We have had a number of discussions on retirement and retirement village. Ronald Wi (retired) went to Phuket, and we should hear from him. For those who have not retired, share with us your plans and thoughts. For those who have retired, share with us your ideas too.
What is your dream retirement? Please comment on your retirement plan and ideas.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence.
I remembered you mentioned that we do not respond to your posting on serious matters.
I am not near retirement age, now that it has been raised further.
However, as my children have always wanted to make Australia their home someday, I too, would most probably move there to be near them. Sydney is their favourite place so it will most probably be somewhere between Sydney and Canberra.
What I really want to do after my retirement is to buy a little cottage in the sub-urban area and turn it into a little cafe.
Will bake my cakes and pies and make my Kopi O and Teh Si to sell. Just a tray of each and when they are all sold, will retire for the day. On different day of the week, there will be a one day special.
It has always my dream to own and run my own cafe where customers will come and patronise my food and sit down for a chit chat and share stories.
If health and time permit, yes! this is what I want to do after I retire from the hectic life in Singapore.
Caroline,
Keep a position OPEN for me ok. LIVE-in worker with accomodation, food, insurance and medical provided. I will move there to be near you. Serious!
Wow! Rene you very fast eh. Faster than the buaya!
If my plan materialises, yes I will remember you :)
Caroline,
You already said the life here in Singapore is very hectic. So, I must plan ahead (sounds better than ‘chope’ and ‘kiasu’)before my contract ends lah. Afterall, it is also my dream what? FREE carrot cake, Teh-si, Kopi-O. Easy job leh, just a tray of each and when they are all sold, retire for the day – I can finish all for you and “siew gang” early. heehee!
Aiyoh Rene – aga aga tum pok leh. You makan like that, not only retire for the day, have to retire forever ha ha!
Like that must make two trays each – 1 tray of each to sell and the other for you to eat ha ha!
Forgot Rene. Better not say too much on this thread otherwise we see Terence’s broom coming down on us too he! he!
No worry! after makan, can go cycling around the town, trek mountain, roller-bladding to shed off the calories, won’t retire forever so easily wan!
Ya, I can hear….Terence’s footsteps liao….Run 1st. Bye2
Hi Terence and all,
So far this place off Phuket about 100 km, seems ideal for me, as one can leave rather cheaply on a S$500 Terence recommended budget.
You can rent a small 1 room bungalow with a small balcony to watch the sunset, hang your clothes, do a little gardening or swim, snorkel, board surf or do some fishing, off the nearby beach in the early morning or after work , or just enjoy the countryside peace and do some painting or just relax after a day’s work.
Get work at the nearby School to keep busy, connected to society , learn Thai, teach and help around and earn 3 meals a day.
On weekends take a bike or bus (200 baht) down to Phuket for a relaxing Lunch and Dinner in a cozy restaurant with live one man band, consisting of 3 choice from a variety of sumptious Thai dishes and a fruit plate for only 200 baht ($10).Or if you want an extravagant seafood buffet with lobster, crabs, prawns, shasimi, with cheese cake, ice, cream and chocalate go to the Holiday Inn and booked early for only $35, that will make your day for the month.
Have also a good Thai massage for 200 baht for an hour and do a little shopping. Then, Book a beach chair and laze around the outer tourist beach area and imagine you are in Hawaii , with the lesser foreigner crowd around but with more free interesting views of beautiful bodies, basking in their natural splendour, sipping a Pinacola or wine, etc.
Total budget for the month about $$150 for bungalow room, food free, Weekend expenses about $50 for dinner, tranportation , movie ,etc . So total about $150 + $200 (4 x 50 ) = $350 , with $150 balance for more interesting luxuries for good food, or travel ,entertainment, fish and cruise, or golf ,etc. Where in the world can you retire like this , that is why foreigners are flogging to SE Asia to retire and we are rushing to Perth, or Hawaii to waste our precious dollars ?
Hymm seems like a good plan, stay in Thailand for 1 to 2 years, learn the Thai language , culture, cooking (through he many classes available),
After Thailand maybe the Philippines , learn Spanish language and culture and singing , then Vietnam or even nearby Bali, all possible on a $500 budget ?
Cheers
Ron,
We spoke of this at length.
