15 years in Singapore!

[PNGMK]

Travel well WD40. May you have many years of happiness in Bangalore.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Farewell my friend. You have been a valuable member of this forum for many years. Don't forget us when you settle in back home again. While it might seem like a vacation you may find out it meant a lot more than you think after your return home (at least that is what has happened to me). That's why I'm still here after 42 years. May you always have fair skies and following seas.

[aster]

Seems like you miss your hometown and are looking forward to life after your 16-year vacation.

I'm curious whether you'll start to miss Singapore sooner than you think. I certainly did... and still do to this day.

[NYY1]

Enjoy your last few weeks/days here. Best of luck and regards.

[Wd40]

Seems like you miss your hometown and are looking forward to life after your 16-year vacation.

I'm curious whether you'll start to miss Singapore sooner than you think. I certainly did... and still do to this day.

It is nice to see you here and contributing, are you in Australia now?

I don't miss my hometown. It is just that because I don't have PR in Singapore and every incremental year I spent here, I feel it is like going waste. The initial years were exciting, we were exploring and saving money and my wife and daughter also absolutely loved it. There was hope that we would some day get PR and we could buy a house transition to local school and set up roots here

But as it became clear that the PR is not coming and my EP got downgraded to S Pass last year, reality sets in that we don't really fit here anymore. Most people who came during the same time we came to Singapore, so our age, have already left Singapore or they are here on PR. So we are kind of a rare breed here.

Also my parents are getting old and although they don't tell us to come back, thinking that we are having a great life here, at some point they might need us. So it is leading a life here with nothing to look forward to, Vs going back and being in our natural habitat.

[aster]

We moved to Australia straight after Singapore, and although we probably chose the best place over there (Gold Coast) we all started to miss Singapore with every passing day.

Nothing wrong with the GC... but it just wasn't SG (in all fairness no place is). I'm sure there are plenty of folks in Singapore who would have fancied that move though. As they say, the grass is greener...

Currently we're on the other side of the world (well, almost) in the Canary Islands. Great place to be in the world (geographically off the west coast of Africa, but an integral part of Spain and hence EU territory), but given the chance to return to Singapore I wouldn't need more than 2 hrs to be standing at the door with my suitcases packed, ready to return.

I definitely see your point about PR status and the need for stability. With a 16-year track record of being a model member of the community I think you would normally expect to take long-term residency for granted.

But it's heartwarming that you're also a family man who cares about his parents, and that your 16 years in SG coupled with a solid approach to savings will now allow you to return armed with a treasure chest of financial independence. Not bad for a 16-year holiday, right?

[bro75]

All the best WD40. Do you have any work or other activities back home?

[Wd40]

All the best WD40. Do you have any work or other activities back home?

Thanks! As of now, the plan is to first settledown. After that I will explore what I can do. I will try to upskill and find a relaxed job with WFH options, although I am not sure if I will get one which I like. But then I am in no hurry, I will take my time.

I am looking forward to buy a nice motorcycle and get back to riding. My daughter's school is 7kms from my house, so my main routine will revolve around picking and dropping my daughter to school, initially.

[malcontent]

Glad to hear WD. Several Indian friends of mine did the same (some gave up PR too). It took some adjustment, but they are happy they did.

After moving back to my home country at the start of this year, it’s the same case… some time for adjustment is needed, and what you expect it to be like will never fully align with reality, at least not completely.

It’s only been 4 months for me, and I’ve been asked - do I miss Singapore? Yes, of course… I lived there over 28 years! But despite living more than half of my life there, it has always felt like home away from home. As an ang moh, it’s just not possible to ever truly feel like a local.

Here is what I do find interesting, although my wife won’t admit it, our lifestyle here is really quite similar to Singapore in many ways, so I don’t feel that much has changed. We certainly have more to explore (and we have), and it’s easier to see my parents (just flew back to see them last week).

But as far as personal safety, I think I can put that myth to rest - at no point have we felt threatened or genuinely unsafe. At most, we feel little more uneasy on the street and the need to be more vigilant - but that’s pretty rare, as we don’t hang out on the streets that much

[Wd40]

Today is my last full day in Singapore and tomorrow is our flight back home, our passes will be cancelled on Monday. The sudden realisation that we may not ever get the chance to come back to this lovely place again.

While saying goodbye to my work colleagues, during the farewell parties, I didnt feel one bit sad, maybe because it has still not dawned on me that I won't be seeing them again.

My wife and daughter are cheerful so far and not showing any emotions of missing Singapore. We are quite busy packing so there is no time for anything.

But then again I realize change is constant, especially so in Singapore. The Singapore I came to in 2009 is not the same anymore, the people are not the same, most have gone, the places too are not the same. So the snapshot of Singapore we lived, will always remain in our mind. Physically, it will always keep evolving and won't be recognizable.

I will keep coming back to this forum to relive some of my best days is this lovely place.

Cheers all! Probably the last time you will see my posting from this IP.

[NYY1]

Have a safe trip home. Wish you much luck and happiness in the future.

[Strong Eagle]

Best of luck, Wd40. I hope that you'll stay connected with the board and keep us updated on your transition to a new life.

[malcontent]

All the best WD. I can totally relate to how you feel… having gone through the same back in Jan. For me, I had been working at the same employer and even the same office for over 28 years. It was like my home away from home, and the nostalgia I felt just walking through the halls among the cubical farms could be overwhelming. It was the first time in my entire career that I almost shed a tear

To help my wife adjust, I tried to recreate a similar lifestyle after our move. I wouldn’t say it was a failure, but I feel like it didn’t help… it’s never enough, and the psychological is far more than any lifestyle adjustment. It just takes a whole lot of time and patience… expect some trials & tribulation, but know it will pass. Good luck and don’t be a stranger on this forum. Most of my Indian friends come back after a few years with their family for a visit. I’m sure you and yours will too.

[truthhurts1]

Thanks a lot for always helping fellow expats with your experiences . Wish you luck, I for one will never go back to India as I don’t babe anyone so it’s a do or die situation for me here..
I need to see how to start saving some money too to begin with

[pihukumar]

That’s such a heartfelt and honest reflection — thanks for sharing it!

Fifteen years is no small feat — especially when you initially planned for just two. Life really does have a way of surprising us. It’s beautiful to see you acknowledge both the gratitude and the quiet frustrations that come with a long stay in a foreign country. Not getting PR or the material milestones can definitely sting, but it’s clear that you’ve still built something incredibly solid — both financially and personally.

Your message is a reminder that sometimes, the journey itself matters more than the formal recognition or possessions we hope to gain along the way. You’ve experienced a rich slice of life in one of the world’s most vibrant cities, and that in itself is remarkable.

Also, shoutout to those forum legends — names like JR8, Strong Eagle, and Rajagainstthemachine definitely bring back memories of classic discussions and solid advice. It’s cool to see a little tribute to the community that supported your journey.

Here’s to your 15-year milestone — and maybe more chapters ahead, wherever life takes you.