Why do you continue to live in Thailand

[murraynz]

19 hours ago, Catkiwi said:

Yes, but she used to be her brother

Omg,thats soooo funny...thanks

[DrTuner]

After reading a few of these threads, it looks like most left in Thailand are from UK or US. Given the state they are in, perhaps Thailand is better. For Europeans though (After brexit the islands are just that, eh?), it seems to have been a full exodus.

[CorpusChristie]

5 minutes ago, domdom said:

but cannot imagine going back to Europe with all what is going on there for years and getting worse every year (crimes, immigrants,

Thats why I left my own Country to come and live here , too many immigrants back home

[Old Croc]

13 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

To answer your questions honestly, I thought I did do my homework on life here, perhaps I did view the country as a tourist, even though I would spend time in the village, a month or two, some time 3 times a year, but with a break in Phuket. The serenity of the village was just great, the greenery, and being away from the hustle and bustle, but a few things I didn't take into consideration were the constant blackouts, the smoke being as bad as it is and other things, suppose I was a little naive if you like and did think that I could handle the change, but the weather I think has finally gotten the better of me, even with air conditioners, to go for a walk would be to get burnt ????

 

I don't feel embarrassed to say I made a mistake at all, I made a mistake, there you have it from the horses mouth so to speak, but I don't think I would be the first, and don't feel that I am putting the onus on others to run back home, everyone has their own choices. I was just asking the question, as the topic asks: Why do you continue to live in Thailand, not suggesting for anyone to leave or that pastures are greener on the other side, if you take my post another way, you shouldn't, I was just mearley asking a question, to compare, a bit of chit chat, gossip, something one does, perhaps that is too deep for you and you see it as me having a go at those of you who choose to remain, but that's not the way it is intended, so please chill......perhaps your a little sensitive on the topic ?

 

When I do return, I can assure you I won't be posting how good or bad it is, or if I made another mistake, as this forum is for life in Thailand I believe, and if I make the mistake by returning, well such is life, we don't know if we don't try, and I did try it here, but it is not for me, at least I know what I am going to back in Sydney, although I believe it will be different this time around as I won't be working as I was before, so maybe I might have the time to enjoy it as I had the time here.

Perhaps I am a little sensitive on the subject, but those who know me would be surprised at that description!

I fully accept that this place, and it's many drawbacks, can become too much for some, and an escape back to structured normality is the best course for them. I wish them luck in their choices. What I get tired of is that so many returnees think that those who remain, in the face of the barrage of imposition, must have something wrong with them.

Sorry, but I don't accept you were merely asking the question for a bit of "chit chat".  I consider that to ask others "why they continue to live in Thailand" definitely implies that those who don't follow your path are foolish.

 

Good luck.

 

[Curt1591]

I think it all boils down to why someone comes here in the first place. 

 

 

 

 

[johnray]

It's cheaper, safer and easy than living in England.  The weather is amazing as well.  A summer day everyday.  It's a nice base to travel around Asia as well.

[soalbundy]

44 minutes ago, stouricks said:

Strapped in on the back seat then.

on the bonnet

[soalbundy]

14 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

Thats why I left my own Country to come and live here , too many immigrants back home

so now you are an immigrant

[4MyEgo]

9 hours ago, nauseus said:

Sounds like you need to change your footnote then.

Refer to #8 on page 1

[4MyEgo]

15 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

Perhaps I am a little sensitive on the subject, but those who know me would be surprised at that description!

I fully accept that this place, and it's many drawbacks, can become too much for some, and an escape back to structured normality is the best course for them. I wish them luck in their choices. What I get tired of is that so many returnees think that those who remain, in the face of the barrage of imposition, must have something wrong with them.

Sorry, but I don't accept you were merely asking the question for a bit of "chit chat".  I consider that to ask others "why they continue to live in Thailand" definitely implies that those who don't follow your path are foolish.

 

Good luck.

 

I can understand what you are saying, but only accept what your saying up to a degree, i.e. you not accepting me merely asking the question for a bit of "chit chat" in case you didn't notice there have been some good replies, 9 pages worth, if that's not "chit chat", e.g. farangs liking my post or responding with their versions on life and why they choose to remain living here, then I don't know what your on about.

 

Foolish I am not, you said; perhaps you are a little sensitive on the subject, so I will leave it at that and also wish you luck in remaining in Thailand, like I said, it is for some, and it is not for others, we each make our beds, and I don't wish for others to follow me as you are implying, I mean what would I accomplish from that, squat, zero, nothing ????

