February 2026 – NorthAmericanDarrell

Feeling young again on the cheap!

Since landing in the Philippines on January 23, 2026, I’ve accidentally (and thankfully) fallen into an elite squad of EXPAT legends.

You know the type.

The “I know a guy” guys.
Need a visa tip? They know a guy.
Need a mechanic? They know a guy.
Need a couch, a lawyer, a dentist, or someone to explain why your WiFi is emotionally unstable? They know a guy.

There’s a group chat with nearly 100 people in it — and whatever you need, someone responds within minutes.

¿The admin Julio?
All-knowing.
All-seeing.
Probably asleep but still somehow replying.

Some of the best referrals have come from the crew — especially on the Men’s Health front. A little “base maintenance” to keep the engine tuned and the warranty extended.

Let’s just say the group believes in aging… strategically.

And of course, it’s not all responsible adulting.

There’s a healthy (and by healthy, I mean questionable) dose of shenanigans mixed in.🥳

Because what’s the point of building a support network if you’re not also building stories, you probably shouldn’t put in writing?

Support.
Referrals.
Cardio.
Maintenance.
Mild chaos.

Honestly, it’s the perfect balance of everything!

I have been taking advantage of a fraction of the cost (links below):

IV drip to load up on vitamins $30

Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) injection $15

Testosterone replacement therapy $15

Doctor consultations/blood work ~$20

Anti-aging mask $15

One hour chair massage $5

If it flies, f#cks, or floats… chances are, it can be found or fixed in our chat.

Need advice, a hookup, or just a kick in the right direction? Someone’s got you covered.

Seriously, whatever you need to get back on track — whether it’s wings, wings of another kind, or literally floating on a boat — the crew has it.

It’s like a Swiss Army knife… but with more sarcasm and less risk of cutting yourself.

I am also considering NRD and even stem therapy down the road if needed.

Here are the potential benefits and links for each treatment:

NAD+ and resveratrol work synergistically to support cellular energy, DNA repair, and longevity by activating sirtuins and enhancing metabolic function. ~$250 per does but cheaper buying bulk.

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) is a vital coenzyme essential for energy production, DNA repair, and cellular metabolism. According to Dr. David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School, NAD+ levels drop by over 50% by age 50, leading to fatigue, metabolic decline, and cellular dysfunction—restoring NAD+ through therapy counteracts these effects for natural rejuvenation.

Boosts Energy and Mental Clarity

RejuvaNAD+ helps restore NAD+ levels, promoting increased energy, sharper focus, and enhanced memory.

Promotes Cellular Health and Longevity

With RejuvaNAD+, you can support cellular repair and regeneration, helping to slow down the aging process and maintain a youthful appearance.

Accelerates Physical Recovery

Whether from exercise or daily wear and tear, RejuvaNAD+ aids in faster recovery and reduced downtime.

Stem cell therapy in the Philippines $3,750 per treatment

Overview of Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy, also known as regenerative medicine, leverages the unique ability of stem cells to self-renew and differentiate into various cell types such as blood, muscle, or nerve cells. These cells can be autologous (from the patient) or allogeneic (from a donor), and they are often manipulated in a laboratory to specialize into the type of cells needed for treatment. Once prepared, the cells are introduced into the body through injection, intravenous infusion, or local delivery to the affected area.

With all this newfound energy, I decided to channel it …

I signed up for boxing lessons.

Cardio? Yes.
Anger Management Therapy? Also, yes.
Cost? A very reasonable $8 a session.

Now, does it look graceful?
Absolutely not.

Does it look goofy and uncoordinated?
Absolutely

But there is something deeply satisfying about throwing a punch and hearing that thwack echo back at you like,

“Yep. That one landed.”

It may not look like a highlight reel from Floyd Mayweather Jr.…

But landing a combination feels incredible.

As always. It is a work in progress, so far, I feel so much better.

Being North American Darrell

Trying to choose allegiance to just one country has always been tough for me—which is why I call myself North American Darrell.

I was born in Canada, live in the United States, and I also have a studio vacations base in Rocky Point, Mexico since 2018. In four short hours, I can be “home” in Mexico from my Mesa, Arizona home base.

After bouncing between places for so long and traveling the world, I stopped thinking of identity as a single flag and started seeing it as a mix of experiences.

When I travel and people ask where I’m from, I usually say Canada—which is true. It tends to keep things simple and keeps conversations focused on travel instead of politics. Because let’s be honest: once politics enters the chat, the vibe changes fast no matter where you are in the world when Trump is involved.

Over time, I’ve learned something important about traveling internationally: people don’t actually care where you’re from nearly as much as they care how you show up. Kindness, curiosity, and respect travel a lot better than passports do.

So, these days, I stick with what works:
I’m North America Darrell
I travel often.
And I try to leave places better than I found them.

It just avoids a lot of unneeded drama!

The bottom line, I’m proud to be American now and that should be okay as I love Canada and Mexico too! I have also fallen in love with many other Countries and would move to them all if I could.

I’ve spent more of my life in the United States than anywhere else. Life has a way of planting roots where you least expect it, and over time those roots start to feel just as real as the ones you were born with.

