It's not going to be greener is it?

[bikerlou47]

Forget about retirement in Thailand. Trust me you wont be happy!

[pierrenoel]

the best is 6 months here and 6 months in your country,i am living here for 12 years and in may i go back to canada for 6 months a year,missing cheap golf, clean city,my food,driving a car safely,free health insurance when living there 6 months and many other things,maybe come back here sometime for 3 months but i will go playa del carmen mexico for winter time, and i dont need visa for 6 months and it is not expensive,about same thing than thailand,weather is better 27 ,28 day time and not humid winter time,flight only 4 hours and cheap to,i will miss something in thailand but i thing my life will be better and safer outside thailand

[wwest5829]

Best front end advice for anyone contemplating retiring here or anywhere outside their home Turk is to come for a lengthy stay without burning all bridges in your current life. If/when travel opens back up you can come for up to 3 months without committing to a permanent move. Enough time to get a better feel than coming for just a vacation time period. Contemplating retirement at age 64 1/2 in 2011 (part of the reasoning was influenced by 5 by-passes in 2005). I made two monthlong trips in 2009 and again in 2010. Traveled around, met several Thai girls as I knew that would be part of the equation. I found Chiang Mai was best for me after my trips. Yep, fat boy in the candy store for the first 8 months. Tried a few “companionship” scenarios not requiring a full time arrangement but ... well, I found I wanted someone to travel with, go shopping with, go out to eat with. No, not someone to discuss world affairs or philosophy but someone very compatible ... and after a decade here, I still maintain that a western male finding the right traditionally raised Thai girl ... well. Each of us is different so only you can make the call for you. That is why I recommend coming for a lengthy stay. You will note some ... come and are unhappy and so leave, others come every year for part of the year only, some of us, Thailand is our only residence and are quite happy (overall, no I do not like the pollution!). Good luck with your search

[DogNo1]

Right now, finding English-speaking conversation partners with my friends stuck back in their home countries unable to return to Thailand for their 6- month stints herenis difficult..  Not every foreigner you meet is a good conversation partners.  I don't drink so don't go to bars.   Two years ago, there were plenty of foreigners passing through Central Chidlom so striking up a conversation with someone was easy.  Now I am limited to telephone calls and email messages.  Hopefully, my friends will be able to return in a few months.  There are, of course, gathering places like the Siam Society, the FCC and music concerts but meeting someone that shares your interests and wants to be in contact frequently whom you also like is a matter of luck.  Other than that lack, I am perfectly happy living in Thailand.  

For the OP,  there may be requirements for your happiness that you are not aware of.  It's a good idea to give Thailand a trial run or two.  When you come for a short time, it's easy to disregard things that irritate you.

[fordguy61mi]

I think it’s the sexpats that go there that get bored after chasing bargirls for 6 months. If you’re going there for a more relaxing atmosphere or to travel the country then I think you’ll be happier. It doesn’t sound like you want to retire, it sounds like you want to sow your wild oats. So go there and sow them and then when you decide you want to actually retire then you’ll know if Thailand is the place for that.

[Stevemercer]

There are two separate issues here. One is retirement and how you will cope. The second is whether or not to move to Thailand.

 

If you have plans for your retirement, to give yourself enough to do physically and mentally, and have the financial security, then you can look forward to a happy retirement. But it is a huge mental change and will take you a year or two to adjust.

 

I'm from Australia and retired to Thailand within a month of finishing up at work. I sold off everything (a divorce meant I didn't have much to sell) and moved to Thailand with my life possessions in a 20 kg suitcase. Mind you, I was somewhat prepared in that I had a Thai girlfriend, and we'd brought some land the previous year.

 

I figured I'd lived in Australia all my life, why not live in another country for awhile?

 

My retirement plan had always been to build a house and work at hobby farming for a few years. I figured that would keep me busy and over the hump of the first few years of retirement. I could have done that in Australia, but could maintain a higher quality of life in Thailand based on my super.

 

Australian don't retire to Thailand for the beaches (they are much better in Australia), climate (huge choice in Australia), natural environment (vastly superior in Australia) or such like. It is more because it is cheaper, something completely different, the women, lifestyle or similar.

 

I think you should seriously consider it, but work out your plan for retirement first off. Date some Thai women in Australia and suss out a few connections.

 

Set up your retirement investments in Australia, but be prepared for a capital transfer of at least $250,000 AUS if you want to eventually buy a house/condo, car and to set yourself up to live in Thailand.

 

If you own property in Australia, and can rent it, hold onto it for as long as possible (or until you make the decision whether to permanently move to Thailand). Property in Australia will continue to be a good investment. Conversely, property in Thailand does not appreciate in the same way and should be considered a lifestyle choice.

