How is Retirement treating you?

[EVENKEEL]

So, there are multiple ways for a retiree to spend his days here in Thailand I guess. I was calling Thailand my home for a good 10 yrs before I retired.  Had a kid, bought couple houses, cars all paid for. I have things to do here like a bit of yard work, taking care of the kid, the beach is nearby, nice gym. Having said that I find myself bored at times and I wonder about the guys who rent a place, no kids, no other family in Thailand, How do you fill your time, your days with constructive things. I can see where drinking can become part of a routine. 

 

There is always a group who says "I'm never bored" Really? Seems like the gym, golf and bike riding tops the list of entertainment. AN can become addictive as well.

[Mike Lister]

48 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

So, there are multiple ways for a retiree to spend his days here in Thailand I guess. I was calling Thailand my home for a good 10 yrs before I retired.  Had a kid, bought couple houses, cars all paid for. I have things to do here like a bit of yard work, taking care of the kid, the beach is nearby, nice gym. Having said that I find myself bored at times and I wonder about the guys who rent a place, no kids, no other family in Thailand, How do you fill your time, your days with constructive things. I can see where drinking can become part of a routine. 

 

There is always a group who says "I'm never bored" Really? Seems like the gym, golf and bike riding tops the list of entertainment. AN can become addictive as well.

I agree, without the gym, the garden, DIY and shopping, life in Thailand would be stark. I don't know how single guys who rent a condo do it, unless they spend as you say, all their time in the bars, in which case life is short.

[GammaGlobulin]

Man, you don't have a clue.

I am never bored.

 

What do I do to avoid being bored?

 

I spend most of my time saving the Chinese.

 

(But, I do not save them like a missionary might.)

 

No fing beach or gym for me....and....this is why....I am...

Never bored.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 11 by GammaGlobulin

[retarius]

It is treating me very well indeed. I am very contented and happy with my life and wouldn't;t change a thing. Fortunately I retired early enough at 54 and enjoyed many good years before health issues got me last year. I'm going on 71. My illness has curtailed what I am able to do and will shorten my life, but I am reconciled to that.

I have little to do apart from go to see doctors, but then I am not the sort of person who gets bored and yard work, D-I-Y don't interest me in the slightest.

 

I live like a Victorian gentleman from the 1800s out of a novel by Thomas Hardy. I manage to get out a couple of afternoons a week to the pub, to 'enjoy' English conversation (it's usually about sport and bores me stupid) so I keep it limited to 2 times a week. I don't watch TV at all and so read extensively but only good quality fiction.

 

My wife is younger and still full of life and she keep me on my toes dragging me out shopping, to visit people, or to visit some place she has read about. We used to go out partying when I was in my 50s and early 60s and had access to cities but do little of that sort of stuff now. 

What do I miss? Being part of my kids' lives. They are doing well, raising families and in their 40s. A weekly video and an annual get together don't really add up to being involved in their lives. But there is a price to everything.

[KannikaP]

17 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

I spend most of my time saving the Chinese

Come on Gamma, you spend most of your time writing stuff here on AN.

[JimTripper]

Many end up drinking and sitting at bars and/or having relationships with prostitutes.

[GammaGlobulin]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Come on Gamma, you spend most of your time writing stuff here on AN.

 

Whatever time I spend on TV is done so, principally, because I enjoy this opportunity to speak tangentially, rather than directly, about anything.

 

During my real life, I must always speak directly.

 

Here on TV, I am able to speak tangentially.

 

This is the real reason I post on TV.

 

Now you know.

 

 

[Mike Lister]

3 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

Many end up drinking and sitting at bars and/or having relationships with prostitutes.

Which probably sounds idyllic to some who have been working hard for the past 40/50 years but the novelty will wear off very quickly.

[EVENKEEL]

32 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Man, you don't have a clue.

I am never bored.

 

What do I do to avoid being bored?

 

I spend most of my time saving the Chinese.

 

(But, I do not save them like a missionary might.)

 

No fing beach or gym for me....and....this is why....I am...

Never bored.

 

 

 

 

It figures you're a "never bored" guy.

[4MyEgo]

11 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

Many end up drinking and sitting at bars and/or having relationships with prostitutes.

