Since last year, a number of SilverHairs have pushed for SHC to consider a Retirement village as a group. However, we had not moved too far with this suggestion. I think the people numbers have increased, and we are now ready to form a starter group to take this RV idea further.
For those who have expressed a keen interest in work on the retirement village project, we have fixed a date together with Jocelyne for Saturday, Oct 14 from 1400 – 1700 hrs, along Holland Road.
This meeting is intended to focus on ideas and suggestions of a retirement village, and NOT to discuss the pros and cons of retirement village. The group will also discuss how to move ahead with this RV concept.
If you have a place for a RV, a concept, maybe cost, partnership with other RV ideas, etc, please drop a comment here. We would like to invite your participation. A few paragraphs from you would be great.
So far, SilverHairs who have expressed interest to work on the RV project include Ronald Wi, Ronald Lee, KT Wong, Jocelyne Soh, Gary Loke, SB Khoo and Susan Chang.
For more articles on this topic, do a SEARCH with the word "retirement" on the right column.
Due to limited place, invitation will be on a first come basis.
Jocelyne/Terence
Hi All
I am a new member and had not join in any group meetings, discussions. I am interested in this topic, please count me in.
Hi Pauline,
We like to hear from you. Can you share with us your thoughts on retirement village?
Hi everyone:
I am not a member of SHC and came upon this website accidentally while searching on ‘retirement village’.
I am in my early 40s and had been researching on early retirement. I do not believe in working for the rest of my life…not with the kind of corporate life in S’pore nowadays.
Anyway, I have bought an apartment in Xiamen, China that I thought would be ideal to retire in. It is a housing eco-development off Xiamen with clusters of bungalows and apartments. Within the security compound, there are restaurants, tennis courts, swimming pool, clinics etc.
The outer area has been gazetted as eco areas where no logging and hunting is allowed and activities can include rafting, hiking, cycling, fishing, fruit and vegetable farms etc.
Access to Xiamen is just 40 mins where Carrefour, Wal-mart etc is easily available. Flight time to S’pore is 3-4hrs.
I don’t know if what I am saying is relevant to what you guys may be looking at. I have some friends who have expressed interest and I was wondering if members of SHC may want to know more as I have pictures and brochures of this place.
Do let me know if I can be invited to share more. At the same time, I would be glad to see where are the RV your club members have been looking at and we can mutually learn from oneanother.
Regards
Cheong
cheong@singnet.com.sg
Cheong,
You mention that you have pictures and that you have some ideas that you like to share on China and the Xiamen house.
If you are over 45, we welcome you to the SilverHairsClub. If not, please do give me a call.
Terence Seah
9489-4360
From Gary Loke:
Hi everyone,
My 2 cts worth of comments as follows.
Location: this is the crux of it all. If you consider places outside Spore then as someone said earlier, factor in travel costs (say, every 3 months even with Tiger Air if you don’t book early, its not really a bargain) and VISA costs (in Asean you can go in without visa for 1 month at most, elsewhere for longer stay, you may need a Business Visa??)
Terms of lease only crop up if you consider to buy or develop jointly with others
Renting of reasonably furnished lodgings could be a good option initially
My other suggested locations : HCM City, (has a sizeable ‘Chinese-Viet’ population), Darwin (lots of Asians there, fresh air, wide open space)
No doubt the well travelled ones among us would have better solutions too.
good health to all
gary
From Kenneth Tan:
Hi all Retirement Village hopefuls
From the many replies, it is obvious that there are many views and options; this can be positive but it can also bring lots of contention. Because everyone has his/her own ideas and expectations of a Retirement Village, I think that it will be very difficult to come to a consensus and course of action.
To me, a Retirement Village will be a group or cluster of housing (could be part of a larger development) where like-minded seniors can spend a large part of the year (6 months or more) and enjoy the location, beauty and culture of a foreign country (not Singapore or Malaysia), and engage in mind broadening and recreational activities.
The RV would cater to independent living i.e. mobile and self-sufficient individuals, but be close to local facilities like markets, shops and hospitals. It should not be an isolated compound with fences and security, but should be part of the community. The RV and the residents should be part of the life of the community it is in and make a positive contribution.
The main idea and thrust of a RV would be for seniors to enjoy a better standard of living and save costs, away from the hustle and materialistic life in Singapore with rising medical, transport and food costs.
Yes, it is a difficult decision, I mean living out your retirement years in another location or country. But it is a choice I may have to make if I want to pursue a better, healthier life!
Happy planning and dreaming!
Kenneth
From Lynn:
Hi Sigyam,
Thanks for initiating with the agenda.
1. Location of RV –
a. Prefer Johore or Singapore as travelling cost is very expensive and stay of not more than 3 months if one is not a resident of that country. Even Macau come to about $400 plus with airport taxes. Preferred singapore provided it is not so expensive.
b. If considering short holidays, then can consider South China, Vietnam. I like the way the chinese in China enjoyed their life- learning all arts almost free of charge – dancing, wushu, exercise etc. . Also cost of living very very low. I remembered buying vegeables at about few singapore cents in Xiamen. If it is this option, then would have to consider staying at most 3 months a year, so that means it would be better to share out the place. But the cost must not be high else it would be as good as buying time share. Also in the mean time, we can give low cost services, teaching english,etc, etc…..
