[SeaGypsy]

Hi all,
my latest adventure involved a complete switch in career path from aboriginal art to aboriginal aged care.
I know the idea would not appeal to many of PO.coms regulars but for me wiping the odd bum has it's rewards.
I worked for the 2 biggest care organizations in Australia for the last 3 months then leapfrogged into a small but fast growing providor who is very flexible with arrangements for it's employees.
This job will allow me to fly in fly out from Darwin to work and spend 1/3 of my time in the Philippines.
Aged care is the most secure career in developed countries. It turns stomache's so much there is never an oversupply of willing workers.
Yet to be honest this is the best job I have ever had in many ways.
I still plan to build the doomboat here in the Philippines; but now the demon peak oil has given us a slight reprieve my dreamer has kicked in again with some openness to less than absolute disaster as the inevitable future of humanity.
I wonder what other PO'ers are doing in the current world situation? Are any finding a more ambiguous situation? (than a few months ago?)
I guess very few would be borrowing against their home for a new SUV?
What about career and business moves?
This strikes me as a very interesting moment in our collective concious history; even more so than the imminent cataclysm we all faced recently.
Any thoughts?

[JJ]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SeaGypsy', 'H')i all,
my latest adventure involved a complete switch in career path from aboriginal art to aboriginal aged care.
I know the idea would not appeal to many of PO.coms regulars but for me wiping the odd bum has it's rewards.
I worked for the 2 biggest care organizations in Australia for the last 3 months then leapfrogged into a small but fast growing providor who is very flexible with arrangements for it's employees.
This job will allow me to fly in fly out from Darwin to work and spend 1/3 of my time in the Philippines.
Aged care is the most secure career in developed countries. It turns stomache's so much there is never an oversupply of willing workers.
Yet to be honest this is the best job I have ever had in many ways.
I still plan to build the doomboat here in the Philippines; but now the demon peak oil has given us a slight reprieve my dreamer has kicked in again with some openness to less than absolute disaster as the inevitable future of humanity.
I wonder what other PO'ers are doing in the current world situation? Are any finding a more ambiguous situation? (than a few months ago?)
I guess very few would be borrowing against their home for a new SUV?
What about career and business moves?
This strikes me as a very interesting moment in our collective concious history; even more so than the imminent cataclysm we all faced recently.
Any thoughts?

[Tanada]

Welcome Back! Things are just as goofy here as always so I am sure you will feel right at home

[SeaGypsy]

Thanks JJ, it feels like coming home. Philippines has a much nicer pace of life than Australia or the USA from my experience.

Hi Tanada, did you notice in the news that Peter Garret famous anti nuke campaigner and environment minister has done a switchfoot in recent months? Perhaps he read the discussion between you and I a few months back?

[DantesPeak]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SeaGypsy', 'T')hanks JJ, it feels like coming home. Philippines has a much nicer pace of life than Australia or the USA from my experience.

Hi Tanada, did you notice in the news that Peter Garret famous anti nuke campaigner and environment minister has done a switchfoot in recent months? Perhaps he read the discussion between you and I a few months back?

[SeaGypsy]

Hi Dante's Peak,
I am in Southern Zambales, on the coast between Iba and Olongapo.
Currently we are in the middle of a Typhoon.
Is it safe? Is anything anywhere safe?
Reputation is extremely important in the Philippines; more so than race or money. The Balik Bayan or returning overseas worker are at the top of the social pyramid here whether they are native Filipino or married in foreigner. We bring a lot of $ into this country and we spread it around.
It's my personal belief that the most at risk here are the ones who live behind a high wall with razor wire around their home.
Given that communism is the backstop position of most Filipino, alienating oneself with over the top security is a stupid idea likely to make one a target in a serious social catastrophy.
There is a saying in Asia that it's who you are that makes you safe anywhere; that is who you are as a person. Poor people have a different perception of life to the middle class; it is most difficult to guess how we are seen.
Best principle is tow the Asian line: allow face saving by those around you, dishonour nobody, stick to your word, look after the family, respect the authorities, learn to communicate, be generous without being foolish.
The 2 things that will get you killedf as a foreigner (Kano) here are bad manners and competing unfairly with locals. Of course there is always the Darwin award method (death by foolish missadventure).
It's a good idea to be fairly bright.