I wish to present a slightly different angle to the perfect ending of a perfect start. This is for the benefit of all who is sharing.
Wealth is income generating assets. Don’t sell your home here to live there on the premise $500 per month will stretch longer. The idea is not to stretch but to have a self-sustaining lifestyle.
This is what you do. This scenario assumes that you own your own property now.
Rent out a home here and buy one there now. Even if you can’t cut over right now, then try to downgrade yourself for two to three years to a rented HDB. Use the ensuing net cashflow (your rental income less your rental for downgraded/cheaper accomodaton) to fund a purchase of an existing tenanted project in Thailand. Here you will get more rental income and build up equity in the long run (assuming after this term of military government the Thai market will return to its former vigour).
Spend the interm period to set your affairs in order. If I were you I would try to build multi-passive income streams. Then cut over.
If you play your cards righht you will have a zero loaded lifestyle of your choice.
hi Ronald..
at last we can hear u, how come u dont chat while u were in yr dreamland?..no network ah?
Its very refreshing to read yr experience there…what’s this place called off Phuket 100km?
hhhmmm….retire there..like so lonely leh, hw abt our frens & family here?,I guess we can make new frens lah…not a bad idea at all
As for me, i’m thinking of Johor or Malacca.Its relatively cheap & wont be too far from families & frens in S’pore..now i’m testing living in Johor first..its quiet,serene & relaxing to destress..
Wong KT…u r the best financial adviser/planner! may i blanja u makan & get free advice from u next time…boleh? :)
Norlinda
You’re welcome.
Make a date at Shirley’s. Support that poor girl working her heart out. Hot dog is too “amor”. We will encourage her to make a range of locally inspired sambal chilli dog.
Phuket, Phi-Phi (James Bond) Island are not something which you generally find many Asians like to live long term. Unlike amors, we are not particularly beach mad prefering most times to stay out of solar reach. On the contrary Chiang Mai, for example, is close to home boy’s taste. Food is better, more variety and old city charm. There is better shopping and amenities.
In terms of property, in Phuket there is no focus. With every other kampong house is a beach. Values need an urban centre to create differentiation. Like a clearly defined district 9,10 and 11. Ohterwise, you won’t find investable value.
Don’t make the classic mistake of falling in love with a beach house there and compare with what you cannot find here. No Phuket house will make Sentosa Cove even if the ambience is thrice as good.
Hi Norlinda,
Ya lah, will probably go live in JB and rent out my apartment here.Then maybe spend a week or two in Phuket every two months…
:))
Hi KT,Nor,Dan and all
There are times when opportunity seems right for us to do what we can, after the children are working and you are can be free to travel and learn and do the many things you want to do , but never can.
So not knowing how long ,physically or mentally or spiritually we can be around, I am making the best use of the time now to do just that. Forget about the material concerns as long as we have enough and can stay healthy and find happiness in what we do. We have to and learn to be free, independent to discover and be excited about simple things, of talking to simple people , working with other volunteers and enjoying the gratitute and innocent joys of the children.
Phuket for info is only an hour’s flight away from Singapore and cost only $150 to and fro, so it does seem like a perfect hideaaway to going back to simple kampung living. Imagine when you can just walk to work, and to the seaside , no need for buses, cars, etc. The group of rotating volunteers from all over the world adds another interesting part to this adventure of basic living , without too much TV , commerical distractions , internet and SMSs.
Welcome Dan , Nor and anyone else to old kampung living for however long you want to stay.
Cheers to ‘Survival’ and will stay there till i am good enough to read and write Thai before going to the Phillipines to learn Spanish, or Vietnam to learn Vietnamese ?
Before we started SHC in Singapore, I was spending most of my time in Thailand. Here was my dream. I was worried, I run short of friends.
I was hoping to settle down on a piece of land, enough to build two wooden grond-level houses. Pretty robust, but enough to house 4 people per house. Then, I tell myself must have aircon, fridge, TV and internet access. Seems not a problem.
Then, I must be able to rear some chickens, ducks, cows, maybe two ostriches. For food, I should look at growing some vegetables and mangoes, fig trees and chillies.
Morning when I wake up, I feed the chickens and water the vegetable plants. Market is nearby, maybe I motorcycle myself there.
