Reflections on my Philippines Retirement

I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm attempting to convince folks on the benefits of relocating to the Philippines or in fact of relocating anywhere. I'm not.
I'm just sharing reflections on why it makes me happy
Some folks dream of a better more idyllic life in France, Spain, Thailand or Ecuador
Most seek a retirement life filled with whatever 'rocks their boat' whether at home or overseas.
We all of us have different reasons to do or not to do something.
Variety is the spice of life.
I'm going to add some writings that relate to my own retirement reloaction to Davao City , why I find it joyful and fulfilling and hopefully might food for thought for others considering relocation here.

Onwards and upwards

When we finally left the UK to relocate to the Philippines we actually did a bit faster than intended and also a full year ahead of the original grand plan downdate.

There were a number of personal reasons for a major change of plan. We did it solely because we both felt that the timing was right. We didn't do it because we felt unhappy or fed up with UK life or thought that moving out here would suddenly change us into happy people.

Personally, I believe that if you're an unhappy person looking for happiness in the Philippines then you're most likely in for a short sharp shock and an ending filled with disillusionment, despite the fact that your UK pound will actually stretch a long long way.
Don't come all the way to the Philippines if you keep (whether secretly or not) any such sources of discontentment within yourself. There's really no special ingredient or magic pill here for a happiness recipe.

I often find I need to temper my enthusiasm, but really, I do mostly feel I'm living a life in paradise.
I find enjoyment in everything, the culture, the food, the adventure and the wonderful people I meet. It certainly doesn't mean, by any stretch of the imagination, that everything is perfect, I doubt everything ever will be so. It doesn't mean that all our decisions have been right. We're still open minded about just exactly where we want to finally settle down. But the simple pleasures of our daily life are always here.
As for accommodation, we're still renting. In fact we're on our second house now, although in the same village. We really love this village and my wife intends to buy a property here. We'll rent it out for a while and see how that goes.
Our 'business' here is that simple. Invest in property and rent in out.

As a retiree my daily life is largely unscheduled and in reality is a bit like being on one long holiday.
I've given up wearing a watch and have no cell phone, although my wife seems to be permanently attatched to her 3 phones.
Life for me here is all about experiencing those simple things that thrill my soul whenever the desire drives me.
This is in stark contrast to our family and the large majority of our neighbours who centre their lives on a daily struggle of making a living and surviving

Wherever you are it's certainly the case that financials impact everyone's experience and opportunity. As I said, for us, it is so much cheaper to live here than in UK but it does depend totally on what kind of lifestyle you want to have.
Yes, on reflection we feel our overall lifestyle and quality of life has improved hugely.
But it's different.
Retirement in the Philippines can be great if it's done for the right reasons and with a positive outlook to enjoy and find the kind of happiness your looking for.
I do feel that a successful relocation depends largely on a realistic 'gap analysis'.
What I mean is, can you accept and adapt with a positive and flexible outlook to the often large 'cultural gap' between what you might have imagined it would be like to live here on a daily basis and how it actually is.

Lower your expectations and accept the Philippines for what it can offer.
For me it offers a lot.

Again just my own belief, but don't expect to just transfer the UK life you have now to the Philippines.
I doubt very much you'll find a way to do that. Though many expats here do try, it generally ends in tears unless you have uncommonly deep pockets.

Don't make your retirement here based solely on the back of financials. Research, research and research again on what makes you happy and fulfilled in life. If it's not available here don't come.
I'm a newcomer to retirement life here and these writings are just ramblings and reflections on my experience so far.
I certainly don't consider myself experienced enough to offer advice to others.

ntoI've tried to reflect on my daily experiences and what gives me immense joy.
Why I believe that my lifestyle and quality of life has improved since living here

Here's a few simple but wonderful pleasures that come to my mind

Public transportation is not only very very cheap, it's availability is virtually constant with pick-up and drop-off at the request of the passenger.
Means getting out and about for daily needs, exploration, tourism or just adventure is virtually 'on tap'.
Yes, I talking about the ubiquitous Jeepney. Some, like me, love them and others probably hate them.
Here in Davao City the jeepney is a much safer environment that the infamous Manila versions.
If you really don't want the jeepney then Taxi's are plentiful and cheap.
A jeepney from my house to downtown Davao is P15 whereas an aircon metered taxi will run out at P150
For travelling further afield there are numerous buses available. Some good some not so good. We'd rather pay the little bit extra for aircon and a nice comfortable interior. Many have video on the longer journeys. Buses are very very cheap.
We originally opted for an air-con express van, but after a couple of trips decided the drivers choose speed and maximising income rather than safety and comfort of the fare paying passenger so we now only use a decent bus.
Those buses and vans will pick up and drop off at the request of the passenger, but like jeepney. Good for convenience but can add significantly to journey time.