[frankthetank]

SeaGypsy-

One of my closest friends is Filipino... Nicest guy you'll ever meet. Not many up in this area of the world. Most of his relatives are in San Diego and in Biloxi, MS... Its funny because he hates vegetables and i don't think he cares much for fruit...i guess that's what an American lifestyle will do to you.

[JJ]

Seagypsy, a couple of years ago in Cebu I was reading inside the telephone book jacket that filipinos were the first people to settle the US; they jumped ship in Louisiana from the Spanish galeons that were holding them slaves and loved the swamp, settled in.

I love the Philippines. We have lived there five times; bought land in Pagadian City six years ago because so many Americans were retiring there, having their social security check direct deposited here and taking it out there with atm card, but then the peso was 58 to 1 and one hundred dollars american went a long way. Now its not quite as much. My basic concern is that a. I'm 15 years from retirement (as if there was such a thing) and b. I ran a business making hollow blocks mano-mano fifteen years ago there(I was dumber and stronger then). I had plenty of customers because everyone thought I was crazy because I put a whole sacko of concrete in each poque of sand. Therefore the blocks didn't crumble when you looked at them. Even then I was thinking no matter what I do, there are ten thousand people here who can do it better. And now the unemployment is worse. So we figure we're probably going to stay here. My wife is not happy about that, but is quite frank in commenting there is no work. (And she is very, very well educated)

Your missives are refreshing.

[SeaGypsy]

Of myriad business ideas I have had here; I have chosen 3 to focus on:
1/ Surf photography/ selling action pictures of locals surfing, this is my main sport and digital makes it very cheap to do.
2/ Small boat sailing to the smaller islands. There are plenty of motorboats everywhere here but very few sailboats; especially ones affordable to Filipino for hire.
3/ Career development workshops. Most Filipino are stuck in a career rut they are never likely to escape. Educating people on subjects common to pop psychology in the west re. career development seems to be an area with strong possibilities. I never went to university but have had several jobs earning more $ than Gloria Arroyo. I can prove this. This makes me a total enigma here where everyone believes college to be the most important thing. Telling Filipino than 2/3rds of top earning Australian male professionals have no degree draws stares of disbelief; but it is a fact.
Self promomtion is a much needed skill here.

[turner]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SeaGypsy', 'H')i all,
my latest adventure involved a complete switch in career path from aboriginal art to aboriginal aged care.
I know the idea would not appeal to many of PO.coms regulars but for me wiping the odd bum has it's rewards.
I worked for the 2 biggest care organizations in Australia for the last 3 months then leapfrogged into a small but fast growing providor who is very flexible with arrangements for it's employees.
This job will allow me to fly in fly out from Darwin to work and spend 1/3 of my time in the Philippines.
Aged care is the most secure career in developed countries. It turns stomache's so much there is never an oversupply of willing workers.
Yet to be honest this is the best job I have ever had in many ways.
I still plan to build the doomboat here in the Philippines; but now the demon peak oil has given us a slight reprieve my dreamer has kicked in again with some openness to less than absolute disaster as the inevitable future of humanity.
I wonder what other PO'ers are doing in the current world situation? Are any finding a more ambiguous situation? (than a few months ago?)
I guess very few would be borrowing against their home for a new SUV?
What about career and business moves?
This strikes me as a very interesting moment in our collective concious history; even more so than the imminent cataclysm we all faced recently.
Any thoughts?

[SeaGypsy]

It's an easy industry to get into if you have palliative care experience and can face a very intense interview. I found in remote Australia my experience of many years living and working with aboriginal people along with experience through family & friends has landed me in the position of being able to dictate terms & launch creatively in the management end of the business in only 10 weeks.

