Hello, my name is Joe Bogo. I'm now 33 years old, a single man from a small town called Avella in southwestern Pennsylvania, USA. I've never been married or had any children or anything like that. I'm currently on a 9-month trip in the Philippines, roaming around with pretty loose plans, if you can even call them that.
I have a retinal eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, and this condition is causing me to lose my eyesight over time. In 2007 my vision reached the point of legal blindness in which I had to quit driving cars. I can see well enough to get around, although it's difficult for me in many different scenarios. I can't read a newspaper or magazine anymore, and often I need others to read restaurant menus for me.
Because it's very difficult for me to work anymore in America, I've basically moved to the Philippines in search of an easier life, one that I can possibly live on my $837/month social security disability pension. Because of the "ticking clock" nature of my eyesight's decline, I'm trying to see as many parts of this beautiful tropical country as I can, while I still can. So far I've met numerous great new friends, had many memorable great times, gotten a nasty cold/cough, recovered from it and I still have several months to go.
The reason I say I've moved here is because I basically already have. It's just that I don't have a home or apartment to live in on a long-term basis yet. I've been living in hotel rooms and kind peoples' homes during this most ambitious journey, searching for a place that's most ideal for me in my situation. One of the hardest things about my roaming and seeking is having to say goodbye all the time. I'm always meeting nice new people and then soon after having to say goodbye as I leave their lovely place for one that's completely alien and unfamiliar to me.
I do need a girlfriend, but I haven't met one who seems truly crazy enough to want to run all around with me on this disjointed adventure. Someday I do pan to settle down with the right filipina in the right place, but for now most of my travelling from place to place is of the solo variety. Most girls here are shy, conservative, old-fashioned, God-fearing and all that. This gives them great values, and they're very kind and sweet. Someday I'll finally stop roaming and end up with a great one, but for now I'm gonna continue meeting lots of great people all around the Philippines, even if it means having to say goodbye all the time.
I hope you enjoy this blog. I try hard to keep adding fresh new content to it, although sometimes I get behind due to reasons such as being unable to get online for a period of time. When that happens, I do get stressed out over it, and it never feels like a vacation or holiday during those times. One thing that makes my blog unique is that I'm an admittedly moody person who occasionally flips out and needs to just chill and calm back down. I'm caring, loving, emotional and somehow both cheap and generous at the same time.
So please enjoy my blog, and I hope you do check back periodically to see what I'm up to as I wander around like a lost ronin. You'll never know what to expect from me, and that's the only thing you can really expect for sure.
I have a retinal eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, and this condition is causing me to lose my eyesight over time. In 2007 my vision reached the point of legal blindness in which I had to quit driving cars. I can see well enough to get around, although it's difficult for me in many different scenarios. I can't read a newspaper or magazine anymore, and often I need others to read restaurant menus for me.
Because it's very difficult for me to work anymore in America, I've basically moved to the Philippines in search of an easier life, one that I can possibly live on my $837/month social security disability pension. Because of the "ticking clock" nature of my eyesight's decline, I'm trying to see as many parts of this beautiful tropical country as I can, while I still can. So far I've met numerous great new friends, had many memorable great times, gotten a nasty cold/cough, recovered from it and I still have several months to go.
The reason I say I've moved here is because I basically already have. It's just that I don't have a home or apartment to live in on a long-term basis yet. I've been living in hotel rooms and kind peoples' homes during this most ambitious journey, searching for a place that's most ideal for me in my situation. One of the hardest things about my roaming and seeking is having to say goodbye all the time. I'm always meeting nice new people and then soon after having to say goodbye as I leave their lovely place for one that's completely alien and unfamiliar to me.
I do need a girlfriend, but I haven't met one who seems truly crazy enough to want to run all around with me on this disjointed adventure. Someday I do pan to settle down with the right filipina in the right place, but for now most of my travelling from place to place is of the solo variety. Most girls here are shy, conservative, old-fashioned, God-fearing and all that. This gives them great values, and they're very kind and sweet. Someday I'll finally stop roaming and end up with a great one, but for now I'm gonna continue meeting lots of great people all around the Philippines, even if it means having to say goodbye all the time.
I hope you enjoy this blog. I try hard to keep adding fresh new content to it, although sometimes I get behind due to reasons such as being unable to get online for a period of time. When that happens, I do get stressed out over it, and it never feels like a vacation or holiday during those times. One thing that makes my blog unique is that I'm an admittedly moody person who occasionally flips out and needs to just chill and calm back down. I'm caring, loving, emotional and somehow both cheap and generous at the same time.
So please enjoy my blog, and I hope you do check back periodically to see what I'm up to as I wander around like a lost ronin. You'll never know what to expect from me, and that's the only thing you can really expect for sure.