We consider ourselves to be foodies. We live to eat not eat to live. We are both great lovers of seafood. Any kind. We can indulge ourselves whenever we want with a grand selection of fresh produce from the ocean. We can choose from any number of local markets depending on what we'd like to buy.
There's a huge fishport and wet market pretty much on our doorstep.
It's just heaven.

Fresh fruits and fresh vegetables are in abundance at every market. So many many fruits to enjoy plus all those usual vegetables available in UK with a few more besides. I have to say that the native potatoes here are just wonderful. They are tasty with great texture and excellent for chips, mash and roasting.
Getting potatoes big enough for baking as jacket potatoes can sometimes take a bit of looking around though.
August seems to be a special month in that it's peak season for most fruits. The costs of fresh fruits is very low.
I've even grown to love that Mindanao special 'King of Fruits' Durian, although my overall favourite would have to be Mangosteen. Having said that I should say that I eat between 6 - 9 bananas every day. There are many different varieties with different flavours. There's even those ones that are meant for cooking. Banana cue anyone.

We are within walking distance of a number of beaches. Some beautiful some no so. We are within easy striking distance of some exceptionally beautiful beaches and beach resorts. Some are sophisticated beach resorts, some are public beaches with shelters (cottages) and facilities and some are pristine undeveloped natural beach havens. Choose one to suit your mood.
I'm not really a 'beach person' but a long weekend at a decent beach resort can be so wonderful.

Mountains are clearly visible in our landscape every day and within a short 30 - 45 mins drive to many of the mountain attractions.

I've gotten back into enjoying fishing, photography and water colour painting simply because the scope and opportunities are here on my doorstep. My wife is very understanding if I want to go off with friends or even on my own and enjoy. Often she'll join me. Yes even fishing.
It's very easy to meet friendly interesting people at such locations.

The weather suits me totally. Well almost.
Yes, it's hot, but early in the morning and late afternoon onwards it's beautiful. Perfect for playing photographer.
Truthfully, here in Davao City the heat and humidity especially during the summer months of March, April and May could become a real challenge for many folks and it's really easy to understand how that would become a 'deal breaker'.
Given the budget cooler areas can be found quite easily during those times.
If you cannot find a lifestyle that fits in with the prevailing climate I'm pretty sure it would end up in a miserable life.
Here in Mindanao it's currently the rainy season. I'm told it will run from June to around October. Sometimes we have rain on many afternoons and evenings. For us we've never let it control our life and so far it's been easily managed.
On many a night we've witnessed nature thunderstorms and light shows. My wife hates that and generally hides inside the house under a sheet but I love to go outside and just feel the atmosphere. Sometimes those tropical rainstorms are just unbelievable. I'm still waiting to to catch that perfect photograph of the lightning or catch the feeling I get when the rain is so heavy it causes your heart to pound. One day soon.
We are surrounded by cheerful, joyful people who really couldn't be more friendly or helpful. They seem to have a natural ability to make you feel good about yourself and to look out for others too.

We all have different ideas about what makes us happy and those needs and wants to satisy and fulfil our desires.
Mine may be completely different to yours.
But let me say this in all honesty, there are many more small details in life that make us feel good and give us so much pleasure than those things that cause frustrations and raised eyebrows. Of which there are many of those too.

Not everyone's cup of tea I know but within 20 mins of our house we have a choice of over 7 shopping malls. Each with a large selection of entertainment and a large selection of restaurants and 'eateries'
Apart from that there are many nice places to eat along almost every street.
Here in the Philippines eating out is nowhere near as expensive as UK.
We don't eat out much as my wife loves to cook with fresh ingedients and she's a great cook so I love eating whatever she prepares.

We're lucky enough to have found a beautiful place to live. Village life. Quiet and peaceful surrounded by open spaces, coconut trees, banana trees, mango, pomelo and any others. We feel at peace with the world. Yet the chaos of the local market is just a few minutes walk away. I'll not mention anything about our house or our specific location. Better to keep that for ourselves. Needless to say it's safe, secure with good maintenance and facilities. Rubbish is collected every morning. The streets are cleaned and maintained everyday.
We both have mountain bikes and leave them outside the front door every night. If we leave the house for holiday trips of even a few weeks there's no fear of anything untoward happening.
Some may frown at our choice of living in such an area, but that's our choice. It makes us happy. It keeps us calm and we love the peace. Evening walks amongst the lush environment are a joy.
Cycling around the virtually empty streets keeps me fit.
There's no karaoke or loud parties allowed after 10pm sadly, but up until then 'Sky's the limit'

