Anyone planning to live in the Phils one day?

[Arthur Little]

As another who has already 'made it' ... in terms of being retired, that is ... I'd have to say, "Sorry, count ME out!". And yes, having reached this elderly stage of my life, I'm grateful for the existence of the British NHS. But there's an infinitely more important reason for my reluctance to uproot - one which I explained to another [middle-aged] British chap whom I befriended when I first visited the Phils in 2008, and who, having decided to remain there for the rest of his life ... tried, in vain, to entice me into doing likewise - and it's simply this: I couldn't bear the thought of being separated from my immediate family and miss watching my grandchildren grow up.

And last ... though not necessarily least ... I don't think my body would ever be able to adjust to either the constant humidity or the food (no offence!) - even though the people themselves are lovely!!

[aposhark]

As another who has already 'made it' ... in terms of being retired, that is ... I'd have to say, "Sorry, count ME out!". And yes, having reached this elderly stage of my life, I'm grateful for the existence of the British NHS. But there's an infinitely more important reason for my reluctance to uproot - one which I explained to another [middle-aged] British chap whom I befriended when I first visited the Phils in 2008, and who, having decided to remain there for the rest of his life ... tried, in vain, to entice me into doing likewise - and it's simply this: I couldn't bear the thought of being separated from my immediate family and miss watching my grandchildren grow up.

And last ... though not necessarily least ... I don't think my body would ever be able to adjust to either the constant humidity or the food (no offence!) - even though the people themselves are lovely!!

Hi Arthur,

Thanks for your comments.
I can understand where you're coming from.
My UK family is small (no children) and my children will be Fil-Brits so I am looking at all possibilities.
The imminent arrival of our first born is, at my tender age of 53, making me look at all possibilities.

[Doc Alan]

As another who has already 'made it' ... I'm grateful for the existence of the British NHS... I couldn't bear the thought of being separated from my immediate family and miss watching my grandchildren grow up.

... I don't think my body would ever be able to adjust to either the constant humidity or the food (no offence!) - even though the people themselves are lovely!!

This thread and the responses really strike a serious chord with me. We've just suffered a dreadful cold winter here in the UK, and other threads discuss "Broken Britain". I have over 30 years of interest and affection for the Philippines and Malaysia since working there. Yet I don't want to live there permanently, for similar reasons to Arthur. I do have a girlfriend in Manila. But I want to make sure she really wants to live here, and this sort of discussion should rightly go on between all couples from UK and Philippines in serious relationships

[Sim11UK]

I couldn't bear the thought of being separated from my immediate family and miss watching my grandchildren grow up.

Arthur, what about Myrna's immediate family?
I'm not having a go at you, but sometimes we just seem to expect to drag our other halves, from the other side of the globe, to over here.

My wife absolutely loves the Philippines, she dosen't want to leave it really.

Like many here, ideally I'd love to be able to spend time between the two.

[keithAngel]

Im still looking for the wealthy Filipina thats drop dead georgeous and owns a brewery but in the mean time my guess is the vast majority would like to live in the Phils whilst having the reletively secure lifestyle of the west me to

[aposhark]

Im still looking for the wealthy Filipina thats drop dead georgeous and owns a brewery but in the mean time my guess is the vast majority would like to live in the Phils whilst having the reletively secure lifestyle of the west me to

Keith, if she was "drop dead georgeous and owns a brewery" you may end up being pd and she'd be off

[keithAngel]

Keith, if she was "drop dead georgeous and owns a brewery" you may end up being pd and she'd be off

Palihogd ? Pleased ? " and she'd be off " is a reference to my unstated third wish I take it

[Sim11UK]

Any plans for another 6 month stay out there Keith

I like your income generating ideas.

[Steve.r]

For me, I am looking for a new beginning, a re-start. My life here in the UK means nothing to me anymore. Ok, I have family here, one brother and his family, aunts, uncles etc, you know the ones you see at funerals only. But only my parents talk to me, well, they have to I live with them, so not looking back anymore. Since meeting my Mahal in Singapore and my trip to Phils last year, and looking forward to my trip next month, I feel that I am ready to accept a real change. I have traveled over the world, been an expat in a past life, so I understand the challenges of trying to settle in a vastly different place.
My girlfriend already owns a large lot, has a house and a sari sari store which she want to expand. Her uncle is a respected businessman and has offered to help us set up a small farming business alongside his own.
I feel I am at the right time of life to make the move, I guess falling in love opened my eyes to a future that I had always dreamed of.
Ok, I accept it will be difficult, but what if I dont do it? what if I dont make the effort? The last thing I want to do in ten years time is ask myself why I didnt do it.

[aposhark]

.........The last thing I want to do in ten years time is ask myself why I didnt do it.

Go for it Steve.r

You are free as a bird and can achieve whatever you want if you keep enthusiasm in your mind and hard work in your hands.

I for one would be very interested to read here about your continuing venture.

The love of a good woman is worth more than anything.

[Steve.r]

Go for it Steve.r

You are free as a bird and can achieve whatever you want if you keep enthusiasm in your mind and hard work in your hands.

I for one would be very interested to read here about your continuing venture.

The love of a good woman is worth more than anything.

