How Many Among US Hope to Die Here in Thailand? (This is my hope; I've Seen the World out there.)

[Lacessit]

Statistically, I'm more likely to die here than in Australia, given the relative time I spend in each country.

I will be leaving Thailand in November for medical checks in Australia, after doing my retirement extension. If I can't come back for whatever reason, it's a choice between trying other Asian destinations, or buying a mobile home in Australia. And saying goodbye to my Thai family. While my son and daughter-in-law are good to me while I am there for a month, inflicting myself on them for longer than that would not be fair.

COVID-19 has upended a lot of lives. We are collateral damage, to use the American expression.

 

[Pilotman]

14 hours ago, CharlieH said:

The issue that concerns me, and I suspect a lot of folks here is will you be allowed to ?

 

The ever shifting sand of immigration, the ever increasing requirements and what appears to be purposeful obstacles created.

 

Just think of those who are perhaps in their 70's with another probably fifteen years or more in front of them. They have built a life and possibly have families here. The bridges and connections with their homeland long gone. Their life and all that encompasses is right here.

 

Then they hit 75 or maybe 80 and all of a sudden the rules change !! The Insurance is compulsory for all and yet not available due to age, what then??

The criteria changes and through no fault you are facing having to LEAVE everyone and everything you've known for the past 25 yrs or more. Not a nice situation and one that quietly is a deep concern to many in this land.......what if ?

 

So, its not a case of "where will you die" its more a case of "where will you end up" because there are no certainties here ! 

For some, that prospect is deeply disturbing but nevertheless has to be contemplated.

 

It certainly is a concern, that despite any plans anyone may have to eventually end their days here, it may not be possible.  A terminal illness may force me back to the UK, or the Thai government, for whatever reason, may one day feel that I am too old, or in their eyes, too much of a liability to remain here. The one thing I do not want to be, is a burden on my UK based children.  If it should ever come to it, I would at least seriously consider topping myself before would let that happen.  

[CharlieH]

9 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

It certainly is a concern, that despite any plans anyone may have to eventually end their days here, it may not be possible.  A terminal illness may force me back to the UK, or the Thai government, for whatever reason, may one day feel that I am too old, or in their eyes, too much of a liability to remain here. The one thing I do not want to be, is a burden on my UK based children.  If it should ever come to it, I would at least seriously consider topping myself before would let that happen.  

It is a concern, you have children so would not be going back to nothing/no one.

The issue for some is having to go back to a world that no longer exists, to a place that has changed and you no longer know anyone. How frightening and worry-some that would be for an 80yr old to face alone. I agree a high dive or similar would then seem preferential.

[JohnBarleycorn]

34 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

It is a concern, you have children so would not be going back to nothing/no one.

The issue for some is having to go back to a world that no longer exists, to a place that has changed and you no longer know anyone. How frightening and worry-some that would be for an 80yr old to face alone. I agree a high dive or similar would then seem preferential.

YES...exactly:

Over 40 years have I remained in Asia with only a short one-year visit home when Bill Clinton first took office, around 1991 as I recall.

Since that time, America has changed leaving me unchanged and a relic, a Rumppelstiltskin of sorts.  Although I have not been asleep while in East and Southeast Asia, still, the new Americans, the youth, when I see them waltzing down the streets in Chiang Mai, seem like Aliens from some uncharted planet.

 

I cannot go back to an America populated by Aliens.

The culture shock would be too great for my system.

[vogie]

I was only talking to my wife about my departure from this earth this very afternoon, I said I want to be cremated, she said "you'll have to wait untill tomorrow, they are all closed today."

[fredwiggy]

Came here to be with my wife and 3 1/2 yr old daughter. Left family behind in Texas and New Jersey area. If I had the money I would be back in either place with my now family. Here I am but I still have a bucket list to do. Visiting some of Europe, catching a big Muskie, shooting a huge Whitetail buck (coming closer to the ultimate size ), seeing my family in New York/New Jersey every other year, hunting Africa, fishing the Amazon. Watching my daughter grow up and get married to a good man.

[KMartinHandyman]

Not sure about your cadaver plan. Chance is if you pass at home somebody will wash and powder you, dress you in your best and have you in a chiller box in the living room before sun up waiting to “make a fire” in a few days. Been there, done this up here in Issan. 

[JohnBarleycorn]

3 hours ago, KMartinHandyman said:

Not sure about your cadaver plan. Chance is if you pass at home somebody will wash and powder you, dress you in your best and have you in a chiller box in the living room before sun up waiting to “make a fire” in a few days. Been there, done this up here in Issan. 

It would be such a waste for me to just go up in smoke.......wouldn't you agree?

Edited May 6, 2020 by JohnBarleycorn

[CharlieH]

1 minute ago, JohnBarleycorn said:

It would be such a waste for me to just go up in smoke.......wouldn't you agree?

Depends in what you believe, some believe that nothing is wasted, it is merely transformed into something else.

[simon43]

I seem to recall reading that Chula isn't really interested in 'old' bodies.  They want a cadaver where some of the organs are (were until recently) still in reasonable working order.....

[JohnBarleycorn]

1 hour ago, CharlieH said:

Depends in what you believe, some believe that nothing is wasted, it is merely transformed into something else.

Of course I do believe that the Law of Conservation of Mass is correct, but with the exception of the case of special relativity where the Law definitely does not apply.

 

But, contemplating my final result being placed on a pyre and going up in smoke, my main concern would be that, instead of giving my body to Science and doing a bit of good, I would alternatively be adding to Global Warming.  Considering my mass is now about 93 kilograms, and most of my mass being water, if I were to go up in smoke then I calculate I would be adding about 16.74 kilograms of carbon to our overtaxed atmosphere.

