Why did you choose to retire to Thailand?

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

Every time I go back to Canada I'm reminded about the things I don't miss at all.

Like when it's 28 degrees (Celsius) in late June - and then drops to 7 degrees when it rains.

Like the cost of pretty much everything.

How about the freely available cannabis?

[Kerryd]

17 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

How about the freely available cannabis?

Meh - haven't smoked pot since I was 17 and apparently it's pretty easy to get over here now any ways.

[Kurtf]

Different strokes for different folks. I made a huge mistake of building a home in Thailand to take care of my father in law. Now that he has passed I can’t sell the house unless I am willing to take a huge loss. If I could sell I would return in a snap to my home country. Until if and when that happens, I try to make the best of it and enjoy increasing my savings.

[Lacessit]

12 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

Yes, I thought about that too. I've heard ladyboys aren't that careful.

[Lacessit]

5 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

I do. Sex is free by the way. What gets expensive is trying to get them to leave

Oh come on. Are you saying you are such a stud they importune you for more?

[Presnock]

Lived in Spain a couple of years, same with Italy, liked both including the food and with knowledge of where to go, costs.  However, I enjoy playing golf and both did not have the abundance of golf courses that also had fairly low costs.  I lived in the PI for 6 years but didn't especially grow fond of the food.  Golf was plentiful and cheap but prices were changing.  Was a diver so loved the waters there and virgin reefs. However, when it came to retirement, Thailand doesn't have big earthquakes, typhoon/hurricanes, snow, cold weather but does have lots of golf courses, most very affordable and of course great food in my opinion.  I was married during my European living and am married now and I never got into the bar scene other than to play darts and don't drink alcohol so life in Thailand for me after 20 years continues to be great and affordable but as times change, baht fluctuates, who knows what will be in the future.  If all else fails, I can still afford to live in the US but would go to a different state than the one from which I did come.

a footnote:  due to the changes in immigration last year, I found it much easier and cheaper to do my long term extension this year and the TM30, since I don't move around much here, it makes it easier to convince my wife not to go visiting relatives.  Seems a big plus for me!

 

[maprao]

Not retired yet but my reasons;

 

Cheap (Now not so cheap)

Beautiful women (I'm married)

 

Wife, kids ooodles of land and several cars not in my name.

 

Pattaya (love it) no other city on earth like it!!! Go there every month from the boonies. Doesn't get old that way.

 

 

[Chazar]

Stay only for my Wife, no other reason, otherwise id  turn this thread into a  slagfest. Therefore reason is Wife for choosing Thailand......bought n paid for!

[Chazar]

13 hours ago, Naam said:

i live since nearly 30 years like a hermit... with a wee bit more comfort.

There's a  guy with style????

[GGfromUSA]

I think it can be summed up easily- older guys are not invisible here, and the women are feminine, happy and not fat (unlike US, UK, etc).  Second is cost of living and services- esp Thai massage for me.  I don't pay for sex, and don't care for gogo bars though I know many do.  There are some degenerate retirees here, but they are a minority and concentrated in Pattaya and lower Sukhumvit IMO.  

[Nice Boyd]

21 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

OK Ill play.

 

I spend half my time here because its a cool place. I spent the last 30 years of mylife in the "country" so to speak and now I am living large in the most affordable decent big city in the world. I dont consider the Government to be a problem, its not like its China or North Korea or some other dangerous Government country. The environment is disgusting but I like the food and the culture. The money is great. I dont like Spanish culture and Italy is too Third World for the money. I may go to Costa Rica for part of the winter next year if I get married back in the States..

 

Oh and there is a great Georgian Restaurant in lower Suk with a special "bar" across the street for desert.

Can’t stand the food in CR, sadly, like to try Ecuador or Colombia 

[Nice Boyd]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Oh come on. Are you saying you are such a stud they importune you for more?

Another one , the women support me, Jesus cristo

 

1 hour ago, Kerryd said:

Meh - haven't smoked pot since I was 17 and apparently it's pretty easy to get over here now any ways.

Available, but after 8 officers in my condo after gf called and my Dutch Ex Friend snitched me so he could rip me off money i

lent him , not so fun, will attempt to get medical card and do it the right way, I have prescription  from USA for medical conditions , do it legally, I had 12 gm

[Elzear]

3 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

You’ve captured a lot of my story thank you.

im glad for folks who can move back and forth. For me poor as I am due to life choices n addiction for half my early life it’s Thailand, or some other Asian country for old age or bust for me if I stay in Oz the cost of living here is out of the question as a single 60 something man so Oz, Europe US is totally beyond my meagre retirement budget.

thailand with all its contradictions is still a great place ????????????

I’ll second that, being in Oz presently, I can see my meagre pension melting like snow under the global warming. And therés no snow in Thai.. 

