Thoughts on a six year plan
Well, I’m back in Malaysia for my second stint here and thought I would write about things that are going through my head concerning the present and future.
Things I learned while in the USA for the last two years: I love my family, they are just amazing, love my friends, amazing as well and my love for Malaysia did not diminish either. I think sometimes when you live overseas you are acutely aware of all the faults of your home country but being back in the US for two years made me remember all the wonderful things about it. In all honest, it was a tough decision to leave. Lastly, I realized that the place in the world I want to end up is Bellingham, where the largest concentration of my friends are and my family can visit much easier than Malaysia.
Things to consider in the 6-year plan: The first thing is that I love my granny dearly and she is turning 82 in February. She is still in great health but no one lives forever and I want to spend time with her while she is still very active. I went to New Orleans three times with her over those two years and want to spend that kind of quality time with her. I’m also glad that I’m gone for a bit because I push my parents too much on what they are going to do after retirement. Being in Malaysia means I won’t be hounding them so much about things.
Possible scenarios: My first thought was to live in Malaysia for 6 years and then return to the USA. I would return with a lump sum payment of about $40,000 USD, which would make a nice little down payment on a house. My instinct right now is to teach only 4 years in Malaysia, which would give me roughly $25,000 when I leave. So here is what I am thinking. I will save for two years and then purchase a house in Malaysia. I will continue renting myself and rent the house out, making double payments on it for two more years. After four years I will return to the USA and get a job close to my parents and my granny (they will be together), hopefully living with them. In the meantime, I will use the 25k from Malaysia with some savings to put a down payment on a house in the Sunnyland neighborhood of Bellingham, a house I will then rent out.
This scenario sets me up for later in life, Lord-willing, to one day move back to Bellingham but to also have a retirement home in Malaysia where I can either spend my summer school holidays or 4-6 month chunks after I retire.
Disclaimer: I am always thinking and scheming. Some come to fruition, such as moving to Malaysia. Some don’t, such as my dog poop scooping business. Please take all I have said with a grain of salt.