The complicated part has always been sports—especially when it comes to Team Canada.

Ever since I was a kid, whenever Team Canada played, it didn’t matter what sport it was—I was watching. Hockey, Olympics, world events… it was never just a game. It was identity, history, pride, and memory all wrapped into one jersey.

That’s why reactions can run so deep when politics are front and center!

When you grow up seeing certain athletes as symbols of your country, they stop feeling like individuals and start feeling like shared cultural property.

Take Wayne Gretzky for example—arguably the greatest hockey player of all time. To many Canadians, he wasn’t just a player; he was part of the national story.

And when someone represents something bigger than themselves for long enough, people don’t just admire them—they feel connected to them. Maybe even a little possessive or in this case, extremely possessive.

The truth is that identity isn’t a single flag. It’s a collection of influences, loyalties, and experiences layered over time.

Wayne Gretzky was a great Canadian but also, a great American!

He reshaped the NHL expansion and American grass roots hockey like no one else!

Wayne Gretzky was once the biggest name in Team Canada hockey. He wasn’t just a player—he was part of the country’s identity. He played, he coached, and he later served as a general manager in some of the most important tournaments in hockey Canada history. For many Canadians, he wasn’t just great.

He was Canadian!

Everything changed on August 9, 1988. I was 16 years old.

That was the day the illusion cracked—the day sports stopped being just a game and started teaching me something about loyalty, identity, and how quickly being Canadian can become complicated.

Some moments in sports history don’t just affect teams.
They stick with you personally, like a timestamp on your own life.

That was one of them as it was the day hockey changed forever in America!

Little did I know, I would experience the same change, just like another Canadian legend!

Some people were disappointed and even angry when I moved on from Canada.

At one point, friends even joked—half seriously, extremely angry—that I wasn’t allowed to cheer for Team Canada in the 2026 Olympics anymore. I too had betrayed Canada in their extremely warped perception!

Apparently, there are rules about loyalty that nobody tells you until you break them.

It felt strangely similar to how some people reacted to Wayne Gretzky after his turning point.

Not because the situations were the same, but because the emotion behind them were. When someone you associate with a place makes a different choice, it can feel personal—even if it isn’t.

Again, Canadians are angry, and it will get worse as it not “our game anymore” angle resurfaces.

Trust me when I say, it hurts me more than anyone, I have to hear it every day!

You can read my immigration journey by CLICKING HERE.

Cebu, Philippines – EXPAT home!?

Trying to find a place to stay longer term is a challenge, to say the least. I realize more and more that I will have to settle, as nowhere is perfect.

I moved into a new area of town in Cebu today to change it up. The condo complex and area I stayed in the first time I visited and again for the last month had become mundane.

I needed a new routine and found it in my new pad, as it is in a different part of the city.

It is also a much nicer studio, and the building has a gym and a nicer pool as well. Plus, it is right across the street from a great mall.

I really think I am onto something longer term here!

I know I have said it before and I always “jump around”, but,

I am really feeling good about settling here and started making plans.

How amazing does that gym and pool look? It is super amazing!!

I may have finally found My Seasonal Home Base in paradise?!

Why Cebu is a perfect January–April Anchor for me!

After years of traveling, testing cities, chasing “maybe this is the one,” I’ve finally started to comprehend something: Cebu is my place — at least from January through the end of April.

And that realization feels like a massive win.

I just extended my lease through April 15th, 2026 — making it almost a three-month stay.

I’ve also booked the same condo for January–April 2027 four month stay.

That’s not a trial run anymore. That’s commitment.

And honestly? It feels right.

Why Cebu and the Philippines Work for me:

Cebu City is English-speaking
$450/month rent
Amazing studio in a great area
Perfect January–April cool weather window

For $450 a month, I get a clean, modern studio in a lively, walkable area. Good infrastructure. Solid WiFi. Cafés. Gyms. Grab rides. Amazing inexpensive bars and restaurants.

Everything I actually use is walking distance.

It’s also affordable without feeling like I’m sacrificing quality of life.

And more importantly, it feels stable.

That word matters more than I ever expected.

After years of constant movement, having a place I can return to — the same unit, same neighborhood, same rhythm — changes everything psychologically.

Cebu isn’t just cheap.

It’s comfortable.

A Launchpad to 200+ Islands

One of the biggest advantages of Cebu is its positioning within the Philippines.

From Cebu, I can take a $30 one-way flight, ferry, or bus to places like:

Panglao

Siquijor

El Nido

Coron

Bohol

There are over 200 habitable tropical islands in this country.

That means unlimited inexpensive road trips and island escapes — without giving up my base.

The difference now?

I’m not traveling to escape.

I’m traveling from home.

And then I come back.

Asia Is Still Within Reach

Cebu also puts me within striking distance of the rest of Asia.

For roughly $100+ one-way, I can be in:

Bangkok

Hanoi

Hong Kong

Kuala Lumpur

Bali

Tokyo

The key realization is this:

I loved those places.

I still love those places.

But I don’t need to live in all of them.

I can visit — and return to Cebu.

That subtle shift feels powerful.

The Real Win: A Seasonal Operating System

This isn’t just about rent or flights.

