Men do what they do because that is what THEY do ... I don't know you, but if I did I'm sure I'd find a lot I didn't like nor agree with (I couldn't trust you while out having some beers to not get us into a fight .. f'rinstance)
I'm an older man as well and we look through different eyes than a younger.
I'm travelled also ... and we look through different eyes than those that went nowhere.
MY wife is Filipina and I hope to get my passport back before I die, because I wouldn't mind ONE BIT to enjoy a carefree life of leasure ... I worked for it, I earned it, and I want it.
Pennsylvania winters are hurtful these days.
The only reason you use the word coward for Alex is because of the context of what you think his reality should be ... but you look through your own eyes and will not attempt to see through his ... or mine. That lack of attempt idicates you either are too uninformed to conclude any positive result, or you're afraid you might like it yourself ... which is a form of cowardice
Read my #50
As to the Philippines being a tropical paradise, well, I might not agree with you there, but that's only because I can't think of any place in the world I'd rather live than here in the USA. We have tropical paradises, too, you know. Have you ever been to the Gulf Coast? Fishing galore, warm to hot climate, not too expensive, and still a part of our nation. I've never been to the Philippines, but I've been to the Italian Riviera...sure it was beautiful, but I'd never dream of settling there. But I digress.
A friend of mine is also married to a Filipina, and she's a great mother and wife. My buddy has the best of both worlds...a good marriage to a good woman, and living in the greatest nation God ever blessed.
As for my lack of empathy toward you and Alex, I again beg to differ. While I'm quite a bit younger than both of you, I know people who have left the cold winters of Idaho for the warm, sunny climate of Arizona. Same goes for when I lived on the East coast...the snowbirds were everywhere in Florida. Trust me...I know.
I bet a lot of guys from Pennsylvania in 1941 would rather have been on the beaches of Florida, but they went to war, or went to work in the foundries of Pittsburgh to help the war effort. The 78-year old man who mustered at Lexington Green (unfortunately, I can't remember his name...NFHale, can you help me out?) probably would have rather been tending his fields or shop, or enjoying an ale with his friends. Instead, he was shot and bayoneted on April 19th, 1775...only to recover and fight the rest of the war. He was older than Alex, and presumably you, too. Hell, look at my FRiend Marcella, who is 80...is he turning chicken a** and running away? No, he's staying here and doing what he can to help us restore our Republic. He has honor. He's not a coward. He ain't running.
Try looking at the situation through our eyes. Better yet, try looking at it through the eyes of those men who have fought and died over the years to ensure we have the freedoms they fought to give us. When the time comes, "expats" will try to explain to them why Mai Tais on the beach were more important than doing their duty as Americans. I'll be able to look them in the eye...I imagine a lot of expats will be looking down at their shoes, sandals, or whatever they wear in Heaven.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!