whats your biggest fear/worry of retiring in thailand

[Surelynot]

2 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

Being in unbearable pain (physical or mentally) at the end, with no possibility to humanely end it.

Mmmmmm...that has crossed my mind a few times......it seems ridiculous, in this day and age, that anyone (in the affluent countries) should suffer at the end.

[sanuk711]

4 hours ago, jayboy said:

Yeah that awful UK with its inflation linked state pension and free healthcare and vibrant culture.Who would want to retire there?

The worse pension in Europe--which you can still get most of if you live here--- A wonderful health system in 1947, that has been slowly eroded, Not car accident or emergency, make an appointment for 2023.

I saw my local doctor in Issan last week--45 baht, wasn't happy with my heart rate--went to the government hospital saw a specialist that day---280 baht---ECG--230 Baht. 

"and vibrant culture".........LOL........????....Seriously what medication are you on.

[Surelynot]

3 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

"and vibrant culture".

Weatherspoons?

[rimmae2]

Fewer young women due to the declining birth rate.

[Surelynot]

Just now, rimmae2 said:

Fewer young women due to the declining birth rate.

Relax...Thailand currently has a surplus of women (not sure what age group though)

[jayboy]

3 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Yeah well I've had a few beers today so better not reply to baiting plonkers.

See you in the next car park. ????

I've seen too many older farang in desperate straits to take the matter facetiously.In fact I had to help one from my muubaan repatriate to UK a few months ago when medical costs threatened to bury him.

There will be some who whistle in the dark about Isaan doctors dealing with their heart problems for a few hundred Baht, but that convinces nobody.

Thailand is a great place for solvent foreigners (actually much more than mere solvency is needed) but life is getting worse and worse for those that are not.

At the same time (and this is a completely different subject) I accept that the UK may not have much culturally to offer to those whose main interests are beer, bars and football.

 

[bwpage3]

Thing about Thailand, is you just cannot rationally predict what will happen next year, 5 years, 10 years or 20 years.

Corrupt decisions to line pockets seems to be the more important than the country and welfare of the people.

Look at the folks locked out of Thailand due to covid. Govt could care less about family separation.

Government, protests, look next door at Myanmar. It can happen in Thailand.

Govt attitude towards expat changes. 

You plan to retire with X exchange rate on a fixed income, then the rate gets lower and lower?

Then the cost of living goes up. I don't want to die in a cheap rental because it is cheap.

Insurance to carry through to death. Who wants to be 80 years old and not be able to afford a major hospital stay?

Air pollution, traffic and the environment in general.

Instability depending on who is in control that there is no way to plan for.

What is the worse thing that could happen? There is no way to plan because really you do not know with so many stupid decisions being made at high levels.

Thailand has changed a ton. 

I keep thinking back to all the great times, and then have to tell myself those are all in the past.

Corruption, greed, materialism, high costs have ruined the place.

When you make decisions to have more western fast food on Suk and kick out all the street vendors, that is just to much change in the wrong direction. It is all about money and greed these days. No one gives a care about expats at all.

 

 

 

[connda]

The Thai Immigration version of the Sword of Damocles forever suspended above your head by a fraying horse-hair and Big Joke now issued a pair of scissor and a new position within the hierarchy.  They keep moving the goal posts. 
If I was just retired?  I would no longer be living here.  Seriously.

But being married and supporting a Thai family who have no desire to expatriate.  That puts me in an uncomfortable position or having to remain.  Unless you're a foreign woman married to a Thai man - then Thailand is your Forever Home.  No worries.

[473geo]

No worries, take things in my stride, as I have always done ????

[Kwasaki]

41 minutes ago, jayboy said:

I've seen too many older farang in desperate straits to take the matter facetiously.In fact I had to help one from my muubaan repatriate to UK a few months ago when medical costs threatened to bury him.

There will be some who whistle in the dark about Isaan doctors dealing with their heart problems for a few hundred Baht, but that convinces nobody.

Thailand is a great place for solvent foreigners (actually much more than mere solvency is needed) but life is getting worse and worse for those that are not.

At the same time (and this is a completely different subject) I accept that the UK may not have much culturally to offer to those whose main interests are beer, bars and football.

You've lost me, I like beer, I don't do bars and I best not say what I think about football, I'm a Rugby man.

[Pmbkk]

 

Medical / insurance expenses with age are ours.

Getting to a certain age and  then deciding you have to move back to your home country with little ties.

Spain/Southern France/Greece/Portugal are now strong alternatives.

 

[bwpage3]

2 hours ago, connda said:

The Thai Immigration version of the Sword of Damocles forever suspended above your head by a fraying horse-hair and Big Joke now issued a pair of scissor and a new position within the hierarchy.  They keep moving the goal posts. 
If I was just retired?  I would no longer be living here.  Seriously.

But being married and supporting a Thai family who have no desire to expatriate.  That puts me in an uncomfortable position or having to remain.  Unless you're a foreign woman married to a Thai man - then Thailand is your Forever Home.  No worries.

I think my Thai wife was scared at first moving to the USA.

The fear coming from the unknown.

Now that she is a US citizen and has got use to it, she will never move back to Thailand nor our son.