[JJ]

one of my acquaintances here in Burnet worked at the embassy in Manila fir many years. He is going to start a piggery. Another retire who is moving back home now says that piggerys are alright, but cattle is the way to go.

[SeaGypsy]

As an ex monk animal exploitation is still an emergency only situation for me I would never set myself up professionally in animal farming.

[DantesPeak]

SeaGypsy, thank you for the detailed answer. I do not live behind high walls now, and I don’t know if I’d want to. It does appear in a crisis situation, people may want to find out what is behind those high walls.

I agree with your advice, but not being from the Philippines even now I am not sure I understand all the customs and signs of respect. However my working theory is that places used to low income and high populations will not experience the upheavals of an economic downturn as much as the US. A possible exception is if food shortages become worse in the Philippines that most elsewhere.

I can retire in about 10 years so I hope the US holds together until I come up with a viable escape plan to the Philippines or somewhere else.

[SeaGypsy]

When in doubt be yourself.

Philippines speaks English, is basicly Christian, is 99% safe for foreigners.
When sht happens here ther's little or no f'ing around & usually people are dead. You mind your manners, show respect and learn as much as you can it's one of the best places in the world to live as a foreigner.

[JJ]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SeaGypsy', 'W')hen in doubt be yourself.

Philippines speaks English, is basicly Christian, is 99% safe for foreigners.
When sht happens here ther's little or no f'ing around & usually people are dead. You mind your manners, show respect and learn as much as you can it's one of the best places in the world to live as a foreigner.

[SeaGypsy]

I avoid Manila like the plague, never been there never wanna.

[JJ]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SeaGypsy', 'I') avoid Manila like the plague, never been there never wanna.

[ian807]

I'd be thinking of more fundamental stuff. Fish farming, selling wind or solar power generators. If things go south due to oil price increases, they'll go south in the Philippines too, just in a different way. Poorer countries around the world run on cheap oil too. When that goes, and you can't jump on the cambi to go to the nearest town, the guy with the alcohol powered transportation system and a buttload of spare parts makes the money.

Medicine too, will change. No foreign imports of antibiotics, antidepressants, morphine, etc. The guy with a greenhouse growing medicinals should also do well.

Fundamentals. Career advice isn't going to mean much with $250 a barrel oil and $20 a gallon gasoline. You'll want stuff, not ideas.

[SeaGypsy]

Did I say this was a long term plan?
If I can get 100 Filipinos to part with 100 pesos each 4 times a month I would be making more than 5 average wages for 4 days work a month.
This would mean not having to maintain my FIFO job in Australia.
This would give me more time to devote to 'stuff' as opposed to 'ideas'; the thinking here is over simplistic.
Your ideas on solar, power & water, medicine are spot on. Bicycles with sidecars and trailers still do a lot of the work in my area; modifying these to include a small electric motor could be a money spinner too.
In the longer term I am looking at remote islands and boatbuilding; as those who know me here are already aware.
I think how one sees the world right now depends an awful lot on ones exact personal circumstances. How well off one was 2 years ago compared to now is a major factor. Do I have a job? Is it at all secure? How are those around me doing? Are they depressed/ morbid? Or enthusiastic/ hopefull?
The vast loss of 'wealth' in this crash has so far mostly happened to those who had it; the rich industrialists and middle class investors.
Very few people in Asia are in this category. For most life has changed very little over the term of the crisis. Unemployment has gone up and increased competition but it hasn't been drastic. The economy here is much more based on fundamental needs than the fantastic delusion of a rich service economy the west has developed.
When one is poor one needs to eat, keep the leaks out, stick to basics.
Asia is used to this. The west is used to ringing an expert to do everything. Westerners have become overly specialized and utterly dependent on 'the economy'.
At the same time, if you want to make money now, you need the product people want now not what you think they will want tomorrow.
.