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Retirement In Singapore: Tales Of Three Expats Who Grew Roots Here

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Retirement in Singapore: Tales of Three Expats Who Grew Roots Here
We hear of many Singaporeans moving overseas to retire, but how often do you hear about expats who choose retirement in Singapore?
What makes them decide to put down roots in Singapore and build a new life away from their home?
These silvers from different areas of the world, now proud Singapore residents, share their stores.
Swiss precision meets Singapore skyline
Retirement in Singapore: Tales of Three Expats Who Grew Roots Here - Patricia and Eric Schneider
Image courtesy of Patricia and Eric Schneider
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Eric Schneider arrived in Singapore 51 years ago. He was hired as a production engineer building aluminium and stainless-steel products. Some of these were kitchen sinks and refuse chutes for Housing and Development Board flats, cargo containers and catering equipment for Singapore Airlines.
Three years after moving in Singapore, he fell in love and married Patricia, a Singaporean who was then working as physical education teacher at the United World College.

"She's the one that kept me here to put down roots in Singapore."

After nine years as an employee, Eric saw an opportunity to become a business owner. A friend in Switzerland was producing aluminium composite panels for building facades, and he offered to be its distributor. Together with a local partner, they became pioneers in “dressing up buildings” in Singapore.
Unfortunately, a construction slump occurred in the 1980s and the business had to be dissolved.
But a German firm in the industry which wanted to take advantage of opportunities in other parts of Asia appointed Eric to head up Asia.

"In 1998, Pudong was just rice fields. There was so much potential. Four years later, we had our own factories in this part of the world."

Eric continues to live in Singapore which became the offshore warehouse, where materials could be stored.
He retired 13 years ago, and today at age 78, still plays golf three times a week, and walks 10km weekly. He’s active in the community doing social work through the Rotary Club of Queenstown and is the grassroots leader of his condominium in Upper Bukit Timah.
From Hongkong hustle to Singapore stability
Retirement in Singapore: Tales of Three Expats Who Grew Roots Here - Linda and George So
Image courtesy of Linda and George So
The Tiananmen Square incident in June 1989 was the impetus for banker George So to leave Hongkong for Singapore.

"We were really shaken. I was 38 years old with two girls who were just 5 and 3 years old. I instantly made up my mind that I could not afford to take risks with such a young family."

George went to see his boss at UK merchant bank Hill Samuel first thing the next morning. The bank had branches in New York, Sydney and a small office in Singapore. He moved to Singapore within two days and his wife Linda and daughters followed shortly.
Assimilation to Singapore was quite easy, and the couple were pleased with the stability.

"I was deeply impressed that every child sang the National Anthem. It showed how they were taught to love the country. I was impressed by the racial harmony and how children were taught to treat each other as equals. I found peace and stability in Singapore."

A year and half after moving, George and Linda added a son to their family.
George became a Singapore citizen in 1995 and with a tinge of regret wished that he had immediately done the same for the family, who had permanent resident status.
Among the children, one daughter is married and lives in Paris while the other is living in Singapore but on an employment pass. His son chose to become a Singapore citizen after completing national service.
George finds himself often drawing comparisons between Hongkong and Singapore.

"People who grew up there, used to say that life in Hongkong is more vibrant and the social habits are different. In Hongkong, horse racing and playing mahjong are part of socialising."

US grandparents who chose bustling Singapore heartlands
Retirement in Singapore: Tales of Three Expats Who Grew Roots Here - Marybea and Lon Varvel
Image courtesy of Marybea and Lon Varvel
Both Marybea and Lon Varvel are originally from USA.
Marybea had built a tax and accounting practice with over 200 clients over her career while Lon had worked as a real estate appraiser setting values for government housing projects. They were both in their 60s when they decided to retire in 2014.
As their son works outside the USA, they often traveled for six weeks to visit him.
In 2018, their son and family were posted to Singapore. Marybea and Lon started visiting Singapore regularly from then on. They liked Singapore a lot and decided to stay in Singapore for a year in 2019.
This stint in Singapore ended up becoming two years when the COVID pandemic happened. Lon also suffered a heart attack during this period. Luckily the Singapore medical system came to the rescue.
They returned to California to sell everything and came back in June 2023 to build a new life in Singapore. The decision to put roots down was simplified because their son had chosen to take up permanent residence here.
Unlike most expats, the couple chose to move into a HDB flat at Tiong Bahru.

"We build friendships in a neighbourhood coalition that you won’t get in many other places."

With their lease up, the latest move for Marybea and Lon has been into another HDB flat at Tanjong Pagar.
She also likes how senior-friendly the estate is.

"There's an art project by the train station that the government is doing this month, where the signs change every day. Two examples are 'Name the next chicken you see' or 'Walk backwards very slowly from room to room'. They are great prompts for us, to keep mentally and physically active."

Nature in the city is also part of the allure.
The couple sees themselves retiring in Singapore.

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Lena Soh-Ng

Having spent most of her work life in PR, Media and Communications, Lena finds that there’s indeed a circle to life as she goes in a full loop back to Media, at SilverStreak. Whether writing, social media posting or researching, there’s always something fascinating to learn…these are her special Silver moments.

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