[khunPer]

22 hours ago, zhounan said:

...The Kingdom, as we can see every day, is an authoritarian layer and the control over foreigners is very high, not to mention the various TMs, the currency is no longer as convenient as it once was, and the environment is saturating.
Why have you never considered quieter, more civilised and relaxing destinations to spend your retirement? Excellent food, pleasant weather, culturally similar, for example Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Costa Rica. 

I hope to receive some answers, friendly as the questions, thanks to all. 

When I first came here – Land-of-Smiles – as a tourist back in 1987, we got less baht than now for my European currency, and already at that time I had the feeling, when visiting Chiang Mai, that this could be a place I would like to live. And I was not thinking about retirement, even it might not be financial possible before I reached a certain age, and thereby a certain number in my savings account.

 

I would rephrase the question from "Why did you choose to retire to Thailand?" to: Why did you choose to settle, or live, in Thailand?

 

I had the opportunity to "retire" early, compared to my Scandinavian home country's general retirement age of 65, as at 56 only I managed to reach a reasonable number in the savings account, and could slip away. Yes, I could increase that number by working some more years, but when is enough, enough?,

 

A few years before a friend had convinced me to take a holiday – as self-employed I haven't had one for 8 years – he simply called me and said, that I owed him some money!

»For what«, I asked?

»For the cheap Aeroflot ticket I bought in your name to Bangkok!«

 

We were heading on holiday together, and as my friend and his wife after a few days in Bangkok always took a train ride down south to a small island, I followed. And down there I felt that it was something pretty close to "paradise" on Earth, so my box over the eyes began working with relocation, while I was still fresh and young enough to enjoy life, instead of saving up a bunch or two more money, which I after all might not be able to use after too many years of too hard work.

 

Compared to so-called "civilized and relaxing destinations" in Euro-expensive Europe, I preferred a more uncivilized life on a cheaper tropical paradise island. Weather of course was, and is, a major factor when coming from Scandinavia, where it can be both cold and dark in the winter – you know, the older you get, the more you need a warm environment – and of course also the possibility of some "warm" company.

 

Little more than 10-years before I joked my friends, and staff in my company, with – well, it might have been a dream, rather than joke – that when that day came, where one could pack the business into something movable – mind you that laptops at that time in the later years of the 1980'ies were heavy, and not for much use – and get wireless connected to the World, I would be off and settle on a tropical island, sitting on the beach in the shadow the palms, being able to check by bank account and stock market, whilst a couple of young ladies brought me cool drinks...????????????????

 

So yes, female company was, and is, also a part of the choice; especially since I have never been married, never found time – and money – for producing an heir, I needed to find a young enough partner to fulfill that heir-part. Furthermore I like young company.

 

Coming from a country where the authorities checks everything – and also tax it – it's a relief to live in Thailand, where contact with authorities is minimal, and check and paperwork little, and easily done; it still is, compared to "home". Furthermore, the country I came from is slowly changing into something I'm happy not to be direct part in.

 

I occasionally check my possibilities for returning to my home-country, what I can afford to live in, or what kind of home I can afford to buy, and especially the location; check-ups to compare with my present life-style. If I wish, I could live for almost next-to-nothing here in Thailand, and still have a fine life, even little primitive life-style, for what I would spend on heating costs only, if I stayed home.

 

I also occasionally look at other possibilities in South East Asia – just to compare – but so far I haven't found them better.

 

 

So, so far I don't regret my decision from more than 15-years ago. I don't want to change my life from the shadow under the coconut palms on a Bounty-style beach, while I have young company and cool drinks – yes, exactly the same beach as my first visit to the island – a location and beautiful view that I could hardly afford at many similar European places; here is relaxing quiet, and yet only 15 to 30 minutes drive from shopping malls, international airport, ferry harbor, and vibrant party night-life.

That's why I choose to "retire" to Thailand...????

[Onrai]

23 hours ago, zhounan said:

The Kingdom, as we can see every day, is an authoritarian layer and the control over foreigners is very high, not to mention the various TMs, the currency is no longer as convenient as it once was, and the environment is saturating.

I have never felt an authoritarian layer. What country are You comparing it to. I am from the USA. Try getting stopped by Police

there- loaded down with their glock, mace, taser, tear gas and bad attitude. I have never been hassled, coerced, threatened or intimidated in Thailand. The police in the USA I still fear and ever day some innocent citizen is getting killed by an officer that feels threatened. 

About the visa- try getting a visa for the USA. I feel sorry for anyone who has to go thru the process- more costly, time consuming, aggravating, without any assurance that you will be granted the visa. Costa Rica is smack in the middle of the drug running corridor from South America thru Central America , Mexico to the states. Sure it is safer than the surrounding countries but I has shaken down by the police for driving to fast going from Tamarindo to San Jose. Anyone who has ever been on a road in Costa Rica knows you can’t drive too fast. Italy, Spain, Portugal are all wonderful countries but they aren’t as reasonable as Thailand. In summary, Thailand has friendly people, is still inexpensive, is incredibly beautiful and is infused with a calmness that is very hard to find elsewhere. 

