Why are you in Thailand?

[2009]

As the title says: why are you here (in Thailand)?

 

Many are here for work, study, family, fun, entertainment, culture, food, cost of living, spirituality, weather, health, sports, recreation etc. etc.

 

Curious to know what keeps us expats here.

[bob smith]

to slowly drink myself to death in the sun.

 

sadly it's taking quite a bit longer than I initially expected..

[Pouatchee]

16 minutes ago, 2009 said:

Curious to know what keeps us expats here.

Hmm ... you set the tone and are curious about the rest of us. How about setting the example with a detailed account?

 

I came to work and get out of my overtaxed country. I Have met 2 women married/divorced the first -- married again the second. In 20 years here I have accumulated much more wealth and toys than all my lifetime back home. I hate only one thing. I should be a permanent resident by now but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

[ezzra]

No other country will tolerate me.

[CharlieH]

Why I came, serial killer on the run.

Why I remain, good hunting and aint been caught yet, and you lot thpught my signature was a joke ! ????

[brianthainess]

Mind your own business 

[KhunLA]

Voted cost of living though daily cost food, housing not really.

 

But lack of any RE Taxes, and affordable, accessible healthcare makes it cheaper for a yank live here.

 

Food and petrol isn't really cheaper here vs USA, or wasn't 20yrs ago.

Since I don't rent, housing was about the same 20 yrs ago, and could easily find something comfy in FL for instance, for < 3 mill baht.  and they actually have homestead tax, so not bad .... but. hurricane season.

 

Most other places, high RE Taxes, so after house paid for, taxes cost same as renting here.  No taxes or healthcare premium (monthly) is almost the cost of living on the cheap here.

 

Solar & EVs are a lot cheaper here, along with access & cost @ charging stations.   So a major plus, now, since having.   Along with friendly trade partner of China, close & affordable.   All pluses.

 

Can afford to live in either, just have more pocket money here.

 

Just bored with the USA, after 45 yrs of nanny state, embarrassing foreign regime policies and now woke...NO THANKS.  Family & settled in, comfy houses, and now nice area to live, keeps me here.

[Danderman123]

Ease of living here, everything is convenient.

 

I should live in Mexico, as I am fluent in the language. But life is more difficult, and the crime rate is through the roof.

[BE88]

Government taxes allergy. every year I don't get poorer but I stay stable.

 

[worgeordie]

Just because I want to be , you don't say why you are here ....just to do surveys 

 

regards Worgeordie

[2009]

2 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Just because I want to be , you don't say why you are here ....just to do surveys 

 

regards Worgeordie

I already voted on the poll. 

 

I ain't asking for anyone's life story ????

[Neeranam]

Certainly not the women, I miss the European beauties.

[HappyExpat57]

Back in the US, I'd have a comfortable but meager existence.  Here, I can be a weekend millionaire every weekend and most week days if I so choose.

[worgeordie]

14 minutes ago, 2009 said:

I already voted on the poll. 

 

I ain't asking for anyone's life story ????

But I cannot see what you voted in the pole , I am just as curious as you , so why ....

 

regards Worgeordie

[2009]

4 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

But I cannot see what you voted in the pole , I am just as curious as you , so why ....

 

regards Worgeordie

I didn't make voters names public.

 

I thought people might not like that.

[2009]

13 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Certainly not the women, I miss the European beauties.

Yeah, I mean I still prefer the appearance of the Thai women over Western.

 

But their beauty is pretty much just skin deep.

[brewsterbudgen]

Came here in 2005 to train as a TEFL teacher and have never left!  Still teaching but now married and have a kid and although none of us are Thai, life is better here.

[worgeordie]

7 minutes ago, 2009 said:

I didn't make voters names public.

 

I thought people might not like that.

You ask questions , but will not answer mine , why YOU here , I am here for the weather.....

 

regards Worgeordie

[2009]

1 minute ago, worgeordie said:

You ask questions , but will not answer mine , why YOU here , I am here for the weather.....

 

regards Worgeordie

Thanks for sharing.

 

Mate, I am here for the rich culture ???????????????????? ????????????????????

[2009]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

Mind your own business 

Ah yes, I should have put a grumpy expat option. ????

 

Nobody is forcing you to participate in the poll, you know.

[proton]

entertainment, the rest you can keep. For singers like Lamyai and similar ???? I see only 3% for the culture, I thought you all came here and 'fell in love with it' ? ????

 

 

[proton]

16 minutes ago, 2009 said:

Thanks for sharing.

 

Mate, I am here for the rich culture ???????????????????? ????????????????????

gonorrhoea or syphilis ? ????

[1FinickyOne]

53 minutes ago, 2009 said:

But their beauty is pretty much just skin deep.

How many do you know past their skin? Do you speak Thai and can talk with typical country people? 

They are wonderful... open and friendly and funny sometimes too... of course, you have to get past their tourist rap if you are living in a tourist area... 

[Neeranam]

2 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

How many do you know past their skin? Do you speak Thai and can talk with typical country people? 

They are wonderful... open and friendly and funny sometimes too... of course, you have to get past their tourist rap if you are living in a tourist area... 

Hard to really get to know the people in a tourist area like Hua Hin. God knows what it is like in somewhere like Pattaya! 

In Isarn, it is easier and the people are great.

The farther South I go, the less friendly the people. 

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

Certainly not the women, I miss the European beauties.

Me Too!

[2009]

16 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

How many do you know past their skin? Do you speak Thai and can talk with typical country people? 

They are wonderful... open and friendly and funny sometimes too... of course, you have to get past their tourist rap if you are living in a tourist area... 

Yup, I do speak Thai and I read it.

 

Lived up in the north in a rural village for ages. 

 

I also work here.

 

 

Hell, I even studied a masters here with Thais at university for a couple of years.

 

 

I actually really loved Thai culture when I was new to the country, until I got to know the culture better, ????

 

 

It's not my cup of tea; I am a farang.

[BananaStrong]

change my name

escape from the police

avoid Interpol

hide my stash in the jungle

date girls 87 years younger than me.  I'm 130 by the way

get more tattoos, only have 100

learn one Thai word

live on 39 baht a week

get free wi-fi from McDonald's

wear elephant pants

become a famous YouTuber

do videos of everything only done 10 million times before

forget my past

reinvent

quit paying child support to my 38 kids

get everyone to think I'm dead

 

and.....................most importantly..............................Pattaya!!!!!!!!!!

[Woof999]

I'm here so that certain forum members can't say to me: "You probably don't even live here"

[Resident Alien]

2 hours ago, 2009 said:

why are you here (in Thailand)?

Why not?

[proton]

14 minutes ago, 2009 said:

Yup, I do speak Thai and I read it.

 

Lived up in the north in a rural village for ages. 

 

I also work here.

 

 

Hell, I even studied a masters here with Thais at university for a couple of years.

 

 

I actually really loved Thai culture when I was new to the country, until I got to know the culture better, ????

 

 

It's not my cup of tea; I am a farang.

What don't you like about Thai culture and that being the case why stay here?