 

[pineapple01]

14 minutes ago, johnray said:

It's cheaper, safer and easy than living in England.  The weather is amazing as well.  A summer day everyday.  It's a nice base to travel around Asia as well.

Cheaper in Some respects. i pay a fortune on imported quality Food.

[crazykopite]

I’ve been asking myself that question for the last few months as my wife got stuck in the U.K. when Thailand stopped all flights if things don’t change pretty soon I will pull the shutters down on our property and go back to the UK there is more to life than living in a concrete block on your own. Ive even got frustrated with the cat been trying to teach her different board games for the last few months and all she does is clear the board with one swoop of her paw ☹️☹️☹️

Edited June 11, 2020 by crazykopite

[ChakaKhan]

Simple living--Cheap apt--variety of cheap eats--can afford a doctor--all expensive back in the states..

 

So If anyone could go anywhere in the world for the same cost of living or less with decent wifi access

 

Where would that place be...Im a free agent...Nothing keeping me locked down here, but if you give a location why is it better the LOS.........always up for a backup spot to try simple living....

Quote

 

 

[Logosone]

44 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

After reading a few of these threads, it looks like most left in Thailand are from UK or US. Given the state they are in, perhaps Thailand is better. For Europeans though (After brexit the islands are just that, eh?), it seems to have been a full exodus.

That's a very good point, I lived in both the UK and Germany. I found the UK to be much worse, far more petty crime, vandalism, etc, the housing was a lot worse, the health care, and the food as well. So if I were just from the UK it's much easier to decide on Thailand. However, with Germany, fantastic housing quality, excellent food, good health care, less vandals, so it was basically just the boredom there that got me out. It really does depend where you're from.

[Logosone]

54 minutes ago, domdom said:

 

It is not perfect here.. but cannot imagine going back to Europe with all what is going on there for years and getting worse every year (crimes, immigrants, robberies etc.. etc..)

 

I do feel much safer here in Thailand than anywhere else actually. That's another plus for Thailand, no vandalism, petty crime etc.

Edited June 11, 2020 by Logosone

[Tagged]

1 hour ago, stouricks said:

Can you suggest where might be please.

Well there is many reasons to move back to a country with better social vealthcare, and where you still have your family, relatives, friends and your hearth. For othersnthat could be something different! 
 

Just an example it is when ambulances get stuck in traffic, here and nobody <deleted> moves away. 2. Is the heat here when get old, 3. I might get medical help to dye when time is up, and that will happen in few years in most civilized countries. 
 

But who cares we all gona die, so it might be anywhere, and hopefully die before sick and useless to my self. 

[brewsterbudgen]

9 minutes ago, pineapple01 said:

Cheaper in Some respects. i pay a fortune on imported quality Food.

Yes, it's a bit of a myth to say it's cheap here (in Bangkok anyway) compared to the west.  The price of wine, cheese, decent pizzas, Indian food, M&S underwear is exorbitant.  I've worked here for 15 years but I don't want to live like a Thai!

[newnative]

        I read your list of negatives and they all seem pretty trivial.  Pattaya Beach, by the way, is quite nice now and clean. (You live in Issan and have lousy beaches as one of your complaints?  Reaching.)  If one is happy with one's life and where one is living, I think all those little annoyances you managed to come up with would be just that--little annoyances.  If one isn't happy, then the little annoyances become gigantic irritants eating at you (those lousy beaches, how can I live here!)--and maybe a move to somewhere else is just the right thing.  I hope you will be happier wherever you land. 

       I continue to enjoy living here with my Thai partner in Pattaya, with a Bangkok getaway condo.  I certainly couldn't afford to have two residences back in the US--but Thailand is great with a low cost of living that allows us to live very well.  I love the year-round nice weather and being active 12 months of the year rather than retreating indoors during the winter months like I used to do.  Good health care and a safe environment are also pluses.  Love my ocean and beach view--likely out of my price range in the US for something comparable.  Pattaya has all we need to live a similar lifestyle to what we had in the US--but cheaper.  

