At age 21, Simon Templar from the US set out to make enough money to retire before his 60th birthday. 4 decades later, he’s done that and now lives in Chiang Rai, Thailand. We asked him what’s next. 

“I don’t fight as easily or as often as I used to.”

Q: Hi Simon, thank you so much for being here with us. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how old you are now?

A: I am a retired US Marine. I was an infantry officer and served from 1985-2010.

What are your current daily and weekly routines like?

I work in the mornings and play golf or something in the afternoons.  Wednesday nights I go see a movie because I am “Cheap Charlie” and the ticket is only 100 baht.

How is your body different from what it was like at age 50?

12 years older. I broke my leg at the ankle and had to learn how to walk again after it finally healed.

What brings you joy these days?  

Helping good people and making the occasional birdie. Pars are nice too.

Which item, bought or received in the past year, has been most useful to you?

My first set of fitted golf clubs.

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What were you like as a young adult and how have you changed since?

I was very intense. I don’t fight as easily or as often as I used to.

Can you list 3 things you realised or learned only after age 60 that you didn’t know before? 

A girl does not have to be a supermodel to be a super girlfriend. The best way to save money is to not waste it. Love is what ties it all together and makes the world go round.

Which 3 people or things in your life are most important to you right now? 

The pursuit of the truth. Lending a helping hand to people who have had a lot of bad luck through no fault of their own. Making more money so I can give more of it away.

Is status important beyond age 60? What about wealth, knowledge acquisition, romance, birthdays and friendships? 

Social status is always important but it is earned not purchased. Wealth is dandy because it gives one options/choices. Knowledge is not the only thing in life. It is the only thing. Romance never gets old or dull. Birthdays are no longer wonderful at some point in everyone’s life. Friendships should be maintained. Thanks to the connectivity provided by the internet, friends for life is more possible than before.  

What regrets do you have?

I drank too much and that eventually scared off some super women that wanted to be with me.

What do you think those not yet 60 should be doing while they still can?

Making hay while the sun shines.

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Is there anybody you presently look up to, who you would like to learn from?

I like President Trump. I would like to sit at and learn from Jesus Christ, but that would require either time travel or some other type of miracle.

Lastly, do you think about death? And if so, what do you think of it? 

I hope it comes upon me quickly but not while I am in good health, mentally and physically. I never worried much about death and try not to think about it too much other than doing common sense things such as estate planning and having a final will and testament.

Simon is presently looking to fall in love and going on as many dates as possible in order to achieve that. You can find him out and about Chiang Rai, at his blog, inuinoueritashome.wordpress.com, or ask him where he’s at using the comment box below. You can also check out the Northern Thailand Christian Orphanage he supports here. 

If you would like to share your thoughts on being the age you are, do let us know here. Or read what it’s like to be a different age here. 

You may also be interested in:
What It’s Like Being Older Than 30
What It’s Like Being Older Than 40

Photographs courtesy and copyright of Simon Templar. Interviewer: Sy
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