Moving to Thai farm Issaan

[maulibels85]

I guess I've (and wife - Thai Issan) have decided to move to Thai Isaan and farm and build a house in a handful of years. She has land there given by her father. We met 5 years ago, Married 2.5 years ago, living in USA. I've been to Thailand 4 times, 4 weeks at a time. 2 weeks this coming April.

Looking forward to the farming life of fast-growing stuff, our own chickens/ducks. Selling fish to local shops. Just slap a house down, small pool, live in a peaceful, quiet area, live a different life.

Suspect my career and job will go away next year, wife will keep working for a few years, then make the jump and at least move until I'm 65 then move back for awhile, maybe.

The heat bother me at times, but her lack of ability to garden in the northern climates are an issue. We have looked into SW USA.

The the other issue is the cost of healthcare in USA. Anyhoo, we plan to give it a shot. I'll retire early, she'll work, we'll keep the house for a few years, maybe come back for 6 months, fix it up and sell it.

Thailand has its tradeoffs, as does any SE country or rural area. Looking for a new life and change of pace and different scenery.

I've had many careers, worked in many jobs and many companies/corporations. This would be just a different challenge.

Yes, I will be over 50 (there already).

Ideas? Thought?

Yes, I've saved 401k/IRA, nothing too grand, small pension, house we could cash out prett good. Back up cash plan, if needed.

Wife is a bit younger than I and a great woman and the prize of my life. I can be alone 99% of my time. I can keep busy alone 99% of the time (excluding wife's time).

[bodga]

5 minutes ago, maulibels85 said:

Selling fish to local shops. Just slap a house down, small pool, live in a peaceful, quiet area, live a different life.

I  would bank on none of that  happening, peaceful and quiet in the country is  not so peaceful, youll get weekly thud  thud  music  coming from miles around, the fish you wont make money on recently had someone come get ours and it was a  total waste of  time, I have them for pets, they are worth nothing. Itll be different alright, be prepared for the endless  gossip and BS about what youve been up to, any problems the finger  will  point at you......repeatedly

[nikmar]

sounds great on paper. I hope it works out for you. ????

[BritManToo]

11 minutes ago, maulibels85 said:

The heat bother me at times, but her lack of ability to garden in the northern climates are an issue.

Ideas? Thought?

Don't do it ...... maybe stay there 6 months without spending money on a car or a house.

A lot of farming areas are not great places to live, unless you're a farmer.

Your misses clearly isn't interested in farming.

Edited November 5, 2020 by BritManToo

[Donekys]

I just moved to the family farm in Isaan after covid closed our business on a tourist island in south Thailand. Been here since May. It's killing me! I am very bored.

[NCC1701A]

42 minutes ago, maulibels85 said:

I guess I've (and wife - Thai Issan) have decided to move to Thai Isaan and farm and build a house in a handful of years. She has land there given by her father. We met 5 years ago, Married 2.5 years ago, living in USA. I've been to Thailand 4 times, 4 weeks at a time. 2 weeks this coming April.

welcome to the forum. i am a American. been living in Thailand continually for seven years. 

what part of Isaan?

42 minutes ago, maulibels85 said:

Looking forward to the farming life of fast-growing stuff, our own chickens/ducks. Selling fish to local shops. Just slap a house down, small pool, live in a peaceful, quiet area, live a different life.

that sounds good. make sure you have hobbies to keep you busy.

you can get Netflix here now. i could put in a home theater and get sound canceling headphones. i would not start construction on anything until you have lived here for at least one year. 

42 minutes ago, maulibels85 said:

 

 

42 minutes ago, maulibels85 said:

The the other issue is the cost of healthcare in USA. Anyhoo, we plan to give it a shot. I'll retire early, she'll work, we'll keep the house for a few years, maybe come back for 6 months, fix it up and sell it.

Check Aetna Insurance Thailand:

 

https://www.aetna.co.th/en/

 

42 minutes ago, maulibels85 said:

Thailand has its tradeoffs, as does any SE country or rural area. Looking for a new life and change of pace and different scenery.

if will be culture shock and you will learn to accept that things are done very differently here on every level or it will make you crazy. the first year will be the worst. and combined with building a house it will be a challenge. nothing that you can't over come. 

 

Edited November 5, 2020 by NCC1701A

[Surelynot]

Do not live in a village......I stuck it out for 4 months then came to Bangkok for some peace and quiet.......dogs, kids, tannoy systems, temples, 5 day funeral parties, deafening music, fights, charcoal fires, rubbish fires........otherwise really enjoyable......

[rumak]

25 minutes ago, maulibels85 said:

The heat bother me at times,

 

written like a true thai...........????

[Phoenix Rising]

"I guess I've (and wife - Thai Issan) have decided to move to Thai Isaan and farm and build a house in a handful of years."