It’s about designing a year-round life rhythm.

May-December: Mesa, AZ / Rocky Point, Mexico

utilizing my AYCF (all you can fly) passes on Volaris and Frontier Airlines.

January–April: Cebu with road trips:

Warm weather.

Lower cost of living.

Living like a local.

Short adventure bursts when I want/need them.

Instead of constantly searching for “the perfect place,” I now have:

A predictable seasonal anchor

Lower decision fatigue

A familiar environment

The ability to build momentum year after year

Booking 2026 and 2027 isn’t just logistics.

It’s confidence.

After all the experimenting, all the flights, all the temporary apartments — I finally found a place that checks the boxes without draining me.

And at $450 a month?

That’s leverage.

Cebu isn’t just another stop.

It’s home — at least for this chapter of the year.

And that feels like a massive win.

Another major win in the Philippines is the personal care aspect.

I can get inexpensive over-the-counter care for minor issues and lean on my travel insurance for anything serious.

I have also found that weekly self-care is so important. The cost is affordable enough to have each of the following done at least once a week and more often if needed.

Massages

Spa time (Tokyo example below)

Face masks help the old man’s skin

Fat-burning shots

Vitamin IV to replenish the immune system

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Hong Kong #Freedom54 birthday fun!

Getting to Hong Kong during this adventure was incredible. I honestly didn’t know what to expect—I assumed it might feel like Tokyo—but it turned out to be completely different.

Hong Kong has its own rhythm, its own intensity, its own personality. In some ways, it felt like a glimpse into what visiting mainland China might be like, just with its own unique twist of skyline, density, and nonstop motion.

One thing there definitely wasn’t a shortage of? Anime.

It was everywhere—shops, ads, displays—so naturally, I joined in on the action.

When a city leans into its vibe that hard, the only correct move is to lean with it.

That reel honestly felt pretty accurate—you really do have to compete for every square inch when there are that many people everywhere.

Even though it was crowded, it was still an unforgettable place to celebrate #Freedom54.

The energy, the motion, the sheer intensity of it all—it’s the kind of place that overwhelms you and impresses you at the same time.

Not peaceful.

Not quiet.

But it was an absolutely memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The number of people in Hong Kong was high, and the overload was everywhere I went. The current population in 2026 is 7,378,602, according to Google.

With these 7.3 million residents in a 1,114-square-kilometre (430 sq. mi) territory, Hong Kong is the fourth-most densely populated region in the world behind Macau (a gambling Island off HK), Singapore, and Monaco.

One of the most surprising things for me was the outlying islands. I took the ferry from mainland Hong Kong to Hong Kong Island, which is even bigger and has more people.

It was an incredible visit—but I don’t feel the need to go back.

It’s one of those places that’s undeniably impressive, worth seeing, and packed with energy… but also a little too crowded.

It was the kind of destination you’re glad you experienced once, soaked in fully, and can now appreciate from a distance.

Some places become favorites.
Others become great memories.

This one’s a great memory.

Birthdays – getting older is tough!

The number goes up, but at least the stories keep getting better.

This absolute GEM still makes me laugh, mostly because… not much has changed.

February is peak season in Arizona, so my Airbnb is rented every year.

Translation: I’m forced to travel.

As a result, I’ve spent the last few birthdays in some pretty incredible places—and this year is no exception.

(Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia)

This year’s birthday destination?

Hong Kong.
3 days, 2 nights; $225 USD RT flight, $50 a night pad!!

Aging is inevitable.
Dropping new pins is optional—but highly recommended around here!

Booking flights is like playing chess while most people are still playing checkers.

To bounce between Cebu and Hong Kong, I booked three one-way tickets instead of a single round-trip—and the math worked in my favor:

Cebu → Manila: $20

Manila → Hong Kong: $70

Hong Kong → Cebu: $135

Not glamorous. Not obvious to most.
But flexible, intentional, and cheaper than forcing a “normal” itinerary.

That’s the game:
Stop thinking in straight lines and start thinking strategically.

I tried to pick a destination that was actually high on my bucket list, and Hong Kong landed exactly where it should, near the top!

Bonus: it doubles as a visa run, since I have to leave the Philippines every 30 days. Inexpensive, efficient, and exciting—my favorite combo.

Winner winner—Peking chicken dinner.

Honestly, it’s been a pretty solid run so far, and I still have two more months to explore on this adventure.

Not bad for someone who claims to be grumpy and bored all the time.

01/15 – Tokyo, Japan

01/23 – Cebu, Philippines

02/10 – Hong Kong

02/19 – Siquijor, Philippines

02/29 – Siargao, Philippines

03/07 – Cebu lease expires → TBD

04/15- home to Mesa, AZ

Possible next moves before 04/15 (because why not):
Stay in Cebu, Seoul, Phuket, Bali, Da Nang…

We’ll see where boredom strikes next!

I really shouldn’t complain—this trip has been incredible so far.

Now, excuse me while I yell at the clouds due to my missed meds!

Welcome to #Freedom54! 🥳

And … Get off my lawn, damn kids!

NorthAmericanDarrell

Monthly Archives: February 2026