Leaving Thailand after 13 Years..

[aloha23]

i left after 19 years ?

i was 23 when i started living here, never had local gf, never a family or similar burden.

i worked here legally (not as teacher so don't jump to conclusions) had great life til it was time to move on.

i never built a house. my maximum rent was 6000thb all included. i had many local friends. i visit them 2x a year.

i'm in spain now and soon off to Hungary to prospect ?

i'm 45 years old so i am still adventurous.

 

[whitemouse]

11 minutes ago, markusss said:

Thanks! I will never know if I don't try. I have two friends who came back here after leaving, but the rest have all resettled back to their place of origin. I do miss the times when they were all here. I think that's a part of it too. I'm more inclined to move to Vietnam though if I did choose to come back out this way. I dare say that would be my next move if moving back home doesn't work out.  ?

 

Do what feels  right for you!

I lived here full time only 2 years, but for several years prior I spent winters here for 5 years. One thing for sure, spending a winter is completely different than living full time. After year and a half of living here full time I noticed how the place was dragging me down, less eye contact with fellow foreigners, I stayed in for days, sitting around watching movies, noticing all the negatives, while taking the good for granted  - basically signs of depression, and opposite of why I moved here. So I left, and returning to Europe was huge relief, even with miserable winter of Northern Europe. It was the small things, but main thing was feeling at home; being treated as one who belongs there. 

 

That was about 7 years ago.  So now I am back to old routine, spend winters here, basically taking long holiday. I could never live here full time again. So I get you very much, you do not feel at home here. But don't think of it has a permanent move, just go back West, stay as long as it feels right, and you can always return for long holidays in Thailand, don't think of it has set in stone, burning a bridge.

 

It is all an adventure.

[Aussieroaming]

I rarely go back to Australia. When I do go I find that whatever bound me to the place has diminished. Hence I have decided to try a couple of years in the UK. No intention of living there permanently, just want to experience it.

[quandow]

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you invest in a re-entry permit before you go . . .

[poanoi]

9 minutes ago, Benroon said:

How the hell does a mattress BREAK your back ? 

you tell me...

[Small Joke]

17 hours ago, oxforddon said:

Some interesting points. I came here 52 years ago so have seen most of the changes that people don't like but somehow the very "essence" of life here has not changed drastically. I don't have much of a choice about staying on since the UK offers no pension or benefits for me having left so long ago that I am not entitled to anything there. And having been a contract player when working, when contracts finished there was no pension there either after retirement. With my two grown up half-Thai daughters having done well in schooling, marriages and careers etc. I am supported and live quietly and divorced these days and just flow with it all - gravitating to the things that I like and avoiding the things that I don't like. Thing is, we are all different in past experiences, personalities and circumstances that there are no strict guidelines for life here - or anywhere else for that matter.

To those who would leave for 'home' or other pastures. 

Beware, you'll take yourself with you. Meaning look inside first for the discontent,  don't project onto things you have no control over, such as tenuous visas and rubbish government. Focus on the great things here. Which are many.

I lasted no more than 14 months abroad. I'm back and very very lucky to have slipped back into my exact old place and routine. 

Mexico, Cambodia, and the Phillipines can't even come close. They're slums by comparison.

My western home countries (I have multiple residency) all suck. 

Stay put unless you have a rock solid guarantee life will be better elsewhere. 

[jimn]

I am lucky enough to be in a position where I can choose where I live with my Thai wife. I split my time between Thailand (7 months) and the UK (5 months). Again lucky enough to have 2 fully paid for houses so its easy. At the moment we are in the middle of our UK stay, the weather has been a heat wave since early June and The UK is great. I get to see my sons and Grand Children.

However for me thats where the attraction ends. I find myself longing to get back to Thailand to see my dog. To get away from the sheer bordom of every day life in the UK. Roll on October when we go back. Getting away from the Political tirmoil and the Nanny State.

To those of you thinking of leaving Thailand its very hard to readjust. Just getting somewhere to live and regaining an identity back in your home country is not easy.

[The manic]

2 minutes ago, Small Joke said:

To those who would leave for 'home' or other pastures. 

Beware, you'll take yourself with you. Meaning look inside first for the discontent,  don't project onto things you have no control over, such as tenuous visas and rubbish government. Focus on the great things here. Which are many.

I lasted no more than 14 months abroad. I'm back and very very lucky to have slipped back into my exact old place and routine. 

