Holy Father Forgive me for I have sinned!

I got old!

 

I will say many Hail Mary’s and live with the consequences of my sin. May I digress?

 

I left college to work in construction. I was attracted by the rewards of work and get the cash instead of the corporate we pay less now but in the long run the compensation will be more.

 

I met my Lady love and we made a home of love and “security”. $2. Per hour for how every many hours you could work in a week. I think we were happy for a time and had 3 lovely children but some how, when the work stopped, I wandered to find work and along with work I found a world full of new opportunities. Beer and escapades of the night became the norm. Much different than the pay the mortgage and car payment world in which I lived.

 

It took a tornado to change my life but it did. I Made $100. Before noon. Then 2 days of party, then work for 2 days and make $400. I had cash in my pocket and in 3 weeks I was rich with 3 months wages in tow! I went home to discover that when I left my marriage had expired! With one last “roll in the sack” I was alone and discovered loneliness. “Beware men your friends do and will lie on you”. Loneliness is only real when you don’t want to be alone.

 

Now 30 years and another marriage gone awry at the age of 62 I am filled with consternation because I Want To Retire! However the accumulation of 40 years of working for a living my wealth leaves me only the option of living in poverty perhaps only as a homeless and vulnerable loner. To my undeveloped vocabulary retire means stop working for a living. However my option seems only to continue working perhaps a reduced schedule and reduced pay rate. Is that retirement and my reward for working more than 40 years while contributing to Social Security? Then Bah Humbug. Perhaps my faith in the United States Government has been misplaced as many of my friends have tried to convince me since my college years in the 60’s.

 

While going through my email a couple years ago I was attracted to a “dating” site with girls from around the world. While many of the ads were proved to be fictitious I searched a few more sites and found an abundance of girls that wanted to meet and marry an American. These sites had “live chat” even some offered live web cam so you could see who you were chatting with. While some of these girls were just “gold diggers” those soon lost interest in a 60 year old gold less man. While others were truly interested in meeting a man from another culture for possible marriage. True many of  these were primarily interested in getting married to get a visa to the US some were truly looking for a soul mate a lifetime partner even if you didn’t plan to bring them to the US. I met several who seemed serious about me and planned a trip to meet them. Yes at 61 years old I got on an airplane and flew half way around the world to a place called the Philippine Islands.

 

What I found in the Philippine Islands was a shock to this “old mans eyes”. A land where English is widely spoken, in fact the only language spoken through out the country. There are many local languages but the language of education is English. I found a people very accepting of foreigners even kind and generous with what little they have. Yes they are most accepting of Americans because of a long time presence of the US military there in the islands. I said I went to meet several I had chatted with but the first one was a stand out. I was taken by her innocence and her openness. She even told me after a couple of days, “If you are really going to retire soon why couldn’t you retire here?” I had presumed her interest in me was predicated by her desire to migrate to the US. We had lengthy discussions of the possibilities of retiring in the Philippines.

 

When I returned to the US to resume my lonely and boring life of work and sleep. I began to search the internet for information about life for Americans in the Philippines. I found a wealth of information much of which was offered by foreigners currently retired and living there.

 

I then decided to check on the possibilities of getting my Social Security while living in another country. I ran an inquiry as to the amount I would receive if I were to take retirement at 62. I was aghast to discover after more than 45 years of working and being “forced” to pay into social security and my employer also had to contribute on my behalf. The sum per month would be only $625. This “Paltry Pension” was insufficient to sustain life here in the US. However, would it be possible to live in The Philippines on this income? Finally there was a silver lining in this cloud called “living after retirement”. The Philippines is indeed a very poor country and the locals live on much less but I am accustomed to living with a degree of comfort and would not be interested in living as a poor peasant in a foreign country. Would my “Paltry Pension” be sufficient to live the same degree of comfort I am accustomed to here on my working income? NO! Would it afford me more pleasant living conditions than trying to live in the US on this “Paltry Pension”? Most Assuredly!

 

For instance: In Cebu City , A modern city of possibly 1 million people, an apartment with utilities may be $100. - $200. You can buy local produce and products to feed you and keep you comfortable for another $150.-$200. Per month. Dinner at a nice restaurant perhaps $5. A taxi ride across town $3-5. A visit to the Dr. for advice on an illness $6. (Prescription Medications are comparable to US prices) Many perhaps most of the Dr.’s and medical personnel are US trained and certified. Automobiles are very expensive to buy and maintain, if you must be mobile Motorcycles are much less expensive however they are much more vulnerable in a country without good traffic control and huge traffic jams.

 

All of these prices are approximate and accurate to the information I have accumulated. These prices are also less than what it would cost in Manila and more than it could cost to live in a small village in the province. In the city a housekeeper can be hired for approximately $40 per month, In many cases this may lead to a more permanent situation if you and she are so inclined.