[Nyezhov]

4 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Oh come on. Are you saying you are such a stud they importune you for more?

Importune would not be the way to describe it,more like hysterical begging.

[GarryP]

15 hours ago, Ron jeremy said:

Let's be honest here and cut thru the BS, if it wasn't for the cheap sex, and the thai woman, the place would be void of many men. Period!

men don't come here for the beaches and temples.

Came here 38 years ago and knew nothing about the place. I did not know it was den-of-iniquity at that time. Just a stop on my life's journey. Been here ever since. Soon will retire and continue to live here. Not going anywhere soon.  Paid in Baht, so currency fluctuations really mean sod all to me as far as living here goes. Obviously I benefit when I travel though, which is not that often. So no, not all of us are here for sex, but then I am not here for the temples either.  

[Mac98]

I get health care not covered by medical insurance in USA (physical therapy for constant pain) at one-tenth the cost. That's how it started and then I got used to the weather, the food, the low rents, and now good friends. Oh, and you can look at a girl without her pointing you out and screeching like they did in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", 1970s version.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

Importune would not be the way to describe it,more like hysterical begging.

Just spilled my whisky over the keyboard reading that. Fortunately, alcohol evaporates as fast as your fantasies.

Edited September 26, 2019 by Lacessit

[sirineou]

On 9/25/2019 at 3:43 AM, zhounan said:

Excellent food, pleasant weather, culturally similar, for example Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Costa Rica. 

Wife is Thai  so Thailand it is, I am older than her, and one day she will be without me , I just don't see her living in Greece,or Portugal on her own.

We Have our house in Thailand ,and not giving up our US home (who knows when we might need to return) ,not fully retired yet anyway (mayme I will never be) but we spend some time in Greece last year and wife absolutely  loved it, (brother is retired there) we are looking at a litle place near him on Salamina island, (Salamis,famous for the battle with Persians) . Sister said she wants to retire in Panama (is fluid in spanish) i said great, one more place to stay at.???? other sister lives in Mogliano Italy ......

Not sure I'll be retiring any one place soon.Life is all you can eat buffet.????

[Nyezhov]

39 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Just spilled my whisky over the keyboard reading that. Fortunately, alcohol evaporates as fast as your fantasies.

Spilling whiskey is a party foul if its good whiskey. So tell us? 18 year old or from a jar?

[Lacessit]

22 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Spilling whiskey is a party foul if its good whiskey. So tell us? 18 year old or from a jar?

I'd define it as kitchen whisky, as I have lowbrow tastes like you. 18 yo whisky is a furphy, most of the spirit that claims that title is a blend of about 5% of the real stuff with other stuff of various ages. The wonders of brand advertising.

BTW, you are betraying your American origins. Whisky produced in Scotland is whisky. The Irish and Americans add the "e", a rare example of Americans shunning abbreviation.

[Nyezhov]

Just now, Lacessit said:

I'd define it as kitchen whisky, as I have lowbrow tastes like you. 18 yo whisky is a furphy, most of the spirit that claims that title is a blend of about 5% of the real stuff with other stuff of various ages. The wonders of brand advertising.

BTW, you are betraying your American origins. Whisky produced in Scotland is whisky. The Irish and Americans add the "e", a rare example of Americans shunning abbreviation.

I was going to comment on your spelling, but figured that you didnt know what Scotch was.

Im highbrow, I drink Samson

 

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, Nyezhov said:

I was going to comment on your spelling, but figured that you didnt know what Scotch was.

Im highbrow, I drink Samson

 

Royal Scotsman, 325 baht for 700 ml. If you really want to go hiso, there is always Hong Thong.

[ratcatcher]

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

I was going to comment on your spelling, but figured that you didnt know what Scotch was.

Im highbrow,                   I drink Samson

Mixed with a shot of Delilah I trust.????

[Tomahawk21]

12 hours ago, GarryP said:

Came here 38 years ago and knew nothing about the place. I did not know it was den-of-iniquity at that time. Just a stop on my life's journey. Been here ever since. Soon will retire and continue to live here. Not going anywhere soon.  Paid in Baht, so currency fluctuations really mean sod all to me as far as living here goes. Obviously I benefit when I travel though, which is not that often. So no, not all of us are here for sex, but then I am not here for the temples either.  

so what are you here for ? or why have you not moved on ?

[1FinickyOne]

On 9/25/2019 at 2:43 PM, zhounan said:

for example Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Costa Rica. 

Why? Do they have lots of Thai people there?

[RoadWarrior371]

Dumb question.  I hope you are a world traveler and know that all countries are not equal.  Good and bad everywhere.  Just because 2 countries have a beach, they are not the same. 

[PatOngo]

Why did you choose to retire to Thailand?

 

I feel safe because I am protected by attack helicopters, submarines and armed personnel carriers!

[ChipButty]

I think I left my fuking brains on the tarmac