Mexico, Cambodia, and the Phillipines can't even come close. They're slums by comparison.

My western home countries (I have multiple residency) all suck. 

Stay put unless you have a rock solid guarantee life will be better elsewhere. 

Well said. 

[The manic]

1 minute ago, jimn said:

I am lucky enough to be in a position where I can choose where I live with my Thai wife. I split my time between Thailand (7 months) and the UK (5 months). Again lucky enough to have 2 fully paid for houses so its easy. At the moment we are in the middle of our UK stay, the weather has been a heat wave since early June and The UK is great. I get to see my sons and Grand Children.

However for me thats where the attraction ends. I find myself longing to get back to Thailand to see my dog. To get away from the sheer bordom of every day life in the UK. Roll on October when we go back. Getting away from the Political tirmoil and the Nanny State.

To those of you thinking of leaving Thailand its very hard to readjust. Just getting somewhere to live and regaining an identity back in your home country is not easy.

Keywords: Nanny state,  Boredom, Political turmoil to which I will add weather, Islam, and PC dominated values....oh and casual violence.

[markusss]

2 minutes ago, Small Joke said:

To those who would leave for 'home' or other pastures. 

Beware, you'll take yourself with you. Meaning look inside first for the discontent,  don't project onto things you have no control over, such as tenuous visas and rubbish government. Focus on the great things here. Which are many.

I lasted no more than 14 months abroad. I'm back and very very lucky to have slipped back into my exact old place and routine. 

Mexico, Cambodia, and the Phillipines can't even come close. They're slums by comparison.

My western home countries (I have multiple residency) all suck. 

Stay put unless you have a rock solid guarantee life will be better elsewhere. 

A great piece of mind. The best argument against the idea of going home so far IMO!

 

'Wherever you go, there you are..'

[Small Joke]

2 hours ago, BobBKK said:

I would live in Philippines in preference to here if only they had the infra-structure etc. Thailand is just not happy anymore but it's bearable, to be honest, and I travel to Phil 3 to 4 times a year so it suits me to live here I just wish the dinosaurs would be gone so the young Thais can take Thailand out of the 1300s.

Agree with this.  PI is an absolute  tragic waste of a paradise. Thanks to their woeful governing class, who make the Green guys here look like Westminster,  and the church. And the fact that serious pain killers are even illegal in hospitals,  screw that at my age! 

Edited July 21, 2018 by Small Joke

[dotpoom]

I have lived here18 years now and have a life beyond my wildest dreams...mainly due to the warm climate, inexpensive cost of living  and the "free and easy" atmosphere about the country...unlike all the rules and regulations back home.

    I keep myself to myself and "she who must be obeyed"...had made a lot of  aquaintances in my early time here...but have made very few friends (have written about this a few times on here) due to the enormous amount of self centerdedness and self absorbesion I witnessed amount the Farang immunity here.....I like my own company and do not have a need to be amoung people.  I will give help if I can be of assistance and that's about it.

   This type of personality allows me the ability to live almost anywhere (that's warm and not expensive).

   Were I to ever move from here I don't think it would ever occur time to bother mentioning it to anybody except those very close to me. For 2 reasons....1.. I don't see the.purpose of it...and 2....I can't imagine why anybody would care.

Edited July 21, 2018 by dotpoom

[Cheops]

16 hours ago, luk AJ said:

I live and work for the last 20y in Thailand. Probably I will stay, returning to my home country is not an option. During the past 20y many moslims immigrated to my country in such way they dramatically changed it. It doesn’t feel like my country anymore it became theirs. But there are still many beautiful places in the world, I hope, one day, to find peace and rest in one of them.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Are you from the Netherlands same as where I come from? If so, I hear ya.

[The manic]

5 minutes ago, Cheops said:

Are you from the Netherlands same as where I come from? If so, I hear ya.

Or the UK or Germany or France etc etc 

[Cheops]

Just now, The manic said:

Or the UK or Germany or France etc etc 

555, yeah, I realised that after I clicked submit reply.

[Cheops]

I live here for over 13 years (actively working) and there are some things that I don't like here (can't own land and very difficult to get citizenship for example), but I don't recognize some things people write here. That said, I don't live in a tourist area (live in the edge of Bangkok) and the Thai people here are very friendly, open and caring. Some people said to be affected by the militaire regime, but I'm not affected in any way by that. Nothing much is changed. Sure, a bit more petty crimes etc., but this happens everywhere around the world. I still can leave my notebook in my car for example, something you definitely can't do in many countries. Prices do go up. Yes, but again, also in other countries. Living here is still relatively cheap compared to back home. Maybe in another 5 or 10 years I think differently, but in the last 13 years, not much has changed. Maybe a lot has changed in the tourist areas though from the Thais behaviour to foreigners, but I think that is mostly a reaction of the way foreigners are behaving in those areas.

