Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
|
Ex-Pat
Extraordinaire
Billy & Akaisha Kaderli
World travel offers the opportunity to
meet other roamers from around the globe. On Wednesdays here in Chiang Mai,
Thailand, there is a standing
invitation for a small group of us Ex-pats to meet for lunch at a local
restaurant. It's an international group so topics of conversation run the
gamut. Several years ago we met Steve Kramer, a very
successful retiree, who turned his hobby/passion of photography into a
business. Well traveled, well read and now a locally famous photography
instructor, we figured his approach to
living in foreign countries was worth passing on to our readers. So please
enjoy this short visit with a very witty, multi-talented friend! All of the photos in this
piece are of Steve's work, and we felt they, too, needed to be showcased.
Thanks, Steve, for taking the
time to answer these questions for us. How long have you lived
outside of the US?
17 years. This time. I've lived in
Europe, Japan, Mexico, etc, with the longest time (so far) spent in Japan.
Thailand looks as if it may take the lead.
Being an ex-medic in the US Military what
is your opinion of the healthcare here in Thailand?
Thai medical care is on par with the best
available anywhere in the world. I wouldn't hesitate to have ANY medical
procedure done here if needed. Obviously, just as in other countries, the
level of quality varies from facility to facility, so it's necessary to do a
bit of homework before you choose yours, just as it's necessarily to go to
the correct facility for the particular procedure. For instance,
they don't do good breast implants in a neurological
hospital.
Steve Kramer at work with his
camera
How do you deal with healthcare?
Thoughtfully. I prefer an eclectic
assortment of practitioners. If my problem can be best dealt with using
modern medicine, I use a western style doctor and western medicines. But
many health care needs can be better served with more traditional Chinese
acupuncture or herbal medicines, perhaps Indian Auyurvedic medical
treatments will be more effective for other problems. Those folks have been
at it for a lot longer than our western medicine, and it's a shame to pass
up the opportunity to make use of it when needed. If your only tool is a
hammer, you try to treat every problem with a nail.
Obviously that doesn't work as well as a
fully stocked toolbox.
Do you ever visit the US?
Sure. I've been back at least four times
in the past 17 years. And as they quickly erode more and more of our
Constitutional rights, I might go back once more. Maybe.
What brought you to Asia the first time?
It was a combination of things. Of
course, a desire for adventure! Then a desire to understand other cultures.
Plus it was a desire to learn new and different life styles. But most
importantly, it was a ridiculously high paying job as a university professor
in Japan.
A Six Story
Tall Buddha in Hong Kong
What’s the biggest hardship of living in
Asia?
Understanding the Asian thought process,
and realizing that the western way is not necessarily best. It is so foreign
to me as an American, that even today I have difficulty trying to figure out
why certain things are done the way they are. My first instinct is to say
'Hey! That's not how to do it!' Then I realize that they have been doing it
that way for the past 5,000 years and it works for them!
If someone wanted to retire here in
Thailand what would be your advice?
First, the real key is flexibility. You
must be able to cope with absolutely anything at any time, no matter how
stressful or disappointing it may be. You can't always get a Big Mac and
have it your way. Next, be sure of your finances. Then decide if it's big
city living, small town communities, beach resorts or mountain forests that
make you more comfortable, and pick a place. Plan to 'live' there for one
year. That's all. One year. Not as a tourist. Rent a home and deal with the
day-to-day challenges that we all face. Getting a telephone, water delivery,
Immigration, medical care, foods, friends, etc. See what life is like for
someone living here. It's very, very different from the tourist view.
Remember this; you aren't stapled into place. You can always change your
mind if you don't care for it. But if you do enjoy your year, just stay
where you are and enjoy!
What brought you from Japan to Thailand?
Thai Airways?
During my years in Japan I was fortunate
enough to be able to travel the world for several months a year. We found
many lovely places during this period, but always found ourselves spending
at least a month or two in Thailand. When it was time to retire from
university, we had several choices in mind. We happened to try Thailand
first. (For that 'one year' experiment.) We never left!
At the
Temple to Kannon, Goddess of Mercy, Japan
Do you ever yearn to move back to the US?
I do miss certain things about the US. I
miss .... I miss.... err.... I miss.... No... I guess I don't.
Wait... I miss "Jimmy Dean Pork Breakfast
Sausage!" (Jones Brown 'n Serve just aren't as good!) Krispy Kream Donuts?
Virtually everything else is already here, even Ben & Jerry's ice cream. We
could use an "Outback" or "Lone Star" steak house, but we settle for
Sizzler.
How do you stay busy here in Thailand?
My God!! The real question is; how do I
find the time to do all the things available here that interest me! Every
sport, every hobby, every diversion from needle point to championship golf
courses. Rock climbing, river rafting, elephant riding, sight seeing,
studying anything from Thai cooking, massage, martial arts, language arts.
Everything you enjoy doing in the US you can find here in Thailand. However,
be advised that the ski season is very, very short. Last year it was on a
Thursday. If TV is your pleasure, we get about 50 English language channels,
same as you'd get in NYC. Of course there are also plenty of stations
broadcasting in Spanish, Chinese, French, German, and of course, Thai.
Temple Monks
Gather at Chedi Luang, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Is it easy for Ex-pats to find work in
Thailand?
Yes, and no. We are not permitted to work
without having the proper visa and work permit. You can easily start your
own business, as I did, which will give you the proper documents, or work
for a school teaching languages. Please do understand though that working in
Thailand doesn't pay the way working in the US does, so don't plan on
getting rich here. Unless your work is something you truly love, and you
don't wish to spend your retirement in a rocking chair, you're best off
starting your own business that deals with the outside world for the
financial rewards. My photography business is divided into three parts; one
part dealing with the tourists coming to Thailand and teaching them how to use their cameras, one part
shooting commercial photography for hotels and tour agency
brochures, and the other part as freelance
photojournalist shooting and writing for magazines. This is how I keep out
of the rocking chair. I won't get rich, but I sure do have fun!
Do you rent or own your residence? Why?
There are certain laws dealing with
foreigners owning property here in the Land of Smiles. Unfortunately these
laws change with the winds. Right now, it is illegal for a foreigner to own
'land' here, but if we obtain a 30 year lease we can build and own our own
homes on the land. We are permitted to own condominiums provided the condo
building is 51% Thai owned. Personally, we chose to rent our condo. We like
the freedom that this gives us. Rent is cheap, and value is good. Should we
wish to live in a bigger or smaller place, all we have to do is move.
What got you interested in photography?
Don't tell anyone, but it was a very
kinky girlfriend that I had when I was 23..... Unfortunately, 'kink' could
only hold my interest just so long, and I began to realize that this was a
new way to see the world around me. As Proust says; "The voyage of discovery
is not traveling to new lands; it's seeing with new eyes." But.... add those
new eyes to new lands and every time I turn around I experience another
'Kodak Moment." You can too... In Thailand
If you travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand, be
sure to take advantage of Steve's photography courses. You can see more of
his work on his website, PhotoEnvisions.
He features Professional Freelance Photography,
freelance photography covering travel, photojournalism, nature, people,
culture, gardens, flowers, etc., from SE Asia, Asia, Europe, Thailand,
Travel, Micronesia, Japan, and the European Alps. Photographs for magazines,
calendar, greeting cards, and gifts. People From All Over the Globe.
To read more
interviews with Expats, Early Retirees and Interesting Characters,
click here
About the Authors
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are
recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on
topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of
information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com,
they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since
1991. They wrote the popular books, The
Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your
Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website
bookstore or
on Amazon.com.
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