2. Lease – If in spore or malaysia, at least 50 years. Recently saw LTA tender on big parcel of land at Lim chu kang in the papers. One of the proposed tenderer appeared to have some farming activities. Can we tap on them? What is the likelihood that we could get some low cost 50 year lease land from our govt, mycd,ntuc, etc. Aren’t govt promoting this and helping oldies? The cost would need to be lower than that for the hdb 30 year lease (I think) of below $100,000 ($60,000). Else what is the point? Possible to tap on the mycd funding?
3 Mode – Rent or sale. Can explore both options. If one buy, then can also consider renting to those who do not want to consider buying.
4. SHC spearhead. How about we being partners with developers, etc. Need professional in building. Any professional in this area amongst us?
5. Environment and Facilities of RV:- Need to have healthy food!! (we can have our own healthy food stall), have a garden growing organic food, music room, area of greenery, painting, and we can have early morning exercises to the therapatic music, water falls, tcm (may be we have some tcm practitioner, doctors, amongst us), …
Oh, what a beautiful dream…………….
lynn
From Sig Yam:
Hi All,
Specialised services for an RV, or for that matter for any special group, are generally more expensive than for the market at large, where normal competition will drive down the prices. Hence it might be more economical to have the RV near a town, so that retirees can buy such services – visits to clinic, medical supplies, laundry, daily neccesities, etc, – from the nearby town. An RV can consist of a block of flats or a block of houses from a larger estate, or it can be built with shorter leases of 50 yrs adjacent to a town or residential suburb.
2.. I would expect Retirees in an RV to be healthy, usually not older than 75 yrs unless still fit and able to look after themselves, and can do shopping, etc. Hopefully the retirees can stay healthy with regular exercises, such as walking, jogging, swimming, playing simple games like table tennis, maybe golf, qigong, light yoga, line dancing, outdoor traipsing and hiking; and stay alert with games like majong, chess, etc, and stay abreast with the world via newspapers, internet surfing, emailing, etc. Hopefully retirees can join in the activities of nearby community centres of nearby towns, and need not feel “retired” from the world.
3. On long term living abroad, Costs can be cut down by renting a house with a few rooms, and each retiree or couple can share a room within the house which may be rented for say S$400 a month, depending on the country and location. If there are 4 bedrooms and the house can be rented for S$400 a month, then each room costs about S$100 plus utilities, and can be affordable to most retirees. By sharing a house and living in small groups, retirees can help each other especially when someone falls ill.
4. RV may not be suitable for the very old or disabled. A better option would be Nursing Home. Hence for this reason, I do not encourage retirees to BUY a unit in an RV, because as retirees grow older and become incapacited, a RV home will not serve his/her purpose. Hence RENTING a RV unit when retiree is still able to walk around provides a good option. For the BUYING option, if the RV unit can be sold later when retiree grows old and then use the residual money to enter a Nursing Home, can also provide a viable option.
For your consideration please.
GOD Bless !
from…Sig Yam
From Sig Yam:
Hi All,
Thanks for sharing.
A very important aspect of an RV or long-term living abroad is COSTS. I had the good fortune to spend 8 days in Shanghai in June2006 and also 8 days in Hainan in Sep2006. Both places can cater to living cheaply and well:- a good breakfast for RMB5, a good lunch for rmb10-to-20, a good steamed live fish dinner with beer for rmb40. When converted to S$ it is divide by 5, meaning S$1 for bf, S$2-4 for L, S$8 for D. In Hainan Qionghai city, hotel for 2 can be at rmb70, good 1-hr foot or body massage for rmb20, Chines medical massage at rmb30 per hr, needs 2 hr for good healing massage.
For our RV concept, may I suggest, those of us who have knowledge of foreign countries, pls share so that we can help decide which country to go for. I can volunteer to find out more about China, I will be going to Taishan, Guangzhou and Macau in Nov2006. Tiger Airways flies to Haikou and Macau for abnout S$250-300 return.
Perhaps some others can help fiond out more about other countries, such as Thailand including Chiangmai; and Indonesia especially Batam, and even Malaysia including Ipoh Cameron Highlands, Malacca, Penang. Cooler climes like Cameron Highlands, Chiangmai may be attractive destinations for a change from our hot humid and sometimes hazy climate.
Thank you and GOD Blesss !
Best regards…from..Sigyam
From Thomas Kuan:
Hi All,
Thanks Sigyam for your sharing. The questions in my mind are:
1. Could RV be a part ‘virtual’ home where retirees could communicate and share interests on the internet?
2. How could education or continuing learning be part of the landscape of the RV?
3. Could the concrete RV be rented out to retirees as chalets?
Regards,
thomas kuan
From Kenneth Tan:
Hi All,
I am really intrigued with the idea of a retirement village: looking forward to spending weeks or months at a resort-like location, enjoying life and the local culture, just doing anything and everything I’d like to do.
But is this idea only a “pie-in-the-sky” dream?
There are so many questions to put forward and objectives to settle before we can even talk of establishing a “retirement village”:
What is the expectation and view of this “village”? Is it a self-contained amenity with medical, shopping and recreation facility like in Australian retirement villages? What are the financial considerations?
Where do we look to establish such a village? Is it in JB or Batam as the Singapore government thinks it could be?
