AZBill

According to my Thai wife who is very much into this stuff, it means she is going to meet her soulmate.

Don't do it.

My wife got me a new bomber jacket, shirt, Cologne, pjs, and gloves for Xmas. She really gets into Xmas. I bought her a new China set, perfume and a winter coat!

Ask a Thai.

To the extent it matters to my wife it matters to me. Otherwise it's just another place I enjoy visiting. Can't say I feel any special bond with the place and would never live there.

You will find Thailand not unlike Mexico. Lived in both places. Thailand is basically Mexico without the work ethic!

I love visiting Thailand and seeing my Thai family each year or so but their isn't enough baht in the world that would get me to live there. Even my wife who is Thai doesn't care much about going back anymore. As beautiful as certain places are its still a third world country by even the most liberal standards and the weather is awful! I can understand people seeing it as an affordable retirement alternative but no thanks! I'll take my quiet and peaceful central PA small town life any day. The grass isn't any greener for me anywhere else!

Cha Am is nice

I've noticed as I get older the heat is tougher on me as well. Had to move from AZ because of the summers but that said find the shade and don't stay out too long. On my last trip over it was actually pretty nice in October.

The Russian bark is worst that it's bite

Haven't experienced this. My wife has pretty much had it with her family to the point she doesn't want to return to Thailand and certainly never sends them money. She has several thai girlfriends here in the US who say they will never go back again and have disowned their families over their money grabbing demands and are entirely devoted to their husbands as my wife is. I never feel like I am not her number 1. Maybe I'm just lucky!

From what I have seen Thais are notoriously bad with money. They are impulsive and are easily sold on just about anything. My wife was also this way and her family still is. Only after years of living in the US and learning the concept of a budget and the ramifications of exceeding it did my wife come around. Now she is very responsible and understands the value of a buck. Her family now frustrates her to no end on how they handle their own finances.

I found driving in Boston to be good preparation. They drive on the left there all the time! Lol

My wife has done that for years and never had a problem. She is getting better at putting stuff in the fridge but it's a process. As with any change you want a thai woman to make you need to make it more a gentle nudge. I started by just putting the stuff away myself and she started to pick up on it over time.

Notice he had to be drunk to say that! Lol

I value freedom of speech. Doesn't exist here. I still read the threads before coming over to see what's up and make a comment or two but that's it.

I think it is out of respect for your relationship. I've always found Thais very friendly in general. I love that about Thailand.

We have an ass here in the US White House if you want him!

If the relatively small amounts you are talking about bother you then it's too much. I suggest you really stay away from American women then. This girl is a bargain compared to our little princesses over here!

My wife is a Bangkok girl born and bred but she was the one I fell in love with and she happened to be Thai. Plenty of beautiful and great women all over the globe and I'm not any more partial to Thai women than to any other. She just happened to be the one. Don't see the need for all these silly generalizations and comparisons. If you fell in love with a country girl and she feels the same what more of an explanation is needed?

I can't even imagine living like some of you all. All you're missing is the shopping cart to push around!Seriously! Married to bar girls living in the sticks hoping you can catch some frogs or bugs to eat amongst locals who don't really want you there other than for what they can take you for is not my idea of paradise!

I never cease to be amazed!

No real hi-so girls working in HR that I ever saw.

If you are truly wealthy by western standards and not Thai or otherwise working on an expat contract for your company and need to be there, why would you want to live in Thailand? I ask this as a question to hear opinions. Love visiting occasionally as BK is a great city and lots of great tourist spots around Thailand but would never give up my lifestyle in the US for anything Thailand has to offer as a permanent residence. Even my wife who is Thai doesn't like going back anymore for anything other than an occasional visit to see her family in Bangkok. I can see it as an affordable retirement option if budget is an issue or you just want to live a simple and slower lifestyle, but if you really got money why Thailand? Am I missing something?