What Age Did You Move Here?

[Neeranam]

Just wondering what age member were when they moved here. 

 

[simon43]

Moved here at 43 years old, used Thailand as my 'base' but spent happier times in Laos and Burma. Last year I finally moved my base out of Thailand (visa too expensive, no WP for online work, too much immigration reporting, too much xenophobia etc) to north Laos - very content now ????

 

[Neeranam]

28 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Moved here at 43 years old, used Thailand as my 'base' but spent happier times in Laos and Burma. Last year I finally moved my base out of Thailand (visa too expensive, no WP for online work, too much immigration reporting, too much xenophobia etc) to north Laos - very content now ????

 

Too expensive??

 

I remember when you were earning 1 million baht a month! 

[Neeranam]

I moved here when I was 27. I had been working as a petroleum engineer in the North Sea and hated it. Halfway through my Master's degree, I said " *** it" and got a job as an English teacher and never looked back. The money was slightly less!! I remember being refused a job as a sports editor with the Thailand Times as I put my previous salary and the owner thought there was no way I was going to stay. 

[Lacessit]

I moved here at age 67, should have done it at 57.

[Pravda]

I moved here at 39, but should have done it at 12

[n00dle]

26

[CharlieH]

48 when I came here, life looked a lot different then, the decisions and ideas/dreams 14 yrs later if I knew then what I know now, I wouldve got back on that plane and never returned.

 

However I didnt and, as we all do, we do what we think is right at the time and now life is very different and probably a much higher standard than it may otherwise have been. My wife is the best choice I ever made, no regrets there.

[whiteman]

57 the right time for me and I never looked back I am 73 now and still happy here

[Yankeesvsredsox]

56

[darksidedog]

I had been passing through for many years and generally being a sinner, before moving here when I was 43. Not the same place now as it was then but I don't regret coming and have no intention of leaving, for now at least.

[pineapple01]

I came here when i realised had no money worries, been happy ever since. Regret only not moving on to USA.

[seajae]

moved here in my late 50's, should have done it a lot sooner, very comfortable living here and no intentions of returning back to Australia apart from short trips to vist family and friends

[orchis]

34, work. will be 25 years next month.

 

[rkidlad]

I was 24 when I officially moved here and got my first job. I was single at the time and was going on many "dates". Got bored of that quickly as it felt like just one big game (I admit I was playing it too). Met a local girl with a good job, from a good family who is very career driven and we took it slowly. Been together 13 years now. 

 

I work for myself now online. I worked for two Thai companies and I hated it. I can basically work from anywhere now. My missus could find a job elsewhere, but we are happy here as she has her family and nieces and nephews, etc. 

 

Best bit of advice I got when I moved here was, "Don't take yourself too seriously here. You'll always be a guest". Some people become very resentful when they feel like outsiders - I don't. I love being left alone and out of the picture. 

[n00dle]

i suspect there is a significant difference in the attitudes of folks who came here to work in their mid to late 20s and stayed on after making a life, to those who moved here much later in life to retire.

i would also suggest that the lion's share of the thai visa membership fit snugly into the latter category

[thaiflyer1]

36...........in hindsight i should of stayed in the UK another 10 years and earned a bit more on the other hand i think Pattaya was better in 98 on all fronts than it is now.............

[Neeranam]

54 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I moved here at age 67, should have done it at 57.

Most people say they should have moved earlier, apart from the bashers.

[Neeranam]

21 minutes ago, pineapple01 said:

I came here when i realised had no money worries, been happy ever since. Regret only not moving on to USA.

I'd rather be here with money worries than my home country with money worries.

[Kwasaki]

Was back and forth to Thailand since 1999 retired 2004, came to stay Thailand at 57.

[Paiman]

After living in Indonesia for a while, I was due for a change and was considering Philippines or Thailand. Thailand won. That was 18 years ago. Same situation now, thinking of moving on, but where? Vietnam, Laos??? Still making my money in the Oil & Gas industry. The last 3 years in Nigeria, ( 4on 4off) Guess it will continue in a few months.

[nikmar]

15 years ago. i was 37. only came on holiday and just never went home. I do bash and moan a bit but i believe im happier here than if was back in the UK. 

[CNXexpat]

I relocated to Chiang Mai from Germany 4.5 years ago after traveling many months during the years before in the age of 55. At the end of the year we will relocate to Huay Yai because the air quality in Chiang Mai is too bad for months. I make my money with stock trading, so I can live everywhere. Not sure if I would live in Thailand if I wouldn´t be married since 14 years with my Thai wife and she wanted to go back to Thailand after 10 years in Germany.

[totally thaied up]

Came here at 40. Had been to Thailand in 1986 as a young kid with an Uncle. Spent a lot of time in the Philippines. I worked via the phone and then online in Australia before moving overseas. My marriage busted up when I was 38. I had been married for seven years to a Filipino. I moved to Thailand. Took me seven years to find my wife as I was pretty gun shy after my previous experience and just was a player for a long time. 

 

Thailand has been good to me. I am 51 now. Time has flown.

[rumak]

First came when I was 31.  Moved here when i was 36.   Married at 37.   Daughter born in Chiangrai 31 years ago.   Moved to Fang.   Back to States for a few years in my 40's to make some money.  Back to Chiangmai  around 2000.   Built a house in Doi Saket.   Got divorced.  Moved back to CM.  for 7 years.   Moved to 6 rai in Lamphun province 5 years ago.  

Looking to sell and move again,  to cleaner pastures down south.   Maybe my last move ?

[4MyEgo]

Have been coming here since 2005, I retired at 55, that was 5 years ago.

 

So glad that I don't have to work another day in my life.

 

Blessed that I met a great lady ("bar girl") who has been my wife for 13 very happy years and provided me with 2 gorgeous offsprings.

 

Living here in Isaan for those 5 years has been interesting, although I do miss the sea vs the rice/sugarcane fields, especially when they lite them up during burning season.

 

Will we still be here in 5 years ? I don't know, might be down south where the air is best near the sea, e.g. Phuket or Krabi, might be back in a town 2-4 hours drive out of Sydney, might be dead, so will just keep enjoying the clearer air here for now with my morning coffees on the front porch chatting away with the Mrs until it gets to hot, then inside we go.

 

This Covid-19 lockdown has been a real downer, need a holiday, hope they open up come 1 June

 

[Tarteso]

My wife died at an early age. At 52 I came for a trip to Asia. 8 years later I don’t know how, see myself eating Thai food with my new Thai wife and family... Just enjoining this life. ????

[Trujillo]

Simon43: 
"Last year I finally moved my base out of Thailand (visa too expensive, no WP for online work, too much immigration reporting, too much xenophobia etc) to north Laos - very content now "

 

Yet you've posted in the Thailand forum 10,843 times. You must love to hate the place. ...

[lee b]

25. And thats 14.5 years ago. Wish I could rewind the clock and visit them days.

[Andrew Dwyer]

I was living in South America since 1995, marriage on the rocks and work getting me depressed. Decided to divorce, retire and move back to the uk to spend some quality time with my old dad , a few months before that happened i came here for 6 weeks of work.

“ Hmmm....I could spend some time here “ !!

Slight change of plan : came over for a holiday to check out my new plan, eventually settled on 3 months here 1 month with Dad in the uk.

That was 4 years ago and my Thai time extended and UK time diminished, Dad now in care and haven’t visited the UK since October, not sure when i’ll get there now.

 

Anyway, to answer the question:

 

54 , 4 years ago.