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Perilla
Joined: 09 Jul 2010
Posts: 792
Location: Hong Kong
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 Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:47 am Post subject: Retiring in HK |
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| I wonder how many expat teachers in HK are considering retiring here? My guess is not many. I've known a few teachers hit the big 60 recently and all of them are heading out ... |
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sistercream
Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 497
Location: Pearl River Delta
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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Following years of family complications and various interesting stints around the region, I am now gritting my teeth and digging in my heels, determined that THIS time I will not be distracted from getting my 7 years up for PR. I can't imagine retiring anywhere but Hong Kong  |
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Perilla
Joined: 09 Jul 2010
Posts: 792
Location: Hong Kong
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| Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 12:17 am Post subject: |
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| sistercream wrote: |
| Following years of family complications and various interesting stints around the region, I am now gritting my teeth and digging in my heels, determined that THIS time I will not be distracted from getting my 7 years up for PR. I can't imagine retiring anywhere but Hong Kong |
Interesting, Sister. For me HK is too manic to imagine retiring in - plus I don't like the climate much. And as I get older I'm more conscious of breathing polluted air - and suffering from it. |
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ozman
Joined: 12 Jun 2004
Posts: 133
Location: HONG KONG
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| Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:12 am Post subject: |
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| agree Perilla. I don't know anyone here who is not here just for the money. Who would choose to live in the most crowded place in the world and in a shoe box with air con having to run ALL the time? Most people seem stressed out due to overwork. Most of the time I can't see far from my window due to the pollution. The killer pollution is one of the main reasons why many expat families won't bring their children here and one of the main reasons why people leave. I wouldn't be here with a young child; can you imagine what this is doing to their growing body? I will leave eventually once I've made enough and go back to fresh air, a house and garden in a liveable climate. The humidity this last week has been a killer. |
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Perilla
Joined: 09 Jul 2010
Posts: 792
Location: Hong Kong
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| Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 2:54 am Post subject: |
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| ozman wrote: |
| I will leave eventually once I've made enough and go back to fresh air, a house and garden in a liveable climate. |
Indeed, but when is enough enough? That's the dilemma most of us face - escaping from the "golden handcuffs", as a friend of mine refers to it. When to go? The easy way, in a sense, is to hang around until your 60ish - at least then you don't have much choice because potential employers will dry up. But I prefer the idea of saving a reasonable sum and leaving sooner (best-case scenario for me is early 50s) with the intention of continuing to work - but only p/t - in a cheaper, cleaner, more relaxing place.
The trick is getting the timing right. I know of a few people who did exactly as I have described, only to return to HK, tails between their legs, a few years later as the money side of things just didn't work out. |
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sistercream
Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 497
Location: Pearl River Delta
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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I have no problem with being considered terminally weird  but just because I like it here doesn't mean anyone else has to!
Some of my reasons for actually liking HK - tiny flats = less housework (and no lawn-mowing - oh bliss!!). I loathe driving, so the good public transport here. The climate doesn't bother me - even last year when I was living next to a big transport interchange I usually just had the windows open and the ceiling fan(s) on. I like the "buzz" of the place, but am not keen on the designer label/ manic bit, so simply steer clear of Central / Causeway Bay/ Tsim Sha Tsui unless there's a particular book shop I want to visit  Most of my friends are either living here or somewhere that is easier to get to from here than it is from my passport country. Public health care is good enough that I don't feel the need to shell out for private cover. Personal safety - I don't know of any city or town where I come from where I would feel comfortable walking home alone in the wee hours from the home of friends who live in a public housing area.
Sure, the pollution's bad - specially in winter - but I survived growing up with two chain-smoking parents with no noticeable ill-effects, so am not about to start worrying about the air now I'm in my 50s.
Woops - nearly forgot - no investments or capital gains tax |
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