Ready to retire.
By mipen2006
@mipen2006 (5528)
Australia
May 19, 2009 10:35pm CST
After eleven years teaching ESL in Thailand, and forty odd years in finance in Melbourne, it's time to retire. Next month, I will return to Australia, where I hope to buy a camper and fulfil a lifelong dream, and, with my wife, travel around Australia. Most Australians see this as a must before seeing the world. I saw it differently, and have visited more than fifty countries, so now it's time to see all my country has to offer. We are very excited about our trip, and are looking forward to it. What plans do you have for your retirement?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
20 May 09
I wish you lots of luck with your retirement my friend. Having been to Australia twice I know it is a wonderful country to travel around. Going about in a camper van might be the best possible way to see it. You and your wife will have your transport and accommodation in one. I know that you have really enjoyed traveling to different countries and teaching in sunny Thailand. The next stage in your like will be very enjoyable I think.
I hope to move overseas when I retire. I can imagine moving to Belize in Central America. I would buy a piece of land and get a house built there. I would be able to enjoy a tropical climate. Perhaps I would go snorkeling every day. If my life has to stay in my home country when I retire it might be because of my disabled son. In that case I will just travel abroad from time to time than live overseas.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
20 May 09
Thank you max for your kind thoughts. I think you are an amazing person. The way you manage to take your little boy with you on your trips is wonderful. I hope you can fulfill all you dreams. We are similar in that we both were bitten by the travel bug, and are pleased we were. After Australia, I have a lot of Asia to see, and I'm looking forward to that in 2011, if I'm not too old.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
20 May 09
Thank you max, I appreciate the kind words. The camper is a good way to see places, without restrictions, and it also saves expensive accommodation costs. I think you and I are similar in that we both have been bitten by the 'travel bug,' and what's more we are pleased we were. I'm amazed that you are able to include your little boy in all your travel plans. It must be very difficult at times, and shows the love you have for him. Good luck for the furure, and happy travelling.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
20 May 09
Sorry for the double, connections, and my old PC are too blame. Well the tired old man at the keyboard might also have something to do with it.
@janiceines (799)
• Singapore
20 May 09
i retire long time ago (just joking, i am a housewife , not working for more than 10 years ), and not been to many country before , how i envy you , i dream is to have a big garden that i can plant flowers that i like after my retire . (i think i consident retire when my kids grow up )
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@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
20 May 09
Being a housewife is hard work. I know how hard my wife works. Lots of people when they retire like to relax by the beach, or with a beautiful garden, however I nhave had itchy feet for a long time now, and I love to travel. I'm so looking forward to retirement. After our tour of Australia, we may settle down where my wife can spend time doing what she loves, in her garden.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
20 May 09
I'm 68, and my wife is 49, and we plan to return to Thailand to live. Mainly because it is far cheaper to live than Australia. Fortunately, pensions in Australia are deducted from salaries in the form of tax, so I will be able to survive okay. Saving money will be possible in Thailand, but not in Australia. I have two grown up children from a previous marriage, as does my wife. Thank you for your comments.
@janiceines (799)
• Singapore
20 May 09
where do you plan to settle down after you tour ? how old are you now ? do you have the same dream as your wife ? how old is your kids now ? do you save enough money for your retire? i have so many questions about retirement because it's my dream that i am waiting for. give me more information if you're free, ok ?
1 person likes this
@Minesky (245)
• Philippines
20 May 09
Congratulations in advance on you future retirement. It is a nice plan that you and your wife have to travel around Australia, then settling back in Thailand.
I do agree with you, it is much practical to live in Asia than back in Australia due to the cost of living, and you are already adjusted in living and budgeting in Thailand.
Me, being single and all, and already 30+ (LOL) I haven't yet considered that future step, though I have already invested in a retirement plan, that I can get some fund when I reach 65 (or that is how I was told...)
With the current issues we are experiencing, I am just struggling to make it a day at a time.
I do feel excited about your trip, and I hope like the request of your previous respondents, do record your travels either here at mylot or any other venue (like facebook, multiply or another site) for others to see and share your adventures!!! That includes me!!!
Cheers!
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
21 May 09
Thank you for your kind words Minesky. For the record, my wife was 36 when we met 13 years ago, so you can still find Mr. Right.
I do plan to record our adventure in some way, but haven't decided exactly how yet. I'm not a fan of facebook, so it won't be there. I don't know multiply, but I'll do some checking, maybe here on myLot!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
20 May 09
Wow what an exciting new chapter! No more work!!!Yeah!! That would be my first thought! You and your wife are in for a great time and I bet you are so looking forward to coming home for good. I envy your plan, it sounds great. I have a long time to wait before retirement but if I am able to afford it I would like to buy a small property somewhere nice so I can tend to a few more animals but it is only a dream at this stage. Good luck to you mipen, hope you will still be MyLotting when you come home and while on the road, you should keep us posted on your travels, I'll love to hear about them!
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
20 May 09
Thanks for the kind words paula. Actually, this has been made possible by what I believe is a reasonably new idea. It's called pet and housesitting. This enables people with pets to take a without placing their animals in kennels. We move into their home and take care of them while the owners are away. And it's rent free! We have been very lucky to have two sits in the goldfields of Victoria (my home state)which takes us to the end of November.
We plan to look for bookings in SA and WA from Feburary next year, and from there work our way up to Broome. My son and his family live there. I haven't seen them for over five years.
Excited, yes! However,I do have the daunting task of dealings with Immigration and Centrelink. Not something to look forward to!
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
20 May 09
Ughh! Centrelink! They have caused many nervous breakdowns I'm sure! I figured you have to phone about three times and you may get the right answer to your question or then again you may get three different answers! Good luck with that department! House and pet sitting; great idea! You can live cheaply that way, that's brilliant! Looks as though you have a good plan. Never been to Broome, heard it's tropical and lovely and catching up with your son will be priceless. You lucky thing, how exciting!
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
20 May 09
You're right about Centrelonk. I've had a lot of dealings with already, and never have I been able to work out their reasoning. An example of this was when they granted me the pension, at 68 years, but only as a single man because my wife was on a tourist visa only! However if we left the country after two years the pension would be upgraded to married status.
@geniustiger (1694)
• Philippines
20 May 09
Thats a nice idea for you to have a break of
long years of teaching. Its time for you to enjoy
travel anywhere you wanted to be because you already
have the fruits of labor . Many students made professional
just because of you and its the right time to have recreation
from those long years of nurturing kids. I cannot think of
it it now because I am still young in my work and someday
if I come to that exoerienced I also do that in my life.
Its really amazing to travel different country that nothing
to worry about because you are now free from work.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
21 May 09
You may be young, but life passes so quick, I'm sorry now I didn't plan better for my retirement. However, because the Australian pension is funded by tax dollars, as soon as we start earning, and paying tax, we are providing for our retirement. How long this kind of system can last I'm not rure. Already the government plans to increase toe age to 67. After our Australian experience, we'll return to Thailand, and visit some more Asian countries. Thanks for your kind words.
