What's the attraction to OTR in 2023?

Are you in a situation where you can relocate to the Southwest or Southeast?

 

The only thing really tying me down at this point is a house, and I could either rent it out or sell it in no time with the way the market is in this region. Kind of undecided at this point, though I'm hearing the road calling me...

 

Just look at otr as an inflation hedge. Rent, utilities, and vehicles have all gotten expensive in the last few years and by going otr you can avoid these and save the money instead.

 

I sold my house in Tennessee and now split my time between Las Vegas/Henderson, Nevada and Beijing, China.
It's a great life. I fell in love with China when doing R&R in Hong Kong while in the Navy. It's peaceful there and no chance of being mugged. The people are welcoming, especially to Americans. Not at all like the news portrays China. I'll post a photo of my condo in Beijing. No worries about being away for months, squatters go to jail.

 

I go to the PLA Navy Hospital in Beijing if I need a doctors appointment. It's an adventure. Tricare pays the bills. I pay, then mail the bill to Tricare and a check is sent to me.

 

I had no idea you could do that overseas. I've been going to the VA for everything and haven't even had to use Tricare since I retired.

 

I went to the VA one time in Nashville. They were so rude I never went back or went to any VA Hospital after that.

 

There's a VA hospital in Philippines. Photo is the VA hospital.
Great place for single Americans, as far as living the good life.
There's also a Social Security office in Philippines for people living in Asia, including China. If you have a question concerning Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, you must call the office in Manila. Easy, pleasant people to talk to.

 

I use the PLA Navy Hospital and my wife and two children use a traditional Chinese medicine hospital in a Hutong of Beijing.
Get the health care, fill prescriptions on-site, and send the bill to Tricare. It's all covered.
The Hutongs are nice. They're old sections of Beijing that have been preserved. Good places to hang out and enjoy delicious food.

 

Military Sealift Command
I went to the Coast Guard office in Memphis to inquire about this. Being a Navy veteran, I qualified for Ordinary Seaman, without having to take any tests.
Got that done, then started looking at jobs available. Only one I liked was an Ordinary Seaman on a ship out of Singapore. Found a nice condo on the beach for the family. Wife refused to move there, so that was that. Maybe that was ok. I'd been to Singapore a few times and a great place for a single sailor.