If it is, for example, in Thailand, do we know enough about the country’s Silver Hair retirement visa, purchase or lease of land or property by foreigners, special tax privileges for setting up retirement villages?
Or are we just “fishing around” with our own personal ideas and dreams?
I would like to suggest that unless someone has got all the plans and details for a retirement village all figured out (solid ideas as what Terence says) and please put it on the email before the meeting, it is still a discussion of What, Where and How for this coming meeting.
Maybe we could discuss long-term stay before we discuss long-term retirement village.
Just my two-cents worth
Kenneth
From Sig Yam:
Dear All,
May I suggest the following agenda (pls add or amend as you wish):-
1. Location of Retirement Village (RV) – Johore or Singapore or Cameron Highlands or where ?? Location will greatly affect the final Unit price. Malaysia – cheap, easily half or less than Singapore, and no cultural differences. Indonesia and Philippines are not safe, while Thailand is good and cheap and have modern facilities, but may have cultural differences unless located in areas with many Chinese people.
2. Lease – 30yrs too short – aim for 50 yrs so that those who bought unit need not worry outliving the lease.
3. Option for buy or rent – Rent option is good for those also wanting to live short terms abroad. Rent periods – monthly, quarterly, half-yrly, yrly.
4. To take decision whether SHC wants to spearhead developing a RV.
Costs involved. Range from ?? S$50K to S$100K ? Initial commitment amount S$10K ? Get professional developer or to look around for completed housing units as potential RVs. This is a safer option, especially in Malaysia, cos’ need not worry about developers defaulting or running away with our money. Do not expect developers to do out of compassion or goodwill for the retiree, but rather it is best to expect them to make good profits out of retirees. By taking this stance we will be better able to safeguard ourselves against unscrupulous developers from making too much profits from our retiree group.
5. Environment and Facilities of RV:- Transport, hawker centres, market, gardens, laundry, parks, beaches, etc ?? Clinics, doctors, nurses, TCM.
To get moving, suggest we appoint an Action SubCommittee and a scribe to write down the salient points and decisions taken. It is best for those with keen intention to buy or rent a RV unit to be in this action sub-committee to move this project along.
At this point in time I am more interested in short term living abroad, about 1 to 3 months at a time, in places within 4 hrs by air, such as Thailand, Malaysia, South China, Perth, etc. My interest in RV may be at a later stage of my life, maybe after 70 yrs old. I am 60 and am working full-time (until 62). As such I do not want to be in this Action Subcommittee and influence others too much, although I don’t mind being a busybody and help out where I can.
GOD Bless !
From Susan Chang:
Thanks for the confirmation. Molly & myself will be there for the discussion.
In brief, my ideal retirement village wud be :
1) Accessible & mobility within the RV
2) Relaxation meant for reading
3) Recreation room for game/cards/mahjong
4) A place (near the garden) for exercise or yoga/meditation
5) Swimming pool with jacuzzi
6) A garden where we can plant some fruit trees/spices or different kind of flowers
7) A place for pet or we can keep our own pet
8) A committee who organise activity like travelling, outings, etc.
9) BBQ pit – for outdoor cooking
10) 3 meals provided
11) A common kitchen for baking, cooking, for those who loves to cook
Maybe more ideals if I can still think of later. For the time being, you may consolidate some of my ideas.
Hope this helps. See yah
Rgds,
Susan
From Cheong:
Hi everyone:
I am not a member of SHC and came upon this website accidentally while searching on ‘retirement village’.
I am in my early 40s and had been researching on early retirement. I do not believe in working for the rest of my life…not with the kind of corporate life in S’pore nowadays.
Anyway, I have bought an apartment in Xiamen, China that I thought would be ideal to retire in. It is a housing eco-development off Xiamen with clusters of bungalows and apartments. Within the security compound, there are restaurants, tennis courts, swimming pool, clinics etc.
The outer area has been gazetted as eco areas where no logging and hunting is allowed and activities can include rafting, hiking, cycling, fishing, fruit and vegetable farms etc.
Access to Xiamen is just 40 mins where Carrefour, Wal-mart etc is easily available. Flight time to S’pore is 3-4hrs.
I don’t know if what I am saying is relevant to what you guys may be looking at. I have some friends who have expressed interest and I was wondering if members of SHC may want to know more as I have pictures and brochures of this place.
Do let me know if I can be invited to share more. At the same time, I would be glad to see where are the RV your club members have been looking at and we can mutually learn from one another.
Regards, Cheong
From Pauline Au Yong:
It is always good to live in a community with all facilities provided, all people around the same age, sharing common interests, etc. I remember asking my friends to buy Studio appts together. One of them said no; because she will be too afraid to go home when her neighbours start dying, one after another. This is what we will have to learn to face when the time comes. I am interested to join in any discussion. Thanks.
From Patrick Yeo:
Though it may sounds simple to either “Stay” or “Migrate” with or without much money-in-the-pocket – the following questions need to be scrutinised :
Security – we need to be protected against the odds and the unexpected
Medical – as we get older, we need efficient and effective medical cares
Affordability – 2~3 meals a day, shelter from rain and sunshine, a comfortable bed to sleep and ability to pay for SP and Conservancy Charges
Mobility – able to move about without the help of others. Can self manage to pass motions and eat as and when is necessary.
