Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zulethe]

Where are you going to go after Korea?

This is my situation: I have a pension from the U.S. Army and after working in America for about 14 years, I've decided that I'm never going back. So, I'm currently researching possible places to "retire."

I actually never want to retire so part of the criteria must be some place where I can still be active and work in some capacity.

I'm 41 and I like to drink so I know if I go somewhere and do nothing I'll probably become a raging alcoholic. I don't want to be one of those guys and I'd seen plenty during my Army days.

These are the areas I'm thinking about so far: Thailand, Philippines, India, or maybe even Panama.

I'm really leaning toward the philippines because they speak English and they also have U.S. military hospital facilities that I could use free of charge.

I don't want to base my decision soley on those two factors. I'm good with languages and if my health deteriorated, I could always fly to the Philippines.

Well, if anyone else is in the same boat, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

[kiknkorea]

I'll be doing this for the foreseeable future, but can't say I'm never going home.

Are you looking for other places to teach, or do you have other work ambitions?

Thailand or the Philippines would be nice to "retire," but depending on what else you want to do, they may not be best.

[eIn07912]

Philippines sound good. especially with urn army benefits. but dont take my idea. im considering retiring there myself in 20 or so years.

own a cool little beach side bar, rent scooters, scuba gear, jet skis, whatever tourists want really. marry a much younger local. the philipinas r cool like that. u being 41, no reason u couldnt land an early 20 something local wife and live the rest of ur life in paradise.

only downside i can see though is, no "mary jane". so, essentially u can have all of the above, including the bride, and be able to blazed day in a day out in thailand. if u get super sick a really high tech hospital might be a really long ways away.

india is good to visit, maybe even live for a year or so. retire? never. and myself, personally have little to no desire to go to south america, so panama isnt even a consideration for me. maybe ur into, im just way more fond of asian culture than i am hispanic.


im curious though. uve got an army pension u think u can live off of at 41? if u dont mind me asking, how much is it? i wanna get commissioned in a few years, and maybe i'll ride out 20 yrs for the pension, maybe not. but im really curious if u could live the life u want on an army pension alone? i understand not wanting to stop working, but if u wanted to, u have that option at such a young age?

[Joe666]

Zulethe:

[dhalgren17]

I think about the best place to retire a lot. I don't plan on ever living in the US again. One good resource to check out is International Living.
http://www.internationalliving.com/
It's a newsletter specifically designed for expats. Central America is high on my list. Cheap, relatively safe, open and accommodating culture, and several different countries have residency programs that allow you to become a part of their health care system, etc.
dhalgren17

[Cohiba]

I can go back to Canada or the UK. But I don't think I will. Asia
grows on you. My wife, child and I will move to Cebu, Philippines
as soon as we save up US$500,000. This will probably be in another
9 or 10 years. I 100% DO NOT want to be old in Korea. Too cold,
too much traffic, too polluted, too off the beaten path of civilization.

In Cebu we hope to start a home-stay where Korean families send us
their kids to go to school in English. It will be sort of a semi-retirement.
I will be about 53 or 54 when it is time to make the move from Korea
to Cebu.

[bundangbabo]

Peru - with my Peruvian citizenship I can work there teaching ESL (the Peruvian market is a big one for English teaching) and live in Miraflores in a nice apartment for a decent price. I wouldn't mind retiring to Argentina and Buenos Aires which is much safer than Lima - where I won't be going back to is the UK - 100 grand (sterling) for an ex council house in the north west - no thanks!

[Kurtz]

I'd be doing some heavy reading on the visa situations. I've been reading Thailand has been making it harder for Westerners to retire there, and also starting up a business is hard too unless you've married a local. The Phillippines sounds all good though.

Another thing to think about is the political situation, and again, a country like Thailand doesn't seem a safe bet (even though I hate the place, I'm just using that as an example)

[billietea]

Chile (safer than Peru...really great people...and the economy should stay sound unless China stops buying copper)...with the warming of the climate they are going to run out of ice-melt for their electricity...but when there is a will there is a way...I don't plan on going back to the US

[gregoriomills]

OP-
Personally, I'm not one of those who is looking to never go back. In fact, I kinda can't wait to go back (for your frame of reference, I'm totally objective), but over the winter break, I went to one of the small islands in the provice of Cebu, the Philippines. The whole time I was there, I was thinking, "Man, if I was looking for a place to retire, spend my money drinking, eating like a king (all for super-cheap), surrounded by (incredibly) beautiful women, and have a nice ex-pat community around (Filipinos speak English, to boot!), I would look no further! The place is literally paradise on Earth. For 1000USD/month, you could do whatever you wanted to do, all day, everyday, and live like a king. Probably rent out one of those bungaloes right on the beach, as well. Not sure if it helps, but for my money, it doesn't get any better.

[Suwon23]

But Mousie, thou are no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

[ABC KID]

[Cohiba]

[PRagic]

Every one of my ex-military buddies has gone to the Philippines for most of the reasons you state, OP. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't bother looking elsewhere.

[Oreovictim]