Your Own Heaven On Earth
Posted: October 9th, 2012, 5:23 am
I haven't posted on here, or even visited here for that matter, in a long time, largely because of the nature of the discussions here and the general attitude of many of the new posters. Those who are really gonna do it, are gonna do it. The rest will sit and complain until the west collapses on itself and they find there is no way out. So what am I doing?
* I live in a small town, that is one step from being in the country, it has clean air, fresh water, and plenty of fresh, natural, locally grown food. Still, it is less than an hour drive from the big city and about 2 hours from a huge city.
* I live in an apartment that costs $110 USD per month (at the current rapidly dropping dollar exchange rate). It is a 3 bedroom, fully furnished, 5 star quality place targeted to a foreigner. People say I pay too much.
* My wife cooks (better than any restaurant) , cleans and does laundry. If we are feeling lazy, we pay one of her friends, a high school kid, about $8 to do it.
* I don't work. I have complete freedom and control over my schedule. I make money online doing what I love. I stay up late, wake up near noon. One day I wanted to go to the big city and buy a tablet computer, and I just did it. No need to ask a boss for time off, or make plans.
* My wife's family doesn't need anything from me. In fact, we go to her parents house and eat free quite often. Her mother is constantly bringing us food. Others are constantly bringing us expensive wine, tea and other gifts.
* Travel locally is too cheap. For $10 I can quickly be in the most beautiful mountains, ancient villages, temples and other fantasy like locations. If I want to hang out there, hotels are $10 - $30 and of great quality. For $300 I can be an many other destinations around Asia, like Thailand, Malaysia, SIngapore etc.
* I have inherited a huge circle of friends and family and never lack for the company of good, simple, down to earth people.
* We just came back from the market. We spent about $75. We stocked our 2 meter, 2 door fridge with fruits, vegetables and meat. We also bought noodles, sauces, 2 bottles of red wine and lots of snacks.
* I have high speed internet for $15 a month (paid a year in advance) and with my tablet, I freely video chat with friends and family back home like we are in the same room. I can even show them around my place.
* Everyday I experience more and more of real life and it pains me to talk to people or read stories of those stuck in a miserable situation, rat race or western country with no idea that things can be different.
SO HOW DID I GET HERE?
Well, I am not going to sugar coat it and make it sound easy. This is what I mean when I say those who want to do it, are gonna do it. Right as the economic crash was coming, I sold everything I had and after buying a plane ticket and a laptop, I had about $1500 in my pocket, and I hit the road to the Philippines. I checked into a cheap room and started learning how to make money online, writing articles, freelancing, internet marketing, and doing anything that worked. I have since lived in Korea, a different part of Philippines, spent time in Japan and now China. I had many ups and downs, scary moments and moments of pure joy, brushes with going broke and risked ending up out in the street, but I am still here. Everything worked out. It has always been an adventure.
There is no such thing as safe! You think your job is safe? You think your bank is safe? Your city? Huge companies are closing their doors all around you. Banks are stealing people's money. Cities that experienced no real crime are suddenly experiencing rapes and murders. You might be just as safe taking what money you have and just going for it as you are sitting in front of your screen right now.
I understand that not everyone is an adventurer. Some people want assurance. I am not going to change anyone. I am just telling you what I did and what worked for me. In the end, those who are really gonna do it, are gonna do it. The rest will be sitting where they are until things collapse.
* I live in a small town, that is one step from being in the country, it has clean air, fresh water, and plenty of fresh, natural, locally grown food. Still, it is less than an hour drive from the big city and about 2 hours from a huge city.
* I live in an apartment that costs $110 USD per month (at the current rapidly dropping dollar exchange rate). It is a 3 bedroom, fully furnished, 5 star quality place targeted to a foreigner. People say I pay too much.
* My wife cooks (better than any restaurant) , cleans and does laundry. If we are feeling lazy, we pay one of her friends, a high school kid, about $8 to do it.
* I don't work. I have complete freedom and control over my schedule. I make money online doing what I love. I stay up late, wake up near noon. One day I wanted to go to the big city and buy a tablet computer, and I just did it. No need to ask a boss for time off, or make plans.
* My wife's family doesn't need anything from me. In fact, we go to her parents house and eat free quite often. Her mother is constantly bringing us food. Others are constantly bringing us expensive wine, tea and other gifts.
* Travel locally is too cheap. For $10 I can quickly be in the most beautiful mountains, ancient villages, temples and other fantasy like locations. If I want to hang out there, hotels are $10 - $30 and of great quality. For $300 I can be an many other destinations around Asia, like Thailand, Malaysia, SIngapore etc.
* I have inherited a huge circle of friends and family and never lack for the company of good, simple, down to earth people.
* We just came back from the market. We spent about $75. We stocked our 2 meter, 2 door fridge with fruits, vegetables and meat. We also bought noodles, sauces, 2 bottles of red wine and lots of snacks.
* I have high speed internet for $15 a month (paid a year in advance) and with my tablet, I freely video chat with friends and family back home like we are in the same room. I can even show them around my place.
* Everyday I experience more and more of real life and it pains me to talk to people or read stories of those stuck in a miserable situation, rat race or western country with no idea that things can be different.
SO HOW DID I GET HERE?
Well, I am not going to sugar coat it and make it sound easy. This is what I mean when I say those who want to do it, are gonna do it. Right as the economic crash was coming, I sold everything I had and after buying a plane ticket and a laptop, I had about $1500 in my pocket, and I hit the road to the Philippines. I checked into a cheap room and started learning how to make money online, writing articles, freelancing, internet marketing, and doing anything that worked. I have since lived in Korea, a different part of Philippines, spent time in Japan and now China. I had many ups and downs, scary moments and moments of pure joy, brushes with going broke and risked ending up out in the street, but I am still here. Everything worked out. It has always been an adventure.
There is no such thing as safe! You think your job is safe? You think your bank is safe? Your city? Huge companies are closing their doors all around you. Banks are stealing people's money. Cities that experienced no real crime are suddenly experiencing rapes and murders. You might be just as safe taking what money you have and just going for it as you are sitting in front of your screen right now.
I understand that not everyone is an adventurer. Some people want assurance. I am not going to change anyone. I am just telling you what I did and what worked for me. In the end, those who are really gonna do it, are gonna do it. The rest will be sitting where they are until things collapse.