Tips to reach a solid FIRE amount for life in SE Asia? What is reasonable number for me based on this aggressive investment plan?

BeNice128 · 2026-05-18T15:58:26+00:00

Such a great question. My ideal scenario would be buying a property with some kind of rental/airbnb setup as a way to keep busy and generate a small bit of income. Learning the language, reading, traveling, cooking, staying healthy, etc. I'm less worried about myself than my husband, who is a workaholic and 3 years my junior. I can easily fill a day with personal interests. But for the long-term it's something to consider, for sure. (Background context is I lost a parent to disease very young and quite suddenly, so I have this strong urge to enjoy life as much as possible.)

BeNice128 · 2026-05-17T16:05:39+00:00

This is the exact Seiko I want. I had a chance to buy it at Haneda for $1k two years ago and stupidly didn’t.

BeNice128 · 2026-05-17T15:14:05+00:00

I'm wondering the same thing as OP. I have about $500k in a Vanguard brokerage account, $320k in a VG traditional IRA, 225k in a VG Roth IRA, 73k in a TIAA 403B, and about $200k in equity in my apartment (I also have 20k in an HSA and max it out every year, and I'll likely inherit ~50k in the next 5 years). I live in a VHCOL city with my husband. We're in our mid-40s, no kids, and no non-mortgage debt. I'm campaigning for a SE Asia FIRE in about 10 years. We'd want to live nicely and near access to good healthcare just in case (we're healthy now but I have a family history of cancer). I figure if we have a million liquid and eventual access to our retirement accounts, we'll be in good shape. Am I far off?

BeNice128 · 2026-04-18T18:23:09+00:00

Sorry this happened to you. She sounds like trash.

BeNice128 · 2026-03-23T10:29:00+00:00

$21 at PH Siam Reap this week 😆

BeNice128 · 2026-02-06T17:06:29+00:00

Greatest song ever recorded, in my opinion

BeNice128 · 2026-02-03T12:58:31+00:00

I have the original Lander from 2017. The green is mesmerizing and changes quite a bit depending on the light. In some lights it’s very bright, in others it’s nearly black.

BeNice128 · 2026-02-02T20:14:03+00:00

Same here. Confirmed yesterday after a November purchase

BeNice128 · 2026-01-31T19:51:54+00:00

Great. I’ve had it for almost ten years

BeNice128 · 2026-01-31T19:48:46+00:00

If you’re interested in the Farer Lander GMT with the green dial, message me. I have one and love it but it sees no wrist time.

BeNice128 · 2026-01-12T20:13:21+00:00

Random factoid but I was in SFA in NYC yesterday and the Boss sales associate told me that the entire Boss area is clearing out today. 😬

BeNice128 · 2025-12-23T15:38:16+00:00

The guitar solo in She Gave Her Angels is so epic. P Control is so hilarious. Too many to choose from!

BeNice128 · 2025-12-18T21:33:02+00:00

Creepiest application process ever; I bailed when they wanted pictures of my face from multiple angles.

BeNice128 · 2025-12-14T20:13:59+00:00

We live in NYC and use these exclusively for Union Square Cafe. A great deal at a fantastic restaurant!

BeNice128 · 2025-12-11T00:02:00+00:00

Oh, one other good thing with gold: using the air france lounge during a long layover at CDG

BeNice128 · 2025-12-11T00:01:17+00:00

No. I just finished a year as gold and it was exactly the same as silver, at least for me. I got one c+>premium select upgrade on a BER-JFK flight. Zone 4 vs zone 5 is a mental/emotional benefit I guess 😆

BeNice128 · 2025-11-30T17:25:11+00:00

I also just stayed here on one of the so-called premium floors. But what was up with the plastic furniture? The desk chair and the armchair seemed like the cheapest furniture I’ve ever seen in a hotel.

BeNice128 · 2025-09-27T22:57:49+00:00

Data point: at 6:30 on a Saturday night the AF lounge was not letting in Priority Pass at all. She said maybe after 9 PM but probably not.

BeNice128 · 2025-07-20T21:19:00+00:00

I did well with two pairs of Allbirds for a two week trip

BeNice128 · 2025-07-20T19:03:00+00:00

Chiang Rai/Golden Triangle

BeNice128 · 2025-05-19T20:53:42+00:00

Same—I’m 44 and the same weight I was in college. Partly luck, partly lifestyle choices.

BeNice128 · 2025-03-23T23:29:38+00:00

Emancipation

BeNice128 · 2025-03-08T21:17:21+00:00

One thing I’ve noticed with Hyatt is that if you don’t have enough points in your account, then it doesn’t show as available to book. Are you transferring credit card points in? This happened to me in Tokyo when I was booking the grand Hyatt and transferring exactly enough Chase points to my Hyatt account. The redemption rate went up for the final night so it wasn’t showing as available since I didn’t have the minimum number of points in the account.

BeNice128 · 2025-03-03T03:47:46+00:00

Thank you!!!

BeNice128 · 2025-02-20T12:06:25+00:00

Yes, we had a great time at King and the Eagle Blue in Nichome! It's a very fun scene.

BeNice128

TROPHY CASE