 

I agree with other posters that you should rent for 6 months or so and see how you go. You will meet many woman and may end up wanting to settle down. Rent while you are single. It could be an expensive mistake to buy (when single) because when you meet the right woman where you live will need to be a shared decision.

 

PS. As others have said, you never get tired of chasing women. You are only restricted by your libido, finances or health issues.

Edited March 6, 2021 by Stevemercer

[Anant72]

9 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Bored...I can never understand when people say that,maybe lack of imagination,

I have lived here 33 years,now in later years, I wish I had time to get bored,there's

always some bloody thing to do....Bored ????

regards worgeordie

Same here. I wonder how people can get bored. I am never bored, always busy with something. Bored people are boring.. My advice to the gentleman: stay where you are. 

[xeniv23]

I'm 71 and I arrived here last December on an O-A based on retirement.  I brought two folding kayaks with me, an expedition double and an expedition single and a sailing rig that fits both.  I brought three fly rods to head off into the jungle after mahseer and queenfish in saltwater.  Binoculars for bird and fish watching.  Backpacking gear for trekking in the north. 

 

Since arriving I've leased a nice house in a very nice area with three lakes to hike and bike around, bought an SUV to haul the kayaks and the bikes around in and have set out to see Thailand at the granular level.  The driving is not that different if you are used to driving in, say, Ukraine, where I lived for about 5 years.  Yeah, it's the other side of the road but just be cooperative with the other drivers and don't insist on the right of way like you would in America.  You'll be fine.  Normal practices here would lead to gunfire in America inside of two minutes.....hahaha....  Here, it's just normal everyday life.  

 

  I don't drink, never have.  Live a healthy life.  Spent a couple of weeks around Nana two years ago and that completely satisfied my curiosity and I don't plan on spending any, meaning 0, time in bars or chasing bar girls.  I did it for two weeks and was bored after three days.  End of that story.  

 

I just got back from a week long exploration trip up to Chiang Rai hiking and looking around.  Air was pretty dirty but it was still a pretty amazing time.  It just whetted the appetite for more.  Headed down south next to do some kayaking and fly fishing fresh and salt water.  Maybe even try to remember some of those long unused rock climbing skills.  

 

All the while that this goes on I keep meeting such lovely and helpful people.  Probably better people than I deserve but I'll take my luck.  

 

Boredom generally, in my experience, results from doing the same things over and over.  Get out of your old skin and try new things.  Thailand is an amazing country filled with very many wonderful people.  Many farang here seem to have some sort of aggrieved sense of entitlement.  Just bear in mind that this is not your country, it is theirs and the rules are not set to be convenient for us.  Rather, we are granted privileges, not rights, and they can be changed or withdrawn at any time.  Understand and accept that you are a guest here and act like it.  

 

The grass is greenest where you are standing if you do it right.  

 

 

[crazykopite]

Your looking at the glass half empty and not half full , there are plenty of things to do over here in the kingdom rather than just drinking and chatting up the bar girls . I’m 70 living on my own don’t smoke and only occasionally drink and yes I go the gym , paddle board or go out on the kayak or ride my mountain bike . The worst part about Thailand is having to deal with immigration in 16 years of living here I have enjoyed it so much so I haven’t been back to the U.K. for 14 years . Give it a try rent out your pad in Aus and move over for a year if it’s not for you then head back home it’s that simple

[Bradmeister]

More racist comments again....

 

Do men get bored? Is that what your pondering? 

 

Too subjective and bias to even begin a comment. 

 

 

[Salerno]

52 minutes ago, Stevemercer said:

If you own property in Australia, and can rent it, hold onto it for as long as possible (or until you make the decision whether to permanently move to Thailand).

 

Sadly, not as black and white nowadays as it once was. The changes to capital gains tax in 2019 (?) means it could be a bad idea to do that (obviously each person needs to investigate their own situation carefully).

[adammike]

5 hours ago, arick said:

He is leaving Australia.! Not bloody the UK can't compare the two 

True.Coming from Oz the op may be able to handle the weather better than I can.One post mentioned bored western males in the the chunky monkey? what he doesn't take into  consideration is the heat,the last couple of years 2018/19/20 I have noticed and felt that it was even hotter and drier than normal.It will take me at least six months to acclimatise and I'm not sure I ever would be able to function in the hottest time of the year.I visit every year Jan/Feb.

Edited March 6, 2021 by adammike
Additional

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Stevemercer said:

I'm from Australia and retired to Thailand within a month of finishing up at work. I sold off everything (a divorce meant I didn't have much to sell) and moved to Thailand with my life possessions in a 20 kg suitcase.