[Retiredandhappyhere]

8 hours ago, car720 said:

I moved to China.

As has been said, Thailand was great in the 70's but it was our own fault for telling others about it and soon it was inundated with the usual types and went downhill from there.  

But the "types" that have inundated Thailand, sending it downhill are even more abundant where you now live.

[markusss]

8 minutes ago, dotpoom said:

I have lived here18 years now and have a life beyond my wildest dreams...mainly due to the warm climate, inexpensive cost of living  and the "free and easy atmosphere about the country...unlike all the rules and regulations back home.

    I keep myself to myself and "she who must be obeyed"...had made a lot of  aquaintances in my early time here...but have made very few friends (have written about this a few times on here) due to the enormous amount of self centerdedness and self absorbesion I witnessed amount the Farang immunity here.....I like my own company and do not have a need to be amoung people.  I will give help if I can be of assistance and that's about it.

   This type of personality allows me the ability to live almost anywhere (that's warm and not expensive).

   Were I to ever move from here I don't think it would ever occur time to bother mentioning it to anybody except those very close to me. For 2 reasons....1.. I don't see the.purpose of it...and 2....I can't imagine why anybody would care.

All that you've mentioned is how I've made it work for myself for the past 13 years. I'm happy to be left alone & I enjoy my own company too minus alcohol which I don't consume. I can count my close friends here on one hand. And when I say friends I mean the people who have seen me at my best & worst and are still my friends today. The people that matter get me. I can't say the same thing about my own family. And to add to that I've had a great life here & I've worked with some of the nicest people you could meet. My friends back home are certainly not telling me to come back. They see this as living the dream, but I'm due for a change, or a break even. My intention to post here was to get an idea of the path I'm about to take of leaving and how it's been for others, just to possibly gain some insight about going through with this, not to announce leaving as if anyone would care ? 

[billd766]

8 hours ago, Shiver said:

My general feeling (being an Isaan farang) is since the military took over, the country has lost that easy going relaxed style of 'bumbling through'.  Sure that was frustrating at times as a westerner also, but I don't like hot spots of control.  Farang friends in the south (particularly BKK) think it's the best thing since sliced bread, so it's not just a North/South Thai thing in regard to heritage, it challenges outsiders thinking also.

 

For selfish reasons, I just want easy legal compliance (Visa), no BS straight talking 'face' be damned, and smiles on peoples faces because they want to, not because they've been told to.

 

 

 

 

 

I still get that feeling a lot of the time out here in rural Khampaeng Phet. I don't think that the local Thais care that much as in rural Thailand they get screwed whoever is in power but at least they used to have the chance to argue it out over a few drinks without worrying too much about big brother.

 

As for the legal compliance I will know a bit more as I am due for a retirement renewal plus 90 day report on 23rd August  so I will go in around 13/14 August to give me a couple of weeks if they want anything extra. Last year was OK though it took the best part of 2 hours and my last 90 day report was a breeze.

[GOLDBUGGY]

22 hours ago, markusss said:

Baker's Delight certainly sounds good mate! I am looking forward to all the creature comforts of life in Australia. But I know the novelty will wear off fast. But I'm in my early 40s now. Not the young man I was when I first left and arrived here without a care in the world other than doing what I wanted. The best time for me here was between 2005 & 2008 I think. I had a great bunch of mates & had loads of great times especially with gfs here. While the political dramas were certainly well into play back then, it was still fun and Thais in general were good value and always up for a good laugh. But I seldom have those moments here these days. Life here seems to be consumed by how much the military grip has tightened & and not to mention the hypocrisy of this place which has reached a point where I can no longer follow the news here anymore. But I'm leaving on my own terms & I intend to get a T-shirt printed that reads "I lived in Thailand for 13 years & survived" ? 

I am not so sure Thailand has changed that much in your time here. But you certainly have.

 

Teenage Years have some big changes in ones life but so do the years between 30 and 45 years old. This is the time when a man starts to grow up. When he looks on life differently and the toys he was interested in before no longer interest him anymore. 