And, then spend some time in the afternoon looking at nearby attractions, and enjoy the warm climate of North East Thailand. Perhaps, like Ronald, I can engage in helping neighbours speak English, while I continue to improve my Thai.
But, I shall be there only 1 mth, 2 mths or 3 mths. After that I fly back to Singapore for a few months, look around old friends, and then find another city or country to spend another 2 – 3 mths.
Like what Vincent used to say two years ago, $500 per month is sufficient. I tend to want to work this as a target. So, learn to bicycle, ride a motocycle, improve internet skills, learn to cook, and make some money. I would look forward to fulfilling this dream.
Terence Seah
Ron’s a brave new world (#13). I admire his conviction. I hope that he has packed enough fuel for a return trip.
Daniel (#12) is more measured but no less courageous. He has as much much to look forward to as he has to return to. No bridges are burned. Safe and sweet.
Terence,
What puzzles me is that you probably can do it now. Friends you have plenty worldwide. So why not now?
If it is a dream worth dreaming then it is a dream worth fulfilling.
Hey Terence
You sounded like a farmer-to-be but in the new era. Living so simply yet having all the luxuries like internet and aircon etc. etc….hmmmm…not a bad idea indeed.. free from stress and the hustle & bustle of city.
May your dream comes true !!
Suzhang
Actually a modern farmer is a beautiful retirement model. Think of the real estate potential!
We should have a SHC meet at celebrity/showwoman farmer Ivy Ling’s bollywood veggies
http://www.bollywoodveggies.com/location.html
Bollywood Veggies
“Organic fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in a lovely 10-acre farm run by nature lovers Mrs Ivy Singh-Lim and her husband, Mr Lim Ho Seng, former CEO of NTUC FairPrice. If you’re hungry, the farm’s restaurant “Poison Ivy Bistro” will whet your appetite with tasty dishes using produce straight from the farm! ”
I have friends who are very much into eco living in Singapore. With what land they have, they use solar power and grow veggies / herbs etc. They gather manure from the Turf club to convert it into organic fertilizer at home. I think its madness use prime real estate to grow what amount to half dozen stalks of lady fingers. But I respect the principle. And as Ron says. To each their own.
But the point is you don’t have to trip to a remote island to be a hippie. It is your mind and in your heart. In Singapore it could also be in the money. Big money. If Pat schoolhouse can command $110 mio, imagine what a farm in Ponggol will fetch in 10 years.
hi Daniel…we are actually nebors in JB..we shud visit each other, maybe i can learn cooking from u..then i exchange lontong..hehehe!
wonder are there anymore SHCians hv a home there?..calling anybody?..maybe we can start Johor kaki! :)
Terence…love yr dreamhome..wah!, got fig trees,vegetables,mangoes & cillies…we hv so much in common!…hhhmmm…
when i was small, i lived in Bt Timah kampong, where house was big & land can grow so many fruit trees..rambutans,mangoes,coconut,jambu,chiku & even ‘buah mentega’..literally translate its called ‘butter fruit’
we also reared chickens & ducks..i vividly remembered collecting the eggs early morning..so nostalgic!
Ronald..I shared yr sentiment & know why u wanna live there after u shared yr stories with us ( ah nee & me)at EC b4 u left for yr trip..
its nice to know, u r happy there..
but wonder..why u go Phillipines to learn Spanish ah??
Hi Norlinda,
It will be great to have you over for. Sure willbe nice to have the rest and have a party.Wih some wine beer and food and laughter of course…………
enjoy
Hi Terence & all : saying & talking is one thing but really ‘doing it’ is another. After all these years of city living, can you seriously just ‘switch over’ and start a farm-style living just like that? Do you really know how to rear chickens, ducks and cows without really learning how? And you think old fashion way of growing veggies is easy? (Not hydroponics, mind you). Its back breaking! I am not trying to pour cold water but just a reality check. I too. ‘nurture’ such thoughts but realise it will take a mindset change, and some updating of knowledge. If you are doing it small-scale, what if some disease strikes & your flock gets wiped out? (Example I can quote is when a friend tried to invest in prawn-farming in Sri Lanka, climatic changes caused impurities in the ponds and overnight all the shrimps DIED). (What about mad-cow disease?)Chicken farming also requires knowledge of vet science and they are prone to catch infectious diseases too & what kinds of eggs will they produce? It does take work to realise a dream.
