After 40+ Years in Asia, without a break, I am now Toying with: Returning to America, and Becoming a Hermit in Trumpland!

[Vigilante]

Quote

 

I am NOT joking here.

 

This is NOT just an idle post.

 

Suure..

Get out more often I say.

[richard_smith237]

Op: Make sure you are looking to move back for the right reasons... i.e. if life is frustrating you, will you get frustrated else where and find yourself complaining about those 'farang trees' instead of the neighbors 'farang speakers'....

 

After 20+ years, I too am looking at moving back to the UK - although the primary reason is to provide me son with a better standard of living, outdoor life etc in combination with good schools.

 

International Schools in Thailand are great, but the only decent ones are in Bangkok. I like Bangkok, but  but the UK countryside and good schools here seems like the better option.

 

I the issue with living in Thailand is that if you want 'full on civilization' as we are used to it in the West, then the City offers that (i.e. food options, quality of housing, things to do, high standard medical facilities etc), if we want the rural quiet life we run the risk of the nearby temple throwing a 3 day party that can be heard from 10km away, stray dogs, poor quality housing (compared to the west), and the local Big C, which is ok for many, but not others.

 

A perfect combination would good quality supermarkets, plenty to do, high standard medical facilities all within 5-10mins drive from a house built to high standards in an environment which isn't subject to seasonal burning etc.

 

each to their own - The US option does sound extremely attractive, more so than the UK countryside option because for 5 months of the year the weather is miserable in the UK.

[sirineou]

6 hours ago, JohnBarleycorn said:

*Someplace with birds and snow.

 

After so many years in hot climes, I miss the snow.

Call me again after a couple of years of Shoveling  it. 

Snow Diary.

White Shi*t

 

Diary of a Snow Shoveled...

 

December 8 - 6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

 

December 9 - We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.

 

December 12 - The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. l don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.

 

December 14 - Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish l wouldn't huff and puff so.

 

December 15 - 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

 

December 16 - Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, Which I think was very cruel.

 

December 17 - Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

 

December 20 - Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Goddamn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow

blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.

 

December 22 - Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white <deleted> fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to <deleted>. By the time I got undressed, <deleted> and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the <deleted> is lying.

 

December 23 - Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.

 

December 24 - 6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the <deleted> who drives that snow plow I'll drag him through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish

shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the goddamn snowplow.

 

December 25 - Merry <deleted> Christmas! 20 more inches of the god damn slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I hate the snow!

Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think shes a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wondeful Life" one mor time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.

 

December 26 - Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

 

December 27 - Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze, plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me 1,400 to replace all my pipes.

 

December 28 - Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. THE BITCH is driving me crazy!!!

 

December 29 - 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

 

December 30 - Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver he is now suing me for a million dollars not only the beating I gave him but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his ass. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.

 

December 31 - I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

 

January 8 - Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

[JohnBarleycorn]

I do not know whether or not you have noticed it...

BUT, the birds are out en force this morning!

 

A true Hitchcockian Delight.

 

They are singing up a storm, and diving all around my balcony.

 

Truly amazing.

 

Must be the weather, or something.

 

Such a blessing for all of us, this morning!

[mr mr]

grass is greener on both sides. moved back to thailand after 11 years last year and it is just not the same. part of this is me growing older and peeling back more and more layers of the thai onion called life has exposed so many things that i never saw before.

 

moving back to america may tell the same story. 

[SkyFax]

5 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

I thought I would miss Thailand when I moved back to the USA after living there for 10+ years.

 

But I didn't.

It seems almost everyone (male) who posts how wonderful it is that they (finally) decided to leave Thailand managed to import a Thai female to their home country along with their other worldly goods.

[JohnBarleycorn]

15 minutes ago, mr mr said:

grass is greener on both sides. moved back to thailand after 11 years last year and it is just not the same. part of this is me growing older and peeling back more and more layers of the thai onion called life has exposed so many things that i never saw before.

 

moving back to america may tell the same story. 

OK.

You are right.

