John Welch's life was fading.

John Welch's life was fading. Like a well-worn pair of Jeans, he was losing the color of his youth. Retired at 66 years of age, he just sat around his home

Of course, it hadn't always been like that. He had a well adapted life. It just stalled.

He was 18 when he joined the Air Force in 1952 An aircraft engine mechanic, he worked forward World War II-era F-51 Mustang to F-15 Eagles. in succession the ground floor of Air Force air power progressive growth he moved a lot and saw the world. He lov his piece of work the service and the lifestyle.

When he retired as a master sergeant in 1974 he went to work for an aircraft company. After 24 years there, he retired again. yet living in Apple Valley, Calif., was just plain boring. There was no excitement. He wanted thrills back in his life again.

"I was wasting my life," he said. "Each day I tried to find something to do to withhold busy." Most days that didn't happen.

Then, about three years ago, Welch received a alphabetic character from pal Ralph Milward. A retired Army warrant officer, Milward lived in Angeles City, the Philippines.

"I told him to come by off his butt and visit me" Milward said. "What did he have to lose?"

A little hesitant at first, Welch soften ed He knew there were other retired GIs living there.

"Ralph told me to grab my AWOL bag and win over here," Welch said. The visit changed his life. Within days he knew he had no what is yet to be in California. "So I'm still here."

He was alive again. Now when he's bored, he has his pal to retain him company. And he can hang disclosed with other retirees at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post

"This is the life I've wanted," Welch said.

Milward first went to Angeles, as the locals call it, in 1993 for a VFW convention. He met a woman and bring to the ground in love. So he went back domicile resigned from his GS-12 civil service piece of work returned to Angeles and married.

"I've in no degree been happier," Milward said.

the pair men have been dumbstruck at the hypnotic lure of the Philippines.

That's nothing of recent origin though. The islands have attracted retirees since the first American GIs stake foot there after the Spanish Civil War completioned in 1899. It continued to entice them to stay -- flat after U.S. forces started pulling not at home in 1991 following the be built up Pinatubo eruption.

Today there are thousands of American retirees living in the Philippines. a certain 1,500 live in Angeles, one time home to Clark Air Base. There also are centurys from dozens of other lands.

Catch them forward any given day and, like Welch, most numerous will say they'll never leave.

Not a bad deal

What draws them? undivided of the reasons is cheaper living.

For example, a dutiful meal costs about $3.50. Haircuts are $150 and movie tickets a gallant An ice-cold beer to chase away the tropical heat is 80 cent While a etymon canal is about $50. Car insurance can be as little as $70 a year. And a ride across town in undivided of the colorful "jeepney" buses that abound is les than a dime.

disrupture for a three-bedroom home might be les than $250 a month Add to that the richness of utilities -- and pay s for a gardener and maid-and it might be les than $400 a month Not a bad deal for a retiree upon a fixed income.

"I be in love with the lifestyle. And I can live forward my retirement pay and not have to work," said N Tighe. "My check is doggone well adapted money over here. I'm not rich, further I live well."

That's all that matters to most numerous retirees, he said. A 30-year chief master sergeant, Tighe retired in 1991 after the eruption of uprise Pinatubo. Today he lives with his wife, Lucy and their brace kids in the huge residence he bought in one of Angeles' top-end subdivision.

It's the kind of life he's always wanted. in such a manner he has no wish to get back to Massachusetts. Plus, the Philippines doesn't have the wintry weather to stiffen up elderly bones, he said. And he be impresseds safe.

Tighe recalls a visit to looks Angeles. Breakfast at his public-house was $10. So he walked across the public way for a hamburger. At a road corner, a man demanded Tighe give him cash The robber said he was longing and didn't have a job

"I told him I didn't have a piece of work either," he said. Not knowing if the man had a fire-arm Tighe gave him all the change in his pouchs Then he went back and paid the $10 for breakfast.

"We don't worry about that sort of thing happening here," he said. "Nobody bothers you."

Thieves will steal anything that's not beneath lock and key, he said. however violent crimes against foreigners are rare, he said.

"We live a peaceful life," he said. "A family life."

Joe Godfrey lives there for that reason. After 20 years in Navy law enforcement, he retired as a senior chief trifling officer and moved to Angeles 12 years ago. He bought a family circle in an upscale subdivision where he lives with his wife, Vilma, their pair children, plus his wife's family.

"Daddy Joe" as the family calls him, is 100 percent disabled. He pockets from post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic asthma, arthritis and osteoporosis. And he has a bad knee If not for his wife and family, he doesn't know where he'd be.

"Without my family, I'm nothing," he said. "So I live for them."