Living Here Gets Better for Some and Worse for Others - Why

[Silent Number]

4 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

I write what I want, that is what the forum is for, people's opinions.

 

If you don't like them, don't read them and upset yourself.

 

Never really understood, unless it touches a personal nerve, why people get so upset reading other's responses?

 

Maybe you can enlighten us why it bothers you so much to make a personal attack?

 

Honestly you couldn't even carry my brief case. You will never achieve that kind of financial lifestyle.

 

So don't think for a minute I am miserable and try to prop yourself up because you have nothing.

 

You should have figured out a long time ago, that many in Thailand are not content for one reason or another.

 

Some that state they are content, how do you know unless you know them personally?

 

You seem to be the type of person that read "If the sky was falling" you would believe it.

 

You think every post on this forum is true?

 

I think you responded in the way you did because you are miserable

 

 

 

Thank you for those uplifting words you just confirmed what I suspected all along and I don’t use the term lightly but you are one of if not the most uneducated TROLL on this site.I realise now after your comments that’s all you are is a Troll. Don’t post again as you are not worth responding to.

[wwest5829]

46 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

At $2200 a month, you could certainly live in the USA.

 

Most people that work their entire lives have their house paid off, bills paid, off and can live off their retirement earnings.

 

Do you own the house in Thailand or was it your wife's?

 

How about the car? 

 

Do you have any children? What will you leave them? Nothing?

 

$11K out of pocket may sound like a good idea to you, but not compared to medicare. That was half a year's income.

 

As far as Americans retiring to other countries?

 

What percent of Americans out-priced themselves in the USA, versus worked and planned their entire lives to be able to live in their dream destination? 

 

The interesting thing, which I don't think you really address, is why is it that most people that move to Thailand get married to a Thai? You never really hear of any married couples moving to Thailand because it is such a wonderful place to retire to?

 

Did you move to Thailand solely to get married because Thai women will marry anyone, and it was a place you could afford?

 

There are plenty of countries within hours reach of the US you could live just fine on $2200 a month. 

 

Why go half way around the world? Something must have prompted you to Thailand?

 

The good weather? Sure if you like it smoking hot and humid, or monsoon rain 6 months out of the year. Floods, droughts, not my idea of good weather.

 

The food? No thanks to eating Thai food everyday the rest of my life.

 

Traffic? Accidents.

 

Baht rate? A slight shift if the baht rate means you wouldn't meet the minimum for a visa?

 

Air pollution?

 

Trash everywhere?

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK, got it. So, for you, not Thailand. Hope you ar happy where you are. I and others are happy in Thailand, despite your personal opinion. Oh, so are some married Expat Americans, Aussies and Brits I have known over the 9 years here. Different strokes for different folks. Sad to see you feel it necessary to question their choice. Fortunately, I and others need not conform to your personal opinion. OK ... you go your way, I go mine. Dismissed ...

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Silent Number said:

Let me enlighten you a little about builders...In my country and probably yours to become a builder you must attend a T.A.F.E. College and pass written and practical tests whilst working as an apprentice for 3years with a certified builder then you get a certificate to hang up on your wall and a card licensed builder. In Thailand the procedure is.... Oops there is no procedure you are a builder because you say you are.  (phu kochung)
 

There didn't seem to be any requirements like that in the UK.

It was much the same as in Thailand.

[BritManToo]

53 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

Do you own the house in Thailand or was it your wife's?

How about the car? 

Do you have any children? What will you leave them? Nothing?

It usually ends up being the wife's house in western countries as well.

The car is mine, but it's such a pain registering anything as a foreigner, the m/c I bought last week just went in the gfs name.

Children are better off making their own way in life, providing them with food, shelter and education is enough IMHO.

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

What I wanted 20, 15, 10 years ago may not be what I want today.

I've pretty much always wanted young slim women (weighing under 50Kg) in their early 30s.

I wanted them in my 20s, I still want them in my 60s.

[Silent Number]

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

There didn't seem to be any requirements like that in the UK.

It was much the same as in Thailand.

That’s probably the case Brit but I’m pretty sure you have to qualify as an apprentice. I will look that up

[Silent Number]

29 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

OK, got it. So, for you, not Thailand. Hope you ar happy where you are. I and others are happy in Thailand, despite your personal opinion. Oh, so are some married Expat Americans, Aussies and Brits I have known over the 9 years here. Different strokes for different folks. Sad to see you feel it necessary to question their choice. Fortunately, I and others need not conform to your personal opinion. OK ... you go your way, I go mine. Dismissed ...

