For those that can remember. How did you feel about your life before you moved to Thailand? Marks out of 10 if you like.

[Gecko123]

OP mentions several aspects of his social life in UK: no wife or kids, given up on dating, very few friends. Presumably he is hoping to improve his prospects by moving to Thailand, which is certainly a possibility. But I would gently point out that Covid has changed the social climate in Thailand, as it has around the world. In my opinion, Covid has greatly diminished the opportunities for social and romantic engagement here in Thailand.

 

I, personally, have been contemplating relocating from Thailand for quite some time now, but until there is greater visibility about Covid, I'm staying put, erring on the side of prudence. I know there are those that argue "you've got to get on with your life" and "you can't let Covid stop you from living." Only time will tell which approach was best.

 

Edited January 2, 2022 by Gecko123

[Pravda]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

But homes in your country are probably cheaper than homes in Thailand.

Back in the UK I'd get nothing I wanted for 200,000 pounds (10MBht), then the taxes would be another 1500 pounds/year, and the utils would also want money every month.

By not having that home in the UK, I can live in Asia for nearly 20 years.

I'm an immigrant. My origin country and my passport country are 2 different things. My condo is in Toronto and I rent it out. Tenants paid my mortgage and now it's pure profit. Yes taxes and maintenance fees are a lot and the government also taxes me 25% non resident tax, but I still have more than enough left to pay the rent here. 

 

My wife's friend bought a condo at lumpini Bangna more than 10 years ago and hasn't renter it once....even during the good times. Real estate here is huge gamble. I like the safety of Canada and welcome immigrants like myself who will take real estate in Canada to the moon.

[HAPPYNUFF]

Well I had a  fairly good   life back in Oz,  own house, car,   plenty of money, well enough to not worry,  companionship of the other sex whenever, some just as friends.  Met the wife  when  here,  she didnt want to leave her family, I    wasnt   fussed about moving.  However, if it hadnt have been for that, I wouldnt have moved here  permanently, no  chance in the world,  holidays here  are  not in the least like living permanently.        The   hassles in everyday living wear you down,  continually on your guard, plus the  health insurance,  costs through the roof and increasing every year as you age.   I  admit I have been  very fortunate  with  my wife, but I  know personally of several poor sods  who have been wiped out, financially and emotionally  through  meeting the wrong woman,       these people  just dont think the same way as western people do, its hard to explain or put in words, but its a fact.      The  most sensible option for the OP,  he seems to have a reasonably good life  in his country, would be 6 m onths here, 6 months back home, the best of both worlds.   And  NO PERMANENT  commitments with  females.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, rott said:

Well according to his profile he has had 122 posts in 15 years so he is allowed an occasional mistake. 

Fair enough.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, HAPPYNUFF said:

 these people  just dont think the same way as western people do, its hard to explain or put in words, but its a fact

Correct. And nobody should expect from them to think like those foreigners in their country.

Somehow lots of farangs think their wife should learn Thai and should adapt to what they want. Why? If we want to live in Thailand we should learn Thai and we should at least try to understand how Thais behave and think. That doesn't mean we should change to be like them. But we should be aware of the differences and don't expect that Thais in Thailand adapt to our way of thinking. 

[LoveThai94]

This is a fun place at any age.

This is where a normal dog becomes Mr. Dog.

Who gets this type of attention in their home country?, some guys might (What is grandpa doing here, so creepy).

 

 

[sanuk711]

16 hours ago, Saddic said:

it will take years to recover (if ever) from this...

 

Oh dear ...Thailand will never recover......its doomed..............finished........had it......

.....pity it was the only country in the world to get Covid----oh look the Bahts going up again. 

[ThaIrish Sean]

9 hours ago, flexomike said:

So whats the problem, you go to Thailand leave the wife at home - 555

 

I haven't thought about that one, over a thousand times ????

[473geo]

Varied and interesting working life in the UK, 4 siblings and their offspring assured I never was short of company when required ???? rolled through a few jobs socialised with work colleagues. 

Found Thailand and after many fun visits met my wife and decided to plan our future here, my wife raised the children, I provided investment in land house, home, and a few cattle.

Working life over Feb last year took 3 weeks to visit my UK family then came home ???? seems to be working out as expected, no real drama, just getting on with hobbies in the sunshine, and appreciating being with my wife 

[ivor bigun]

Ive always had a great life ,done what i pleased been married a few times friends with my ex wives and the one i never married but lived with for many years ,have a daughter in the UK who i love to bits and talk to most days ,

luckily i always seemed to come out on top no matter what i did ,was quite well known in one field i was involved in ,then about 26 yrs ago met "the one" through business in Bangkok ,we lived in the UK have a son ,and then decided to come back here ,getting on now but life is good ,hope it lasts a lot longer . 9 out of 10 it would have been 10 out of 10 but for some health problems along the way.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, 473geo said:

I provided investment in land house, home, and a few cattle.

