Why do so many ex-US military men retire to the Philippines or Guam?
For instance, my own stepdad, who put in 30 years with the Navy, lives in a really nice villa north of Manila. I visit him sometimes, and there are a lot of retired military guys in the area. A handful of British and Germans, but mostly US. Is it just the continued legacy of the Subic Bay base, or what?
Public Comments
- Cheap living in a warm climate. With beautiful women looking for a GI
- Cheap hookers? Who the hell knows.
- a lot of military retire in areas such as those because they are nice and their retirement benefits work well in such an area, especially since they are U.S. Territories with weaker economy so the dollar is stronger (don't quote me on this last part)
- Lots of luvin from pretty, petite girls.
- LBFMs
- I know a lot of fellow sailors and other Filipinos that serve in the military that do this. It is a lot cheaper with the whole exchange rate. Although the dollar did go down as well as the exchange rate, it is still possible to live off of retirement pay alone. Once you hit the age where you collect Social Security...life should get even better. For some, it could be the hospitality and faithfulness of Filipino women. I could say the same about the women in Guam...they too are considered to be faithful women.
- With the retirement pay they get in the military they can live like kings in the Phillipines.
- First and foremost is the fact that you can live like a King on the retirement salary from the US Military in most of those countries without having to get a secondary occupation. LBFM's would definitely be a second reason as previously stated by my brother in arms. You'll notice that most of the places these retirees pick still have some sort of military presence, ie bases. This makes it all that much better for the health care, shopping, as well as the availability to hope a free flight home.
- People probably choose to retire in the Philippines because it has a very low-cost of living. People retire on Guam to live in paradise, but it is NOT cheap. A lot of military actually have sticker-shock when they come to Guam and see how expensive it is. But it is worth it... but I am also totally and completely biased.
