People who retire in Thailand - Whats your plan?

[Chris.B]

3 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

My plan.

 

1. Rent my house out and retire at 55 to Thailand with the wife and family - done.

2. Stay in Thailand until 70 latest.

3. Return to the UK with the wife - old age health care and all that, and I do not want die in Thailand.

4. Death !

 

For me retirement to Thailand is a filler until old age and just pottering about in the garden with the wife until we fall apart !

Your wife doesn't have a say in this? You going to leave her alone in the UK?

 

[OneMoreFarang]

8 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

My plan.

 

1. Rent my house out and retire at 55 to Thailand with the wife and family - done.

2. Stay in Thailand until 70 latest.

3. Return to the UK with the wife - old age health care and all that, and I do not want die in Thailand.

4. Death !

 

For me retirement to Thailand is a filler until old age and just pottering about in the garden with the wife until we fall apart !

And after 25 years in Thailand do you still have friends in the UK?

I think it must be hard if you leave all your friends from the last 25 years and your known environment behind you and "start new" in a country far away - even if you knew that country many years ago.

 

I know that is something that could happen to all of us. But at least I try to avoid that and I don't think I would enjoy life "back home".

[OneMoreFarang]

Everybody is concerned about the expensive health insurance and obviously that is a concern.

 

Personally I still work in Thailand. And I have a decent private health insurance. But I also have, like all Thai employees, a Thai government health insurance (which I currently never use).

As far as I know also farangs are allowed to continue to pay for the Thai health insurance after retirement. It is obviously not very good but it is very cheap. And that might be good enough for many of us who maybe can't afford a good health insurance if we grow old and there is not much money left.

[CharlieH]

With the ever shifting sands of Politics leadership etc, the changing of policies and regs on a whim of the latest apppointed "boss" the inconsistency from region to region  and even by office.

How can you possibly plan anything of any distance, you cant !

Throw in  the mix the pandemic and you have a total "Lord knows" .

Who new just 2 years ago we would be in a country decimated by the regime and the pandemic.

The immigration could change and any regs you think you have planned for are obsolete.

 

Hypothetically, Retirement changes to 2m , compulsory health care, any or all would mean hasta la vista to large portion of the expats, or a thriving business for agents depending on your viewpoint.

 

"What if" is just a crazy game of speculation, the best you can plan for is the next 12 months and anything beyond that, roll the dice, and anyone who has spent anytime in Thailand would know this and probably  has the T-shirt too.

 

Guessing, frankly,  quite pointless IMHO

[Sparktrader]

5 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And after 25 years in Thailand do you still have friends in the UK?

I think it must be hard if you leave all your friends from the last 25 years and your known environment behind you and "start new" in a country far away - even if you knew that country many years ago.

 

I know that is something that could happen to all of us. But at least I try to avoid that and I don't think I would enjoy life "back home".

15 years

[Paradise Pete]

1 hour ago, Leveraged said:

Is the care-giver going to drag your crippled and mentally debilitated self to immigration? I got no issue with a care home or having people look after me if im out of it, but how to you do that while you're a goner? 

 

Ive never seen any type of these people in immigration in any of the hundred times ive been there. 

 

So how does it work in that case? 

In the one case I've personally witnessed, a retired Brit was married to a Thai woman for many years. When they were younger he took care of her and her two young children. When he got old and disabled she took care of him. She did everything, including going to immigration on his behalf. It was an extraordinary success.

[Sparktrader]

15 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Your wife doesn't have a say in this? You going to leave her alone in the UK?

 

His thai wife is going to

 

 

[Sparktrader]

2 minutes ago, Paradise Pete said:

In the one case I've personally witnessed, a retired Brit was married to a Thai woman for many years. When they were younger he took care of her and her two young children. When he got old and disabled she took care of him. She did everything, including going to immigration on his behalf. It was an extraordinary success.

Clean his ass etc

 

[recom273]

8 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And after 25 years in Thailand do you still have friends in the UK? ...

 

... I don't think I would enjoy life "back home". 

 

Edited OMF post

Hell yeah! When I look at all my old mates on fb (who seemed to disown me after a couple of years) they are all fat and bald.