Companionship – have friends, buddies or love one to confide with in times of loneliness.
Interest & Hobbies – Continue to endeavour in indoor or outdoor activities
EOL – make sure “will” is made to the love ones or to those who have taken good cares of us during our “Old Age”
.
We are born into this world “Crying” and we want to depart this world “Smiling” – So live to the Fullest and May God Bless all of us.
Hopefully we can find a Retirement Village that have all the answer to those questions above
Cheers
Patrick Yeo
From Gary Loke:
Basically, how does one ‘set up’ a retirement village in a foreign land? Do you mean hiring some form of lodging (sounds feasible) or are you going to be a ‘developer’ of a few houses(Land laws may apply) or what? The idea of ‘time-share’ is good, but how to implement that exactly?. Would love to take this further in other discussions. cheers
From SigYam:
Dear All,
Since the Govt has already mooted the idea of an RV, whether in Singapore or Johore or Batam, it would be wise of us to support this idea, without however committing financially to it, until more details are available for each individual retiree to make a sound decision based on his/her special circumstances. As a Group, we can give our inputs and hopefully help influence the outcome to the benefit of the majority.
2. Action-wise, for our upcoming meeting of Sat-14oct06, we might want to look into these areas:-
2.1 Getting a volunteer, preferably with connections to Govt agencies or the Govt Feedback unit, to give our inputs to the Govt team overseeing the upcoming RV.
2.2 Discuss and Agree among ourselves what we want out of our Singapore-Govt spearheaded RV, – location, approx size no of units, whether flats or landed buildings, facilities – medical, social, recreational, etc, approx living cost per month that a retiree is willing to pay, hopefully renting is also possible so that large sums need not be sunk in upfront (note – Straits Times reported that some retirees in Australian RVs feel that they have been conned but have no means of exiting their RV unit and just have to bear with it), whether an RV unit can be a good investment for renting out, etc.
3. I think it is good to brainstorm now and throw up all kinds of thoughts and ideas, so that we all can have more info and be exposed to different thinking before making a personal decision whether or not to buy an RV unit. Once committed, a retiree should not regret later.
4. The sentiment expressed by some is to quickly drive the RV project to a conclusion, ie. build the RV fast. Towards this end, those who are already much in favour of owning an RV unit are encouraged to come forward to drive this project.
Best regards….from…Sig Yam
From Gary Loke:
Hi Ronald & everyone
What I can possibly bring to the table is this:
I am actually in close contact with a group of silverhairs in HCM City who have somewhat related ideas to ours. They are a group of retirees (Chinese vietnamese) who want to experience life outside of Vietnam. What I can offer is something like HOme stays. That is, our group (up to 10 at one time, go over there, stay with their families (for free for up to a week), taking care to just bring some small gifts etc and perhaps pay for own travels. Then, at some later date, we just reciprocate by allowing them to stay with us in our HDB heartland and to imbibe the local culture etc. Those who are keen on such a trip may drop me a line at dovebis77@yahoo.com, or I could folloow up on this at our meeting tomorrow.
I also have an apartment in HCM City (something like HDB 4 room) open to longer stays as from 2007…more on this later. This flat can go directly into the database of available places for SHC RV purposes.
Best rgds
gary loke
From Sig Yam:
My responses are as follows:-
1. a.
2. Future – South China – to source for locations for up to 3 months’ stay, places within reach of Low Cost Carriers like Tiger Airways; e.g., Hainan Qionghai City, Taishan City and Zhuhai City of Guangdong Province, China.
3. Travel and research on ad-hoc basis,
4. Cannot commit time because still employed fulltime.
5. I know (and have tried) Chinese Medical Massage in Qionghai City, Hainan is effective, for example for back-ache, at RMB60 (=S$12) for 2 hrs. In Singapore such a massae would have costs around S$50-to-60. Also the foot reflexology and body massage at RMB20 per hr is enjoyable and better than those in Singapore – comparable to that of Thailand. The massage place that i went to in sep06 is clean and well run professionbally, comparable to Health Spa on Level 2 of Singapore Badminton Hall., (which charges around S$79 for a 1-hr massage with free food and drinks and free use of Hot, Warm and Icy Cold Pools and.jaccuzi, sauna and steam bath rooms. – also very good but expensive, and is not open to ladies.)
6. Others – will help out on ad-hoc basis.
7 – d.
With best regards…
Sig Yam
From Ronald Wi (Team leader):
Hi everyone,
As promised ( even though i am retired , still need a bit of discipline to get things done on time ), here is a quick survey so as to have a good gauge of which course of action to take. It is optional if you want to cc to all or just to me, and if you want to keep it confidential too. I hope everyone can take the time to complete this survey and to reply to me asap, Thanks
QUICK Survey
————
1. PHASE ONE – concept and approach – select either one
———————————————–
a. Start small , with little or no money down, – but to set up a team to study and co-ordinate good holiday packages, through personal contacts of private homes, condos, etc.
b. Start with some investment ( say $5000 +/1 ) and lease good Service apartments , and contracts for RV lots, or even buy a unit in the Trang Eco village (costing about $60,000) or a House in JB Eco-village (costing about $250,000)
c. Start even bigger , to tender, or join with some other developer projects .
