Semi-Retired at 27 - Living on and Island, Scuba Diving, and finally HAPPY

[Voyagner]

This would have to be one of the best posts on here in a while, inspiring.

I think a few people would be interested to hear how you found a product to find PLR for as yours is a physical product and not a digital one as so many are.

[indieviewTV]

Johnny Wolf, aren't you in the PUA community? I think I may have heard of you. I use to teach dudes through my business Nightlife Serenade with my handle as mybirthdaypony.

Anyway, it's good to see chubby bros kickin it with skinny chicks in the oceans. Kudos!

[clanshrapnel]

Originally Posted by indieviewTV

Johnny Wolf, aren't you in the PUA community? I think I may have heard of you. I use to teach dudes through my business Nightlife Serenade with my handle as mybirthdaypony.

Anyway, it's good to see chubby bros kickin it with skinny chicks in the oceans. Kudos!

same name, different person. I think the PUA Johnny Wolf has tattoos that are easily visible.

[luiscongdon@msn.com]

Originally Posted by Caesar_X

Agreed about improv classes. Many cities will have a free introductory class you can take. And a 6-8 week session of one class a week isn't too expensive.

It really helps you to learn things that are relevant to developing a muse lifestyle. Like "paying attention to your partner (i.e. customer)" and "running towards your failures".

Highly recommended, especially if you feel you are shy or introverted.

I was thinking about taking an improv class, it really helps huh? How would you compare that to taking NLP or a boot camp?

[webgal]

I love improv. I did it for years. And as for NLP, I love that, too. It's absolutely fascinating. The NLP helps when working with clients, too. I can figure out how they think and cut to the chase in meetings and presentations.

[johnnywolf]

Here's the 1 year update.
I'm now 28, still semi-retired, living on a different, but still beautiful tropical island, scuba diving and still happy. =)



Update: I just got back from a month in the U.S. and am living on Koh Lanta now, on the west coast of Thailand.

Money - Using the 4HWW I leaned out my expenses to less than $750 a month while still living the life I want in Thailand. Doing that allows me to stress less and preserve my savings. It's been a year now, and although I'm not rich, I have more money in my savings account as I did when I first arrived a year ago.

Products - I had a physical product (seminars) that I turned into a digital one (ebooks and audio books) I got rid of the physical products that needed shipping (cologne). Also I started affiliate marketing and selling other people's digital products.

Future - I'm planning on finding a motivated partner and once and for all, create and market a passive income digital product to make more money.

Lessons Learned - Having one year to get a taste of the lifestyle of traveling and living on a tropical island, I'm hooked and never want to work a 8-5 job again. I've also learned that it's too easy to become lazy and content once you get here. At least it saved me from stressing out completely and exploding.

Just one month back in the U.S. doing what I used to do, built up all the tension and stress again, at the end of the trip I got sick, gained weight, grew pale and physically weak, and it wasn't good for me at all.

My advice to you all: All the answers are in the 4-hour work week, trust it, trust yourself, and make the leap. Cut out all of your expenses, pay off your debt, sell your car and just go for it even if you only have enough money to pay for a return flight and three months of living. You won't regret it, the experience is worth it in itself.

If anyone wants to come to Koh Lanta and hang out, consider this an open invitation, it'll be great to sit down with some like minded people.

Warm Regards,

Johnny

[dru-man]

Thailand seems to be a key location for the New Rich. I've been out here for a year and 3 months now. I don't have freedom of time now--although I probably could if I was into keeping it simple, which I never have been--but I definitely have freedom of location.

I did the divemaster thing like Johnny Wolf talks about in his thread--absolutely amazing, but I ran out of money. I still didn't leave Thailand. I had nothing to go back to--the Fourhour Workweek was one of the only things I stuffed into my backpack when I got rid of all my belongings and headed off to see the world. It has been a source of inspiration all along the way.