 

My deepest condolences. I sincerely hope your ability to cope with boredom is immense!

[NCC1701A]

26 minutes ago, maulibels85 said:

Ideas? Thought?

i live i two place now. Hua Hin for starters and now Bangkok. 

I go back and forth.

 

my suggestion to you as someone from Los Angeles but had property in Montana is that you have two places. One up north and one somewhere else like Bangkok or Pattaya that has more activity. Think of it like living in Montana and going to Arizona for the winter. 

 

i sold everything i owned. all of it and came to Thailand with a few bags of clothes. It was a amazing experience to sell everything and live very simply for the first few years. no car. no sofa. no flatscreen. but after seven years i found myself in the Ford dealership in Bangkok last week looking at FX4 pickup trucks.  Don't need a truck, but no matter where you go there you are. By the way, your wife will want a Isuzu pickup. This may be the first true test of your marriage. haha.

 

just don't think in absolutes. 

 

[Whale]

I am also a village life failure. I stuck it out a whole year and decided it was not for me. Saying that there were others (farangs) in the area who seemed quite happy pottering. It was not for me, a day lasted a week.

[Surelynot]

15 minutes ago, Phoenix Rising said:

"I guess I've (and wife - Thai Issan) have decided to move to Thai Isaan and farm and build a house in a handful of years."

 

My deepest condolences. I sincerely hope your ability to cope with boredom is immense!

He can occupy himself scratching....555

[NCC1701A]

53 minutes ago, maulibels85 said:

Ideas? Thought?

rent the house in the USA. the rental income will be needed. never sell it. 

 

ask yourself this question. are you comfortable with putting 800,000 in a Thai bank and leaving it there year round? I am and this one thing makes dealing with Thai immigration so much easier. That is the first class way to go with getting a retirement visa. do not go the marriage visa route. 

 

if you think can can't do this one thing, i would rethink coming here until you have the cash to do so. 

 

[Surelynot]

4 minutes ago, Whale said:

I am also a village life failure. I stuck it out a whole year and decided it was not for me. Saying that there were others (farangs) in the area who seemed quite happy pottering. It was not for me, a day lasted a week.

You do need a particular mind set to survive....but what you need to actually enjoy it is beyond me?

[Brunolem]

More than 20 years in Thailand, and more than half of that in an Isaan village. 

 

First, you need to be the lonesome type... I can stay for months without talking once to a farang... no problem. 

 

Then you need to be patient, very patient, which I am not always, and leads to trouble. 

 

Nothing is easy in Isaan, nothing! 

 

Building a house... if you don't care about the result, go for it, but if you are the demanding type, get ready for some serious headaches. 

 

Forget about the fish... everybody has tried it... it leads nowhere. 

 

Forget about doing any business in general, and be ready to live only from your savings/pension or whatever you can bring with you. 

 

Edited November 5, 2020 by Brunolem

[Surelynot]

1 minute ago, NCC1701A said:

rent the house in the USA. the rental income will be needed. never sell it. 

 

ask yourself this question. are you comfortable with putting 800,000 in a Thai bank and leaving it there year round? I am and this one thing makes dealing with Thai immigration so much easier. That is the first class way to go with getting a retirement visa. do not go the marriage visa route. 

 

if you think can can't do this one thing, i would rethink coming here until you have the cash to do so. 

 

He will only need to put in 400,000 for a few months (2 or 3?) each year if he goes for a marriage extension.

[NCC1701A]

1 minute ago, Surelynot said:

He will only need to put in 400,000 for a few months (2 or 3?) each year if he goes for a marriage extension.

what he needs and what he should do are not the same thing.

if you want zero worries you leave the money in year round. 

[Surelynot]

1 minute ago, NCC1701A said:

what he needs and what he should do are not the same thing.

if you want zero worries you leave the money in year round. 

True....I've just been fretting about that and decided to just stick in 400,000 and forget about it.

[473geo]

Well here is the thing, during covid lockdowns in the UK it became easy to appreciate life without the everyday noise and pollution of vehicles, aircraft and the like, in a society that has forgotten how to walk. Hence I am very pleased that my arrival in the peaceful setting of Isaan is not too far away covid willing.

 

Enjoy

[Surelynot]

2 minutes ago, 473geo said:

everyday noise and pollution of vehicles

Don't worry.....there will still be plenty of these to remind you of 'real' life.....unless you get some where out in the rice fields themselves.

[Phoenix Rising]

14 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

You do need a particular mind set to survive....but what you need to actually enjoy it is beyond me?

A large private garden where you can grow "interesting" grass might help.

[473geo]

1 minute ago, Surelynot said:

Don't worry.....there will still be plenty of these to remind you of 'real' life.....unless you get some where out in the rice fields themselves.