 

I couldn't go back and start where I left off. I feel I'm so removed from my old mates lives, I did try and keep up with some on messenger a few years ago, they were still talking about stuff we did when we were "off out nuts" in the late 80s. Weird.

[BE88]

35 minutes ago, Leveraged said:

 

So your plan is basically no plan. Go, live as good of a life as you can, and let the chips fall where they may? 

 

Not knocking it, just curious. 

Yes, I think it is a good solution to have no plans for when to die, it reminds me of a friend of mine who at 28 had already bought a grave and so was happy to know where he would have lived when he died.

 

 

[BE88]

19 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

With the ever shifting sands of Politics leadership etc, the changing of policies and regs on a whim of the latest apppointed "boss" the inconsistency from region to region  and even by office.

How can you possibly plan anything of any distance, you cant !

Throw in  the mix the pandemic and you have a total "Lord knows" .

Who new just 2 years ago we would be in a country decimated by the regime and the pandemic.

The immigration could change and any regs you think you have planned for are obsolete.

 

Hypothetically, Retirement changes to 2m , compulsory health care, any or all would mean hasta la vista to large portion of the expats, or a thriving business for agents depending on your viewpoint.

 

"What if" is just a crazy game of speculation, the best you can plan for is the next 12 months and anything beyond that, roll the dice, and anyone who has spent anytime in Thailand would know this and probably  has the T-shirt too.

 

Guessing, frankly,  quite pointless IMHO

Yes, but in the meantime we are waiting for this to happen and then no problem to return to the country, but now why take your head for something that is likely or that will never happen

 

[CharlieH]

The ONLY way to be a bit more certain of the future, is to get Thai Citizenship ! Health care is then no longer an issue and neither are visas permits  etc. (Those being the main stumbling blocks/concerns for most).

[Fat is a type of crazy]

27 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

With the ever shifting sands of Politics leadership etc, the changing of policies and regs on a whim of the latest apppointed "boss" the inconsistency from region to region  and even by office.

How can you possibly plan anything of any distance, you cant !

Throw in  the mix the pandemic and you have a total "Lord knows" .

Who new just 2 years ago we would be in a country decimated by the regime and the pandemic.

The immigration could change and any regs you think you have planned for are obsolete.

 

Hypothetically, Retirement changes to 2m , compulsory health care, any or all would mean hasta la vista to large portion of the expats, or a thriving business for agents depending on your viewpoint.

 

"What if" is just a crazy game of speculation, the best you can plan for is the next 12 months and anything beyond that, roll the dice, and anyone who has spent anytime in Thailand would know this and probably  has the T-shirt too.

 

Guessing, frankly,  quite pointless IMHO

It's hardly crazy speculation as it is not 'what if' but when if you are a  man of a certain age. Sure, you don't have to dwell on it, but knowing your options is helpful. For example Australia has many non expensive options for elderly care on a budget which might make returning to Australia sensible. For those with more money private health insurance cost is not based on age and there are limited waiting periods.  Lifestyle might be better too. Being 85 in Thailand might be good but might be terrible. 

The fact that they may throw you out in the meantime is a different topic in my opinion. 

[fredscats]

2 hours ago, Tanomazu said:

Thailand would be a far better place to get care as an elderly person than literally any country in the West. Much cheaper as well.

 

Only the visa paperwork would be an issue, but you can probably find someone to help you with it.

Nobody would give a toss,what would Immigration do?  airline would not accept you either

[Leveraged]

1 hour ago, Paradise Pete said:

In the one case I've personally witnessed, a retired Brit was married to a Thai woman for many years. When they were younger he took care of her and her two young children. When he got old and disabled she took care of him. She did everything, including going to immigration on his behalf. It was an extraordinary success.

Thats ok if your wife outlives you. 

 

But I didn't know you could have your spouse handle all your immigration business on your behalf. 

 

Everything ive seen says otherwise. You either do it yourself or an institution of some kind has to do it for you. 