Same here, she didn't leave me with anything to sell so I managed to fit my stuff in a 5kg carry-on.

[rott]

20 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

 

 

But before I get onto that I saw another post which again put it in my thoughts 

The poster wrote similar to "saw bored lonely old farsang men sitting outside chunky monkey Bar "

Who are you and him to say they are bored and lonely? 

They have probably just gone for a short walk for something to eat. Would all Aussies be able to eat out daily? 

 

If you were retired and living alone in Australia what would make your day so much better than theirs.?

[Aforek]

15 hours ago, simon43 said:

OP - your big mistake (IMHO), is your plan to chase bar girls all day.  Remove that from your plan and you'll probably live a happier and healthier life!

Right ! it's what I did long time ago, now I have a totally new life upcountry, and, believe me , I feel very well;  why farangs want to go to Pattaya ? It's the only place to go in Thailand ? 

[ncc1701d]

I like the idea of spending just a few months in Thailand at a time and shuffling back and forth if you can. I would also try and get your mates to join you on occasion as much as possible. Having good mates in this world is not an easy thing to find. 

 

This last year I've been forced out of work. It had me seriously contemplating if this was what retirement was like. Awful. All my life, I would always try and decide where I was going to live when I retire. But since having the last year off, I've now shifted my thoughts to what I'm going to do. It doesn't matter if it's Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya or Timbuktu. I've enjoyed many of the replies here and it's further shaping my decisions. 

 

Back to work now... still many years to save money and plan for retirement.

Edited March 6, 2021 by ncc1701d

[sidjameson]

22 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Getting towards retirement age have been contemplating retiring to Thailand for the past 25 years .

 

Now I'm re considering.

A number of things have happened since to make me think again.

 

But before I get onto that I saw another post which again put it in my thoughts 

The poster wrote similar to "saw bored lonely old farsang men sitting outside chunky monkey Bar "

 

Which made me think ...are these farangs any happier now they made their move to Thailand / Pattaya?

 

I'm working full time at the moment in Australia..I live in my own apartment alone in City close to everything ...have no family. Have 2 good friends only have a secure job which I worked for last 30 years ...

 

So I start dreaming over the last few years if I moved to Pattaya how wonderful it will be .....but in reality ...

 

I will rent a 1 bedroom condo

I don't drink or smoke 

I guess every morning go to gym...

The rest of the day I guess chase bar girls 

 

Chasing bar girls is like saying going to the supermarket and chasing apples. 

 

 

[khunPer]

23 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

So unless there's a reason to retire to Thailand ...(the Dream for the last 25 years) maybe if I had a GF there ...but now it's becoming reality I'm scared to retire and go   

Is it going to be any better than my current lifestyle?

I have no family but 2 very good friends i can rely on 24 hours 

 

Do farangs retire to Thailand because of boredom... Loneliness.... Girlfriend...

Then find out 6 months later ...hey I'm missing my lifestyle back in farangland .

I want to retire eventually but I enjoy going to work and meeting with my colleagues...

What happens if I take my ultimate dream and off to Thailand ?

Is it going to be better 

I fully understand your considerations, I also had many thoughts before I dared to do the jump, i.e. selling everything at home and move out into the unknown, which after all was not more unknown that I had spend a few years commuting between my home country and the amazing Land-of-Smiles.

 

I’m happy that I dared to take the jump, and I’m still happy here, 15 years later.

 

If it can inspire you, here is what made the move a success for me, and my experienced to recommend to others.

 

Being single is in many ways great, at least for some time, and for some it’s great to become single after being together with someone for some time. I have unforgettable good memories from being single in Thailand, and I also have great memories from being with a girlfriend, same-same, but different.

 

Before I decided for a location to settle at – initially I was taken by Chiang Mai all way back in 1987, where I felt that I could (one day) live there – I tried to visit a number of potential places in Thailand. And I’m happy for that, because I ended up on an island that I initially had no thoughts of even visiting, I just followed a friend that took me back to Thailand 14 year later in 2001, and he was heading for this non-interesting island down south. But I found a Bounty-style coconut-palm beach, a kind of paradise island, and I finally decided to settle at that place, but only after three years and numerous commuting from Europe, by which tine I visited a number of other potential places to live, including Pattaya.

 

Many advise to try to check out a number of places, and so do I. No rush, you can rent, and just a room or bungalow is fine when moving around. You can store anything you wish to bring with you from home in a depot, which can be in your home country until you are sure about your move. I had some stuff that I wished to bring, hardly a 20 feet container, but that was the cheapest way to do it; I packed it all and had it stored for a few years in my home country.