I hope everything is fine with you and your family and all will be fine in the future.

 

IMHO lots of guys concentrate far too much on what their wife wants and not so much what they would want without the wife. If something goes wrong, what will happen with land, house, home and cattle? Is it in your name? Would you want to live there without your wife? Could you sell it for a reasonable price?

 

Sorry if this sounds too personal, it's not meant like that. But what you describe is one of those situations which we read here far too often. Like: I can't move and I can't do this and that. Because the wife owns the land and I am stuck to this place...

 

Personally I decide where I want to live. And my gf is happy to live with me where I like to live. If she would suggest to move to her village: Sorry, no!

 

[473geo]

47 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I hope everything is fine with you and your family and all will be fine in the future.

 

IMHO lots of guys concentrate far too much on what their wife wants and not so much what they would want without the wife. If something goes wrong, what will happen with land, house, home and cattle? Is it in your name? Would you want to live there without your wife? Could you sell it for a reasonable price?

 

Sorry if this sounds too personal, it's not meant like that. But what you describe is one of those situations which we read here far too often. Like: I can't move and I can't do this and that. Because the wife owns the land and I am stuck to this place...

 

Personally I decide where I want to live. And my gf is happy to live with me where I like to live. If she would suggest to move to her village: Sorry, no!

 

Not personal just the usual unsolicited advice we are accustomed to on the forum.

I have never had a problem walking away from any situation that isn't sitting right. That runs right through my working life into my current situation, I am switched on regarding evaluating situations and taking necessary action when the need arises, therefore I never stress, one of the qualities that served me well in my various careers.

One other lesson I learnt in my various careers, not everybody will like or understand me, that also makes life a great deal easier ????

Edited January 2, 2022 by 473geo

[murraynz]

I give a 9/10 for living in Thailand. 

I'm 70 with excellent health, formerly from Auckland NZ.. 

All my family still live in Auckland. I still own property in Auckland and Australia  as ND have substantial passive income.. 

I own my own very nice condo near to Pattaya. 

I don't have alcohol problems or I'm not desperate to get married. 

I will remain a butterfly. 

I have funds available to cover me, should I ever need hospital care.. 

Pretty covid ,I used to like BKK as a very handy place to travel to many other countries to, within 2-3 hours.. 

I love the Thai weather, warm everyday,  cheap living expenses, have friendly Thai people. Plus good nightlife, when I want it.. 

NZ is supposed to be one of the best places in world to live... But it's very expensive, cold winter, too many racial problems with immigrants etc. Most of the people i know in NZ, are very stressed from working long hours.. 

I worked excessive hours for 40+ years... But at least now.. I can afford a great retirement.. 

Don't move to Thailand unless you have very ample long-term funding... 

[Andycoops]

My score pre Thailand and being in the UK working would be a 6.

Retired here at 52 and will give it a 9.5 here.

[swm59nj]

Retired at age 62 in America.  No issues with retirement income or health insurance.  I didn’t move to Thailand because I disliked  America or couldn’t afford to live there. 
I always wanted to experience living overseas.  All of the places I did want to move to did not have retirement type visas.  So decided to try it out by moving here.  I did visit Bangkok for three months before moving here.  Staying in a hotel.  It seemed ok, so I took the chance and moved here months later.

I have been living here about two years now.  Without going into detail, it’s not for me.  So I will eventually move back to America.  America isn’t perfect.  But it’s better than here. 
 

Edited January 3, 2022 by swm59nj

[BritManToo]

13 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Personally I decide where I want to live. And my gf is happy to live with me where I like to live. If she would suggest to move to her village: Sorry, no!

Agree, I live for me now but am happy enough for others to join my ride.

For those sharing my ride, it's my way or the highway.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

7 minutes ago, swm59nj said:

Retired at age 62 in America.  No issues with retirement income or health insurance.  I didn’t move to Thailand because I disliked  America or couldn’t afford to live there. 
I always wanted to experience living overseas.  All of the places I did want to move to did not have retirement type visas.  So decided to try it out by moving here.  I did visit Bangkok for three months before moving here.  Staying in a hotel.  It seemed ok, so I took the chance and moved here months later.

I have been living here about two years now.  Without going into detail, it’s not for me.  So I will eventually move back to America.  America isn’t perfect.  But it’s better than here. 
 

I would be interested to hear your top 5 things that you like and don't like about living in Thailand. If you feel like saying. I am in a  similar boat but have a few years of work to go. 

[Tropposurfer]

Post LOS life;

Worked about 50 hours a week (sometimes a bit more when there was a lot of group-work or weekend workshops to facilitate).

Made a decent living.

Lived a comfy life near the beach with all the healthy attributes of same in a society that was well ordered (perhaps too much of a nanny state depending on my proclivities or crankiness at any given time lol ????). 

