Bootstrapping in Saigon

I'm 42 years old.

I don't know if it is flattery and bullshitting - lol - but, when most people meet me they are quite surprised by my age.

I still do read all the blogs, am immersed in programming culture, and feel as if the world is my oyster.

The average age of my friends here is probably around 26 or 28. However, I have good friends that are 21 and I have other friends older than me.

Really doesn't cross my mind much.

I usually do some form of training everyday. Usually strength training, though I've been in hiatus with mostly body weight exercises, as I wait for the new gym at Vincom to open. I used to box and do martial arts, and have been able to maintain staying in good shape. That is very key.

Being physically active, combined with always meeting new people - helps you avoid becoming the angry, old expat who knows everything and wishes for the good old days. Mental fitness.

I've got my skateboard here and still skate occasionally, but not in that ex-skater mid-life crisis way. lol - I've never stopped. Can still bomb stairs, ride fast and am fine keeping up with the younger local guys I skate with.

Still surf (thought I still suck at it) - when I get the chance. Took a surf trip to Sri Lanka year before last, when I had to be in Dubai for a project.

I avoided the trifecta of Marriage, Mortgage and Children, all of my adult life. I've been focused on three things - bulding relationships, mastery of what I love (design) and building businesses.

That latter part, relationships, design and business hasn't changed. I still love those things. I still welcome new people. I still make new friends everyday and I still love what I do.

The marriage part - I'm more or less an atheist for all sense and purpose, and really never thought about marriage.

Over the years, I never settled.

Then I met my match.

I still go out with my friends all the time, tonight, Friday night, I will go out with my friends and probably be out til 4 or 5AM.

That's not my wife's thing - but we have trust - and we give each other space and freedom. If I get home at 2AM - she might say - "why are you home so early, everything ok?"

She has her space, I have my space, we have a good foundation - and we compliment each other well.

If you're in Saigon, hit me up.

I always love meeting new people.

What I was getting at is - the scene - the people here, the combination of factors and overall value.

That coupled with a lot of the other factors - is the distinguishing point not just price.

Like I said below though, a lot of things have change - imo - for the better. I need to update the article soon.

I need to get back to India. I lived there for a year in 1999. I can't imagine how it has changed now.

Cheers.

I've mostly done some form of fitness and athletics all my life. That certainly helps.

Though, when I was vegetarian it was hard for me to build muscle.

That changed when I started eating meat and switched to a mostly paleo style diet. I suddenly built more muscle and found it easier to maintain.

The one thing that being vegetarian all those years probably helped with is it helped me be more conscious of food. Also, it helped me skip a lot of the bad dietary habits you form in your 20s and pay for when you get older.

I see a lot of my 20 something friends making that mistake and putting off the effort to form the right habits now.

It'll catch up. I'd say start getting the right habits in place immediately.

Anyhow, I caught a lucky break there.

In terms of losing strength, I don't think so. I might be in better shape than in my 20s.

Squats are pretty consistent at 150 - 170kgs. Bench is still strong.

One thing I'm big on is the habits and routine.

I mostly work from home everyday and work in pomodoros (30 - 45 min focused sprints) with 5 - 10 min breaks.

I keep a 30kg kettle bell and another free weight in my office. So when the timer goes off - take exercise breaks.

I also work most of the day standing, which helps a lot.

I'm also pretty competitive, so things like sprints at the track and basketball help with the cardio side.

The last full body analysis I did in Bangkok at Bumrungrad Hospital, it took me 13 minutes to hit my target heart rate on the treadmill.

And, I drink too much, smoke too much shisha, go out too much, occasionally dabble in substances I shouldn't and dance too much. lol

So, who knows. Find a balance that works for you I guess.

Saigon, by the way is a great place to find that balance.

I found the lifestyle optimizations from the food to fitness and fun easy to sort out here.

One reason I decided to base here.