d. Maybe, leave things as it is , and improve the current website to be more user friendly for people to post and track Holiday packages that they can arrange in small groups . ( see Joan’s forum on Perth, which is getting a good response)
Choice : a, b, c, or d . = a (real, not example)
2. Area of Expertise , current or Future
—————————————-
Example , for me :
a. Malaysia, Malacca , can look to get rooms for home stay in one or 2 large homes, or bungalow
b. JB – resort homes and Eco-village homes, reseach on ownership
3. Area of Professsion , that is relevant
—————————————–
a. Internet skills , website programming
b. Reports and database management
c. Travel and research
d. Team project management
( we need Lawyers, Accountants,Doctors to come forward to provide expertise )
4. Time and commitment
———————-
a. 2 to 3 hours on internet daily
b. Travel , yes, – free most of the time
c. Local , perhaps , 1 or 2 days a week
5. Others that is relevant to RV concept
—————————————-
a. Have contacts with Makota Medical centre ( example only)
b. INsurance policies ( for certain groups , example Only )
c. Knows Malacca real well, can knows what is really good or just good commercially . Nyonya food, other local specaility and interesting place, golf package.(this is real)
6. Others (Optional ) other ideas or suggestion that you want the group to discuss.
———————————————–
a. Want to help but not good on internet ( example)
7. Rewards scheme options
————————–
a. No reward, total voluntary
b. % of whatever can be earned to go the IBMT
c. Fixed rewards, not interchangeable to cash,
ie , for each month of sevice , you get the surchage exemption coupon for using any of the travel package that the RV IBMT can arrange.
d. Non members using the Packages that have been
arranged through the proposed RV IBMT will pay a
surchage of 15% , IBMT , will have the waiver, anytime
they want, so no need to track reward benefits.
e. Contract based , depending of work scope
Choice : a, b, c, d
My choice: d
Cheers
Ronald Wi
From Sig Yam:
Hi Ronald and All,
Thanks for a well thought-through action plan. I support your idea of an internet-based IBMT of managing a distributed RV with locations in several countries and places.
2. From what i can gauge, there are possibly 2 (or more) sets of ideas of what an RV should be :- namely 1) a concrete RV in which units can be sold to owners; and b) a distributed RV, possibly managed by your IBMT style, meant for long-term stays of 1 to 6 months. Personally i favour the second version because i want to visit and see more of the world while i can still travel.
3. Your IBMT is best run by Volunteers, although there is nothing to prevent it from becoming a profit making business, or at least to pay some compensation to the Volunteers for their work, their time and expertise. These Volunteers from SHC could jolly well be professionals, either retired or semi-retired, and can afford the time to carry out the jobroles. Preferably the Volunteers running the show should also like travelling to various places, so that their interest will sustain them doing the IBMT work.
4. Speaking for myself, I am not very pc or IT savvy, although i use the pc everyday at work.. My home desktop is too slow, because i had loaded it up with too many applications, some free, some paid, (being tempted to keep on loading it and too soft-hearted to delete those programmes that i seldom use). My laptop is slightly better, but i still feel that my computer can bully me easily. Secondly, because i am still working fulltime for another 2 yrs, i will not be able to join your IBMT team, until i am fully retired. But i will certainly help out with contacts when i come across them.
5. In order not to preclude those who are in favour of buying an RV unit, perhaps we can group our meeting members into 2 groups to dig further into each of these 2 types of RV – actual and distributed (virtual).
6. For future meetings, may i suggest The Banquet Foodcourt at China Square Central, facing South Bridge Rd, (opposite Yan Palace Restaurant), with parking at S$2 per entry saturdays and sundays, with many types of food and drinks available at reasonable prices, good coffee and kaya toast included. This will save the trouble for the organiser. The foodcourt is not crowded on saturdays after 2pm.
With best regards…
Sig Yam
From Ronald Wi:
I guess most of us all have the same ideas but in different stages of implemenation , so we have to start small but without comprising what we want from it else no one will find it attractive.
As Rome was not build in a day, we have to start small first, we can start by initially building up a professional management team, that can provide the concepts outline below: Our management team, has to be able to convince would be landlords , would be travellers , that our Retirement village concept,(though not owning any real village ) do provide a good lodging at private homes ( so it is a special niche kind of travel, like a farm stay concept), so you get to know a friend at the same ,
and all the info you will need about basic amenties within the city you are visiting, places of interests, other SHC type of actities that is recommended ,etc.
Stages of implementation :-
a. Build a management team , Internet Based Concept,to save cost , and also it is necessary as we need to work with contacts from other countries. This is in itself a new concept for us, as retires should learn to adapt to , and also it actually works better this way if we were to really think about it. Low cost, flexible hours, and immediately operational, but the driving force is to have self-motivation, good work discipline and Integrity, honesty and some personal vounteering. Many global firms are managing through internet and this is one of the first problems we have to tackle first, how to manage through the internet and get things going.
b. Secondly once the team is identified , they have to build up a credible image , as an internet RV management Club that has the Singapore branding quality (Singapore branding is getting well recognised in SEA) that can live up to it’s promises of good pricing, quality, reliability and ISO standards.
c. Start marketing to slowly build up more contacts of ‘Niche Local homes for retirement stay that is affordable , comfortble , and has good support connections is varios cities’ , i am sure more landlords and travellers would like to take part in such activities, as part time Hosts and travellers once they know they get good travellers, people who are considerate , knows how to behave as good guests and can be good friends who can some day host them in the same way.
d. Next is look up for valuable tie-ups, for insurance medical care, etc that offer good value, i am suresome of those season travellers can tell us , that there are just as good medical care that are even cheaper than Spore prices, in other Asean cities. If we can get reviews from from SHC members who are doctors ,etc ,that will add to the credibility of are recommendations.