Just a Troll  wwest treat it with the contempt it deserves don’t play his game

[Silent Number]

24 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I've pretty much always wanted young slim women (weighing under 50Kg) in their early 30s.

I wanted them in my 20s, I still want them in my 60s.

Brit I think what he meant was what I did 20-15-10 years ago I can’t do today Typo maybe

Edited August 9, 2020 by Silent Number
4 large Singha sleeping medication I’m off to the cot I hope she who knows everything is asleep so I don’t have to do household chores

[bwpage3]

50 minutes ago, Silent Number said:

Thank you for those uplifting words you just confirmed what I suspected all along and I don’t use the term lightly but you are one of if not the most uneducated TROLL on this site.I realise now after your comments that’s all you are is a Troll. Don’t post again as you are not worth responding to.

Sad when you struggle to survive and others have it all.

 

I can understand your jealousy!

 

[bwpage3]

40 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

OK, got it. So, for you, not Thailand. Hope you ar happy where you are. I and others are happy in Thailand, despite your personal opinion. Oh, so are some married Expat Americans, Aussies and Brits I have known over the 9 years here. Different strokes for different folks. Sad to see you feel it necessary to question their choice. Fortunately, I and others need not conform to your personal opinion. OK ... you go your way, I go mine. Dismissed ...

Quite an odd point of view for an educator?

 

I thought the point was to educate people through facts and experience?

 

You seem to want to dismiss talking about anything that go you where you are today?

 

 

[wwest5829]

20 minutes ago, Silent Number said:

Just a Troll  wwest treat it with the contempt it deserves don’t play his game

Agree ... I often let them run out the line for a bit so all of us can benefit from the recognition. He, like far too many, do not show any personal profile information.

[473geo]

On 8/7/2020 at 11:33 AM, spidermike007 said:

This is an entirely subjective topic, of course. But some of us live very good lives here. 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 800 baht per month!), 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.

 

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.

 

 

And what about the standard 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? $2000-3800 a month. That is 120,000 baht!

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 and up.

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 and up.

 

An oil change for my scooter costs me 200 baht, with Castrol oil. In the US? $50 and up. 

 

When I travel here I stay in nice four star hotels in Bangkok. 1800-2000 baht. And now those same rooms are 1200 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? $300-3000 for a visit to a clinic or emergency room. 

 

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 attractive woman with alot of attitude and anything but a light heart! 

 

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.

 

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.

As usual an interesting post, first 2 paragraphs I enjoyed, then you drop onto comparison mode.

I struggle to understand why people need to do this, the financial priority for my family is what we can buy for how many Thai baht in Thailand, I care not a jot how much I would pay in my home country!!

Same with the weather, if there is no rain in Thailand and it is hot, the rice won't grow!! I do not care if it is pouring down snowing or blowing a gale in my home country!!

 

An example - I read complaints about Thai plumbing - we have a modest bungalow we have a kitchen for cooking in a room alongside the house can be shut off with a closed door, there is no sink inside, only a tap for the washing machine!! the minimal amount of pipes run above ground along the back of the house mostly unseen - We wash the dishes outside. I'll leave you guys to work why you are unhappy!!

So why does it work for us, well we share common values and interests, children and the farm, we learnt a long time ago to do more often what makes us happy, not always what is 'expected', fortunately my wife is strong and our communication lines are solid - this has worked out well, planning and building our family future together 'our way' We are not 'rich' financially, we have 'enough' but every day we can view what we have enjoyed creating and achieved - together.

Is there more to do to 'improve' life - sure - but the basics are done, the foundations for a comfortable everyday life are laid, and if I die tomorrow I will die happy knowing what we achieved.

 

I write this from the UK where I wait to join my family, my days of corporate employment are dwindling fast and the vision for my retirement is almost a reality.

 

Some wanted to know why some people can say they are happy with what Thailand has to offer, some question if this happiness is real. For me it is ????????

 

Adaptability, attitude, and awareness that you are starting a new life in Thailand, not just an extension of what went before, because some things are not a sensible fit.........if you want to be 'happy'

 

 

 

 

Edited August 9, 2020 by 473geo

[rumak]

c'mon guys:  

[pookondee]

I think the OP needs to send this thread to his friend, and have him read every page.

 

He may well feel better about himself after reading some of the miserable pรicks on here.

555

 

Edited August 9, 2020 by pookondee

[GinBoy2]

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I've pretty much always wanted young slim women (weighing under 50Kg) in their early 30s.

I wanted them in my 20s, I still want them in my 60s.

Well that wasn't what I meant exactly.

 

But, I have never been into having multiple sexual partners, maybe because I'm lazy, I dunno.