[spidermike007]

If I were wealthy, I might spend two or three months of the year here, and perhaps the balance in Spain, traveling, and and a month in the US, where my business and family are. But, since I am not, I live a good life here. This is an entirely subjective topic, of course. Some of us have been fortunate enough to find an outstanding woman, who is delightful to be around, on a daily basis, always has our back, and is fun, smart, and lovely. For me, that likelihood of finding that back in the US, would be very low. So, that is a big factor for me. The second factor is just the quality of life. Sure, I miss alot of the culture back home. The theatre, independent film (which I can download here with no issues at all, and a super fast 550mbps fiber optic connection, at under 900 baht per month, 450 per month for the first year!), stand up comedy, live jazz, etc. But I have a lovely home that I rent, for about 10% of what I would pay in California, I live very well on an income which is not huge, have access to great health care, at a tiny fraction of what it costs in the US, and do not have to put up with alot of the aggravation that I had to when I lived back there. I would not want to move back there, unless I was either being paid a million dollars a year, or the situation was dire. I find a large percent of Americans to be dour, bitter, disenfranchised, and not at all warm or friendly, these days. And did I mention totally lacking in humor?

 

And how about the cost of living? Thailand is still reasonable. It used to be cheap. Has not been cheap for a long time. But, it is still reasonable. I know people who pay 10,000 baht a month for newer 3 bedroom houses in nice towns. In major cities in the US? $2000-4000 a month. That is 120,000 baht! In Los Angeles, one bedroom, 80 sq m. apartments are renting for $3,750 a month. At least pre-Covid. That is 117,000 baht a month, and that is the very definition of insanity, and an economy that has spiraled out of control, into abusive inflationary territory.

 

I had my motorbike seat recently redone on my scooter. 400 baht. A friend of mine had similar work done in the US. $275. 

I recently had a guy come over and insulate my ceiling. I bought the insulation and paid him 2000 baht for labor. In the US? $500 to $1,000.

I recently had an electrician do some work on the house. Nearly a full day of work. Paid him 1000 baht. In the US? $500 to $1,000.

An oil change for my scooter costs me 200 baht, with Castrol oil. In the US? $45 to $75.

When I travel here I stay in nice four star hotels in Bangkok. 1800-2000 baht. In the US? $130 for a crappy motel. $200 and up for a nice room.

I eat well here. In a smaller town you can get a three course meal for 200-250 baht. In the US? 2000 baht and up, plus tax and a nearly mandatory 15% tip.

I visit the emergency room here to visit a specialist, and with x-rays I am out the door for 2000 baht, at a private hospital. In the US? $300 and up for a private clinic and an emergency room visit is $2000 to $4000. 

Friends of mine, who are single, enjoy the company of a young, beautiful woman for a couple of hours, for 2500 baht. In the US? $800 an hour now for a moderately pretty gal, with alot of unwarranted attitude. I could go on and on, all day long. I live at a level here, that I would never be able to live at, in the US, in most of Europe, in Oz, or Canada. Yes, the higher baht is an annoyance. And yes things are more expensive than they used to be. But, it is very relative.

 

Sure, Thailand has changed. My first trip here was in 1976! It was so much different than now. The politics here are absolutely regressive. The army is horrendous. Will that ever improve? I think so. I think the youth will eventually oust them, as they are virtually useless to Thai society, with the exception of protecting the elite. those in power and the super wealthy. But alot of things here have improved since then. The infrastructure here is quite good. Sure they could use a high speed rail. That would be amazing. Hopefully it will happen. The whole world is different now. The whole planet is being affected by a greatly expanding population, inflation, environmental issues, politics, and congestion. So, we are going to experience some of that no matter where we are. All I know, is that every day I wake up, I am very glad to be here, very glad to be with the woman I am with, and thankful for my life. Would I feel the same way in the US? I seriously doubt it. Most of my friends back in the US, say they would trade positions with me, in a heartbeat, if they could. I believe them. And I feel for them. The quality of life where I came from is a pale shadow of what it used to be. No thanks. 

 

There is one more consideration. No matter where we go, we still have to contend with ourselves, our attitude, our issues and our minds. So, some will always be seeking greener pastures. Nothing wrong with that. But, it does not insure fulfillment. 

 

[Peterw42]

1 hour ago, Skallywag said:

I have nowhere and nothing to go back to in the U.S.  My life is here and I enjoy it so far.  Life is for living, and I have much more easy living here on a daily basis.  

No car needed, no worries about high rent and food costs, companionship available wherever desired.   Example: went fishing the other day with friends, big wooden boat, fish all cooked up with rice and side dishes for all, swimming, drinking, lounging on the upper deck, enjoying the views and all for 700 baht.  In the U.S. it would cost that much just to park your car at the marina for a day and the trip would be at least 3000 baht per person.  

The same day out wouldn't exist back home, there would be 3-4 laws prohibiting it, no fishing, no cooking unless its a proper commercial kitchen, no drinking without a proper licensed bar, the company running the tour wouldn't be able to afford the insurance, liability etc etc.

Or, as you say, would be ridiculously expensive.