 

You can always find company in Thailand, as long as you can support a little, and being a single it’s easy to change companionship the moment you get bored.

 

I was also a full time worker; actually more, as I was self-employed, and it had never crossed my mind that I would stop before I was way up in age, or just continue working till the very end. I had a friend, who insisted on that I needed a vacation – he might have been very right, I haven’t had one for almost 10 years – and one day he called me and said that I owed him some money; for an airline ticket to Thailand. He had decided it all, and as anything else would be impolite, I simply accepted, and to be honest, I actually looked forward to it. That trip opened my eyes for another life-style than hard work and paying high taxes, and saving up little that I might be to old to use when I finally decided to do so, so it resulting in an early retirement at 56, four years later. Today I don’t understand that I ever had excess time to also work.

 

When you retire you might begin doing some of all those things that you always wished to do – including chasing bar girls and freelancers – but never had time for, like reading, or photography, or painting, or whatever it is. You may also begin doing something that you never dreamed about doing before. And of course also any kind of physical exercise is good, whatever that makes you feel comfortable, weather gym, or running, or chasing girls, or...

 

Your testing of potential locations to settle might reveal what you can expect, when you make your decide to move.

 

I didn’t have many friends in my home country, and no close family left apart from an ex girlfriend that had found a new partner, so I had no strong ties to my home country. But the remarkable was that when I moved to Thailand, and settled in a vacation destination, I suddenly saw a lot of my old friends. We actually spend more time together than we ever did at home, where we were all so busy, but now we were on vacation together, and had so much to talk about, and enjoy together.

 

And yes, I’ve also seen folks sitting on a bench outside a convenient store and drinking, looking like what you might call losers in your home country. And I’ve also seen some farangs that just gave up, sitting alone with a bottle; some I knew the story of, others I didn’t, but theirs story might not be so different from the ones I knew.

 

In my view the most important when setteling for retirement in Land-of-Smiles is enough money; and what’s enough is relative depending of one’s life-style, savings amd size of retirement pension. It’s not the number that matters, but that you don’t run out of funds, always be able to adjust life-style to cash flow; and of course being careful not to fall in love with a gold digger.

 

Now and then I check my possibilities for returning to my home-country, based on what I have left of funds and pension, considering that I might not be able get whatever I “invested” in Thailand with me. What life-style would I be able to live if I returned back home? Sometimes it’s actually good to compare, because you might find out that life here is not that bad after all; even that I could return and live an average life at home, I so far wouldn’t dream about doing it.

 

And about dreams, the only thing that I’m really scared of, is to wake up and realize that the retirment in Land-of-Smiles is nothing but a dream, and in real life I’m sitting at home with two warm sweaters, like glued to a heater so I don't freeze too much in a bitterly cold Nordic winter, where I just dosed away from my boring retirement life and dreamed about palms, and Bounty-style beaches, and gorgeous young girls bringing cool drinks...

[Stargeezr]

I have some friends who moved to Thailand for about a half a year for one, who owns a house , with his wife of course in Hua Hin.

 He does not like Winters in Canada, with shoveling snow, and wearing a parka for the cold weather. My other friend is in Jomtien Beach,  Pattaya, he

and his Thai wife live in a condo, and he enjoys life, going to the gym in the morning and meeting up with friends for coffee, spending time at the beach in the shade.                          He does not miss the cold weather and snow.  Says that his cost and life style is fairly cheap. He gets around with an electric 3 wheel scooter.

    Another friend goes to Thailand and rents a rental apartment, and drives his own Honda motorbike.  He enjoys being away from snow and cold as well.

  They have all said, that it is better to just go to Thailand for up to 6 months and do not get tied to an expensive house. Better to stay in a condo, that you 

can own, and not have yard work etc to keep up with, or rent a furnished apartment or house if you want the space.   Life is what you make of it, no matter where you are.             Good luck in your retirement.

  I now that I would never buy any condo or stay for more than 6 months as I cannot take the hot March and April to May weather.   I do enjoy

   November to March as the weather is mostly dry and not too hot.

Geezer

       

      

[upu2]

It sounds like you have no real idea as to wht you want when you retire. Unfortunately no one can tell you what you want that is entirely up to you.

Once you have decided what you want then you can think if Thailand is the place for you or not

[daveAustin]

21 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Bored...I can never understand when people say that,maybe lack of imagination,

I have lived here 33 years,now in later years, I wish I had time to get bored,there's

always some bloody thing to do....Bored ????

regards worgeordie

Off topic, but never understood that mindset either. There is this propensity in the UK at the moment -- for some of those that are furloughed at least -- to be bored of being paid to be home. Total abject stupidity. I mean, use that F time to get other things going, to read, whatever. I would give my left nut to have the opportunity to sit at home for 12 months and be paid. There aren't enough hours in the day. What a golden ticket. Anyway, off topic. Hope op makes the leap. 

