We have different preferences. Some people are the life of the party. Others opt tranquil living. Yet, no matter what our personalities are, we all have a singular destiny: to leave our planet.
Most of us are blessed to savor the sweetness of a ripe age. This, we shall be grateful for. Not everyone has the opportunity to grow fine lines and wrinkled skin. Aging is a gift, and it’s beautiful. Now, if you are in your early 20’s like me, let me ask you this question. Has it ever crossed your mind if you will be able to live a long life? A life of a senior citizen? If your answer is yes: grab a comfortable seat and converse with me.
If given the privilege: where do you see yourself 50 years from now? Well, as for me, I only envision myself in one place: the countryside. My life as a teenager was centered in the hustle and bustle of the city. Though I was born in the serene islands of Marinduque, it was Pasig who has witnessed my aging. The roaring of the jeepneys and buses in the streets became my alarm clock. Inhaling this ‘polluted air’ has been a luxury. We were made to make malls and artificial parks our source of rest in the urban cacophonies.
This fast-pacing visual every single day exhausted my vision. I was indecisive with where I want to see myself in the future. I had never found tranquility in the metro. Ever since, I have an unexplainable connection with nature. Just the idea of living in the countryside heightens up my endorphins. Being awakened by the embrace of a misty
breeze. Seeing the leaves dancing with the wind. Letting the sun rays kiss your cheeks.
Waking up in your self-plowed garden and picking up your grown veggies. Cooking fresh meals in a loft house. This dreamy thought wakes my hopes up. This is where I want to start my ending. This is where I want to ripen my age.
With that, if this same imagery also colors inside your head–then stay with me. Let’s hold hands and walk through the world (virtually), to see possible serene places
well dwell as we’ve come ready to settle:
Europe
If you have the means to migrate to the continent of Europe—Switzerland is the world’s ideal place of peace. Its breath-taking landscapes, such as their icy mountains, would surely lighten your daily mood as a senior citizen. This country is also known for its responsible government: being able to provide generous benefits for its citizens, especially with their healthcare. Furthermore, the Swiss Federal Constitution also empowers the prohibition of age discrimination in employment.
This enables you the opportunity to make a living to be able to sustain your financial needs. Ireland is also a carbon copy of Switzerland. This “emerald isle” is also known for its mountainous, lush and medieval-like landscapes. Their quality of life is the same as the latter, with so ideal for settling in. To add, the crime rate for both countries is extremely low— making both as one of the safest countries in the world.
Americas
If the ocean breeze is what you wish to inhale—the small beach city of Monterey Peninsula in California is what you’re looking for. Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for their fairy-like homes and amazing by-the-beach postcard-perfect scenery. This place is yet recommended for well-off families as the place has twice the normal rate of the cost-of- living in the rural sides of the U.S.
Southeast Asia
The tropics of Bali in Indonesia and Siargao in the Philippines are places with low cost of living yet produce quality life. The abundance of natural resources, such as coconut products and seafoods can sustain not just your daily needs but even your need for a past time. These beautiful islands are known for their “do-what-you-want-and-we-won’t mind” culture. This carefree lifestyle produces tranquility that we all surely crave, consciously and unconsciously.
There are just a few of the hidden gems, dream settlement destinations, that haven chosen to unravel in your minds. You can add more to the list by commenting to the interactive section below. Be reminded that you are the captain of your own ship. Best believe that you can attain your desire for settling in tranquility, at the right season, and at the right time.