My life now in LOS is very comfortable and for me as a person who worked all his life, coming from a single parent poor home in Oz I am 'rich' now (wealth is relative and not just about money for me). I acknowledge that it's easy to say that when one has money enough.

In Oz I was single (death had separated me from the last primary relationship).

I was very happy in my profession/vocation in Oz and had some beautiful, intimate, nurturing relationships but I was lonely for the intimacy of a primary relationship )I was aware of this desire/want/need).

I still nurture those relationships as before by the way just from a different postcode lol ????. We're all looking forward to visitors once life returns to a normal travel state.

I don't wish to present too functional a life prior to LOS, as I had some serious difficulties, especially as a younger man. Later life afforded me some good fortune which gave me the opportunity to decide to migrate and do as I please now.

I was looking and open to love and a relationship again after K left but not desperate to just have any woman, someone!, around to help me not feel-into my loneliness ... just so I 'felt ok'.

Thank the gods for the T-Visa (aseannow) posters and long term expats here for they offered up a wide variety of experiences and much wisdom for me to digest so I made few horrendous mistakes with relationships when I did move here.

Like you Grecian gave up on dating in Oz some years back (about early 50's I think it was?) cause after holidays and many medical tourist trips to LOS from 2010> (after not being in the country since the early eighties) I just couldn't be bothered with loud, overweight, aggressive (not assertive but aggressive), neurotic, western women (apologies to those that are offended, but this is my reality).

 

 

 

[scorecard]

On 1/1/2022 at 11:21 PM, Saddic said:

Started to consider Thailand for a base of operations around the burst of the dot-com bubble... Was borderline on affordability...  (although I could have done it)...

 

Thailand at that time was expanding their global presence, well on their way to become a major travel hub in Asia...  Figured I would be traveling around Asia and the rest of the world during my retirement...  Welp, best laid plans and all that...

 

Fell back into a job during the outsourcing IT wave for a good 10+ years... and built up a good war chest... and got a retirement visa...

 

The hits just kept hitting:

- the coup happened and it pretty much been all downhill since... Their xenophobic nature & greed got the better of them and they've pretty much turned off investment from the west, and sold themselves to their new masters...

- and when you thought it couldn't get any worse... Covid happened...  As of today, a lot of airlines have taken Thailand off their schedules... it will take years to recover (if ever) from this...

 

But, got a good taste of local life, during a 2 yr extended (forced visit, due to covid lockdowns, etc)...  and my plans are "evolving"... lol.  Can still retire in Thailand, comfortably...  but ready to explore other (better) venues for longer term stays... 

 

Currently, returned home to attend to maintenance... and now sort of waiting till the current wave eases, so I can get back...  (yes, life pretty much sucks in the home country when you have the travel bug)... so currently just spinning my wheels...  6/10...

 

 

''...& greed..."

 

Point taken but let's be fair, rampant capitalism (most western countries) is also, in a word, greed.

[wwest5829]

On 1/1/2022 at 8:17 PM, Grecian said:

Oh! Interesting interpretation Sean. I tend to view my life as a half sorted out at best. 

I have one friend left in the uk! Have not touched a woman in two years. and a past it's sell by date skill set that means even if I wanted to work I'd be starting at the bottom somewhere.

 

But I cook great food. My house is always warm. Many great walks in this part of the country and enough entertainment to last a lifetime.????

 

The days are good but the years are a bit disappointing. Lol

Pre-Covid, we had many Expats here in Chiang Mai who would spend part of the year here and part of the year in their native country. I am thinking that this may serve your likes well, once we have gotten past the Covid closings.

[timkeen08]

On 1/1/2022 at 7:47 PM, ThaIrish Sean said:

Waiting to read all the jealous troll's posts ????

Sounds like you got your life sorted Grecian,.Good for you!

I want to move to Thailand and we are comfortable financially, but my Thai wife wants to stay in this cold dreary country ????

 

[thaibeachlovers]

I never knew how <deleted> my life was till I discovered Thailand, but it was <deleted>.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I never knew how <deleted> my life was till I discovered Thailand, but it was <deleted>.

I think that describes the situation of many men in the western world accurately. 

And if they come to Thailand for two weeks holiday and are then back home for 50 weeks then they discover their misery. 

[scorecard]

On 1/2/2022 at 7:44 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

Did anybody of you find the opposite forum? Like:

We were married and happy. He worked so hard to make me happy.

I was gracious and let him have his thing twice a month.

Now he left me and of all places in the world where did he go? Thailand! All those dark sluts over there. I hate him!

Aware of one case, European engineer offered a good job in Chiang Mai, brought European wife and 3 daughters, everything paid by company incl., schools.

 

Didn't take long for the hubby to stray and he quickly left the family to live with his new Thai girlfriend.