 

I have personally lived away from my Home Country and Overseas for 25 years, with 14 of those years being in Thailand. I have also changed a lot in over all these years but found it easier to adapt to my new way of living than to move back home. But then if you ever lived in a place where each Winter you may see 40 Below Zero, you wish you were anywhere else except there. 

[totally thaied up]

Ten years here now. Time has gone very fast and yes; this place has changed. A question you need to ask yourself is, 'have you changed or am I bored?'

 

When first arriving in Chiang Mai, it was a fun for me and a very vibrant place. The average 'Joe Thai' was making money, and it was just much happier faces all around. There was a care factor back then with the local farangs and for the Aussie, a strong dollar that made this place cheap and even more fun. Way back then, my MIL was selling 13 trays of desserts a day. She told me life was much better. She had sold so for over 20 years in the same market and made good money. Ten years on, she now sells 1/2 a Tray every three days. Fact is, few have money now she laments, and it has only happened over the last three years. 

 

Try to figure that out ...

 

Most of her friends went broke over the last three years. I see this day by day in my local area. Lots of cash stress and you all would be surprised at how many of my Thai friends are on antidepressants.  Over 1/2 of my wife's friends who had decent degrees are working out of China now as massage girls. They could not make a life on the degree that they had and some of these girls are very smart people. One, of her friends, is super educated, yet sells Moo Ping in the mornings before going to work so she has enough money to give her mother who needed that important monthly income. 

 

Sure, it is all not like this. One thing I have seen change, and that is the fact of our 'care factor' of people. Once people use to care, and at this moment in time, they don't give a flap about anyone. I suppose my care factor is zero as I just have seen some really stupid stuff done here by farangs. They may not have much money when they first come here and leave with a lot less. They get duped by willing sex (being undersexed in the first part by Western standards and suddenly 'sex on tap' for the first time in there lives) and a smart Thai and slowly lose everything they have and they think they are smart about it all. I think things like this make a lot of people bitter here.

 

I came to Thailand at 39 with a Pension. Now at 49 and looking back at the last ten or so years, my life has, in fact, only got a lot better, more interesting, so Thailand was not a bad move. Prices have gone up; farangs don't look at you so much in the eyes as much now and like I said, care factor has gone to zero. I can go home to Aussie at anytime; I am lucky in that fact but like another poster said, if I was capable of working again (I am medically unfit), just my fuel bill or train bill for me to go to work would start at $120 a week and just add parking to it, a tollway cost and the such and I am up to $220 a week. That would be a shock to do again!

 

Now I cannot live anywhere. I spent a lot of time in the Philippines, but that is just a paradise lost in a pile of shat so high, that after a year or so, it was just so hard worrying about basic things in your life like safety. I got bashed badly in the PI back in 1995 in a robbery gone wrong in a taxi and I am lucky to be alive. One thing about Thailand is that to me, it is a safe place to live. I never had a problem here; our doors are open all the time, and I don't have to put up with the cold. Our neighbors are friendly.  We have a good family life. My wife is educated, to a degree, and she complains about things here as well. It is all not just roses. Thais have large concerns as well and she has said living standards have dropped for many of her friends.  

 

I would most likely go home if my wife died. She is 20 years younger than me, so I hope that will not happen as I think I could not go through it all again gaining trust of family and things like that. I might head off over to the EU for a look if it came to that. Like others said here, gaining friends is very hard. Gaining friends in Australia is hard as well, but I don't live a social life either in Australia or Thailand, so friends are not really needed.  What I wrote about above are really silly things but they are part of living here. Crazy roads, pollution that is getting worse, sometimes dual pricing and yes, I have met bad people here as well but that is just part of living. 

 

I do think Thailand has changed,  but you may need to look at yourself and see if it is you that has changed or is it the same you that came here 13 years ago that is now just bored or maybe even depressed. We all change over time and the 'same-same' issue can kill things for some people. I have not changed I think over the last ten years but only just got a bit wiser in understanding we take our happiness wherever we go and being unhappy is a condition you can have anywhere in this big wide old world of ours. Thailand is not a cup of tea but in life, we can add or take away sugar from what drink. I gather you understand what I mean.

 

I hope that helps.

[SometimezaGreatNotion]

23 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I've been living here for 9 years. A couple of the people I know have died here. My problem with going back to Australia is everything is so expensive, particularly housing and water/power. Against that, my medical costs are almost free there, and the doctors don't think they are gods.