Ronald : I can sense you are very happy in your new vocation. I fully agree your stress-free life style now is good for the soul. You obviously had done some researching and come up with your own plan & solution to happier living and longer too. Besides, we shared that any form of work should be meaningful and enjoyable. More energy to you! Lastly, Chiang Mai would definitely be a city of choice otherwise DengLiJun would not have adored the place and perish while in that ‘dreamland’.
Gary,
You forgot the great ostrich farm. Its one big egg of an investment.
Even if you can’t tell a chicken from a duck, you can still sell animal husbandry schemes for big bucks to big suckers. Make sure that the least your target market knows about the animal in question the better. Try camels next. Same template as ostrich – “every part is a profit centre”.
Or buy farm land near river in Ponggol. Don’t farm. Just pray everyday for land use conversion to prime waterfont real estate. I am told what a very popular organic farm here calls organic banana plantation is the sum total of about five banana trees.
They can do; so can we.
So all we need is five camels in Punggol and 250 acres of land. Tell SLA that camels hate overcrowding and needs lots of space to be happy. (Don’t worry. Like us, they probably can’t tell a camel from a donkey.)
No stress. Just pray.
Hi KT : trust you to be the life and soul of SHC forums. Yes, I had heard about the ‘ostrich story’ years ago but have yet to taste the meat. In any case, I think they’re ugly & am not inclined to like them. As for camels, I am not sure whether they have one hump or two and whether they can live in our purified air with no ‘spring water’.
Praying requires discipline & its also hard work!
I plan to retire at 62, in 10 years time. If you track what I have written in the past, you will see I enjoy 50% active work and 50% leisure and retirement.
In comment #14, you see country style life is still my dream retirement. This is possible for short periods of time, eg 3 months. But having given retirement a lot of serious thought, I dont think I can live in seclusion for more than 3 months. I need to have a balance of city life, as well as a mix of sea, mountains, and different countries.
I have intention to spend my retirement in country lifestyle environment, as described in comment #14. Vincent Khoo and me will definitely fulfil this dream in Thailand.
To help me plan my dream retirement, would you join me, if I achieve my dream retirement. Only 3 months per year, lah.
Terence Seah
Terence,
My dream retirement..need to have a balance of city life, as well as a mix of sea, mountains and different countries.
Would join you but when can you fulfil my dream to bring me/us around Thailand mountainous region for a preview? In 2007, have only Dec 20 till Dec 30 lah.
Boleh?
Rene
Terence,
I cant tell the color of yr underpants but I can tell that you’re a very determined guy. Once you’ve made up yr mind, it’s an unwavering pursuit to the end.
That being you, you wd hv made all necessary plans & calculations, and I hv no doubt you’ll retire the way you hv wished.
Likewise, whoever wants to be in a position to choose where he wants to retire, he’ll hv to make the plans, not now but years ago. Ultimately, how much do you hv – fixed assets & disposable money – at the relevant time. The more rupiahs, the wider his choices will be.
With rupees & roubles, you will invariably be accepted by any host country to settle for whatever length of time you want.
Without $, even the boatman wont take you to P Ubin………….
alamak Mr Gary Loke…we retire dont want so ‘chim’ lah…got madcow also ah??..susah leh :)
we rear chickens & ducks just for fun & leisure as a hobby & past time..a few only to keep us company..feeding is simple, chickens love corns & ducks love leftover rice…thot that’s what i did at kampong…but dont like cleaning their little ‘house’!
If not..we just walk in the forest, admire the birds & go fishing at the nearby river..hopefully can catch some big fish & walk home…cook asam fish lah…rite ah nee?…hehehe!
when we retire, we want to enjoy ‘remaining’ life & do what we like, hv family & some good frens & just be happy…relax lah..aahh…what a dream!
Tim and everybody,
I am glad you read me well. Unlike other Singaporeans, I have had the opportunity to live and work overseas for long periods of time, especially thailand. I travel hell of a lot, and I see many of the fun and pleasure many of us do not see. Of course, each to his own vision.
We should not give up Singapore. But, we should enjoy the pleasures and fun of spending short periods of our time at places, where we may not be able to enjoy, while under fulltime employment.