 

Hmm, how is you relationship, mine has been perfect for the past 17 years, just saying, oh and in my opinion most are p's, some you pay for directly, others indirectly, but you pay......LoL 

 

As for drinking and sitting at bars, yep, nothing wrong with socialising, if that's your thing, but everything in moderation Jummy. 

 

Edited February 11 by 4MyEgo

[Prubangboy]

I just spent 3 weeks on Koh Tao without my wife, so I guess that replicates a single guy's life. I did my usual exercise, meditation, reading, writing. Never hard to fill the day, I like my own company and there's always forgettable chat available at the pad thai coco shake place du jour. Prob more lite social encounters possible here than anywhere. 

 

When you get older, you need to me more stoic/resilient/self-sufficient. People are less interested in you. Oldies complain about being "invisible", but the last time I checked, invisibility is a superpower.

 

It occurred to me that I am at an age where it doesn't really matter where I am, since I will likely be doing the same things. Only the morning walk around part would change.

 

I'm going to Oman soon. It'll be very diff, but I'll be pretty much the same in temperament and non-Oman viewing activities.

[EVENKEEL]

8 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

Which probably sounds idyllic to some who have been working hard for the past 40/50 years but the novelty will wear off very quickly.

Years back it was said a guy retiring to the Philippines had a life expectancy  of 5 years due to excess drinking and just not taking care of yourself including smoking and eating wrong foods.

[EVENKEEL]

3 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

I just spent 3 weeks on Koh Tao without my wife, so I guess that replicates a single guy's life. I did my usual exercise, meditation, reading, writing. Never hard to fill the day, I like my own company and there's always forgettable chat available at the pad thai coco shake place du jour. Prob more lite social encounters possible here than anywhere. 

 

When you get older, you need to me more stoic/resilient/self-sufficient. People are less interested in you. Oldies complain about being "invisible", but the last time I checked, invisibility is a superpower.

 

It occurred to me that I am at an age where it doesn't really matter where I am, since I will likely be doing the same things. Only the morning walk around part would change.

 

I'm going to Oman soon. It'll be very diff, but I'll be pretty much the same in temperament and non-Oman viewing activities.

I got to ask, what's your job in Oman? Why Oman? although they have some exquisite beach resorts.

[Tropicalevo]

Quote

How is Retirement treating you?

I will let you know if I retire. (I expect to die 'in harness'.)

 

Only 72 and still running a business that I set up here 23 years ago.

Too busy to be bored.

My only regret is that my younger wife died 8 years ago. We were married for 30 years.

I still miss that girl.

 

[Prubangboy]

Oman is on sale with Intrepid Tours and the dates matched with other smoke season dodging options. I've always wanted to go to an empty quarter, sand dunes, Muslim desert, and Oman is a relatively welcoming one.

 

I eat middle eastern food at least once a week. Hummus Chiang Mai is as good as Greenwich Village or Beirut. I am looking forward to 5* dips and wood fired pita bread, the greatest meal on earth.

 

I respect your skepticism of people who claim they are never bored. This is ridiculous grandstanding.

 

In my average day (or even my average hour), I'll be bored, angry, depressed, elated, grateful, etc over and over again. Boredom is the ticket price for being alive. Just try not to let the tail wag the dog.

[bkk6060]

I certainly don't understand why so many come here and repeat all the stuff and mistakes they made before.

Getting married, houses, kids, dogs, buying cars, accumulating stuff, garages and yards full of things they don't need. 

Being single and the freedom is so much better I think. Busy everyday with something and lots of friends.  Renting is great so much flexibility and when I travel just close the door and go not worrying about anything.  Infinity pool, nice gym, and I pay one bill every month.

But to each their own.  Also, many of the guys I see in bars are married.  Stuck in lousy relationships with a bunch of baggage and depressed they need the drink to get through the day.

I feel sorry for them.

Edited February 11 by bkk6060

[sirineou]

59 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

So, there are multiple ways for a retiree to spend his days here in Thailand I guess. I was calling Thailand my home for a good 10 yrs before I retired.  Had a kid, bought couple houses, cars all paid for. I have things to do here like a bit of yard work, taking care of the kid, the beach is nearby, nice gym. Having said that I find myself bored at times

I was/am  in a similar retirement situation as you.  about 15 years coming here , about 5 retired. 

married to a wonderful Thai lady  for about 15. but no kids , only one from a previous marriage. 

