OK I just wasted the better part of an hour trying to get a sophisticated Polling System up and running here so you, the most important person here, could easily leave your thoughts and suggestions. It isn’t yet working *sigh*. So let’s do it the old fashioned way. I don’t have time to spend this morning, it’s time to go to the bank and deposit the check I just wrote myself. Amazing how something so simple can baffle so many … or how writing one check a month is considered such a complex way of getting my money from the US to the Philippines … but that’s part of what makes life here fascinating … money from nothing 
I’m putting together a plan for how PhilFAQS, the premiere information resource for Living in the Philippines should shape up for 2009.
As many of you know I work at a number of on-line ventures. I have a goal to significantly increase my income in 2009. This site is a labor of love. It makes virtually nothing. Readership and RSS subscriptions
(up there in the top right corner if you aren’t yet a subscriber)
have come up very significantly in recent months. For this I thank you all, each and every one.
But I also burn a tremendous amount of time here. I have no regular job so I can easily work 12 or 14 hour a day … but I am damned if I am going to. One line of thought is just to sell this place, cheap, and focus on more profitable things. But I’m in love, remember? (I am always open to serious offers)
I also have a goal for 2009 of making significantly better use of my time … so something has to get organized around here
What do you want to see more of or less of in 2009? More ‘first person’ experinces on our life here in the Philippines? More travle reports or hotel reviews? More hisdtory and biography, or more of what my guess is a great many of you want … more about making money in the Philippines or anywhere else without one of those J*O*B’s (acronym for Just Over Broke) that many of you still seem to be saddled with.
Why do I think the majority of my readers are still slaving away to make someone else wealthy? That’s easy. Here’s the distribution of readers on days of the week over th last month. Notice something significant?
PhilFAQS Visitors by Days of the Week
Yep, dozens of you come here only on Mondays and Tuesdays (undoubtedly a majority of those are on the boss’s computer an don company time … don’t worry, your secret is safe with me). That tells me several htings:
- Many readers dislike their jobs
- Many readers have spare time
- Mnay readers have a dream of living here
- Mnay readers can’t “pull the trigger” on a plan to set themselves free
I dunno, I might be all wet on this, but that’s what I am asking you. I can make guesses, you are the one living it. What’s your opinion? Hel;p shape PhilFAQS to be the Philippine-related resource you would like in 2009 and beyond.
Popularity: 9% [?]
Hello Philly, I really enjoy your site. Your helpful facts with specific links I’m sure are of interest to many. Personally, I would really like to hear more of your human interest stories. Being that you live in the big city makes you different from other blog sites. I really enjoyed the story about your mother-in-law. I think that many people besides myself are fascinated with the daily lives of ex-pats living in the philippines, and how they perceive themselves in their surroundings. Keep up the good work!
From my point of view, I don’t intend working full time in the Phils, so I’m more concerned about what I’m goin’ to do with all that spare time.
Hence, I’m quite satisfied to read your first hand accounts about everyday life.
@queeniebee: Thanks for your thoughts. Wow, I haven;’t really written about mama for nearly a year now. I’ll have to update some things … she’s still with us and very much full of life, thank the Good Lord.
More about daily lives. \Thanks. Duly noted.
@Laurence: Thanks Laurence. Appreciate you thoughts. I’m sure you’ll be back with a comment or two about today’s post 8smile*. There will always be plenty of opnion pieces, that’s for sure, the world is entitled to my opinion and they’re going to get it even if they didn’t ask for it
A good pont about the work aspect too. I came here to retire, but it really isn’t working out that way … theer is more thna aluittle danger of the foreigner ‘falling into’ things even if s/he didn’t come here to work in the first place. The Philippines certainly is a land of opportunity in my expereince.
Hello Philly, as others have said, I really enjoy your site. I appreciate your candor and opinions in relating to “all things Philippines”. I am nearing retirement, four more years until I can “pull the plug”. I will retire as a senior Department of the Army Civilian with 38 years of service. I am not looking for ways to make money as I will have a very substantial pension (not boasting…you have to give to get and I have given) However, I am looking for ways to occupy my time. Running the bars is old hat with me plus recovering is much harder as you age! So other than an occasional night out, will pretty much avoid the bars and nightlife. Helping and caring for the neglected animals there will occupy much of my time but will still need other things to do. As it stands today, the wife and I will winter over in the Phils but either return home or travel elsewhere during milder (stateside) weather. I like visiting the Phils but don’t think that I, or the wife could remain there for an extended period. Keep going with your human interest and daily living articles. I am learning much.
regards
Harvey
@Harvey: Hi Harvey, thank you so much or your comments and feedback. What a small world, indeed. I’m retired DoD also (38 years USAF CSRS, not many of us left, eh?) and yes indeed I enjoy a very nice pension. Indeed it is so nice thta in 1986 Congress changed the federal rules completely such that nobody entering after that could ever again have anything as good .. except future Congresmen, of course
I also retired from the uniformed Air Force, 10 years active an 28 more as a category A reservist.
It’s really fun to note how many people I meet in retirement make comments from whistful to downright nasty about how ‘lucky’ we retirees are. I certainly am lucky, my ‘investment’ paid off, I only had pay, monetarily, physically and mentally for end 38 years to beci\ome an overnight success
At one time I thought I’d probably enjoy the lifestyle you are planning, living part time in the Philippines and part in the US but I personally have lost my zest for that. Liivng in the US for any length of time holds no interest for me, or my wife at this time. I’m quite happy here and our future plans include a lot of travel to other countries we haven’t been to before … there’s 200 plus countries and I’ve only ever touched down in about 20 of them and my wife in only about 6, so we have plenty to look forward to.
taking care of neglected animals would be a noble cuase but understand going into it that the Filipino attitude toward animals is not at all like the attitude in the US. It’s pretty understandable too, as there are many people here who don’t have alife as good as most dogs in the US, so people really do come first. If I ever do get unhappy and leave the Philippines the grinding poverty will be the reason … it’s overwhelming and money alone can’t fix it.
But there’s awealth of opportunity here for almost any good works one wishes to do and alot of helpful and appreciative people who’ll reward you with a smile.
Hi Philly,Although you write about it many times,i feel anything about the adjustments a westerner will have to make as a new ex-pat will always be useful,regards Chas.
@Chas: Thanks Chas, I appreciate the feedback.