Welcome to The Social String.
We’re CamHong and Paul.
From taxes to social expectations, governments require a blueprint to endure: work hard, pay taxes, and enjoy two weeks paid vacation with the kids. As you approach retirement, that blueprint quickly begins to unravel.
The journey doesn’t end at 65.
The Social String is not a travel guide. It’s an effort to redefine ‘Quality of Life’ and ‘Peace of Mind’ with a focus upon international living as an option, not necessarily a solution. With the kids taking their own vacations, employment no longer covering medical costs, and those two weeks depleting our 401K, we begin to realize that a passive fixed income, does not offer the same cost of living as flexible employment. Actual retirement, unlike planning for retirement, requires a redefining of our goals in order to retain or achieve the lifestyle we wanted at a sustainable cost, only then can we assess Quality of Life.
Social String: “The intangible cultural bonds, interactions, and values that connect a community.”
“Sợi dây xã hội” Đây là những mối gắn kết văn hóa vô hình, những tương tác và giá trị kết nối các cá nhân lại với nhau thành một cộng đồng hoặc một quốc gia. Mỗi quốc gia đều bắt đầu từ một câu chuyện nhập cư, hãy khám phá quá khứ của bạn và tìm ra tương lai của chính mình.
Retirement planning is advice from others who are also working. Retired Quality of Life plans—may require a few modifications.
“Sợi dây xã hội/The social String“
Sharing our Destinations
Latest ADVENTURE, STORIES, AND REVIEWS
Sharing our Interests
RECENT APPS AND SITES that we used. WE’D LIKE TO SHARE the essentials that worked.
Paul and CamHong’s stories are authentic and refreshing. The photos, and tips appear to be real and unrehearsed. The planning and reviews for each destination provide that needed bit of relief from pre travel anxiety. My wife and I started our first trip with A LOT of apprehension and as recommended on the Social String, a passport and a one way ticket. We started in Bali for 2 weeks and realized, it wasn’t what we enjoyed. The one way ticket saved us, our trip, and our future. A ferry and train ride later, we had crossed Indonesia and will remember our first month of retirement for the rest of our lifes. From Jakarta, we flew first class to Penang and stayed for three months while we toured Malaysia. It’s been two years and we’ve stayed in 7 countries. The cost of buying tickets outside the US has allowed us to fly our kids out to visit us for less than the cost of that one way ticket to start our first trip. A terrifying peice of advice we will never forget. Our kids had avoided having children based on simply what they new of the world from television and news at home. Two years later, they work remotely and we are eargerly waiting for our first granddaughter so we can introduce her to a freedom of spirit and a passion for living that so many of had lost. Turn off the TV and simply toss a dart on a map. The places you might enjoy the most are ones you likely never heard of until you arrive. Thank you, Paul and Camhong. Through retirement, you intoduced us to a future!!!
James 62
USA
I’ve been following CamHong for over a year. I was also a refugee from Vietnam in the 80’s. I was sent to Australia and later I married and moved to Canada. My husband was an enginner and I practiced medicine. I love to cook and I came across several Facebook posts Camhong had made about food. She reminded me that time has changed, our lives had changed, but the foods we hold in our heart, keep us grounded. We moved back to Vietnam when we retired. Perhaps not to live. Only to enjoy the freedom the cost of living and access to afforadable travel gave us. We have traveled to Greece, Japan, and Spain as we search for that perfect place to retire. Outside of North America, we have been able to afford not only our travel costs, but better health care than we ever imagined. Camhong’s story was an inspiration. I appreciate her honest reviews, budget tips, and recipies. She and Paul have inspired my husband and I to life our life. As we plan our first trip to Argentina, I can’t imagine that four years ago, we would never have considered a three month visit to Buenos Aires and a road trip across Patagonia! Câu chuyện của cô ấy với tư cách là một người nhập cư và tị nạn là một ngọn hải đăng sáng ngời để noi theo.
“Lòng tôi rộn rã”
Hoa 65
Vietnam
As a retiree and American expat, CamHong and Paul have provided heartfelt stories and detailed itineraries that address concerns and destinations that are age appropriate and inspire me to live my life without regrets. Several of my friends in the US have used my extended time in various locations to visit. But what I love most is when my son brings his kids so that they can grow up knowing more about the world. The pictures of my grandaughter walking the beach at sunrise in Malta, or my grandson learning to snorkle on reefs in Malaysia. My entire heart smiles, when I think of their stories about their winters in South Asia, or their Summers in Europe at the end of each vacation with their friends in Ohio. For them, the world is far more colorful than the internet and less violant than television.
Roman 72
Italy
Over a year ago, I had a chance meeting with CamHong and Paul that completely reshaped my worldview at a beachside restaurant in Bucerías, Mexico. They told stories of driving across Asia and Mexico, detailing their favorite places and local restaurants. Even though this was my fifth time visiting Mexico with my daughter and third with my two eight year old grandchildren, I had previously been too terrified to drive or to venture past the resort gates for walk at night. Paul became an instant inspiration. He shed light on how Americans are often conditioned to fear foreign travel and expatriate living—particularly in Mexico—largely as a mechanism to keep taxpayer dollars within the domestic economy. I realized that, on US News, I had never heard anything about Mexico that wasn’t crime related, yet in 5 years, I had never seen a crime committed. That very evening, I stepped out of my comfort zone and took my family to Ixta, a local spot they recommended or music and street side dining. Leaving the resort enclave was a total game-changer for our family vacations. By the next morning, I confidently rented a car; we experienced more of the real Mexico in one weekend than we had during all our previous trips combined. My future vacations with the kids will focus on home rentals. The practical safety tips and journals from Paul and CamHong, have given us the confidence for a month-long adventure across Asia. I am so glad they have started this blog.
Judith 56
United States
Paul has been my ultimate guide for transition from military to appreciating that, I AM RETIRED and life is just begining! The thrilling tales he has from his days working in various countries and decades of living across Asia has given me an entirely new way of seeing the world. I have traveled across Central and South America in my own journeys. When Paul expressed how many US Americans are afraid to travel beyond hotels outside of the US and Europe, I realized that I had never traveled to the United States because of the same fears. All my life I had been told of crime and corruption by the many expats who have relocated to Panama. After talking to Paul, we he helped me plan a trip across the United States. His advice on what to pack and cultural insights I had never considered, fueled my hikes across Appalachian Mountains and gave me an opportunity to see Lake Tahoe in the winter. Their enthusiasm and real-world comments make each post a must-read for fellow explorers.
Juan J. 52
Panama
The Social String is a travel inspiration! Their insight and view point has completely reshaped how I travel and view the world.
Harad 64
England
Hello Friends, Procrastinators, and fellow nomads
Order a glass of tea or a cold Margarita. And while you wait for those fresh Mahi tacos, sit back and let us spark inspiration for your next unforgettable travel adventure!
Hi there, we’re CamHong and Paul, a retired couple with a true passion for exploring the world. We’ve been chasing retirement throughout our careers in the military and as an engineer for three decades. Now that we have caught up to it, we want to revisit our goals, take a look at our favorite locations and a few we only have only read about. As we search for that perfect spot where retirement also gives us the lifestyle that had always envisioned. We want to share our stories, past experiences, and a promise that they want all be great, but they will be an adventure.
Thank you Judith for your passionate review. We enjoyed meeting your family, and look forwad to sharing the world’s beautiful beaches, our favorite spots for resting our souls, and the cities that give light to our hearts. We’re thrilled to have you join us on this adventure!
Our Story
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