 

Last I checked, the Earth's atmospheric CO2 content stood at over 411 ppm.

 

In conclusion, if Chula will not accept me, then it would be best for my corpse to rest underground, coffinless, so that I might at least feed the worms.

[sidjameson]

6 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Came here to be with my wife and 3 1/2 yr old daughter. Left family behind in Texas and New Jersey area. If I had the money I would be back in either place with my now family. Here I am but I still have a bucket list to do. Visiting some of Europe, catching a big Muskie, shooting a huge Whitetail buck (coming closer to the ultimate size ), seeing my family in New York/New Jersey every other year, hunting Africa, fishing the Amazon. Watching my daughter grow up and get married to a good man.

You're definition of a "good man" being one that loves killing other living, breathing, caring, loving, suffering animals I guess.

If you could shoot your neighbours dog running around the yard then at least you're not a hypocrite.

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

Thailand really doesn't want us here long term. The retirement hoops are ridiculous. I'll keep on teaching here as long as I can, but after that I'm lucky that Mom escaped our expensive home state and got a nice place in a cheap, Midwestern one, where I can settle down with my Thai wife.

[JohnBarleycorn]

43 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Thailand really doesn't want us here long term. The retirement hoops are ridiculous. I'll keep on teaching here as long as I can, but after that I'm lucky that Mom escaped our expensive home state and got a nice place in a cheap, Midwestern one, where I can settle down with my Thai wife.

Your reference to teaching reminds me of my plan to continue teaching in Thailand until I can't teach no more, probably at age 82, and then they can either send me up in smoke, dissect me in a Chula Physiology laboratory, or do what they will with me.  I am sure I can teach until age 82; my grandfather died at age 95 after being born in 1895 and serving in the trenches as a medic in France, while escaping the Spanish Flu pandemic, my aunt is still alive at age 98, and both of my parents kicked the bucket at over age 93.

 

So.....I guess I can look forward to another 14 years of teaching, praise be, that is if only the Wuhan Virus pandemic doesn't kill me first.

[VocalNeal]

2 hours ago, JohnBarleycorn said:

Last I checked, the Earth's atmospheric CO2 content stood at over 411 ppm.

Yes. Plants are loving it. So relax about your cremation.

[worgeordie]

I paid for my plot in the Foreign  Cemetery in Chiang Mai,

a few years ago,I think I will go and make sure they have

not planted someone else in it,as I am going to need it,

but not yet i hope.

regards worgeordie

[chickenslegs]

8 hours ago, vogie said:

I was only talking to my wife about my departure from this earth this very afternoon, I said I want to be cremated, she said "you'll have to wait untill tomorrow, they are all closed today."

I never met your wife, but I like her already.

[roaming2019]

2 hours ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Thailand really doesn't want us here long term. The retirement hoops are ridiculous. I'll keep on teaching here as long as I can, but after that I'm lucky that Mom escaped our expensive home state and got a nice place in a cheap, Midwestern one, where I can settle down with my Thai wife.

i wonder why you worry about thailand immigration  if you got a thai wife - ???? 

[samsensam]

3 hours ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Thailand really doesn't want us here long term. The retirement hoops are ridiculous. I'll keep on teaching here as long as I can, but after that I'm lucky that Mom escaped our expensive home state and got a nice place in a cheap, Midwestern one, where I can settle down with my Thai wife.

 

i'm on retirement extensions 800k and haven't experienced anything i'd describe as 'ridiculous', sure the process is a little drawn out but really not that difficult, just get organised. i've always found IOs to be pleasant, helpful and reasonably efficient

 

my sister married an aussie, the process to live there was considerably more rigorous and demanding than thailand

[Moneyhonour]

21 hours ago, Yankeesvsredsox said:

 

 I don't have the virus but it has kept me from visiting the doctor for this and that. Hopefully,soon ,I can get busy living again! 

 

 

So normally your clogging the Thai Health Care System then?

[Moneyhonour]

4 hours ago, simon43 said:

I seem to recall reading that Chula isn't really interested in 'old' bodies.  They want a cadaver where some of the organs are (were until recently) still in reasonable working order.....

I think his body wouldn't fit a chiller in Thailand

[fredwiggy]

7 hours ago, sidjameson said:

You're definition of a "good man" being one that loves killing other living, breathing, caring, loving, suffering animals I guess.

If you could shoot your neighbours dog running around the yard then at least you're not a hypocrite.

God put animals on the earth for two reasons. Some to be eaten and some as companions. I've always had dogs and cats and taught my children respect for life. A good man loves his family and protects them from harm. A hypocrite is one that eats a hamburger then complains where it comes from, or chastises deer hunters who eat their kills. Read up on game management, carrying capacity of the land and the real problems animals have. Destruction of habitat from land developers being the main one. And deer kill an average of 200 people a year in not only road accidents, but 4 or 5 by attacking people. Not the Bambi's you might believe.

Edited May 6, 2020 by fredwiggy

[thaibeachlovers]

On 5/6/2020 at 4:14 AM, JohnBarleycorn said:

However, I think that it might be good to donate it to Chula (Chulalongkorn University).

Why?

Here is why:

Universities prefer bodies that have not been dead long, for obvious reasons. You also need to have the legalities sorted. If one wants to donate their body, best for one to be in hospital when one dies.

 

My dream was to die while at a Thai beach in the company of one or two DDG young ladies. Sadly I got married instead.