It’s good to be home again, but that doesn’t mean I’ve not thought about my life here versus the life I might have had (and still could) if I had chosen Cambodia for my retirement homeland.

Phnom Penh is a bustling city with many interesting things to see or do. The nightlife portion of my day would perhaps be enhanced by the seemingly limitless bar options to raise a glass and be entertained by multitudes of thirsty young women. Other than the friends I’ve made, I don’t think I’d miss the Bars of Barretto much in the long run.

But what would I do during the day to satisfy my walkaholic urges? The streets are crowded and dangerous for pedestrians, as I learned firsthand. The sidewalks are essentially non-existent, and walking trails are few and far between. Worse yet, while I can enjoy an urban landscape, I know I’d grow weary of not having a hill to climb or a beach to walk. Even in Seoul, there were places you could experience nature within the city limits; Namsan is but one example. And you could literally walk for days on the river trails throughout the city. One thing Phnom Penh lacks that places like Bangkok and Seoul offer are a good public transportation system. No subways and very few buses in PP, leaving only tuk-tuks for non-driving folks like myself to get around. That’s fine for a short stay but not adequate for getting out of town to enjoy some scenic countryside that I can readily access here.

And then there’s that damn language barrier. Sorry, this old dog ain’t learning a new language, and my recent experience in Cambodia showed that not speaking Khmer is a major handicap. I’d rate the women I encountered on this trip as physically attractive as any I’ve seen in Asia and a notch above the typical Filipina. It’s a shame I couldn’t talk to most of them in any meaningful way.

Barretto is a small town, and regular readers know that comes with some pluses and minuses. Overall though, I’d say that my four-plus years here have been positive. I’ve adjusted to the way of life and established my rhythms accordingly. Barretto is part of a larger city, Olongapo, and there I can find almost everything I need shopping-wise. Just do a search for “Bars of Barretto,” and you’ll discover, as I did, that there is a vibrant nightlife in my little town.

But what I’ve come to love most about my retirement home is the scenery. Yes, I rail against the trash and the litter, but the inherent beauty is still there to be found, especially when you get off the streets and up in the hills. It’s far from perfect here, but when I walk my dogs through the ‘hood every morning and take in the bay views and the surrounding mountains, I can’t help thinking, “how can you be depressed looking at this?”

I’ve not as yet found the relationship I’ve dreamed of having, but there is some joy in having a sense of freedom to do what I want, when I want, with whomever I want. If I ever find a woman who would love me and the life I’ve chosen, all the better. Until then, I’ll choose to be happy with the things I do have.

Cambodia is still top of the list as my “Plan B” should the need ever arise for me to leave the Philippines. But upon reflection, I feel I made the right choice in making my home in Barrio Barretto.