So, let us start, one step at a time ,and in fact , if we were to based on this concept , some of us can already make arrangements with the contact provided so far by Sigyam Chan ( see his email ) , Ken about ChengMai, and also by Joan about Perth.
So, the intially plan now is to get this Internet Based Management team started and to build up the contacts base of Landlords and tie them up with interested travellers. For the initially part we hope, would be travellers would be kind enough to help us gather more info of amenities near by, to build up the amenities of database so that there is a better choice for other to consider.
For those who are sceptical about Internet Based Management Team, i would say this is the way of the future and should especially work well for SHC, and we have to start to build this ‘Brand of Retirees management team ‘ that can get things down the retirees way. Work from home, managed globally , resourceful in creating Niche demands of Retired Travellers and creating a reliable, dependable networks of amenities in SEA.
There is one good Example featured in the BTO some time ago ,about an Airline Company, in Australia that was bought by a CEO who is based in Singapore , who through only internet emails to staff in Australia was able to turn around a profit losing airline to making good positive returns within a year making only 1 visit a year.
Basic expectations and concepts
===============================
1. Cheaper , comforatble accommodation , so as to be able to stay longer in a certain place
2. Safe, place, ideally with some known friends or SHC member to share interest and provide immediate knowledge of the country to meet basic needs and other interest.
3. Able , to do some basic cooking versus eating out only option ( cost savings again)
4. So imagine that you can wake up at your own time, make a cup of coffee , read the interntet BTO or STI ,and taking your time to find and join local travel group educational walks , trips or excursion versus Commercial travel concepts.
5. Have time to explore other areas , such as visiting craftsmans in out of common tourist areas , museums,librarys , and local performances,et .
6. Work in contact with the current country , SHC club, Adventure club, or respective interest clubs to join in their activities, like golf, fishing , bird watching , etc. – to build upon such contacts for other members.
Proposal how we can start small and then build up from here as demand and commitment and expertise comes in .
=======================================================
This is one proposal , that i am planning to start on my own with or without SHC commitment ( I have mentioned this to Terence before ).
1. To find suitable rooms, or part of homes that other people are willing to rent out to such group of travellers.
2. So the idea is to build a database of places where SHC members can stay , meeting the expectations as stated above.
3. In this way , both parties benefit, the person who has a place with empty rooms can make some income , meet interesting people he wants and be active in this way by getting to know more about his own country and the needs of other visitors .
4. I know that there are Guest houses , which are cheap and sort of meet our needs in some ways, but not quite as comfortable. I am now staying in a landed property , 3 story house, and i can not describe the feeling of comfort , and luxury i get by paying about $380 for a room, with free car park. I have cable, air-con, internet , do my own cooking , washing machine ,etc, shared by only a few other tenants that i see very little off but do provide some company when we meet.
So imagine , if i can have this same luxury stay, say in Australia , or Thailand , or China. I can easily stay for 3 to 6 months and do most of the things i want at mhy own pace, for example joining a Qi Kong, Feng Shui class in China for 3 months, or setting up a joint venture in Thailand for handicrats etc.
How to go about this
=====================
1. Set up a database of people who have such flat , condo , houses etc that they are wanting to rent out to selective people an their own time, periods ,etc.
2. Set up an internet booking system to match , people who want to rent such places. With such a start up , there is really very little cost involved but a lot of marketing to be done , to get first of all, people who want to participate in this concept that is to rent out their room or houses
.
There is one SHC member who did mention that he has a relative with about 7 rooms with attached bath rooms that they say can be used for such purpose. Of course , rents vary to the type of homes class thatis offered and the owner has the right to select discretely , by setting up certain terms and conditions, etc. Bottom line both parties should find it attractive , on their own expectation. An owner with a ship or golf club membership , may demanc more and of course , the visitor in this is willing to pay more ,etc.
So, we need to build up the database and provide info , and booking system , that ideally should be as professional and as interactive as most international Hotel website does , with pictures or the rooms, and maps, etc. ( even Hotel 81 is quite up to date in the web site now )
This cost is also not high, and for info, i am sourcing for a good person or partner for this setup.
I hope this proposal , leads to a better idea or how we can start to move towards our objective and the objectives of the SHC.
My Agenda for the proposed Meeting, is as follows:
Pre-meeting commitments
======================================================
Please read this email and from others on this same topic that has been sent to you, so that we all can start from the same point. ( some emails are attached below for easy reference )
Secondly, as proposed, to be ready to operate as and IBMT, – Internet Based Management TEam, we need to have the necessary work discipline and commitment to spend time to read and follow up with all the email sent to you and to be ready to pick up from the lastest email.
AGENDA as proposed – for effective meeting results.
