Thread: Where would you go when you hit state pension age?

Originally Posted by Topper

Simon,

I really like it here in the PI. There's no fooking about with visas and if you get out of the city, like Bantayan Island the air and sea are delightfully pollution free and for 50K php a month you can actually have a nice, if somewhat quiet, life.

Here where I live in Bacolod, you can get a furnished one bedroom house for less than 10k php a month, probably 15k with total expenses.

10,000 php for a small house sounds like a no-brainer!

As for visas, I thought I have to stick $10,000 in a bank for the visa? (I can do that, but then that's $10k tied up for therest of my stay...)

...there's also health insurance to consider: those lungs may need advanced attention from time to time...

The point is, one is always hostage to fortune and in the end health will decide the outcome, finally.

I tend to consider things on the basis of current criteria balanced against what could happen for the worst. Fortunately, I have sufficient resources to maintain residence in Thailand and to support the wingman to the manner she has become accustomed.

Given our status, I have several alternatives available should we wish to quit Thailand, a prospect I would view with some relish.

But, to be fair, I think that of most of SE Asia these days.

On balance, I think Mauritius would be my next billet if we had to move although the wingman might struggle with adapting but I suspect there may well be a significant coterie of Thai already settled there.

Simon never really explained why he decamped from there. He was initially very fulsome in his praise of the place as evidenced by his posts, both here and on ASEAN, and seemed to have established himself well with decent living quarters and car hire etc. And then he left suddenly. I wonder what happened.

Also, I understood his so-called chest infection bore no symptoms detectable by extensive NHS scrutiny during his stay in Blackpool and one assumes it was all hypochondria which he now attributes to having a “ delicate “ chest.

Being solely reliant on a UK state pension allowance to live anywhere is one helluva stretch and not an existence many might countenance. Laws and policies change, exchange rates fluctuate and economic shocks come with the changing seasons.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

The point is, one is always hostage to fortune and in the end health will decide the outcome, finally.

I tend to consider things on the basis of current criteria balanced against what could happen for the worst. Fortunately, I have sufficient resources to maintain residence in Thailand and to support the wingman to the manner she has become accustomed.

Given our status, I have several alternatives available should we wish to quit Thailand, a prospect I would view with some relish.

But, to be fair, I think that of most of SE Asia these days.

On balance, I think Mauritius would be my next billet if we had to move although the wingman might struggle with adapting but I suspect there may well be a significant coterie of Thai already settled there.

Simon never really explained why he decamped from there. He was initially very fulsome in his praise of the place as evidenced by his posts, both here and on ASEAN, and seemed to have established himself well with decent living quarters and car hire etc. And then he left suddenly. I wonder what happened.

Also, I understood his so-called chest infection bore no symptoms detectable by extensive NHS scrutiny during his stay in Blackpool and one assumes it was all hypochondria which he now attributes to having a “ delicate “ chest.

Being solely reliant on a UK state pension allowance to live anywhere is one helluva stretch and not an existence many might countenance. Laws and policies change, exchange rates fluctuate and economic shocks come with the changing seasons.

The end is final, can't argue with that

Deep.

Laos seems quite risky. I too think the Philippines seems best.

And of course, the whores are cheap and plentiful which does account for its popularity among the lower end, blue collar, ditch digging Brit, Septic and Bogan dross who vacated Pattaya post 2008.

Ah yes, back when they stopped hanging out en masse in Pattaya.

I rather thought it common knowledge Pattaya’s loss was Angeles City’s gain.

Even to a silly old rice queen such as you, my little demimonde Chiang Mai denizen.

Only a couple left in Pattaya stuck with their assorted wingmen and rent boys.

Yes, Thais tend to gather around westerners and gawp, such is their rarity.

Anyway back to the thread. As with all these types of question, you've laid out the basic requirements but not provided you priorities. As was mentioned given your age and health history, no mention of access to quality healthcare?

One thing working in your favour wherever you touch down at least you don't have a silicone allergy.

Do the Chinese have any plans for the Philippines as part of their quest for total domination of that part of the world?

Originally Posted by taxexile

Do the Chinese have any plans for the Philippines as part of their quest for total domination of that part of the world?

AFAIK... yes

Having made the decision to relocate, I then need to figure out which part of The Philippines to move to. I did a quick Google and see that Vigan City is (like Luang Prabang), a Unesco-protected city, so a bit of character buildings, eateries etc. There is also an airport and it's by the sea. So maybe that is where I should visit.

^ Keep us updated. I might join ya, not in the biblical sense, in 15 or so years time.

Originally Posted by taxexile

Do the Chinese have any plans for the Philippines as part of their quest for total domination of that part of the world?

Actually the Philippines is in China, they just don't know it yet.