Here is where I lived in 1972,,,,,

 

[JohnBarleycorn]

9 minutes ago, SkyFax said:

It seems almost everyone (male) who posts how wonderful it is that they (finally) decided to leave Thailand managed to import a Thai female to their home country along with their other worldly goods.

Very amusing.

But, I plan to return alone, when I go.

[fredwiggy]

Lower New York state. 4 seasons, snow in winter, not too many people, Thai restaurants in New Jersey within driving distance, good internet, birds, deer, lakes, streams, good food. I haven't been to Maine, just Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut. Lived in New Jersey, hunted and fished there and New York. New England is quiet, pretty has 4 seasons and snow. Not sure about Thai things there, just know from NJ/NY area. Upper Midwest I've been, Michigan (cold!), Always thought about moving to Minnesota (Vikings, hunting,fishing) but moved from NNJ to Texas. Stayed there 32 years, great hunting and fishing, good Thai restaurants but hot like here. I would like to move back myself, but wife won't, at least now. Gordon Lightfoot fan too, big time.

Edited May 29, 2020 by fredwiggy

[JohnBarleycorn]

Nothing has changed since I lived in a school house in 1972.

[JohnBarleycorn]

 

I lived here, too.

This is where Rosemary had her baby.

 

[JohnBarleycorn]

I lived here, too.

This is where my cat, Tippy, almost jumped out the window of the 10th floor of our dormitory.

She would have survived the fall.

She was a good cat who sometimes attended Logic classes.

 

[JohnBarleycorn]

I lived here, too.

This is where I slept with cobras.

Snakes everywhere.

Mostly poisonous.

Typhoons aplenty every summer, and some were super.

 

[steven100]

9 hours ago, JohnBarleycorn said:

I guess, is solitude with pine trees, birds and fallen snow in the winter months, but a village embodying a small-town feel, and neighbors who do not intrude or make noise.  And cops who are polite and do not kneel on your neck.

can i come with you

[mike787]

Don't do it!  Stay here bro.

[NCC1701A]

9 hours ago, JohnBarleycorn said:

It is little things like this, Thai people adopting stupid Farang odd behavior that makes me wonder just how much longer I want to stay here.

last night I burst out laughing as a Thai kid walked by with a tee shirt that said "STRAIGHT OUT OF COMPTON". For those of you that don't know Compton is a very small city near Los Angeles and the name of a film about Hip Hop and gangs. If I go back to the USA maybe I will wear a tee shirt that says "STRAIGHT OUT OF HUA HIN". 

  

[JohnBarleycorn]

7 minutes ago, steven100 said:

can i come with you

All who abide by the law are most welcome.

[sukhumvitneon]

Don't come back to this dump called USA under any circumstances

[transam]

6 minutes ago, sukhumvitneon said:

Don't come back to this dump called USA under any circumstances

Why...?

[MJKT2014]

9 hours ago, JohnBarleycorn said:

For example, this evening, I was subjected to sounds of some young Thai girl pretending to be a Farang training for the Tour de France. She had her balcony door open wide, her Farang music blasting on her Farang loudspeakers, and she was shouting and screaming at herself to push harder. Push, push, push!  “Is she giving birth?”, I wondered?!

I'd rather just tell them to shut the f up? Not worth traveling the other side of the world to avoid.

[NCC1701A]

9 hours ago, JohnBarleycorn said:

And so, while sitting on my balcony this evening, I began to think about a return to America. My return to America will be simply epic for me. Even triumphal, maybe.

i am an American. I don't know you but there is a real good chance you are going to hate the USA.

Maybe if you have 127,000 a month $4000 USD and can find a small town in rural America like Nevada or Montana. But you still have to interact with Americans everywhere you go. You might need a car and drivers license. Labor is expensive, health care is expensive and visiting the doctor is a cold horrible experience. you will need to stand in line at the pharmacy. you will still need to go grocery shopping. the same thing every time. OVER AND OVER. and if you can't shop or drive yourself your costs will sky rocket. no massage, no street food, and no one will talk to you and it will be the last time anyone smiles at you.

 

believe me i get the hermit thing but there is much to consider returning to the USA. 

    

[JohnBarleycorn]

I doubt that I will hate the USA.