[Deli]

With all the restrictions, irrational laws and repression in place, I still feel more free than in my home country. Plus the weather, never need a warm coat, ride the bike 365 days a year. You need to compromise to appreciate

[Jonnapat]

I came here in 2000 when the UK had a reasonably good government and was still respected by most of the rest of the world.

Fact is I just couldn't bear the thought of living under the present clueless, arrogant, hard right Brexit government led by a complete incompetent with Trump- like personality traits. 

For all it's obvious drawbacks, Thailand is still a better alternative for me.

[Tagged]

42 minutes ago, newnative said:

        I read your list of negatives and they all seem pretty trivial.  Pattaya Beach, by the way, is quite nice now and clean. (You live in Issan and have lousy beaches as one of your complaints?  Reaching.)  If one is happy with one's life and where one is living, I think all those little annoyances you managed to come up with would be just that--little annoyances.  If one isn't happy, then the little annoyances become gigantic irritants eating at you (those lousy beaches, how can I live here!)--and maybe a move to somewhere else is just the right thing.  I hope you will be happier wherever you land. 

       I continue to enjoy living here with my Thai partner in Pattaya, with a Bangkok getaway condo.  I certainly couldn't afford to have two residences back in the US--but Thailand is great with a low cost of living that allows us to live very well.  I love the year-round nice weather and being active 12 months of the year rather than retreating indoors during the winter months like I used to do.  Good health care and a safe environment are also pluses.  Love my ocean and beach view--likely out of my price range in the US for something comparable.  Pattaya has all we need to live a similar lifestyle to what we had in the US--but cheaper.  

Some people find beauty and positivity where they live, where they come from orign, and where they go, spme others do not see the same ore know what it is! 
 

It is a piece of art to manage to thrive in the moment, and at once the moment is gone create your own art and thrive, or move on

[totally thaied up]

10 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

There is one more consideration. No matter where we go, we still have to contend with ourselves, our attitude, our issues and our minds. So, some will always be seeking greener pastures. Nothing wrong with that. But, it does not insure fulfillment.

Yes, there is one thing you need to deal with is your mind. I find a mai bpen rai attitude has cured most my feelings on things I do not care about in Thailand and that comes solely from your mindset. A year ago I went home to Oz and I had a wonderful time and I came back seriously disenfranchised with my life. I hated everything here for about a period of three months until I realized it was my mindset that was holding me back from having a good life. At that point I just let it all go, swept it under the carpet and moved forward. The only thing is I miss my family (Mum and Dad) in Australia a great deal and that is really about the only thing that makes me sad.

 

The other thing here is boredom. Many of my friends (and myself) left busy work environments that had a lot of stress. Just being stressed out every day from working but thinking that was the sole purpose to life was a hard habit to kick. I found it so hard to settle down and stay still. I think that boredom plays a large part in how people live anywhere in the world. You need to stay busy and stay positive for you to be happy anywhere. There is plenty to keep one busy here if you look for something to do. I have a garden and that keeps me busy in the morning. I have two Shih Tzu's that are only 8 months old and they give me much pleasure as I am able to spend time with them at home every day with out being rushed off my feet. Small simple pleasures in life now mean a great deal to me.

 

Living in Thailand is not easy. Neither is living in Australia. Living almost anywhere is not easy at times. Depends solely on what you see as a better option. We all have our reasons on where we live and what we do.

 

 

[Darkside Gray]

I just don't know!

[malibukid]

i  continue to grow here, something i could not do in the States.  i have also found purpose here through my charity work.  love Asia and Thailand is at the center of many interesting countries.  i studied Pacific Asian culture at Uni, so this works for me.

Edited June 11, 2020 by malibukid

[alien365]

Because I hate the thought of going back to the daily grind in the UK. While I love going back to the UK for a holiday, seeing the family and going to the countryside, living there is a different story. It's mostly cold, work is exhausting, things are expensive and people are not nice anymore. I can't help but appreciate the eye candy in Thailand either, even though I'm happily married; in comparison, the UK is full of heifers with attitude.

[Caldera]

For me it's the tropical climate, easy and fast access to many nice beaches, seafood and Thai food, lack of social pressure (for me as a foreigner) to live a monogamous and boring life.

 

[Fairynuff]

It always comes back to the same thing, sex is cheaper here 

[Kurtf]

I continue to live here because I and my wife owned some land 40km north of Chiang Mai and we wanted to take care of her ailing father so we built a house on the land. Now that he has passed, we can not sell the house without taking a severe loss. If we could get a price even close to what we have invested I and my wife would be gone like a shot.