I can live well here in Thailand. In Australia, my diet would probably be toast and bowl noodles.

The doctors don't think they are gods?  In America they tend to be worshiped as gods, along with athletes. So it is a minor miracle when a doctor doesn't think s/he is a god..

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

22 hours ago, goegoe said:

I wanted to leave but as weed will soon become legal in some ways here, no more reason to leave !

 

That's always the basis upon which I make my life decisions! 

 

But FWIW, the legalization they're talking about AFAIK is just for medical purposes -- not entertainment purposes.

 

[mpyre]

7 hours ago, Stoker58 said:

 I’ve been living here for more than ten years and, although not quite ready to leave yet, I seriously doubt that I will still be here in five years time. My wife, who is Thai and spent many years living in the west, also feels that things have steadily gone downhill. There used to be a relaxed, easy going, feel about the place, but now there just seems to be ever increasing corruption, bureaucracy and general hostility and selfishness. 

  They can’t seem to elect and maintain a democratic government, and this trickles down to attitudes throughout the public sector, the biggest bully gets his way. Amazingly, standards of spoken English seem to have declined, and customer service has gone down the pan.

  I’ll give it a few more years, but if it keeps going in the direction it is now I’ll be off, and my wife won’t be entirely sorry to return to the west either.

The problems mentioned above are exactly what is happening in the rest of the world as well, with a very few exceptions... paradise lost, or you can only step in the same stream once...

[tropo]

On 7/20/2018 at 8:51 PM, markusss said:

Baker's Delight certainly sounds good mate! I am looking forward to all the creature comforts of life in Australia. But I know the novelty will wear off fast. But I'm in my early 40s now. Not the young man I was when I first left and arrived here without a care in the world other than doing what I wanted. The best time for me here was between 2005 & 2008 I think. I had a great bunch of mates & had loads of great times especially with gfs here. While the political dramas were certainly well into play back then, it was still fun and Thais in general were good value and always up for a good laugh. But I seldom have those moments here these days. Life here seems to be consumed by how much the military grip has tightened & and not to mention the hypocrisy of this place which has reached a point where I can no longer follow the news here anymore. But I'm leaving on my own terms & I intend to get a T-shirt printed that reads "I lived in Thailand for 13 years & survived" ? 

You're still very young... were you really only late 20's when you came to live in Thailand?

 

Before you decide to rush home, think about how you would have felt about life if you had spent the last 13 years back in Australia. Also, as a 40+-year-old, what are your partnership options in Australia? Australians (females) are very age conscious when it comes to relationships. They consider 40 to be quite old. IMO you were too young to settle in Thailand and some of the change in attitude you're experiencing is just a natural change due to aging and maturing. Is Thailand changing that much, or just you?

 

Also worth considering. Where are you going to live in Australia? Some places can be great, but expensive. Other places can be downright depressing. Weather makes a big difference. I'd be heading for Queensland, where I used to live.

 

My recommendation would be to go back for a long vacation first to see how you feel. Don't cut all your ties just yet.

 

 

Edited July 21, 2018 by tropo

[markusss]

1 hour ago, tropo said:

You're still very young... were you really only late 20's when you came to live in Thailand?

 

Before you decide to rush home, think about how you would have felt about life if you had spent the last 13 years back in Australia. Also, as a 40+-year-old, what are your partnership options in Australia? Australians (females) are very age conscious when it comes to relationships. They consider 40 to be quite old. IMO you were too young to settle in Thailand and some of the change in attitude you're experiencing is just a natural change due to aging and maturing. Is Thailand changing that much, or just you?

 

Also worth considering. Where are you going to live in Australia. Some places can be great, but expensive. Other places can be downright depressing.

 

My recommendation would be to go back for a long vacation first to see how you feel. Don't cut all your ties just yet.

 

 

I first came here in 2001 but moved here in 2005 when I was 30. If I'd spent the last 13 years in Aus  I'm sure I'd be wondering what it would have been like to live elsewhere, and I'd maybe feel there was something missing in life, and that I would've, could've, should've done it when I had the chance. 

 

I have no prospects as far as relationships go over there, though it is interesting that you ask as it has crossed my mind.

 

And you're right to ask- It is me that's changed. All the fundamental things that make Thailand what it is still remain the same. It's like a relationship in that way. 

