Tropic Shade Island Life

Founded in 2013, Tropic Shade (formerly 'Retired in Samar') is one of the original pioneer expat channels documenting life, retirement, and construction in the Philippines and the Western Pacific since 2013. This channel balances moving abroad with the deeper expat adventure of life in the Philippines provinces. From travel vlogs and cultural experiences to cost of living and the daily joys of a relaxed, island lifestyle. Subscribe to join us— because life is good in the Shade! 🌴 😎

Subscribe and join us for the inspiration, should you need some.
Also, visit our website for more "Topics From The Tropics" @ livinginthepacific.com

Salamat Po (Tagalog), Si Yu'os Ma'åse' (Chamorro),
Randy and Teri

* This channel occasionally records in public for vlogs. To exercise privacy rights or request blurring, contact: tropicshade1@gmail.com.

#tropicshade #livinginthepacific #guam #philippines


Tropic Shade Island Life

Why Can’t You Comment on My Videos? Here’s What’s Going On!

Have you ever gone to type a reply on one of my videos, only to find the comment box missing or your message failing to post? You aren't alone! I've noticed a few viewers running into this issue lately.

While I love hearing from you, YouTube has several built-in safety features, account settings, and automated filters that can lock viewers out of the conversation. Here are the most common reasons you might be blocked from commenting, and how to fix it:

* Restricted Mode is Turned On: If you are watching on a school or work network, or if you have "Restricted Mode" enabled in your YouTube app settings, YouTube automatically hides all comment sections to keep browsing safe. Check your profile settings to switch it off!

*You're Not Logged In (or Need a Channel Profile): To prevent spam, YouTube requires you to be signed into a Google account. Even if you are logged in, if you've never created a "channel profile" (even just a basic one to watch videos), the system won't let you post.

*My channel is set to Subscriber-Only Mode which limits commenting privileges to loyal channel members and subscribers only. I do this to prevent spam bots and trolls. As much as I love to see comments, I read all comments and, unlike many other channels, I try to respond to each and every comment. I just don't want to have to sort through the trash.

*The Automated Spam Filter Caught It: YouTube uses aggressive AI algorithms to scan comments. If your message contains a web link, a hashtag, repetitive words, or looks too similar to copy-pasted text, YouTube’s automated system might hold it for review or block it entirely before I ever see it.

*Device Issues (Especially TV Apps): If you are watching my videos on a Smart TV or a gaming console, YouTube frequently disables typing comments altogether because it's too difficult to navigate with a remote.Want to test it out? Try logging into a mobile device or desktop browser, double-check your account status, and leave a quick "Hello!" below a video to see if it goes through. I can't wait to chat with you in the next one!

So, if you wish to leave a comment, and we would love to interact with you, you need to be Subscribed to the channel. So, please make sure to SUBSCRIBE and we'll see you in the comment section!

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

Tropic Shade Island Life

Disclosed: My take on AI produced videos. Join us on Patreon and check out my latest blog post on my commitment to never... www.patreon.com/tropicshade/posts/i-made-promise-1…

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 8

Tropic Shade Island Life

Wow, I haven't seen this many comments on a Short this quickly in I don't know how long. Thanks for the views and the comments.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 1

Tropic Shade Island Life

We are back in the Philippines... and making videos. Although, catching up on the homestead project might get in the way, I'm making progress. Subscribe and stay tuned! (Barangay Dagum disaster update pending!).

1 month ago | [YT] | 17

Tropic Shade Island Life

Tickets in hand, itinerary planned. Soon we will be swapping islands and will be back on the Samar homefront. Don't forget to follow along (Subscribe) for some updated perspectives and new videos from the Philippines. Some deep-dives are planned so stay tuned!

1 month ago | [YT] | 17

Tropic Shade Island Life

Updated DISCLOSURE & LEGAL DISCLAIMER:

Nothing on this channel should be construed as financial, marital, emotional, or investment advice—it is strictly for entertainment purposes (and self-preservation).

You should not treat any opinion expressed here as a specific inducement to liquidate your 401(k), pack three suitcases, and buy a one-way ticket to Dumaguete. Past dating performance in your home country is not indicative of future results in the Philippines. You should be fully aware of the real risk of capital loss—including, but not limited to: severe loss of personal space, sudden unexpected expansions of your in-law network, and the continuous erosion of your air conditioning budget.

Strategies discussed on this channel may fluctuate in price or value. "Investments" mentioned (e.g., buying a plot of land you legally cannot own, or funding a distant cousin's motorcab franchise) may yield a negative ROI and are non-refundable.

This content does not take into account your specific objectives, tolerance for heat, or ability to consume rice three times a day. Before acting on any advice here, you should perform independent due diligence and strongly consider seeking advice from a certified marriage counselor, a mental health professional, or a trusted local expat who has already learned these lessons the hard way.

Always conduct independent research, consult your financial or tax advisor, and make sure your heart (and stomach) can handle the transition before making any life-altering decisions.

Note: Links provided in any video on this channel may result in requests for contrubutions, and by donating, I might earn enough to buy a cold San Miguel. Guam results may vary.

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 13

Tropic Shade Island Life

Just after posting my last post, we lost our power for 81 hours as a result of Super Typhoon Bavi. I was completely disabled on the content creation front for over 3 days, and NOT just because of the typhoon. I did manage to capture some video, but was completely unable to process any of it. There were other forces at play which I have disclosed in a Patreon blog post, so check out the full story if you are a Patreon member. But in any case, we're back at it... I just got to put it all together! I've got some catching up to do. This is life in the tropics... Living in the Pacific.

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 34

Tropic Shade Island Life

Super Typhoon Bavi made its closest approach to Guam just before sunrise and we are experiencing the worst conditions currently with strong tropical storm force winds and typhoon strenght gusts. As I was typing this post, I mentioned that we have not lost power, water, or internet, and then, the power went out. Two minutes later it returned. Good job Guam! Conditions should gradually improve throughout the day and tomorrow we begin the return to normal. Sadly, the same cannot be said for Rota and Tinian as they have taken the brunt of this storm.

2 months ago | [YT] | 22

Tropic Shade Island Life

It wasn't that long ago (10 weeks) that Super Typhoon Sinlaku raked the Marianas Islands. And here we are again. Check out Robert Speta (WestPacWX) and Landon Aydett (lead forecaster with National Weather Service here on Guam) discuss Typhoon Bavi as we all prepare for another round with Mother Nature. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwdFu...

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

Tropic Shade Island Life

As promised, here is an update on the family situation after losing their homes in Calbayog City, Samar. There is only one way to go from such a disaster and that is UP! This blog post also breifly outlines disaster relief in the Philippines and in how it helps out in times of need. livinginthepacific.com/family-disaster-in-the-phil…

3 months ago | [YT] | 11