What would you do different if you had retired in your country?  I suspect being a lot more expensive there, you won't be able to afford as much as you do here and would be even more bored.  

    The trick is to not stop working after you retirement. but just change it to things you enjoy doing, and those things are different for each one of us. So I cant tell you what to do,

   I enjoy reading, so mi Kindle is alway near me , and catch up on my working life differed reading,  If I had 40 years of life remai ing there is no way that I can read all the books I should have.

  Picked up the Guitar again. Old hand and brain not cooperating but I manage to annoy the wife and send the dogs running.  (five of them)

  Ride my bicycle , which is exactly what I will do as soon as I finish riding this. 

Have a mall apartment building(only for apartments)  always needing something fixed.

  Koi pont and growing koi.

  Finding weathered wood in the fields and making Orchid derangements. 

Have a one Rai farm where I am always building something and spending 1000, baht to grow 100bht worth of vegetables LOL

  Cooking and baking

Traveling 

Setting everyone straight on this forum 

Not enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do. 

Just finished building this Sala all by myself and am very proud 

Point being you got to find the things that interest you and keep busy. 

 

 

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

I wonder about the guys who rent a place, no kids, no other family in Thailand, How do you fill your time, your days with constructive things. I can see where drinking can become part of a routine. 

Don't fit the criteria, but if getting bored, then must be time to  plan my next O&A, or new cooking adventure.  If all else fails, take the dog for a walk or to the park/surfside.

 

Food shopping (new ideas), got to eat, takes up some time, if eating good/healthy.  Baking something every other day (bread or pastry), along with kefir & natto lately.  Always a bird or critter nearby to take a snap of, or send a drone up for peeky peeky of the hood.

 

I'm actually quite happy doing absolutely nothing.

 

Last resort ... troll AN 

 

Never was that much of a drinker of alcohol, outside of the house.  Once a month maybe.

Edited February 11 by KhunLA

[Hamus Yaigh]

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

Had a kid, bought couple houses, cars all paid for. I have things to do here like a bit of yard work, taking care of the kid, the beach is nearby, nice gym. Having said that I find myself bored at times

Stuck in the same routine daily can be boring. Sounds like you need some stimulation both in the brain with learning something nteresting and in the sub-navel region if you are that way inclined.

[retarius]

54 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

Many end up drinking and sitting at bars and/or having relationships with prostitutes.

Well if that makes them happy, why not? Some people make life choices which are different from out own, but your comment sounds judgemental, and who are you to judge? 'Judge not, lest you be yourself, judged'.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

There is always a group who says "I'm never bored" Really? Seems like the gym, golf and bike riding tops the list of entertainment. AN can become addictive as well.

Reading novels tops my list, currently working through on the 'Jack Reacher' series ....... about 20 books .... 10 own.

The rest of my time I just waste watching movies and listening to music.

 

Been retired for nearly 25 years, still happy enough.

Edited February 11 by BritManToo

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, retarius said:

I don't watch TV at all and so read extensively but only good quality fiction.

 

My wife is younger and still full of life and she keep me on my toes dragging me out shopping, to visit people, or to visit some place she has read about. We used to go out partying when I was in my 50s and early 60s and had access to cities but do little of that sort of stuff now. 

What do I miss? Being part of my kids' lives. They are doing well, raising families and in their 40s. A weekly video and an annual get together don't really add up to being involved in their lives. But there is a price to everything.

How do you find 'good quality fiction'?

These days everything written seems to be low quality, factually incorrect and full of errors.

 

I'm still in my son's life, he's 12 and I'm near enough your age.

[Nemises]

2 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I wonder about the guys who rent a place, no kids, no other family in Thailand, How do you fill your time, your days with constructive things

A single guy in Thailand with no family but who has money can have a lifestyle that only movie stars or millionaires would have back in their homeland - for a fraction of the price!

Lots of different beach resorts, islands, provinces and beautiful Thai girls to fill their time.

 

Those lucky guys would be wondering about the married guys stuck in one place with one female for the duration of their retirement. 