===================================================
1400 – Introduction , ( very briefly, hopefully the details of each member areas of interest, expertise has been appended to Meeting Annex Email )
1410 – Selling the Concept of IBMT ( Internet Based Management)- feedback, concerns and discussion
1430 – Drafting of the Basic Concepts of our Niche RV,feedback,inputs, suggestions, other proposal
1500 – Identifying the teams – Directing & Management,Marketing, Logistis Teams, selection of team leaders
1530 – Outlining the role,functions of the various teams and method of co-ordination
1600 – Short break and discussion between teams
1630 – Summary of group discussion ,feedback, and suggestions.
1645 – Brief outline of how an IBMT work procedures are to conducted and central co-ordination.
1500 – end of Meeting
For a start , we will use the response from this email to see how effectively can we work just through this email and also gauge members’ computer skills.
Second email to this , will have the list of names of attendees, and it is hope that all participants can follow this simple exercise of data co-ordination, so that we can see how far away from the IBMT concept we are, and how what kind of traning can be done by respective team members .
So look out for the 2nd email titled RV meeting -2nd Mail – annex
Cheers
Ronald Wi
Team Leader for meeting
From Sigyam:
Hi Ronald and All,
Thanks for a well thought-through action plan. I support your idea of an internet-based IBMT of managing a distributed RV with locations in several countries and places.
2. From what i can gauge, there are possibly 2 (or more) sets of ideas of what an RV should be :- namely 1) a concrete RV in which units can be sold to owners; and b) a distributed RV, possibly managed by your IBMT style, meant for long-term stays of 1 to 6 months. Personally i favour the second version because i want to visit and see more of the world while i can still travel.
3. Your IBMT is best run by Volunteers, although there is nothing to prevent it from becoming a profit making business, or at least to pay some compensation to the Volunteers for their work, their time and expertise. These Volunteers from SHC could jolly well be professionals, either retired or semi-retired, and can afford the time to carry out the jobroles. Preferably the Volunteers running the show should also like travelling to various places, so that their interest will sustain them doing the IBMT work.
4. Speaking for myself, I am not very pc or IT savvy, although i use the pc everyday at work.. My home desktop is too slow, because i had loaded it up with too many applications, some free, some paid, (being tempted to keep on loading it and too soft-hearted to delete those programmes that i seldom use). My laptop is slightly better, but i still feel that my computer can bully me easily. Secondly, because i am still working fulltime for another 2 yrs, i will not be able to join your IBMT team, until i am fully retired. But i will certainly help out with contacts when i come across them.
5. In order not to preclude those who are in favour of buying an RV unit, perhaps we can group our meeting members into 2 groups to dig further into each of these 2 types of RV – actual and distributed (virtual).
6. For future meetings, may i suggest The Banquet Foodcourt at China Square Central, facing South Bridge Rd, (opposite Yan Palace Restaurant), with parking at S$2 per entry saturdays and sundays, with many types of food and drinks available at reasonable prices, good coffee and kaya toast included. This will save the trouble for the organiser. The foodcourt is not crowded on saturdays after 2pm.
With best regards…
Sig Yam
From Ronald Wi:
Hi everyone, Thks , Chan, for the quick and positive reply and for being the first to reply.
As promised ( even though i am retired , still need a bit of discipline to get things done on time ), here is a quick survey so as to have a good gauge of which course of action to take. It is optional if you want to cc to all or just to me, and if you want to keep it confidential too. I hope everyone can take the time to complete this survey and to reply to me asap , Thanks
QUICK Survey
————
1. PHASE ONE – concept and approach – select either one
——————————————————-
a. Start small , with little or no money down, – but to set up a team to study and co-ordinate good holiday packages, through personal contacts of private homes, condos, etc.
b. Start with some investment ( say $5000 +/1 ) and lease good Service apartments , and contracts for RV lots, or even buy a unit in the Trang Eco village (costing about $60,000) or a House in JB Eco-village (costing about $250,000 )
c. Start even bigger , to tender, or join with some other developer projects .
d. Maybe , leave things as it is , and improve the current website to be more user friendly for people to post and track Holiday packages that they can arrange in small groups . ( see Joan’s forum on Perth , which is getting a good response )
Choice : a, b, c, or d . = a (real , not example)
2. Area of Expertise , current or Future
—————————————-
Example , for me :
a. Malaysia, Malacca , can look to get rooms for home stay in one or 2 large homes, or bungalow
b. JB – resort homes and Eco-village homes, reseach on ownership
3. Area of Professsion , that is relevant
—————————————–
a. Internet skills , website programming
b. Reports and database management
c. Travel and research
d. Team project management
( we need Lawyers, Accountants,Doctors to come forward to provide expertise )
4. Time and commitment
———————-
a. 2 to 3 hours on internet daily
b. Travel , yes, – free most of the time
c. Local , perhaps , 1 or 2 days a week
5. Others that is relevant to RV concept
—————————————-
a. Have contacts with Makota Medical centre ( example only)
b. INsurance policies ( for certain groups , example Only )
c. Knows Malacca real well, can knows what is really good or just good commercially . Nyonya food, other local specaility and interesting place, golf package. (this is real)
6. Others (Optional ) other ideas or suggestion that you want the group to discuss.
—————————————————
a. Want to help but not good on internet ( example)
7. Rewards scheme options
————————–
a. No reward, total voluntary
b. % of whatever can be earned to go the IBMT
c. Fixed rewards, not interchangeable to cash,
ie , for each month of sevice , you get the surchage exemption coupon for using any of the travel package that the RV IBMT can arrange.