 

While this may not be the solution for all retiring men who have been disappointed with the prospects of retirement, this old man is looking forward to the adventure of retirement instead of fearing the inevitable poverty of retiring on Social Security in the US. I don’t intend to live on Cat food and sandwiches passed out by the ministries to the homeless, nor does sleeping in underpasses warmed only by newspapers and discarded cardboard boxes bring me comfort.

 

Yes I will retire on schedule to a less than luxurious life style. I will lollygag on the beaches of the more than 7000 islands of the Philippines. I will be snacking on the pineapples and mangos which are abundant there. While the locals live on dried fish and rice it is cheap and nourishing. If that titillates your taste buds, good you can live much more inexpensively. However if your taste requires American products and other imported goods then your food will be a much larger percentage of your monthly cost of living. A Filipina, whether hired or otherwise entangled, can shop more cheaply than you. She will be your friend and watch your back, and she will be your best advisor in all things Filipino. O yes most can speak English pretty well.

 

I will be available for advice and assistance once I am in the Philippines. You can check out my website at www.singlemenover50.com or email me at jerryscafeservices@yahoo.com

 

Ages and ages hence,
You'll tell it with a sigh:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all of the difference.

Robert Frost

IF YOU ARE OVER THE HILL

(GOOD)

THAT MEANS YOU AREN'T UNDER THE HILL

(YET)

SO YOU CAN STILL RETIRE

WHERE YOU ARE THE

KING OF THE HILL!

Romance and Retirement!

Maybe not a concept you have even dreamed of. Many of us just hope we can find a safe clean place to live out the years after we quit working.

We have heard our Social Security will reduce us to eating cat food and living in a dark and gloomy atmosphere where we will be lonely and either abused or neglected. Did you know there is a place where maturity is admired! Where love and loyality are valued over handsome and hunky, Yes where you could be spoiled instead of abused below is one man's experience! He says he lives like a king!

Check out this link

We have every reason to believe because we didn't save every spare penny and do without the extras we will need to do without food and comfort when we retire. We dream of eating and safety not maids and attentive companions.

This link could change your opinion

Interested! Well perhaps a bit of practical information is in order. When you go to a new culture even finding a place to rent or buy can be a scary experience. We have some practical information for you. Most of the experiences here are by foreign retired men living in Paradise!

Check this link about rentals!

Many men become interested in moving to the Philippines because they have been chatting on line with a charming and beautiful younger Filipina. They have been completely captured by the fantasy of having such a lovely and caring creature in their lives. Allow your self to dream but dream with more information and some caution. Check out the next link with an open mind. We are not denouncing your lovely lady but there are some pitfalls.

Better safe than sorry

click here

However just a thought but I wouldn't move to Billings Montana or Miami Florids or even Los Angeles California unless I had visited there!

Click here for more

These Girls would enjoy an email and you could invite them to chat on msn or messenger!

My first  month of retirement in Cebu City, Philippine Islands

I am Jerry Worthington, 62, from Phoenix, Az. I just retired Sept 1 and, due to a spotted work history and early retirement, my SS income will be in the lower range of the generally considered “required to live income” for a foreigner in the Philippines. ($600. per month). On September 13, 2006, I left from Dallas Airport on the trip I had planned for more than a year. My quest was to relocate for a time to Cebu City and to enjoy the company of my Honey Ko, whom I had visited one time for a week and chatted with nearly daily for the last 2 years.

Arrival

I arrived in Cebu City on Cathay Pacific from L.A. on schedule, September 14 about noon. I cleared customs and the visa process, which went very smoothly, if not rapidly. (The facility in Cebu City is not geared to very large flights.) However, in less than an hour, I was outside, looking for that radiant smile and those sparkling brown eyes of my Filipina Princess. The reunion was again not swift but accomplished after the short delay required for her to fight the crowds and get to my location. Step 1 was complete: I was now safely encircled in the loving arms and care of my Honey Ko.

We had reservations at the Fuente Pensione House ($20-$40.per night, walking distance from Robinsons mall), so we hurried off because I was now 36 hours without the benefit of shower and other facilities. We rested and took a light dinner in the upstairs restaurant and bar.

The next day was fully scheduled for visiting some Internet cafes I had been associated with because of my website. My schedule was shortly useless, as the travel time was much greater than the allotted times for the visits. (A very short distance on the map can take 30 minutes.) The first day was enjoyable, but frustrating, because I had planned my first few days to be fruitful and financially productive. They were neither—they were just frustrating and exhausting. After a couple days of this we rested a day and begin to search out a less expensive, more permanent home.

Permanent Lodgings

An associate pointed out a subdivision on Mectan Island where reportedly a house could be purchased for $150. per month. We spent a day with the realtor, only to discover that a new house there is bare walls and floors and nothing more. The down payment was ridiculous, and the agreement would have required a Philadelphia lawyer a month to untangle. This was also aggravated by the fact I was a “kano” and my Honey Ko hadn’t been gainfully employed for the last 5 years.