[LukKrueng]

On 3/5/2021 at 11:36 PM, georgegeorgia said:

don't want to end up like those bored old faeang outside the chunky monkey

I'm sure there are many other bars you can be bored outside of..

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Off topic, but never understood that mindset either. There is this propensity in the UK at the moment -- for some of those that are furloughed at least -- to be bored of being paid to be home. Total abject stupidity. I mean, use that F time to get other things going, to read, whatever. I would give my left nut to have the opportunity to sit at home for 12 months and be paid. There aren't enough hours in the day. What a golden ticket. Anyway, off topic. Hope op makes the leap. 

Not sure I could fill a year if I were locked in a house.

Only so much time you can read/watch tv/browse internet before your eyes hurt.

[starky]

Leave all your assets in Oz. Come and rent a joint in where you think you want to stay for at least a year probably 2 so the honeymoon period has well and truly worn off. Sounds like you are happy in Oz. Also sounds like you wouldn't mind chasing a bit of tail which as you get older gets increasingly harder. 

   Many people are trapped here or come from countries that have <deleted>ty winters etc so Pattaya is automatically a good option. And yep especially in towns like Pattaya there are bar flys who's days consist of a couple of cheap long necks of chang and the odd bar fine. The converse is also true many people here living full busy lives never go near a bar or bar girl.

 No one can answer this for you and nothing will be perfect everyday forever.

  Pattaya is the easiest option but I would look further afield there are some beautiful parts of Thailand to live that aren't that. Maybe start there but do not limit yourself you might find what you need somewhere else.

 I've lived here nearly  here 20 years and would dread going back to Oz to live. You don't say if you have spent a lot of time or any at all here previously. Good luck with your choice but don't go all in and don't be dazzled by the bright lights.

   Disneyland is awesome but no one wants to live there. 

Edited March 7, 2021 by starky

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, starky said:

Also sounds like you wouldn't mind chasing a bit of tail which as you get older gets increasingly harder. 

Opens account on 'Thaifriendly' drowns under the offers from 30 something single moms.

[Hanuman2547]

An Aussie that doesn't drink?  I've heard of that just never met one that would admit it. 

Anyway, there's a lot of good advice on here.  I agree with those that have said come here for six months and rent a place and see if you like it.  I would even say rent for three months in one place and then move for three months somewhere else.  I would not sell any of your major assets in Oz.  Keep the apartment. Even if you decide you like Thailand and want to live here I'd still keep your place in Oz.  

At one time I was going to retire in Thailand full time.  That was after having worked in Bangkok for 12 years.  Now I have pretty much given up that idea.  Most likely I will live 4-6 months a year in Thailand and the rest in my home country.  

Good luck and I wish you the best in making a decision.  

[bkk6060]

Life is full of "risks and what if".

If a person is scared and negative then probably better to stay in your comfort zone at home.

[Mr Dome]

Well, OP, don't you have a portable hobby, something that you love to do and could do in Thailand?

As you already realize, chasing bar girls will get old eventually.

There's also no way I'd pick Pattaya in the first place but that's me.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/6/2021 at 12:00 PM, Antonymous said:

There seem to be plenty of people who come to live in Thailand whose main or even only motivation was to chase the girls and to drink/party. That's fine if those remain your top priorities in life as you get much older, but the reality for most people is that the excitement (or libido, or money) wanes eventually. Therefore in making your decision to retire in Thailand or not, you must consider other things that motivate you or could become priorities in future. Ask yourself can you fulfill those better in Thailand, your home country or elsewhere.

 

Life is whatever YOU make it, wherever you lay your hat.

There have been many comments over the years that the excitement (or libido, ................) wanes eventually. Is there any TVF poster that enjoyed the night life deciding they were not interested any more? I suspect that the ones that stop do so for reasons other than that, even if they try to excuse it by quoting the official line. Perhaps they ran out of money, or they made the mistake of thinking a wife would be more convenient, or they just got old and less able, even if they still wanted to.

Personally I never had the desire wane, but I was mistaken to think my wife would continue to be the fun girl I married, and then I was too poor to carry on as before.

[OswaldBastable]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

but I was mistaken to think my wife would continue to be the fun girl I married,

Did any wife continue to be the 'fun girl' their husband married? 

Of course not, the 'fun girl' was a pretense assumed to achieve marriage, and once married quickly discarded.  

Edited March 8, 2021 by OswaldBastable