Hard work and enthusiasm + the love of a good woman, never hurt anyone. Of course I will a log of what I achieve, not going to be an overnight thing, and may take me a while to make it work, but having the goal/dream is the first step.

'Never forget your dreams, and a problem can always be solved' is how I look at life now.

thanks aposhark

[Arthur Little]

Arthur, what about Myrna's immediate family?
I'm not having a go at you, but sometimes we just seem to expect to drag our other halves, from the other side of the globe, to over here.

My wife absolutely loves the Philippines, she dosen't want to leave it really.

Like many here, ideally I'd love to be able to spend time between the two.

Well, Simon ... it's a long story - but, to cut it short (and without wishing to appear in any way ... ... egotistical) let me tell you about Myrna's response to a question one of my friends put to her fairly recently. Asked if she was enjoying being here in Perth, she replied: "Oh yes ... but then, I'd be happy to live anywhere - even in darkest Africa - as long as I had Arthur beside me!"

What a lovely thing to say ... and that's taking into account, the harsh winter we've suffered! Needless to say, I was extremely touched by this beautiful sentiment!

As regards her immediate relatives ... well, Myrna happens to be the 'only girl' in a family of five [surviving] brothers - all of whom are married with their own children - and she keeps in regular touch with them online and via Webcam. Sadly, her parents are now both deceased; she herself had been widowed early, with no kids to bring up.

And ... that's it, basically!

[Steve.r]

as long as I had Arthur beside me!"

You are truely a lucky man Arthur

[Arthur Little]

You are truely a lucky man Arthur

... I am indeed, Steve!

[keithAngel]

... I am indeed, Steve!

Not Arthur Fun here tonight

[Sim11UK]

Well, Simon ... it's a long story - but, to cut it short (and without wishing to appear in any way ... ... egotistical) let me tell you about Myrna's response to a question one of my friends put to her fairly recently. Asked if she was enjoying being here in Perth, she replied: "Oh yes ... but then, I'd be happy to live anywhere - even in darkest Africa - as long as I had Arthur beside me!"

What a lovely thing to say ... and that's taking into account, the harsh winter we've suffered! Needless to say, I was extremely touched by this beautiful sentiment!

Will you be staying on the forum, when you move to darkest Africa?

A beautiful sentiment indeed, from Myrna.

Sorry Arthur I wasn't really having a go at you, but just a difficult situation, for many of us to be in.
...It's not always the often assumed case, that everyone is desperate to leave the Philippines. My wife would love it, if we could just live there simply, she's certainly not materialistic & neither am I.

On the other hand, she has never been anywhere else, so maybe her eyes will be opened, to other possibilities.

[Arthur Little]

Will you be staying *on the forum, when you move to darkest Africa?

Aha ... that's a dark secret! Staying *IN a tree house, I should imagine! But seriously ... it'll depend on whether there's internet access in the jungle for a cheeky monkey like me!

[Doc Alan]

... Myrna's response to a question one of my friends put to her fairly recently. Asked if she was enjoying being here in Perth, she replied: "Oh yes ... but then, I'd be happy to live anywhere - even in darkest Africa - as long as I had Arthur beside me!"

I'm not surprised Arthur, from all I know about you. I think you have said you communicated with Myrna for a year before meeting her, and I'm sure you would have discussed many times the question of where to live. It's so fundamental to a relationship to have that understanding.

[Arthur Little]

I'm not surprised Arthur, from all I know about you. I think you have said you communicated with Myrna for a year before meeting her, and I'm sure you would have discussed many times the question of where to live. It's so fundamental to a relationship to have that understanding.

You're right, Alan ... we DID; and it IS! And so, after three weeks spent in one another's company, Myrna decided to relinquish a lucrative and successful teaching career spanning 22 years ... which, I admit, greatly perturbed me at first. But such is the "tug of the heartstrings" that we each recognised our respective destinies lay together - wherever that might be, and whatever sacrifice(s) it would entail.

And so it came to pass ...

[Troubadour]

I am paying for the education of my children in the Philippines. I do not know if Immigration would allow them to settle in the UK. Also I am unsure if there is a future available for them in the UK. If they get on ok at school in Phili then they may well have the option of the USA or emerging China (if the US continues to tank as it is).

Personally I find the UK to be the most overpriced nation of uptight petty-minded fools that will not abandon a sense of overimportance born at a time when we had an empire.

If I was Scandinavian, Dutch or some other less evil nation I would stay where I am, but as things stand I will emigrate the first chance I get.

OK, so maybe you live longer in the UK, but what is the point if you are not happy

[keithAngel]

I am paying for the education of my children in the Philippines. I do not know if Immigration would allow them to settle in the UK. Also I am unsure if there is a future available for them in the UK. If they get on ok at school in Phili then they may well have the option of the USA or emerging China (if the US continues to tank as it is).

Personally I find the UK to be the most overpriced nation of uptight petty-minded fools that will not abandon a sense of overimportance born at a time when we had an empire.

If I was Scandinavian, Dutch or some other less evil nation I would stay where I am, but as things stand I will emigrate the first chance I get.

OK, so maybe you live longer in the UK, but what is the point if you are not happy

Evil or not your kids if you are a Brit have the right to British Citizenship and regardless of where they go to school or eventualy want to live this would give them access to the UK and all of Europe