Next we chose the rental route. She had noted a house for rent near her home in Talisey City. We checked it out, and from the street it appeared to be suitable. With a phone call we were able to make contact with the owners and could meet them the next day to view the house. We met and viewed it. The house was primitive but adequate. They wanted a one-year lease and a three-month deposit. I offered first month plus a one-month deposit and a six-month lease. I think the $200 American cash present turned the tables. We had rented a 2 bedroom, half bath house for $100 per month with occupancy in 2 days. (Perhaps the delay was for cleanup?)

The House

The house sits halfway up the side of a mountain, but there are paved streets. From what I could see it was roughly 500+ sq ft., with two small bedrooms, a larger living room/dining area, a “dirty” kitchen and a separate shower facility. One bedroom had an air conditioner (an absolute requirement). The front porch is an area roughly the same size as the house with a high steel roof and what was once a cement floor.

Then there were the things I couldn’t see. The plumbing for the shower, commode, and sink were not operable—and the water is available only 1 or 2 hours per day. The first day we were able to get a plumber to “Filipino rig” a shower, which cost about $50. A bucket in the commode accommodated flushing. Add a cheap toilet seat from the mall and a roll of tissue—voila, a fully functioning comfort room! (My girlfriend had lived her life with a “thunder hole” and a hand pump. We are living large!)

Kano Education

Pros:

• My neighbor (two doors down) is Paul Boling. He is a retired navy chief and a very nice guy. He, his very lovely wife, Anna, and Baby Geneva have become fast friends and valued companions. I am confident Anna and Stella have already exchanged all intimate details of the breeding and care of the ensnared “kano” pets in their possession.
• The people here smile constantly. When passing a scene which makes me cringe with anxiety because of the obvious poverty, the children will be laughing and playing with a rock and a stick, and the adults in residence will be laughing and smiling and in general apparently oblivious to their plight.

Con:

• The only exception to the everybody smiling rule is the beggars. They have chosen their profession because of how pathetic and sad they can appear upon demand.
• Public transportation requires a lot of walking. I have arthritis and this presents some obstacles.
• Lizards are horny creatures and make weird noises, day and night, trying to attract their next lover.
• Cats and dogs are sorely mistreated as are the children and the “more poor”.
• Hubel - Hubels are just as dangerous as they appear and even noisier in the middle of the night.
• Horns are incessant. They are sounded when approaching any corner as a warning to other travelers or at any animal or obstacle in the roadway ahead. They are sometimes sounded to attract the attention of “cute” pedestrians or for no apparent reason at all. The only time a taxi driver stops sounding his horn is while passing a catholic church or shrine. He then removes both hands from the steering wheel, bows his head and crosses himself. I guess this is to obtain absolution for his many transgressions committed since the last church or shrine some 100 yards before.
• The discovery that the term “out of stock” may only mean “these are the only English words I know and I must save face.”
• That a microwave in the Philippines is a luxury item, and the most stripped down model will set you back $125.

Warning! Warning! Warning!

Your taxi driver has a twin cousin or brother who drives this same taxi. Any deal previously made is null and void with this driver. Confirm any requirements and expectations with this driver at the time you get into the taxi. Drivers can become very animated and angry over even 25 or 30p.

Don’t do this! I met an American—we will call him Dean. He is bright, thirtyish, and married to a Filipina with a baby. He came here with a one-way ticket and a small savings, expecting to be able to support himself, wife, and baby here with his wit, cunning, and small capital. He invested his capital in some TVs to sell and rent. He is now broke, penniless, and desperate.

He now lives, very primitively, in one room without convenience. He tries to survive off the generosity of foreigners he is able to find and whatever work he can find at any pay rate. He must compete with Filipinos who are also broke, penniless, and desperate.

If you can’t afford a return ticket before you come here, how will you buy one after you get here? If you don’t have some sort of perpetual income source or a large capital base you are doomed. Love is blind, but true poverty when it involves someone you love is a hard smash in the face that brings you to the blinding light of reality. Dean’s plight tugs my heartstrings, but I must responsibly preserve what safety net I have and keep my already meager budget for my own needs.

Again I caution, don’t do this, no matter the degree of wit or cunning you may possess. You are no longer in Kansas, Toto!

My first month here has included finding and losing a job. A break in my generally good health requiring a visit to the hospital, a subsequent upper GI, and numerous expenditures for prescriptions and other unexpected expenses.

Unforgettable, Never-exchangeable Adventure

I have found my first month here an adventure and truly the most enjoyable of my life. I may return to the U.S. to better prepare myself to live here. But don’t be mistaken, I shall return. I have not even touched on the joy I receive from my Filipina or the utter satisfaction in the day to day dealing with the Filipino people. I can’t explain the contentment I feel here. I can only say, “I have been smitten by the Philippines”.

I agree with Mark Twain that, “Years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did!” Therefore I believe I will have one less disappointment to ponder in my times of reminiscing. I will forever be able to say, “While I was living in the Philippines I witnessed…”

Personal inquires by my private email are welcome and even solicited. I will glow in the adventure now and forever!

Jerry