I couldn't end this post without mentioning something about medical care.
Yes, I understand it's not free and I understand it can be expensive. That can be a big downside under certain circumstances. However, the general care and facilities available at any number of our local hospitals is second to none and not so expensive.
So I count that as a positive since it's a significant improvement on what we faced back in our Northampton village medical centre. No more to say about that.
Care and respect of the senior citizens here is evident wherever you go.
Despite not being the holder of a senior citizen card (not allowed for foreigners)I am always allowed to join the Senior Citizen supermarket checkout or the senior citizen window when pay my bills. I can often get a discount on buses and some taxi's too.
Sometimes I get asked of proof and just show my UK drivers licence which has photo, signature and DOB. Never been refused.
Perhaps folks here are just too shy to refuse me?

My experiences with my parents health issues caused us to leave our life in Japan and go to the UK to look after them.
The NHS is a marvelous idea but has it does have limitations.
Again, in all honesty, if I or my wife developed some medical issue that needed long term (lifetime) expensive treatment for a continued life, then we may consider returning to the UK. But it'd be a tough decision.

Better finish this post as my enthusiasm is getting the bett of me again

Perhaps I should try to balance out a little by posting a a few things that are not conducive to a happy peaceful life.
Yes, there are quite a few, just as there are anywhere. I feel it depends very largely on the individual attitude and of course your individual frame of reference and of your individual measure on the 'being p****d off' scale.
I'll work on that for the next post.
Oddly my wife tends to be less forgiving or accepting than me.

Apologies for the long long post. Hopefully it'll be of some help to those who'd like to relocate.
I've enjoyed sharing

Thanks for the kind words.
I also try to adopt 'when in Rome' as far as I can.

I lived in Japan for many years too and think I did a reasonable job to adapt.

I always feel that genuine integration is a little different and more difficult the bigger the culture gap.
Thats another topic though

Very good post to read and thanks for sharing it.

Thank you for sharing Davao is a real nice place an often underrated

Hi Mr Micawber - I read your posts with interest - thanks for the info.

I am planning on retiring to Pinas very soon (end of October) and I was wondering what you do for health insurance?

I have tried to search on the internet but the big providers like BUPA don't provide cover in Philippines and the AXA website crashed at the very thought of it!!!!!!!!

I am in contact with a few of the well known American vloggers but they look at stuff from US perspective obviously.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many use blue cross insurance I personally don't know what it's like as I had company insurance to cover me

Blue cross!!!! I'm not an animal mate

Seriously though - good call - I'd never heard of them before

To be honest Garry I only have Philhealth and credit card.
Medical treatment here in Davao is covered by quite a few great quality hospitals at very reasonable cost.
If ever I find I find I need expensive treatment over a very long time to survive with acceptable quality of life, then on the balance of probability I'll return to UK

That would be life changing decision I don't want to contemplate at the moment.
I'm only 65
I do take a few meds for my blood pressure which I buy very very cheaply at The Generics Pharmacy. I always monitor this and since living here it's dropped from the 140's to 120's and below. Probably due to a better diet.

I tend not to dwell on the possibility of debilitating health and get on with my life in the paradise islands.

Sorry if that doesn't help it's the way I see it.
Everyone's circumstances are different . I have family here. I have no family at all in UK. For me it would be an extreme decision to return to the UK for any reason.

If ever I find I find I need expensive treatment over a very long time to survive with acceptable quality of life, then on the balance of probability I'll return to UK

am i right in understanding there is a time limit for ex pats who decide to return for medical treatment on the NHS ?

Wow - well done on getting the old BP down!

Thanks for the reply - I have just had a quote from Blue Cross for PHP60k per year - a big chunk from my retirement budget so something to think about!

I still have (grown up) kids in the Uk and I they wouldn't be comfortable with me going out there with no cover, I know.

Sorry to sound so dumb but what is Philhealth?

Being born in the UK and having paid hundreds of thousands into the system over my working life I would kick off big time if I got refused treatment on my return.

I'd probably have to change my name to Abdul or Mohammed but I'm pretty sure I'd get treatment.

i think you will be in for a rude awakening

try googling this :

is there a time limit for ex-pats returning for NHS treatment

I think you're right bigmac, its ridiculous though that UK citizens who have paid into the pot so to speak for years are turned down for medical treatment on the grounds of not being a UK resident anymore.

Once a Brit always a Brit, that's the way I see it.

bigmac, as I understand it there are exemptions.
Under the specific conditions I explained I would return for health reasons I would be classed as a exemption and would be eligible for free NHS care immediately.