I've always been the type of person who felt like if I put myself in a bad situation I'd find a way to claw out of it, and have used this as a source of motivation throughout my life. I don't reccommend it, but it has worked for me, as well caused me to have grey hairs at 23 and salt n' pepper hair now at 28. But I was at a point in my life where I had lost everything and decided rather than take the easy route I would make it harder on myself and force myself to build the lifestlye I wanted out of the the rubble.

Hence I found myself in a foreign country with a limited amount of cash and no income.

I decided internet marketing was where it was for me, and I committed to learning. After seeing how easy it was to get lost, I started paying someone to mentor me. It began to pay off immediately, and its been uphill but forward movement ever since. Now I'm free to live anywhere in the world. My next step is freeing up my time more and more while ramping up my income, and I've been building a small team of online employees to do just that.

Thailand is the place to make your dreams happen. I don't get the whole mentality in moving here after you've retired. Why not move here when you're young and trying to make it so you can save thousands on living expenses and yet still live the ultimate lifestyle along the way?

Don't give up guys. You can make it happen if you put your mind to it. For me, the International lifestyle is where it's at. If any other people with similar mindsets who have already acquired the lifestyle are already out here in Thailand--I'd love to meet up for some beers/ wine and exchange ideas or just have a good time. Drop me a pm.

I'm also game for answering any Thailand questions if anyone is thinking of making a similar move. Johnny's living expenses he outlines in this thread are quite realistic. You can live really comfortably here for about $1K a month (I've lived on much, much less), very very well for $2K a month, and like a rockstar for $3K a month. If you've got some money to sustain your self, what better place to build your muse?

Cheers

[johnnywolf]

Here's an update of my monthly living expenses now that I moved to Koh Lanta.
Food is cheaper here, but I spend more on gas since it's a bigger island, and the Muay Thai Gym is more expensive as well. I'm also paying a lot for wireless internet at my bungalow now, which makes things much easier.

I thought that overall I'd be spending more money, but my expenses have actually gone down after the move.

Here is the actual amount of money I spend last month October 2009 in Koh Lanta, Thailand.



Johnny's Thailand Expenses BAHT US$ Notes
(34 baht = $1 Dollar)
Rent – Bungalow 5000 $147 Long Beach – Prime Location
Utilities – Water/Electric 0 $0 Included
Wireless Internet 1500 $44

Student Loan – University $190

Gasoline/Petrol for Motorbike 400 $12 Four tanks per month
Motorbike Maintenance/Repairs 100 $3 Averaged

Mobile Phone 500 $15 Pay as you go
Skype 400 $12 International Calling

Breakfast Daily 1200 $35 30 meals at 40 baht each
Lunch Daily 1200 $35 30 meals at 40 baht each
Snacks 1200 $35 30 snacks at 40 baht each
Dinner Daily 1200 $35 30 meals at 40 baht each

Drinking Water 400 $12 Bottled and Home Jugs
Alcohol/Beer 640 $19 15 Beers at 60 baht each


Massages 1000 $29 Four Massages per month
Muay Thai Classes 5000 $147 Montly One On One Training

Scuba Diving Free Free Included in Divemaster – Initial investment $2,000US
Snorkeling Free Free Equipment already purchased – Initial investment $100US
Hiking/Trekking Free Free No added expense

Toothpaste/Soap/Shampoo/Etc 100 $3
Mosquito Repellent 160 $5 Two bottles a month
Sunblock 0 $0
Tiger Balm 60 $2

DAN – Diving Insurance 300 $9 Averaged

Clothes – New 200 $6 Averaged

Travel – Visa Run or Fun 900 $26 Round trip ferry tickets
Random Hotel Rooms 1000 $29 2-4 nights

Laundry 160 $5 30 baht a Kilo

Books 250 $7 1 book a month
Cat Food 140 $4 2 small bags

Visa Cost – Monthly 800 $24 Averaged

Baht Dollars
Total Monthly Expenses 30,270 baht $890 USD

Without Student Loan 23,810 baht $700 USD