How Can You Retire in the Philippines Like a King on US$1,000 per month?

What is Living Like A King to me?

What a king is to one man is like a pauper to another. I feel like I am living like a king here in the Philippines and have been since I came here because of the kindness of the people. And my small income seem like a kingly fortune too. In the States at fifty years old I was treated like an old man and I guess I was. I felt like one. No one smiled at me, not many cared. Nor did I smile nor did I care about them. Compared to the Philippines, the States and most western countries and even some Asian countries, there is little empathy, concern for others.

I was not an unhappy lonely guy. I was just a regular guy. And I felt reasonably content, felt that my life was pretty good. I was faring a lot better than some of my fellows who felt put out to pasture and had illness most illnesses stress related or induced. I still had some future before me, not much to brag about, just a better job and more money to waste or tuck away for the future I knew would never come.

Here at 68, I am a young man, treated like a king because I am a person, perceived as wise and kind and helpful. I was not always that way. The beautiful people here and their culture change me from materialistic wage slave and struggling business owner into a tao, a person. It was a radical change. I never know exactly what a person was. The Filipinos have taught me the value of a person. And they have taught me the value of each and every one of them. I leaned in all in my religious and spiritual upbringing, but the materialistic culture of the States, where the dollar is king, did not reinforce it to the point it became a part of my being. I am not saying there is not a healthy respect for money and material things by Filipinos and in the Philippines. But there is more of an appreciation of others and interpersonal relationships, certainly kinships in the immediate and extended families of the Philippines and in the family of Filipinos a family that spreads all over the world.

And including the respect I now have for others and myself, I have many amenities only a king could afford in a western country, not that I must have them. They are a lot of very nice to have, but not "must haves." I have all the things I need here, but I had those in the States too. As I initially said, the culture here is my greatest blessing. And it is true the Filipino culture is not impressive until you understand it. You can be here for years and not even be aware it. You can see it as just a flawed western culture. And many of you will not care to understand it, just plod on the same way with the same attitude. I assure you if you don't have some understanding and appreciation of the culture, you will miss out on something more valuable than Yamashita's gold.* But since that can come later and you want to hear about "traditional," kingly living, here is how that works for me.

Now For Just Of A Few of the Material Goodies You Can Have:

First I will give you a short run down on the unhealthy stuff many of you feel you may need. Beer, San Miguel is US 60 cents per liter, a quality beer. There are others legions of other brands too. Rum is $1.20 per liter, gin and Vodka a little mere. There are all kind of inexpensive local liquor some made under license from the US. So you can get drunk as a lord on a dollar on two dollars as drunk as a king, if that is your intent. Some more sin stuff? Okay, cigarettes are 60 US cents a pack many brand available many made under license from US and other manufactures. There are no closing hours for bars, though most close by three in the morning.

There are no drunken driving tickets and running red lights is the norm. But if you are smart you look both ways. The streets are for defensive driving and accidents are few. Drivers are inexpensive, live in. That is a good way to go.

Since it is hard to get rid of you money at the bars and paying traffic fines, (liability insurance for you car is required and about $14 per year) since the prices are so there are Casinos ever where, for the more adventurous, cockfights, and other way so indulge your gambling fancies. The shopping malls have large bingo parlors seven days a week. There are lotteries legal and illegal, the legal one give the best odds.

Nightlife is fantastic and cheap and abundant. I guess the Philippines is known for that, more than anything else. The Filipinas are fantastic, there beauty, loyally and kindness world famous. Filipinas are an at least an article or a book in themselves. But there is so much more.

I don't do so much nightlife; I do some, because I married one of these Filipina beauties three years ago. She is certainly the best thing that has happened in my life, except maybe moving here. As you can see from her pictures on the front page of the website she is gorgeous. But you cannot see her inner beauty. She does not do night life at all never has and never will, a non smoking, non drinking true Filipina bride and wife. I you want a Filipina wife to bar hop with you, they will oblige, but a true Filipina will leave the drinking and "outside activities" to the man.

Gambling, nightlife, booze, wine, women and song all okay, but forget illegal drugs. One leaf of marijuana or one grain of crack will cost you 12 years in a Philippine prison not country clubs like some in the US but places to make you remember not to come back.