the benefit of his Filipino family who all wanted to live there) but if, after any period of time, you decide you prefer the US then go back. Life is a risk from the moment of conception and it is best when we don't plot our future too much - far too many unknowns for that. Instead look at it as now having many choices - they are yours for the picking, depending on how YOU feel, not how anyone else feels about living in Dumaguete or the Philippines.

I know all about this - your thinking is identical to mine before I moved to the Philippines. I found many things I had feared turned out to be just fine. Like many people, my only regret is not moving sooner.

 

The best answers for your questions will be answered by you as everyone is different. The best way for you to answer your questions is to come here for a 3-6 month stay and try it on for size. If it turns out to not be your thing, well you already planned on returning. If it turns out you love it, go back, adjust your affairs for a long term stay while spending time with the kids, and return.

 

With not knowing fully what your expectations are I have always found it better to go with the Flow, Not always easy but not impossible. Expect Problems daily in the Early years until you find the best way to cope, Here the PI is not to everyone's Liking but again many of us older hands have come to terms with things. Now retired for 6+ years I remember a saying from many " Life, is not a Rehearsal, it is for living" so I live it and Love it!

 

Family can be so fickle, I lived in Spain for nigh on 20 years and only 2 hours flight time from the UK. Never in all those years did any of the 3 of them ever think to come see me yet stayed up the coast on the "Costas" Now I am here and here I will stay I do not think they will venture this far, Sad to say but They have all made their own Beds ( Mainly with a lot of help from Dad) but seems no need to Bother so with a shoulder shrug I am now of the same Opinion, Kids you know where I am But.......... I will not hold my Breath

 

I have found in the 12 years I lived in the Philippines that some foreigners come here, particularly to Dumaguete, they arrive with unrealistic expectations. Might be cost of living, girl friends, weather, culture, food, whatever. Making the adjustment is difficult for most, so they leave while others find it is suitable to them. Many single guys experience girl friends who want financial support for their families or maybe cheat on them, married guys too! Medical concerns are high on the worry list. Dumaguete may not be the best place in the Philippines to experience an adventure, other than diving. All depends what you want at this stage of your life. Personally, if I was single, I would not live in this area.

 

I currently reside in the US and I'd like to get some experiences from those of you that have retired to the Philippines. My plan is to spend for 5-10 years in the Philippines during retirement and then return the US as I get later in age. The reason for coming back would be medical reasons and for my children. I'm sure this is different for each person, but for those who have been there, I'm curious what your plans are and also what you have seen other retirees/expats do. My reason for retiring in the Philippines would be just looking for a change/adventure and an opportunity for my wife who has been in the US for 20 years to spend time with her parents before they pass. Some questions would be things like: What percent of people who retire to the Philippines die in the Philippines? What percent don't like the Philippines and return home? What percent leave the Philippines do so for medical reasons. When I say percent, I'm just asking for an opinion based on your experience, so nothing scientific. I'm curious if it normal to retire to the Philippines with the intent to leave or most people retire there with the intent to die there.

 

Please do not worry about the percentages. These type of generalities do not apply to specific situations. If you are part of the 1% that needs things one way it does not matter that 99% need it another.

I would suggest maintaining a health connection to the USA. Complex health solutions like complex surgeries, joint replacements, complex chemotherapy are not as good here as the USA. I have also found that diagnostics in the USA are much more thorough than here. My frame of reference is a colonoscopy and polyp removal. Perhaps the greater cost of healthcare (reward to doctors) in the US leads to doctors working harder to find issues.

Being close to family is a big deal anywhere but more so here in the Philippines. You too will be rewarded with the warmth of being with family even if they are not directly your own.