Originally Posted by Edmond

^ Keep us updated. I might join ya, not in the biblical sense, in 15 or so years time.




Actually the Philippines is in China, they just don't know it yet.

LoL, just about true!

Right, I'll continue this topic over in The Philippines forum.....

Originally Posted by Simon43

There were 2 reasons why I left Mauritius. The island itself was very nice, but I arrived there after leaving cold winter Turkeye. And I had arrived in Turkeye because Thailand was still effectively closed due to Covid. So when Thailand reopened it's doors, I went back!

Mauritius was very safe, but it was difficult to access many beaches because houses and hotels had been built up between the road and the sea. I found the island to be too 'safe', meaning that it was great for retired Frenchies from Paris, but a little too boring for me

Finally, the typhoons played havoc with my radio antennas! Here is a photo that I downloaded directly from a weather satellite - I'm at the yellow cross. (And I know that The Philippines has typhoons as well, but Mr Google says that these tend to affect the eastern and northern parts of the country).



Now about my lungs. Well, I have extensive medical insurance which also covers any lung illness. This condition is not excluded because (as you mentioned), no doctor has found anything wrong with my lungs! I've had x-rays in Thailand and the UK, and my lungs are fine, and indeed I am not short-breathed at all. Thinking more about this, the problem seems to lie more in my upper tract, perhaps bronchiectasis (widening of the upper lung tubes). Whatever it is, I have not been hospitalised for at least15 years (I did stay yonks ago in Bummy Bangkok with pneumonia). This condition (and you can call it a mental illness if it makes you feel better!), never seems to progress to a worst state as I get older, but it does make my life a misery in the burning season. I've had all my flu and pneumonia jabs etc and exercise daily.

I think that if I live in a clean-air (or cleanish-air) location, then that's the best that I can do for my lungs. Right now, since it's a rainy day here in Laos, I feel great!

There's a poster here that lives in a warm climate that reckons he gets depressed if the weather gets below 30 degrees , only happens a couple of times a season though. Can't remember the name he gave that affliction. Seems strange

I forgot to mention, I can’t recall exactly where I came across it but in reading recently of another account of a group of Brits fulminating against the utter iniquity of the SPA update policy on foreign country residences some spokesman or other quoted the future Labour government will abandon the nonsense and increase all pensions irrespective of where the recipient might be.

Originally Posted by taxexile

Do the Chinese have any plans for the Philippines as part of their quest for total domination of that part of the world?

I was thinking along the same lines as the Chinaman but married a Lao girl and fucked that plan up.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

I forgot to mention, I can’t recall exactly where I came across it but in reading recently of another account of a group of Brits fulminating against the utter iniquity of the SPA update policy on foreign country residences some spokesman or other quoted the future Labour government will abandon the nonsense and increase all pensions irrespective of where the recipient might be.

All you need need now is a future Labor govt then bobs yer aunty

@Simon - having read this thread and the issue with your lungs, IMO it's better if you scrap the Port Barton idea. It's too isolated & it wouldn't have good medical facilities.

The town of Vigan is good, also San Juan in La Union province. Subic & its surrounds if you want to be near retired US expats & "pro" women. It's near Angeles where there are good hospitals (and more pro women).

Puerto Galera (where Tizme lives) is also good. It's relatively near Manila, its airport & hospitals. You could also check out Batangas city & nearby Lipa City. Davis Knowlton lives in Lipa. I think he had treatment for stroke in nearby Asian Hospital (located in Alabang, South of Metro Manila - it's a good hospital).

Iloilo city, Dumaguete, Valencia, Bacolod, Bohol, Cebu city, Bantayan island - all good options.

Maybe you can take a 1 week to 1 month exploratory trip before making a move? Good luck!

Originally Posted by katie23

@Simon - having read this thread and the issue with your lungs, IMO it's better if you scrap the Port Barton idea. It's too isolated & it wouldn't have good medical facilities.

The town of Vigan is good, also San Juan in La Union province. Subic & its surrounds if you want to be near retired US expats & "pro" women. It's near Angeles where there are good hospitals (and more pro women).

!

Hi Katie - I messaged you

Close to hospitals is NOT needed My lung condition has never put me in hospital (except pneumonia many years ago and I now have had the relevant vaccinations). It's simply that bad air/off days makes my life rather miserable (nose pouring like a tap, coughing phlegm up every minute etc). I've got used to that and I know how to ease it (brisk walk, jogging, cycling etc).

Anywhere close to retired US expats and 'pro' women is about the last place on Earth I'd want to live

Originally Posted by Simon43

Anywhere close to 'pro' women is about the last place on Earth I'd want to live

hmmmm, your tune has changed. (From when you were in Burma).