Rene, I dont have a plan yet in Chiangmai, although I am usually in Thailand in Dec. Let me think about it.
Terence Seah
Hi Norlinda, nice to know you. I recall you said you lived in kampung before. But I tell you, the chickens of today different already. Because the earth, the air more polluted and also now have the big big hole in the sky so chicks these days must eat better to protect themselves well mah..Also the ducks must grow thicker feathers too. All those chicks we eat from NTUC, all kanah injection one, you know or not. That’s why have to pay more for tastier ‘kampung chicken’ and usually come from ‘foreign farms’ leh..(and yet, we drown them in curry); anyway, you are poetic & a beautiful dreamer, hehe ,, BTW Terence: for my school’s autumn excursion, we will be visiting a real farm here so I will tell you more about the actual ‘farmer’s life in China’ after that OK??
My retirment dream.
I like to be part of a SHC biosphere eco-village.
We’ll combine to buy a large piece land with beautiful virgin land with a virgin view. We start with a building project. We help each other to erect homes based on a specially designed prefab design. It is stilted so that we leave the land virtually untouched.
We run the village using the best sustainable, no-impact, environmentally responsible technologies. We’ll grow our own food, rear our own animals, brew our own beer, make our own wine, toast our own coffee. Cars are ban. Bicycles only. We’ll call it Dream Village since most residents will be high most of the time.
Many innovative green projects. Start with toilet paper to save the trees. Tim is in charge of cutting old newspapers into four sided pieces. Too rough? Soak it in sea water first and dry to use.
Aiyo KT, what happened? Have you run out of ideas so soon? I was expecting more ideas and descriptions. What an abrupt ending! What an anti-climax! phew!!
Gary,
That’s only the teaser preview. Actually, my retirement dream comes in 7 books and 500 instalments when serialised. All cards accepted.
Look who’s talking. I didn’t seem to see your retirement dream. This is not a lecture. How about sharing a view of your Brave New World.
http://www.dirtworks.net/Organic-Fertilizer/Crab-&-Kelp.html
Sorry. Last link @ #32 was meant for Tim on the crab-flower connection on the “Green and Grin” thread. Like Gary, Tim owes us a retirement dream. That should be good for a few laughs.
Ha, ha ,ha
Hi Terence,
Gingko, Mary Chan and I were just yesterday, talking about going to Thailand….Phuket or Chiangmai. We are very keen but need you or Ronald Wi to organise and help us out in this, as we have not been to either place.
Seeing that it is going to be the Monsoon season, maybe Chiangmai may be a better option.
How about organising one?????
Let us know.
Tks & rgds…….Jie
Hi Terence,
I have been to Chiengmai but not Phuket. Is this a good time to go to Phuket? If it is, it would be great if we could form a group to go there for a few days. As you are very knowledgeable about Thailand, perhaps you could advise us? Thanks
Terence,
Is OK, Take your time to think about it.
I can wait but heaven can’t wait.
From Dec 2007 till…..?
Will log this in my retirement journal.
Cheers :)
Every piece of paper has 6 sides so cutting old newspapers into four sided pieces is too tall an order for tim……..KT, show me how it’s done & I’ll reward you with a 1-sided lollipop.
“……Wonderful dream, beautiful dream, dont let it die…..” excerpts from a song but find no place here where our dreams are so much more wonderful, beautiful……………
In his retirement dream, tim sees spore returning to the utopia that she was…….kampongs where doors of homes are left open, neighbours’ chicken are free to go in & out of yr house but leave behind no droppings, where fruits trees are planted for everyone, not for RC members, kids saying thank you & sorry readily, GST is up to 100%, not collected but preached ‘cos the acronym now stands for Gratitude, Sincerity & Trust.
Public housing will not be measured by the “Affordability Test” but reverts back to the promising Everyone Shall Hv a Roof Over His Head.
Companies running public services such as transportation will not be guaranteed to make profit for shareholders but to focus on what they’re supposed to do : provide efficient, convenient & affordable services to commuters.
Citizens will be given quality health care with enough beds for hospitalisation, not whether another has more money to pay for the priority.
So tim’s dream is much fatter in hope, and shd make good fodder to fuel even more hopeful dreams from fellow SHCians.