I cycle a lot, there is no comparison, in the Uk the roads are always busy never lets up, cars blocking pavements and cycle lanes it is my pet hate about the UK that selfish lazy vehicle owners highlight the me first attitude. Cars are easily affordable and ownership is way out of control the place is becoming a giant car park

 

Give me the rice fields of Isaan every time

 

[holy cow cm]

Speaking some Thai opens up some boredom conversational doors. Lived in Issan years and years ago with the first Thai wife. It is ok but you must make up your mind if you can deal with it. it is different. There can be a bunch of trivial jealous gossipy type out in dem parts, but in reality you need to say where it is you are going as in what area and will you be in the sticks or near a decent sized city.

[Lacessit]

I would recommend renting first, maybe a house with some land. Don't shift all your assets here, you want an escape clause.

I live in my GF's village 2 - 3 days out of seven. I think I'd go gaga if I had to stay there 24/7.

[Saltire]

Good advice earlier to have 2 places in Thailand, one in the village and one somewhere with a bit of life about it.

 

Wife and I in tha village 3 years now (not Issan but similar) and yes it can be mind-numbingly boring and covid scuppered our plan of having a break somewhere every 4 or 5 weeks.

 

Plan B is now when her father pegs it (he's 96) we will find somewhere, probably in Hua Hin, to rent for longer breaks from the village, maybe alternate months.

 

Comments about fish agree, been there done it, not worth the effort I'm afraid.

 

 

 

[Robin]

I have been in Phayao village for 15 yrs now, and these warnings:-

1.  Everything you bring into Thailand you will have to leave in Thailand if you decide the life is not for you.

2.  Unless you are fluent in Thai, speaking and reading/writing you will be totally dependant on your wife, for all negotiation with local businesses.

3.  If you are building a house, everything costs more and takes longer than you expect, or the Thai workmen tell you.

4.  Do not expect anything to be done to US standards.  Thai workmen are cheaper than US for the reason that you only get what you pay for, if you are lucky.  You might have been an expert in your field in US, but any Thai will think that he knows more than you.

5.  Fish, or any other farming is organised for the benefit of the big Agro. businesses, CP or others, and you cannot change or fight that.

There is a reason that most Thai farmers are referred to as "poor Thai farmers"

6.  Never lend money to any Thai unless you are prepared to not be paid back.  As a farang, they will think that you can afford not to be repaid.

[Tagged]

Dont do it, unless, you know what you are doing, and can take the heat, lonelyness, and have a decent budget and time, so you can take off anytime you want to get out of there. 

 

Im 52, lived in Isan for a year soon, built a decent small farm, and love the challenge that comes with it. But, if you going to build house with local workers, get ready to loose your mind ????

 

I did a test with a small bungalow, water system, pond and planted fruit and hard tree last almost two years ago, now we have built a long house with everything we need, and vegetable garden as well. 

 

It is cheap, but it is thai village workers who do the job, and if you want it 100% you have some decent work to, and you are on top of it going to wear out your wife. 

 

If you ask me why I have done it?  Because I have two big bikes, decent hobbies, built myself a home gym, and are free to leave anytime I want, and not invested more than I can leave behind, and just say <deleted> happend. 

 

Be free to ask me any questions, 

[TSF]

1 hour ago, Surelynot said:

Do not live in a village......I stuck it out for 4 months then came to Bangkok for some peace and quiet.......dogs, kids, tannoy systems, temples, 5 day funeral parties, deafening music, fights, charcoal fires, rubbish fires........otherwise really enjoyable......

Yep, gotta agree with all that. I've spent the past 9 months in TGF's tucked-away little village in rural Korat. In one way it's been good as it's probably one of the safest spots on planet Earth as far as covid goes. But the boredom is terrible. Smoke is also terrible, all locals burn their sh*t including all their plastic waste. Sitting outside in the evening is near impossible because someone in the vicinity will be burning. If there's not something happening like a funeral or a wedding, where the sound system speakers are set up on scaffolding like a Guns N Roses concert, then most people go to bed around 9PM. Then the village belongs to the dogs; they roam the streets in packs howling at the moon, or fighting for their shot as they pack rape one of the bitches. Anyway, I'm getting near the end of my time here. Next week I'll be moving on.

[Odysseus123]

There is a thread titled "Diary of a farang in Isaan" running on the pub forum..it may be well worth a look before the OP fully commits to his projected course.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, maulibels85 said:

Ideas? Thought?

Don't make any plans till you have lived in the area for about a year.

Don't be building any houses.

Don't be buying any thing that you can't take away on the back of a pickup

Rent a one room place so the family can't move in with you.

Don't expect to make a living off growing things.

 

 

Looking forward to the farming life of fast-growing stuff, our own chickens/ducks. Selling fish to local shops. Just slap a house down, small pool, live in a peaceful, quiet area, live a different life.

LOL.

Read the Farang in Issan thread on the Farang Pub sub forum.