 

As a 60 something guy what on earth would I have in common with a woman young enough to be my daughter, other than a financial transaction?

 

If thats what floats your boat, fair enough but it wouldn't be for me.

 

Apart from that, Mrs G has some awfully sharp kitchen knives!

[1FinickyOne]

13 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

It's not illegal to be grumpy,

just unpleasant for others around the grumpus... I can get grumpy too... so, at those times I stay in my office alone. 

[OneMoreFarang]

10 hours ago, Silent Number said:

Let me enlighten you a little about builders...In my country and probably yours to become a builder you must attend a T.A.F.E. College and pass written and practical tests whilst working as an apprentice for 3years with a certified builder then you get a certificate to hang up on your wall and a card licensed builder. In Thailand the procedure is.... Oops there is no procedure you are a builder because you say you are.  (phu kochung)
 

And sometimes it's even worse. When a Thai builder who has at least a little experience is hired to do something then he will often pick up some for-hire-workers on the street to do the work for him. Qualification mostly not existent. 

[BritManToo]

9 hours ago, Silent Number said:

Brit I think what he meant was what I did 20-15-10 years ago I can’t do today Typo maybe

I don't think there's anything I did in the past that I can't do today.

Can cycle further, can hike as far, just bought a proper motorcycle, seeing more attractive women.

 

Life can be pretty weird, as an old retired guy I have a better and more active life than when I was a 30 year old. 

 ...... and with better looking women.

 

Living here just gets better ................

Edited August 10, 2020 by BritManToo

[bwpage3]

13 hours ago, elliss said:

 

      Would i be correct in saying , you can't  speak Thai ..

 

Incorrect. English, Thai, Spanish all spoken, 4 years of French as well. But never used French. Spanish nearly everyday in Florida.

Edited August 10, 2020 by bwpage3

[thaibeachlovers]

On 8/8/2020 at 6:03 PM, Silent Number said:

Yes thankfully political correctness hasn’t reared it’s ugly head much in Thailand so far Not having a greens political party helps.

You haven't been paying attention then. Luckily it hasn't got very far, so far.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I don't think there's anything I did in the past that I can't do today.

Can cycle further, can hike as far, just bought a proper motorcycle, seeing more attractive women.

 

Life can be pretty weird, as an old retired guy I have a better and more active life than when I was a 30 year old. 

 ...... and with better looking women.

 

Living here just gets better ................

Just wait till you get gout and prostate cancer. You won't be so chipper then. Everything is OK till it's not.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, kenk24 said:

just unpleasant for others around the grumpus... I can get grumpy too... so, at those times I stay in my office alone. 

LOL. Being grumpy with another grumpy is very enjoyable. I spent many a happy hour complaining with a mate about Saudi. Never been anywhere else with so much to be grumpy about though.

[DrTuner]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And sometimes it's even worse. When a Thai builder who has at least a little experience is hired to do something then he will often pick up some for-hire-workers on the street to do the work for him. Qualification mostly not existent. 

Ah, the common Somchai. Screws up in house, garden and pool. Dissatisfaction guaranteed.

 

They attack as soon as you turn your back. 24/7/365 video surveillance needed, or they'll creep in from some hole and make your life a misery. A moat and boiling pots of tar help a bit.

[ChaiyaTH]

Interesting post, my life in TH only got better at first too. I realise now that was because I lived in BKK and had only foreign friends or western Thais.
Since that changed, my life here became worse and so I have more drama and complaints. 

Basically my life in BKK was god like with never issues or problems while since living with a Thai and Thais, there is always something. Like daily. Reminds me of my early youth when living among poorer, semi jobless etc Dutch people.....

To conclude if not having to earn here or deal with them Thais on a serious long term basis, it is heaven. Else quikly Hell.
To myself I guess it means TH is not bad at all, if I can get back to the earlier lifestyle, even if its just a bit, but it dies without tourism..

Edited August 10, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[BananaBandit]

On 8/8/2020 at 4:01 AM, BritManToo said:

Pretty much no woman wants a nice or caring man. They like scumbags.

By "scumbags" ....are you talking about the tattoo-laden stare-you-down violent type, or the smarmy backstabbing corporate type?

[thaibeachlovers]

On 8/11/2020 at 1:48 AM, BananaBandit said:

By "scumbags" ....are you talking about the tattoo-laden stare-you-down violent type, or the smarmy backstabbing corporate type?

Any dangerous man suffices, but the corporate types have to be seriously wealthy.

It's a survival of the species genetic thing. Females seek to mate with dangerous men to give their child the best genes to survive, but after breeding they seek a caring type of bloke that will happily bring up another man's child, as the father won't.