Meanwhile, take a break fr yr dream for an ice cream, Terence’s favourite Walls ice cream….with donald duck as pattern
Hi Rene,
Presently, I am keen to go up to Chiangmai for a few days to experience the cold weather, during Dec 20 – 30. But, unlikely to go up the mountains. Am trying to tie up with Kenneth, who is thinking of something early in Jan/Feb 2007.
Mary Chan, keep a watch on Phuket with Ronald Wi, as he is sure going there for a few weeks or months. Very nice place, beach, beers, weather, massages, motorcycling, etc.
Gingko, Mary, Chiangmai coming end of this year. No dates yet. I am there for food and cold weather.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence,
Yeh, keep me informed. Looks like we will miss Loi Krathong…
Wow, Yippee!
Chiangmai, Rely come.
BTW, when is the exact date. (I have Dec 20 till 1 Jan open)
Need to book ticket and accomodation earliest possible as this period is holiday cum festive season.
Please provide more details leh.
Jan/Feb 07 is over and 08 cannot lah.
Gingko
wat is Loi Krathong?..sori, suaku lah..hehehe:)
Norlinda
I got the encyclopedia 4 U. Hope it enlighten your understanding of Loi Krathong.
Norlinda
Oops! Left out the encyclopeida. Nvm, here is the brief explanation –
Loy Krathong (or Loi Kratong, Thai ????????) is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand. It is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, in the western calendar this usually falls into November.
“Loi” means “to float”. “Krathong” is a raft about a handspan in diameter traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk (although modern-day versions often use styrofoam), decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc. During the night of the full moon, many people will release a small raft like this on a river. Governmental offices, corporations and other organizations also build much bigger and more elaborate rafts, and these are often judged in contests. In addition, fireworks and beauty contests take place during the festival.
Letting go of Loy Krathong raftsThe festival probably originated in India as a Hindu festival similar to Divali as thanksgiving to the deity of the Ganges with floating lanterns for giving life throughout the year.
According to the writings of H.M. King Rama IV in 1863, the originally Brahmanical festival was adapted by Buddhists in Thailand as a ceremony to honour the Lord Buddha. Apart from venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), the act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one’s grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot. People will also cut their fingernails and hair and add them to the raft as a symbol of letting go of the bad parts of oneself. Many Thai believe that floating a krathong will create good luck, and they do it to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha.
The beauty contests that accompany the festival are known as “Noppamas Queen Contests”. According to legend, Noppamas was a consort of the Sukothai king Loethai (14th century) and she was the first to float decorated krathongs.
The Thai tradition of Loy Kratong started off in Sukhothai, but is now celebrated throughout Thailand, with the festivities in Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya being particularly well known.
Yew Kwong..
b4 anything, tks for the Ubin photo…nice shots ah!..next time, ask other ppl to shoot then we can hv U in it hor!
btw…mana the encyclopedia?…dont main2 lah!
Norlinda
Encyclopedia sudah hilang. Tak tau bila pontianak mencuri dari saya di-keluar kedai buku pagi ini.
Saya bukan main2 tetapi hantu main2 saya. Kalau saya menangkap dia, saya pukulan kepala dia pecah.
Terima kaseh Tuan Yew Kwong for your much
elaborated Loy Krathong festival!..wah!, im sure banyak orang pun tak tahu lah! :)
alamak, jangan jadi pahlawan (hero)hendak pukul pontianak..nanti dia ikut awak pulang ke rumah,apa macam?..hahaha!
Hi Yew Kwong,
Well done! Excellent details.
Hi Nor,
Now you know what Loi Krathong festival is. I was there one year and celebrated with some Thai friends. It was beautiful and had left such a deep impression on me. Ever since I have always wanted to go back during this period.
Terence,
Thanks for the info. Chiengmai is a nice, relaxing place and I don’t mind going again as I haven’t really seen much of it nor tried much of the variety of food there.
Phuket might be the next destination, but what with the weather being blamed for that air disaster,I’m a little concerned about going there these monsoon months.
Hi Yew Kwong,
That reminds me of a Loy Krathong musical dance at Phuket Fantasy during our visit there.
The stage is ENORMOUS comes complete with LIVE ELEPHANTS on stage and live pigeons and the THAI dancers put on a Wonderful performance.