 

His European wife (looked much much younger than her years, good body etc.) decided 'this game goes in both directions', she found a live in nanny and started cruising local small discotheques for hot teenage boys and started to bring them home, much to the embarrassment of her 3 daughters.

 

She had also gained a reputation for being very forward in disco venues, approaching young men she fancied and immediately putting her hand down the inside of their pants and playing with their equipment. 

 

Engineer hubbies employer became aware, whole family immediately packed off back to Europe. 

Edited January 4, 2022 by scorecard

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Aware of one case, European engineer offered a good job in Chiang Mai, brought wife and 3 daughters, everything paid by company incl., schools.

 

Didn't take long for the hubby to stray and he quickly left the family to live with his new Thai girlfriend.

 

His European wife (looked much much younger than her years, good body etc.) decided 'this game goes in both directions', she found a live in nanny and started cruising local small discotheques for hot teenage boys and started to bring them home, much to the embarrassment of her 3 daughters.

 

She had also gained a reputation for being very forward in disco venues, approaching young men she fancied and immediately putting her hand down the inside of their pants and playing with their equipment. 

 

Engineer hubbies employer became aware, whole family immediately packed off back to Europe. 

That reminds me of my early days in Thailand.

I worked as a consultant for another consultancy company with about 30 farangs, all expats with big salaries who were sent here with their family. They worked a couple of years on a big project in Bangkok. And after that time about 2/3 were divorced from their farang wife and together with Thai wives and girlfriends.

I thought it was funny - but then I never talked to the farang ex-wives. ???? 

[scorecard]

14 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

That reminds me of my early days in Thailand.

I worked as a consultant for another consultancy company with about 30 farangs, all expats with big salaries who were sent here with their family. They worked a couple of years on a big project in Bangkok. And after that time about 2/3 were divorced from their farang wife and together with Thai wives and girlfriends.

I thought it was funny - but then I never talked to the farang ex-wives. ???? 

So here's a question for all: If your farang wife brought a quite young very hot Thai man into the living room dressed in singlet and tight shorts and announced she was moving out same day to life with her new boyfriend who was well capable of providing her with good accommodation, shopping, vehicle etc., how do you think you would react?

Edited January 4, 2022 by scorecard

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, scorecard said:

So here's a question: If your farang wife brought a hot quite young Thai man into the living room dressed in singlet and tight shorts and announced she was moving out same day to life with her new boyfriend who was well capable of providing her with good accommodation, shopping etc., how do you think you would react?

Great, let me help you packing.

IMHO there is no such thing as a farang woman who is anywhere near as attractive as many Thai girls.

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

So here's a question for all: If your farang wife brought a quite young very hot Thai man into the living room dressed in singlet and tight shorts and announced she was moving out same day to life with her new boyfriend who was well capable of providing her with good accommodation, shopping, vehicle etc., how do you think you would react?

I'd have been overjoyed.

But mine chucked me out of the house, so she could bang her new boyfriend in our bed.

And I hope he got a lot more sex than I ever did (but I doubt it).

Edited January 4, 2022 by BritManToo

[473geo]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

So here's a question for all: If your farang wife brought a quite young very hot Thai man into the living room dressed in singlet and tight shorts and announced she was moving out same day to life with her new boyfriend who was well capable of providing her with good accommodation, shopping, vehicle etc., how do you think you would react?

When it's done it's done, time for a new chapter 

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

Myself, I left the UK age 20, I couldn't wait to get out, I have nothing but bad memories and regrets there and I have to try hard not to look back. I went to Paris, started working in hotels. I was rudderless, drifting from job to job and country to country. In my 30s I married into a warm, loving, welcoming family in Thailand and had kids. I sure never imagined this is where I'd end up. I can't imagine I'll ever set foot in the UK again. Like you I have no friends other than those I've known in expatriate circles from around the world. I have no connections whatsoever from my origin country.

I've been lucky in marriage. Very lucky. I feel Thailand has provided me with stability, a future, a family, love, and a place in society. This is why I have chosen to take the citizenship route.

 

On 1/1/2022 at 7:13 PM, Grecian said:

I have a decent life here. Nice house, enough money for my simple needs and wants. Nice family. No wife or kids. Of course given up on dating!

My advice, if you come to Thailand, don't be an old fool. Young fools can get away with it and start over. At your age you won't get a second shot. I did the young fool thing, learned my lessons the hard way but was young enough to recover. You'll be dating again in 5 minutes, lifestyle score 20/10. I lost count (and lost interest in counting) how many I saw go broke in 5 years and on a plane back to Blighty, bedsit in Luton or some other part of God's as$#ole, giving yourself a 0/10 lifestyle score, your neighbour will be a 50-something divorcee with clinical depression.

 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by Led Lolly Yellow Lolly