JAFO

Not seeing the correlation with their numbers. But whatever. It doesn't matter. 25 to 615. Fact is, they all BS about it. Its all about the bottom-line. 

My stance. That little midget can KMA....????

On 1/18/2020 at 5:18 AM, sirineou said:

If you ever want to move back to Thailand , think twice before you move your Thai wife to the US

My wife and I went back to the US and got married there. However at no point did she ever want to stay. It was always a plan to return even after establishing herself working, became a US citizen and was making good money. When it was time to go, she couldn't wait to return to the home we built.  We could have easily stayed in the US but at that time we were renting a place and when we went and looked at homes she saw the costs, the mortgage, the interest, the property tax etc and she really had no interest in staying. Not all Thai women want to stay in the US. That said, we do visit the states every year and after about 3 or so weeks we have had our fill.

On 1/18/2020 at 5:18 AM, sirineou said:

especially now that her parents passed away.

This is probably the biggest driver for her wanting to stay. She really has nothing to return too and now she is comfortable and established. There was no way my wife was going to leave her Dad behind and bringing him to the states was not an option. Now that said, we have talked that after her Dad passes options are open but we both clearly know that its likely that if we move back, she would have to go back to work and now we are both older versus now where we live a simple easy life. I think we agree that we can stay here in Thailand debt free in our beautiful home or move back to the states and start the debt again. 

Good Luck OP

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

Happens everywhere. Only news because he is a foreighner. RIP.

Yeah, why this makes news is a beyond me. Old guy passes. Does it matter that he is German or American, British etc. ?

2 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Pattaya worked very well 'till the Baht went up....

Yep, that's because foreigners had to sober up and then they saw where they were and they left never to return. 

Now its Indians and Chinese. Bus loads of them. 

Here is something that cracks me up. A friend visited the area passing through. He stopped at that silly floating market thing on the highway. As they walked around shopping they saw Chinese people buying up various "Thai" souvenirs. When he looked at the bottom it said "Made in China"...????

5 hours ago, kingdong said:

What's the answer?euthanasia?

Yep,

Think about the quality of life. People try and hold on far too long. I admired my Gma, she was diagnosed with cancer and she said "No Treatment". "Make me comfortable until I go" and that we did. She stayed at home, lasted about 3 months and passed. She told me she was not going to be a guinea pig for doctors and at her age, whats the point? Its not like you recover.

I always found the human race odd at times you hit an age then spend every last penny you saved having endless procedures to just "Stay" alive. No quality of life.

I fully support euthanasia. I have made it explicitly clear if I am diagnosed with something terminal or I am unable to care for myself, its time to go. 

19 hours ago, GarryP said:

I think the bottom line is I am worried about boredom when I retire

Boredom is a state of mind. There are so many things to go off and do. I hear so many that trap themselves. This is the time to engage in new hobbies. You have ample time to research them and then ample time to go off and do them. 

I took up welding, drone flying, home improvements, Go Pro video activities and even started the frame work for a personal website. That was in addition to my cycling, motorcycle riding, off roading, hiking, traveling around, fishing etc.

I prefer semi rural to be honest. 15 to 20 minute trek into the city area is just perfect. Far enough away from traffic and noise but close enough where you have some creature comforts nearby and access to things you might need.

Now if this is straight up. Big City versus Country, then Country it is. Easy to visit the big city for the things needed but nice to leave the noise, traffic and the chaos when done.

13 hours ago, bangkokequity said:

That actually makes no sense, since your thesis is "it got more expensive" ... ummm ... so where did they go? Certainly not home! 

Most Americans I know that have left or plan on leaving want Medicare. I am not near the age to think about it but I guess that would play a huge role in a decision if one could not afford to pay for it here in Thailand. So that is my "Expense" argument. Now the posters jumping to Vietnam, Phils etc because it is cheaper are they the same ones that have not thought about medical expenses there as well? 

Look I get that people do whats best for them. Money has a huge impact on it. Thailand is changing. I have been here for quite a few years and I see it in the industrial segment in regards to COL, housing, and base salaries for engineers and managers. I saw this same thing back in SZ China. Operations were moved there because the labor was cheap. Now some 15 years later engineers make big salaries, condo's are very expensive and the area has tripled in size. Thailand will likely have this happen to them too at some point. 

But as for the expats complaining about how Thais hate them, How the govt wants them out etc is BS pity party IMHO. Sounds like a personal problem for the individual but they come on this site and fire off blaming everyone but themselves. The Thai govt does not want ALL foreigners out, likely only the ones that are problematic or not complying with the latest requirements. Its no different then anywhere else one would live. I have occasionally met westerners at various immigration offices. They typically came unprepared, had a sour demeanor about them then go off yelling at the immigration officer how they are making it hard on them. I just quietly laugh and watch them lose their minds.

I also think that if you sit around and read all the negativity on this site it can and will affect an individual. Some live on here and I have to believe have been adversely impacted by it to the point they do not see what is or could be great around them. Its all doom and gloom. its like reading the News. 

4 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

JAFO, I really question if this hypothesis holds water.

Howdy Gecko,

I didn't want quote your entire response but my point being it has grown very old of reading all these folks posts that come on here and complain at the top of their lungs about all that's bad here. Does that some how make them feel better? Is it really that bad? I think not. I have found that the westerners I have met and known that left, moved here with little to no plan. However as time has gone on they go on and on to complain about how terrible this place is. How the immigration is a farce, how Thais hate them, how people are mean etc. Do these posters ever step back and look in the mirror and wonder if its them? 

I respect that this just didn't work out for them. Such as life. Forums usually attract an audience that typically wants to complain, its the nature of the beast. As you and I have seen when someone posts how their life is going well, they live comfortably, have no immigration issues etc the thread dies quickly or they get negative responses about being smug or braggarts. Is it because some adapted and had a plan and they didn't?

Moving abroad takes careful consideration for all the concerns you noted in your post. I still suspect that many posters moved here on a whim or something close to it and while maybe their first 5 to 10 years were Ok, times are changing and like anywhere one must adapt. If not then those same people will be come their own worst enemy and their constant complaining will become cancerous and all consuming like it appears to have happened to many.

So as I stated earlier, Expats will come and go, they do in every country. I respect and understand that but just get on with it. Don't complain looking for some sort of validation that its the same for everyone as its not. ????

Cheers and Happy New Year

I would venture to guess that most complaining and leaving are likely near 70 ( many probably older) and expected life to be dirt cheap forever. I would also venture to say that a great many live here on a fixed pension income and the world economy changed and now they are living in poverty and had to cut back on bar nights and drink "Buy 1 get 1 Free Chang". 

What did you folks expect? That Thailand wouldn't evolve and change? All the things that the great majority of the posters whinge about to fix, costs money. If it costs the government or retailers money it will always hit the consumer some how. Its really quite simple.

Expats coming and going will always happen. So just get on with it and move. ????.