I am rather liberal in my thinking.

I even can accept sugar plum fairies.

I don't need to be one to enjoy them....right?

 

Holly came from Miami, F.L.A.
Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she
She says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Said, "Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side"

Candy came from out on the island
In the backroom, she was everybody's darlin'
But she never lost her head
Even when she was givin' head
She says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"

And the colored girls go
Do-do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do, do

Little Joe never once gave it away
Everybody had to pay and pay
A hustle here and a hustle there
New York City is the place where they said
"Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey Joe, take a walk on the wild side"

Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets
Lookin' for soul food and a place to eat
Went to the Apollo
You should have seen him go, go, go
They said, "Hey Sugar, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Alright, huh

Jackie is just speedin' away
Thought she was James Dean for a day
Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would have helped that bash
She said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side"

And the colored girls say
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
 

[JohnBarleycorn]

17 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

i am an American. I don't know you but there is a real good chance you are going to hate the USA.

Maybe if you have 127,000 a month $4000 USD and can find a small town in rural America like Nevada or Montana. But you still have to interact with Americans everywhere you go. You might need a car and drivers license. Labor is expensive, health care is expensive and visiting the doctor is a cold horrible experience. you will need to stand in line at the pharmacy. you will still need to go grocery shopping. the same thing every time. OVER AND OVER. and if you can't shop or drive yourself your costs will sky rocket. no massage, no street food, and no one will talk to you and it will be the last time anyone smiles at you.

 

believe me i get the hermit thing but there is much to consider returning to the USA. 

    

No it won't.

I will smile at myself in the mirror.

There is ALWAYS that!

[northsouthdevide]

Apart from being able to drink water direct from the tap (faucet), 

And walking on an evenly paved road, I can't think of any other positives of living back in the UK. 

Oh, add to that, the availability of tea bags now tesco have abandoned us. 

 

[uncleeagle]

OP sounds like a deluded, self grandiose bore suffering an extreme bout of verbal diarhea...go, move back, sit in a trailer park somewhere, nobody will miss you.

[moe666]

10 hours ago, JohnBarleycorn said:

OK.

But then...what about the internet connection??

 

I cannot function without internet.

AND...from my experience, even for places quite near to the university, still the internet is NOT stable.

Just a few miles outside the city, and the internet becomes unstable at unpredictable times, and for extended times, sometimes, too.

I live in Chiang Mai south of the old city but north of the super Highway it is very quiet on our soi. It is a ded end so no thru traffic. We have a lot of visitors here different birts come thru, just had on my patio a big red headed bird of some sort. I have been here dfor ten years go home evry 2 years defiantly no desire to move back to trump land

[ChakaKhan]

8 hours ago, JohnBarleycorn said:

Yes, surely you are correct.

BUT, during the past few days, I have found myself using Google Voice to actually call coffee shops in Maine, USA.

What I have found from calling these coffee shops is:  I get a recording stating that the shops are not open at this time, presumably due to the virus.

 

However, this does not stop me from wondering about my moving to Maine....

I have been there before, even though I have never lived there.

 

YET....YET....These days, I just wonder what it might be like to live up in Maine, such a very beautiful state, and live in a land with thousands of lakes, billions of pine trees, and enough snow to satisfy anyone's desires.

 

Google Voice is great.  I applied for Google Voice a few years ago so that I can call any phone in the USA at no charge, or almost no charge.

Maybe when the coffee shops reopen in Maine, then I will call them to sort of shoot the sh..t, and maybe strike up a friendship.

Ahh Google Voice..LOVe that app as I used it in CM when my thai sim wouldnt work to rebook my flight.

 

So yep I escaped and ducked thru the window to make it back to USA and land back on St Patricks Day

 

In hindsight I wish I stayed....Is a hot mess here. As I type the news has rioting going on, again, over another black man killed by a cop, again..rinse lather repeat...ugh  RIP to Mr Floyd, who was not resisting and cuffed

 

I come home to work and save money to return to Cm and have been doing so since 2008 as I gave up on the states after the big bank bailout.....and have had a foot between the east coast and CM ever since.