d. Non members using the Packages that have been
arranged through the proposed RV IBMT will pay a
surchage of 15% , IBMT , will have the waiver, anytime they want, so no need to track reward benefits.
e. Contract based , depending of work scope
Choice : a, b, c, d
My choice: d
Cheers
Ronald Wi
Reply from SigYam:
Hi Ronald and All,
My responses are as follows:-
1. a,
2. Future – South China – to source for locations for up to 3 months’ stay, places within reach of Low Cost Carriers like Tiger Airways; e.g., Hainan Qionghai City, Taishan City and Zhuhai City of Guangdong Province, China.
3. Travel and research on ad-hoc basis,
4. Cannot commit time because still employed fulltime.
5. I know (and have tried) Chinese Medical Massage in Qionghai City, Hainan is effective, for example for back-ache, at RMB60 (=S$12) for 2 hrs. In Singapore such a massae would have costs around S$50-to-60. Also the foot reflexology and body massage at RMB20 per hr is enjoyable and better than those in Singapore – comparable to that of Thailand. The massage place that i went to in sep06 is clean and well run professionbally, comparable to Health Spa on Level 2 of Singapore Badminton Hall., (which charges around S$79 for a 1-hr massage with free food and drinks and free use of Hot, Warm and Icy Cold Pools and.jaccuzi, sauna and steam bath rooms. – also very good but expensive, and is not open to ladies.)
6. Others – will help out on ad-hoc basis.
7 – d.
With best regards…from…Sig Yam
From Gary Loke:
Hi Ronald & everyone
What I can possibly bring to the table is this:
I am actually in close contact with a group of silverhairs in HCM City who have somewhat related ideas to ours.
They are a group of retirees (Chinese vietnamese) who want to experience life outside of Vietnam. What I can offer is something like HOme stays. That is, our group (up to 10 at one time, go over there, stay with their families (for free for up to a week), taking care to just bring some small gifts etc and perhaps pay for own travels. Then, at some later date, we just reciprocate by allowing them to stay with us in our HDB heartland and to imbibe the local culture etc. Those who are keen on such a trip may drop me a line at dovebis77@yahoo.com, or I could folloow up on this at our meeting tomorrow.
I also have an apartment in HCM City (something like HDB 4 room) open to longer stays as from 2007…more on this later. This flat can go directly into the database of available places for SHC RV purposes.
Best rgds
gary loke
From Thomas Kwan:
The last time, I brough some visitors around Singapore was in late 1990s and early 2000s. They visited Planned Fatherhood, RCs, PSB (now SPRING), NYLTI, and Clementi Town. (The Vietnamese were impressed with shopping around Clementi Town.) My guests were anxious to learn how we (in Singapore) managed our lifestyles, and what lifelong learning programmes were available to ordinary citizens. Today, my Association is still in contact with our counterparts ‘Association for Continuing Education’ overseas, and they are always ready to welcome us, if we visit them. This is partly what educational exchange visits are about, and this is where we as ‘silver hairs’ citizens could contribute by sharing and learning.
Cheers and have a nice weekend.
thomas kuan
Dear All
I follow the discussions on the “Retirement Village” with great interest.
In the process, the concept of “holiday homes” and “reciprocal home stays” seems to creep in.
I feel that we need to get the concept of a “Retirement Village” right before we decide where such a “Retirement Village” should be located.
In brief, a “Retirement Village” – to enable senior citizens to live a normal life independently among their peers, to exercise and to have regular health checks – may take the following form:
1. A cluster of one and two-room houses in the Village. These houses are sold to senior citizens at one of two prices. A higher price will enable the senior citizen or his heirs to resell it on the open market later. A lower price means that the senior citizen or his heirs can only resell the house back to the management company.
2. A few blocks of one and two-room apartments. These apartments are sold to the senior citizens on the same two-tier price basis.
3. A hospital to provide regular medical care for the senior citizens in the village.
4. A community hall where games, exercises, talks and other activities are being organised for the senior citizens in the Village.
5. A cafeteria where that senior citizens may buy and eat their meals. Or they may order the meals to be sent to them in their homes.
Services
1. Once a week/month, a nurse will visit the each house/apartment and check the health of each senior citizen.
2. Once a week, a bus will also bring the senior citizens to town to do their shopping.
3. Every day, caretakers will sweep and take care of the common areas in the Village.
4. The senior citizens may order daily newspapers for delivery to them together with the mail, if any.
5. The management will also organise regular activities for the senior citizens in the Village.
Charges
1. The senior citizens will pay a monthly charge for the various services.
Conclusion
The concept of a “Retirement Village” as described will require a piece of land, capital, organisation and architecture for it to come about. In fact, it is a business concept.
I welcome comments from other members on this concept of a “Retirement Village” and whether they are ready to live in such a Village and interact daily among their peers.
Hi Ronald Wi and those who attd the fellowship at Joselyn place it was very enlightening and would like to come more often to other outings esp the efarm visit to JB.
Pls keep us updted.
Rgds
Mike 4Dec2006 0910 am