Before that, we were treated to a grand internatnal buffet for a crowd capacity of 600 tourists in a “GIGANTIC” restaurant and good ambience.
Loy loy …krathog…
Steven
Hi Terence
Am interested too in Chiangmai. Do keep me in the loop, in case I can make it during that period. :)
Thanks,
Susan
Hi Lawrence and Theresa,
Welcome to join our SHC Noah’s Ark.
I eNJOY very much your sharing of your retirement plans and you were VERY WISE to plan for retirement and that your family life has improved by leaps and bounds ecersince. V.GOOD!
I fully agree with you that the purpose of living is NOT merely to amass material wealth like the 5Cs but also pursue non-material goals.
I do NOT like to be “married” with my work and finding not much time to socialise, do my daily exercises and pursue my hobbies.
By the time,I reached home
( from 7 am to 7 pm), 12 hrs. daily for 26 yrs. almost left me physically and mentally exhausted. And I told myself it is time my body is sending me strong signals it is time to retire!
And here I would like to SHARE my own retirement plans.
And that was why I learn to “LET GO” ,not easy, giving up a high paying job, sold away my condo to downgrade to an HDB and my car to take the efficient MRT and prepare to seek for early retirement after all life is short and unpredictable.
I ensure that I have sufficent savings $ to eat, enjoy basic entertainment, a decent home and still waiting for 2 more years to take home my CPF savings.
I SCARE to hear that some of my highly professional friends lose their retirement hard earned money as much as
$ 200 000 because they took the high risk to invest in funds,unit trusts,forex and shares thinking that they can make money so easily but was not sure of the shares market sentiments as shares are unpredictable like the weather.
I am NOT trying to discourage you all from buying shares as a means to make more money but you must be prepared to take RISKS and sometimes it can be quite PAINFUL when your hard earned money just disappeared over a matter of months.
And to share, my happily married friend who once own a bungalow is now renting a room instead. His family has left him and he is now miserably alone. Who is prepared to lent him $$$ when you have no collateral.
Having seen him in such a MISERY and DEVASTATED state ,I stay away from shares market.
And I am not prepared to watch the SGX trading stock market on the screen to monitor the market tradings frequently and that will be too STRESSful for me and ruin my health instead.
I would rather invest in low risk investments to play safe.I cannot afford to see my retirement money “burn up” in smoke and I am NOT a risk taker having learnt the lesson from my friend.
I always believe in better to be
SAFE than SORRy. Although the returns is slow but I am always a “winner” not a “loser”.
With a peace of mind, I would rather go for holidays abroad at least twice a year I would be more than HAPPY to live this retirement life.
And to make my life more meaningful, I give flexi tuition ie ,I do not work on weekends. Gardening is my passion , taking care of my 70+ potted ornamental plants of different varieties along my veranda,
Sometimes do my own cooking. My favourite dishes esp. Sphagetti Bolognaise and sweet and sour steamed pork ribs and bringing my 8 yrs old pet chow chow dog for his daily kai kai and pampering him with tender loving care.
I do exercises like swimming,cycling and brisk walking,listening to Cantonese Oldiesp and English pop songs helps to keep my body healthy and mind alert.
For those who had retired,if you find too much time to idle and have not much hobbies,playing SUDOKU is good for your brains and keep you alert otherwise,dementia and depression may set in.
You wrote…there is nothing much to do except to watch the second hand of the clock rotates 60 x 60 x24 for a day.
I totally disagree.
There is more to a MEANINGFUL Life than watching the clock rotates.
1) You can join Jassmine and me once in a while to do some voluntary work to visit and talk to the elderly poor in Toa Payoh 1 room flat residents to bring some joy to their lives as their family members are either too busy making $$$ and had no time to visit their parents after all how big is Singapore.
Very pitiful indeed! Wait till one day, they are thrown into the Aged home and their own children do likewise.
2) You may also join the Billy Wang FREE exercises at KK park to unwind.They start as early as 5.30 AM to abt 8 am.
Something unusual,you stretch yourself with a long piece of cloth around your body to improve your “lymphatic system “flow and this helps to reduce the chances of getting CANCER as has been experimented out by specialist doctors at Japanese hospitals and Billy learns the techniques from the masters and is sharing with us.