[Leveraged]

44 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

The ONLY way to be a bit more certain of the future, is to get Thai Citizenship ! Health care is then no longer an issue and neither are visas permits  etc. (Those being the main stumbling blocks/concerns for most).

 

Or just have a way to get out and not put all of your proverbial eggs in Thailand's basket. 

 

Come, stay, enjoy, but dont invest too much and if it ever gets funky, just go home. 

 

Or take maybe a neighboring country where they wouldn't mind old retirees and dont make them jump through hoops. 

[Chris.B]

12 minutes ago, Leveraged said:

Thats ok if your wife outlives you. 

 

But I didn't know you could have your spouse handle all your immigration business on your behalf. 

 

She can do your extensions if you are incapacitated or in Thai words "handicapped" ????

 

Anyone can take your TM47 to immigration with your passport. I don't think you have to be incapacitated for that.

 

 

[Chris.B]

16 minutes ago, Leveraged said:

 

Come, stay, enjoy, but dont invest too much and if it ever gets funky, just go home. 

 

 

That leads to a secondary question.... 'do you consider the country you were born in as your home?'

 

[StreetCowboy]

Just now, Chris.B said:

That leads to a secondary question.... 'do you consider the country you were born in as your home?'

 

Why would you choose the country you were born in?
For a lot of us, that was a long time ago.

[Leveraged]

1 minute ago, Chris.B said:

That leads to a secondary question.... 'do you consider the country you were born in as your home?'

Doesn't matter. What matters is that for most of us, our home or home country or "place where we were born" or whatever you want to call it, allows us to stay there without drama and provides at least some form of financial and medical aid. 

[Golden Triangle]

Wing it, I have been for 10 years ????????????

[Gottfrid]

If a person retire in Thailand, I would say that the plan is to live as a retired person. 

[StreetCowboy]

7 minutes ago, Leveraged said:

Doesn't matter. What matters is that for most of us, our home or home country or "place where we were born" or whatever you want to call it, allows us to stay there without drama and provides at least some form of financial and medical aid. 

I take it you're not from Afghanistan, then?
Nor a Muslim from Myanmar?
etc.

[HeijoshinCool]

3 hours ago, Leveraged said:

For example: Getting very old and dying in Thailand. 

 

.

Actually, that is my exact plan....

 

So far, so good.

[Tanomazu]

46 minutes ago, fredscats said:

Nobody would give a toss,what would Immigration do?  airline would not accept you either

Maybe not, but by law they can slap you with a big fine. Not exactly a position anyone would want to be in.

[madmen]

3 hours ago, Leveraged said:

Every time I seriously think this through, repatriating in my very very old years seems like the best/only responsible option. 

 

Honestly the thought of being old/crippled/mentally handicapped and extremely venerable in  Thailand during my oldest years makes me extremely uncomfortable. IMO it should make anyone uncomfortable. 

 

At least at home and no matter what ill be able to get medicare and dont need to worry about strung about by strangers. 

Sick Dinosaur expats 70+ die really quick after repatriation. The west does not care about old men and depression will set in fast

They become invisible. 

Far better to hire a "helper" here, will add years to one's life. 

[Paradise Pete]

2 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

Clean his ass etc

 

Yes, all of that. For several years. And he wasn't wealthy. He had a laborer's pension. They were together for close to 30 years. The children graduated from University and one is pursuing an advanced degree.

[simon43]

I think many older people who come to live in Thailand have no plan or 'what if' scenario, for when they get very old or seriously ill.  Just leave it to friends to pick up the pieces.  That's selfish.  Better to consider all possible what if scenarios, and plan accordingly, from returning to your home country, to local care-home in Thailand, to exiting this world on your own terms.

[EVENKEEL]

9 hours ago, Chris.B said:

That leads to a secondary question.... 'do you consider the country you were born in as your home?'

 

I know what you mean but you asked incorrectly. You assume your country of birth is where you grew up. I was born in the old country but grew up in USA. I'm American.

[bojo]

11 hours ago, BE88 said:

Yes, I think it is a good solution to have no plans for when to die

Couldn't agree more............................seriously depressing thread and I thought I 'thought too mut'! Just keep your options back home open and go with the flow...simps............