 

A close friend has offered me a place to stay on the south east coast of Australia. It's an amazing part of the country but as for living there full time is concerned I'm not sure how it's going to turn out. I'm in a position to move there on a temporary basis to try it out first, so it's possible to come back if i choose to. My friend is pretty supportive about this and only wants the best for me. 

Edited July 21, 2018 by markusss

[FaFaHead]

My wife and I are moving to Chiang Mai in November. I’ll be retired and she plans on becoming affiliated with Chiang Mai University to get her TEFL and go from there. We are relocating to get away from all of the madness here in the states. 

 

As a G.I. In the early 70’s and was in love with the people and the country. I say was, because after reading all of these negative posts, I’m not sure if this the right move all of a sudden. 

 

I have ave been doing my homework on the country and have a pretty good sense of what Thai driving, politics being a farong and what is and isn’t available. We understand the frustrating Thai way of doing things. We aren’t being naive at all, but again, I am uneasy about all of this after reading this thread. 

 

Anyone have ave anything positive say?

 

Robert

[goegoe]

On 7/21/2018 at 11:51 PM, FaFaHead said:

My wife and I are moving to Chiang Mai in November. I’ll be retired and she plans on becoming affiliated with Chiang Mai University to get her TEFL and go from there. We are relocating to get away from all of the madness here in the states. 

 

As a G.I. In the early 70’s and was in love with the people and the country. I say was, because after reading all of these negative posts, I’m not sure if this the right move all of a sudden. 

 

I have ave been doing my homework on the country and have a pretty good sense of what Thai driving, politics being a farong and what is and isn’t available. We understand the frustrating Thai way of doing things. We aren’t being naive at all, but again, I am uneasy about all of this after reading this thread. 

 

Anyone have ave anything positive say?

 

Robert

 

Don't worry, it is still great if you like hot weather and are able to live alone.

I do not need anyone and my only real friend is my computer (money making tool also), so I could live anywhere, but Thailand is still great. Food is cheap but if you want to eat healthy, cook at home, do not eat the street $hit.

If you do not mess with people, they won't mess with you, and everything will be fine.

Of course the story can be different if you really need to socialize and cannot live without new reliable friends that you won't find here anyway.

Also, girls are still good for fun, at any age, free or not, and it's a great cheap hobby !

[FaFaHead]

On 7/22/2018 at 12:48 AM, goegoe said:

 

Don't worry, it is still great if you like hot weather and are able to live alone.

I do not need anyone and my only real friend is my computer (money making tool also), so I could live anywhere, but Thailand is still great. Food is cheap but if you want to eat healthy, cook at home, do not eat the street $hit.

If you do not mess with people, they won't mess with you, and everything will be fine.

Of course the story can be different if you really need to socialize and cannot live without new reliable friends that you won't find here anyway.

Also, girls are still good for fun, at any age, free or not, and it's a great cheap hobby !

Thanks! Being married, the girls thing is off the table LOL! We aren’t in need of too many people. We keep to ourselves. Just want to assimilate and enjoy the rest of our lives. Thanks again...

[sirineou]

37 minutes ago, FaFaHead said:

My wife and I are moving to Chiang Mai in November. I’ll be retired and she plans on becoming affiliated with Chiang Mai University to get her TEFL and go from there. We are relocating to get away from all of the madness here in the states. 

 

As a G.I. In the early 70’s and was in love with the people and the country. I say was, because after reading all of these negative posts, I’m not sure if this the right move all of a sudden. 

 

I have ave been doing my homework on the country and have a pretty good sense of what Thai driving, politics being a farong and what is and isn’t available. We understand the frustrating Thai way of doing things. We aren’t being naive at all, but again, I am uneasy about all of this after reading this thread. 

 

Anyone have ave anything positive say?

 

Robert

 Forget what you read. You need to decide for yourself. Just don't burn your bridges in case it is not for you. Give it a shot but also leave a way back. If you own a home don't sell is yet, Rent it and use the proceeds to subsidise your move here, after a while if you think Thailand is for you , you can always sell it if that's what you want , and by that time it might even be worth more. I have being coming to Thailand for a long time now, we have build our own home and I love it here . are there challenges? sure there are, but they are manageable and part of the charm IMO.

I am also retiring next spring, and will live in Thailand full time, but I am not selling one of my FL home. perhaps I will rent it  , unless my daughter wants to stay there and take care of it  (as of now she does not want) and as I have said before , if  at some point Thailand is not for me anymore, or old age medical complications demand it. I will go back. I recommend  that my wife does the same after I am gone, but it is up to her.