I tried the teaching(babysitting)thing in CM and gave up and did some cooking(rimping) and volunteering

Is just easier for me to return to east coast to work, make more $$ , visa free and as I do, enjoy the snow

 

I even worked in Maine on a historic schooner for a season and loved it up there, was snowing in april and enjoyed a ride up to arcadia park and its rugged beauty, i recall saying this is where God must vacation!

 

I luckily fell into an airbnb last year as I bought an old wagon and put a bed in the back as I too wanted to be away from pll and just work and save money to return to CM...I tinted the windows limo black and could park and wake up looking at ocean or mountains and just turn the key if It got noisy....I did some work with a phone delivery app so made my own hours and could work where ever I was and parked my car. I would eat anywhere as food was accessible and used a 24 hr gym to shower, even had a weed pump bottle for emergency showers if I was a a bit more out in the country..everything I own now fits in that wagon too...

however last years heat pushed me out into the airbnb out in the country on 4 acres..big sky starry nights.

 

I have a unlocked phone , from CM that I use a T mobile unlimited wifi for $50/month, so I would watch tv on my phone attached to my window and use the hotspot for my laptop and its been reliable all over too.

 

However the reverse culture shock of coming home sucks, everyone is in such a rush and its so expensive after living in CM, is always easier to go to Cm then it is to come home, find work and a place to live but luckily I have my wagon as a back up weather permitting as east coast humidity sucks! add in the cops too.

 

Im currently looking at a 4 season trailer to live in as its insulated for year round living for heat and cold and the owners where I am have 4 acres, as I maintain the land and house as they travel in their RV as well

 

People here always ask why I tell them im going back to Cm after some bad exps, dengue, broken leg, fights, visas, etc....but I feel much safer in LOS than USA, and get bored being here, as said just here to work and I ask them give me a good reason to stay and I  will, I have to go to Cm for basic human needs, to be able to have my own basic apt-studio room $100 in CM or a rented room in a house sharing a bathroom, for $600.....affordable food in Cm and many healthy options as Im now eating <deleted> as there are meat shortages and food is $$$ here, if we were allowed out due to pandemic as Ive been inside for over 2 months since returning to think Id be looking for work and that mess is a whole other ballgame as my plan may change drastically come nov 3rd, so this will be a defining year for the state of this country....ugh

 

is nice to come home for a year for xmas -snow-drinkable water--nice bed and shower--seeing friends and family but they are all settled and working so I barely see them actually...so best I just focus on work..

 

I lived behind the airport and I know your area well..I always told ppl I could never live near nimman-noise

There is nothing in the USA that I cant get in Cm but I live a very simple basic life and just ride around Cm on my bike daily and can get boring but try to stay busy..its a simple cheap and affordable place for housing-food-healthcare..all of which I struggle with in USA.....Im paying more for less quality here....why?

 

And My love for asian cuties and esp the cute china dolls on nimman, yet I am single as I dont pay to play but meet a few chinese and the tourists thru travel apps etc but find I prefer my thai area behind airport.

 

Just a bit of a ramble as my typing sucks and thoughts are all over the place but id def "sleep on it" as you can PM me to get updates but I am itching to get back to CM asap and Ive only been home since march 17

 

As your post was like a look into the future as we seem to live parallel lives--so close yet so far! good luck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tomazbodner]

Alaska? Snow, polar bears and pine trees, no civilisation.

 

But where there is no civilisation, forget ultra fast (or any) internet.

[MyTHaiMyKe]

8 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

I thought I would miss Thailand when I moved back to the USA after living there for 10+ years.

But I didn't.

Smart man, there is nothing to miss in Thailand. It has changed for the worse over the last 6 years!

[ChakaKhan]

32 minutes ago, northsouthdevide said:

Apart from being able to drink water direct from the tap (faucet), 

And walking on an evenly paved road, I can't think of any other positives of living back in the UK. 

Oh, add to that, the availability of tea bags now tesco have abandoned us. 

 

555 A third of my backpack was filled with loose tea to bring to CM..customs thought it was pot......

as its all I drink all day 24/7/365