Medical costs for CANCER treatment is highly EXPENSIVE.
And so the saying holds true.
PREVENTION is better than CURE.
Regards,
Steven Chan
Hi Terence
I just read your dreams for your retirement.
I semi retired at 50 and fully retired at 53 when my wife and I started an organic farm in Singapore. We are still enjoying our home in the farm with the smelly compost and mosquitoes. I use to deal with cow dung and chicken shit and drive around town in a van delivering vegetables. In fact I’ll have to do it again this week because our driver has gone for holiday.
We are still enjoying this life after 8 years. I like to keep a low profile. There is no need for me to justify or boast to anyone for what I enjoy.
If you need more info to help you plan your dream, come and visit us when you are next in Singapore.
You have my email contact.
Hi Caroline
I came across your post on your retirement dream (3/9/07) and I wonder why you didn’t jump at the opportunity of getting a little experience by doing exactly that (selling coffee, snacks …) on a small scale at the flea mart?
I was struck by your idea to sell a fixed amount of F&B and then call it a day. This is what you do in a flea mart – prepare the amount you want to sell, then call it a day when it’s sold.
The value in selling at the flea mart is getting the experience so you’ll be more prepared when the REAL thing comes. So how about a table for you? I’ll definitely buy from your F&B stall.
Jassmine
Hi Lim,
Wow you are not only one of my kind of golf and travel kakis but also one who has realised his retirement dream.
I suspect you have a par 3/4 hole somewhere in your farm that is what keeping you motivated and in good swing form. Got to get strokes from you when we do play, and definitely Kranji course is your home grown.
Most of us have to get use to real farm living. Have stayed for 2 years in a small town in New Mexico where there is nothing but 100 cows to every man, for 150 miles all around. You can imagine the smell but after a while you get used to it and maybe high on methane too, which actually keeps people happy.
Hi all,
Interested?
Wealth Creation Tslk:
How to RETIRE in 5 yrs. time?
Date: 2-4pm, 5-7pm.
SC
Hi all,
Interested?
Wealth Creation Talk:
How to RETIRE in 5 yrs. time?
Date: 2-4pm, 5-7pm.
SC
Steven @ #56
You have left out the venue, date and subject matter.
We are here to share our experience and help each other. If you have more info, it will help people to decide whether to attend. Members more familiar with the subject area can also contribute with their advice. If they are already in the area, they probably won’t attend. But this should not deprive the newbie from benefitting from their wisdom. A forum is a good and easy way to share and temper the more wayward offers with rationality.
Keep the reformed dictators with remittance problems back in their own looted countries.
The highly publicised ageing solution is a comedy of tragedy. Once you are a senior, “work till you die” policy is fraught with risks. One big medical and you’re down and out for the count.
Then there is the problem with a fixed income retirement plan. When your retirment is paying a passive less than 2 per cent and you encounter a double digit PIG (Personal Inflation Gap), you know that you cannot hold your position.
Wealth is concentrated around investments, business and property. Employment with very few exception does not make you rich. It is what you do with your accumulated salary over time which does the trick.
One cannot be risk adverse with wealth creation. Start when you can and learn the ropes. So that you have it when you need it. Otherwise you are left with no options when you most need a handle.
Hi Wong KT,
….Steven @ #56 You have left out the venue, date and subject matter.
Date: 24 May 2008,Sat
Time: 2-4 pm and 5-7pm.
Venue: Spore Poly Guilds Clubhouse , Dover Road.
Fees: $25 ( Members )
$35 ( Members’Guests)
$50 ( Public )
Speaker Mr. Patrick Liew,1st. GM of SPGG.
Sorry , NOT free this time.
SC
Hi Wong KT/Dennis Har ,
….Steven @ #56 You have left out the venue, date and subject matter.
TALK:- “WEALTH Creation : How to retire in 5 yrs. time?
Date: 24 May 2008,
Sat
Time: 2-4 pm and 5-7pm. Venue: Spore Poly Guilds Clubhouse , Dover Road.
Fees: $25 ( Members ) $35 ( Members’Guests) $50 ( Public ) Speaker Mr. Patrick Liew,1st. GM of SPGG.
Sorry , NOT free this time.
SC