[kokesaat]

21 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

I think my Thai wife was scared at first moving to the USA.

The fear coming from the unknown.

Now that she is a US citizen and has got use to it, she will never move back to Thailand nor our son.

Been married for 48 years and know of a fair number of others in the same category........wives US citizens.....moved back to Thailand to retire.   Many don't, some do.   Never say never

[cobra]

6 hours ago, oldhippy said:

Being in unbearable pain (physical or mentally) at the end, with no possibility to humanely end it.

Always options,

Most Physicians can formulate a pain management plan to alleviate needless suffering, even in LOS.

Denmark has some of the more enlightened and progressive policies for end of life options, as well as Oregon and Washington in the US.

I think you'll find you'll will be able to be quite comfortably numb when the time comes and in pleasant surroundings,
albiet as much as your monitory situation will permit.

Try not to dwell on it, will can only control so much,.

 

[RichardColeman]

I am reasonably ok on the money side and my wife sorts out all the visa stuff.

My biggest worry is health in old age.

I am 57 and retired in Thailand (though stuck outside currently), but I do not want to end my life in Thailand.

My house in the UK is in safe hands and I will move back when I feel the time is right and take the family back with me. 

I do not feel thailand is my home and I have no wish to spend my last days there when I feel I can can better treatment for old age in my home country.

 

 

 

 

[shy coconut]

10 hours ago, BobBKK said:

Thailand is a fantastic place if it were not for the government, constant coups and the nationalism. We are all hoping the new generation will change that eventually. 

Thailand has had 11 coups since 1932 and have always had a strong national identity. Governments are generally everywhere.

A little research before going to retire somewhere is a good idea and would have alerted you to the problems you have encountered.

[talahtnut]

Thailand has dropped 8 or 9 places in the best places to retire.

I fear medical bills, new rules, new fines, exchange rate, and

the Thai government with certain elements of anti-farang sentiment.

My Thai wife and son want to get out of Thailand...that says it all !

[orang37]

I, here too many years past my use-by date, share many of the fears/concerns expressed here.

but, my biggest fear is what i see in the mirror.

~o:37;

[kingdong]

16 hours ago, Andy from Kent said:

 

That would be a disrupting requirement for Thailand to impose.

Wonder how the administration at the time would deal with the issue of family separations?

There's no guarantee all Home Countries will allow for the  immigration of a spouse and family.

On your last point hardly surprising with thai girls track record for having on their toes to seek the bigger better deal once they,ve got permission to stay.

[bkk6060]

Nothing if you have some money, a positive attitude, and can accept the rules and culture of another country.

If not, you can be one of the many constant complaining haters who occupy this place.

[OneMoreFarang]

17 hours ago, bedbugy said:

whats your biggest fear/worry  of retiring in thailand
it has to be immigration every year extension on a o visa is never the same
this year 20th time being 70 year old is no different 
bank need 2 letters 
1 statement for 1 year from head office  7 days to take 200 baht
2 letter to say i have the money  100 baht 
make an appointment 
plus extra forms to fill in 
what next time 
blood test to see im not a drugie
full insureance cover 
an app on a phone for covit jab 

Where do you come from?

How easy is it in your home country for people to retire?

If you and we like it or not, we are guest in Thailand and it's up to Thailand to make the rules. Nobody of us ever received a document confirming that over decades nothing will ever change.

If you think you should be treated like a Thai then apply for Thai citizenship. And before you complain about the conditions of that look again to your home country.

Care diem

 

[1FinickyOne]

13 hours ago, Lacessit said:

If I remember correctly, Roosevelt in his inaugural address said " We have nothing to fear but fear itself".

Sure, that worked until Eleanor came home..

[theoldgit]

17 hours ago, worgeordie said:

while I am sitting at the keyboard with only a sarong on,

I'm trying to unsee that whilst eating by breakfast ????

[theoldgit]

16 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Not worried about immigration. The retirement visa doesn't see that hard to live by.

It's not hard at all, if it's applied correctly and consistently.

[tonray]

18 hours ago, bedbugy said:

whats your biggest fear/worry  of retiring in thailand
it has to be immigration every year extension on a o visa is never the same
this year 20th time being 70 year old is no different 
bank need 2 letters 
1 statement for 1 year from head office  7 days to take 200 baht
2 letter to say i have the money  100 baht 
make an appointment 
plus extra forms to fill in 
what next time 
blood test to see im not a drugie
full insureance cover 
an app on a phone for covit jab 

You forgot...proof that you are bedbug free

[Brickbat]

Whinghers and Alzheimer’s. Although the latter could be an antidote to the former 

[BTB1977]

Will I out live my d!ck. 

[sitti]

In my opinion, as long as you have the money, Thailand can be the most comfortable place to live. As thailand continues to develop with plenty of room to grow, everything will naturally continue to get more and more expensive.

[PeteDaKat]

My greatest fear of retiring to Thailand (which I've already done,) is having to return to the US. Gives me PTSD tremors at just the thought.

Edited March 15, 2021 by PeteDaKat

[Surelynot]

2 hours ago, Brickbat said:

Whinghers and Alzheimer’s. Although the latter could be an antidote to the former 

Are you not whinging with that statement?