 

 

Edited February 11 by Nemises

[hotandsticky]

6 minutes ago, Nemises said:

A single guy in Thailand with no family but who has money can have a lifestyle that only movie stars or millionaires would have back in their homeland. Lots of different beach resorts, islands, provinces and beautiful Thai girls to fill their time. Those lucky guys would be wondering about the married guys stuck in one place with one female for the duration of their retirement. 

 

 

There is a middle ground that works very well.

[Presnock]

Never really bored here.  I spent 10 years (over a span of 30 Years) in Bangkok (9) and NKP during the VN days (1).  I also lived overseas in 15 different countries, in EU, C.America, Asia, and Africa.  I kept a log of the good and bad wherever I was.  Thailand came out on top - food is great, weather is NEVER cold, people accept foreigners, no big earthquakes or volcanoes erupting (so far).  I retired at 58 in Bangkok.  After 9 years of "fighting" the traffic I moved to CM with my younger Thai wife and 10 year old daughter as CM has a great International School.  When my daughter began university here, we rented a condo for her next to the college, rented a house on the Airport Link train as we also have 2 dogs needing a yard and still keep our CM house.  I exercise at home regularly with weights and

core exercises plus walk daily in the Mooban.  I am 77 years old now, take no medicines, haven't even had a headache in 24 years (truly).  Thailand through stores like Villamart has a multitude of veggies, berries, nuts, fruits year round so I also can eat fairly healthy and do so on a daily basis and also eat a Thai meal almost every lunchtime.   My breakfast with fruit is on "soaked" oatmeal  and then a Thai

lunch, after my evening walk a berry, nut and seed with probiotic yogurt meal.  I do not drink alcohol, nor smoke pot (never have) nor use tobacco of any type.  My family is my main concern and I am

happy doing whatever with them.  Our daughter usually spends her free time at hour house.  I enjoy reading novels usually that have been on the large number ! seller's list and chatting occasionally on

this forum and with some from my high school, work days or VN (4 years in country or theater).  I have been lucky or blessed almost my entire life with very few if any regrets of decisions that I made

and being of an optimistic nature, am working on my Long Term Visa at this time.  To me, I thought Thailand was close to paradise when I retired and I haven't changed my mind yet.  I certainly hope that the majority of those that read the notes in this forum feel the same.  If I ever thought that life was boring, I would alter my lifestyle or living location for sure as there are many different lands out there!

[EVENKEEL]

7 minutes ago, Nemises said:

A single guy in Thailand with no family but who has money can have a lifestyle that only movie stars or millionaires would have back in their homeland. Lots of different beach resorts, islands, provinces and beautiful Thai girls to fill their time. Those lucky guys would be wondering about the married guys stuck in one place with one female for the duration of their retirement. 

That is entirely true. I sometimes think about the life I can have after the kid goes to Uni, and you're right about the money issue. I'll send the ole lady back to Isaan and I'll be foot loose and fancy free....again. Five star hotels at beach resorts is a nice way to live.

[ezzra]

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Man, you don't have a clue.

I am never bored.

 

What do I do to avoid being bored?

 

I spend most of my time saving the Chinese.

 

(But, I do not save them like a missionary might.)

 

No fing beach or gym for me....and....this is why....I am...

Never bored.

 

 

 

 

Yeah that's for sure as you keep running to the computer/phone each time the silliest thing enters your brain to tell us

all about it...

[EVENKEEL]

1 hour ago, sirineou said:

I was/am  in a similar retirement situation as you.  about 15 years coming here , about 5 retired. 

married to a wonderful Thai lady  for about 15. but no kids , only one from a previous marriage. 

What would you do different if you had retired in your country?  I suspect being a lot more expensive there, you won't be able to afford as much as you do here and would be even more bored.  

    The trick is to not stop working after you retirement. but just change it to things you enjoy doing, and those things are different for each one of us. So I cant tell you what to do,

   I enjoy reading, so mi Kindle is alway near me , and catch up on my working life differed reading,  If I had 40 years of life remai ing there is no way that I can read all the books I should have.

  Picked up the Guitar again. Old hand and brain not cooperating but I manage to annoy the wife and send the dogs running.  (five of them)

  Ride my bicycle , which is exactly what I will do as soon as I finish riding this. 

Have a mall apartment building(only for apartments)  always needing something fixed.

  Koi pont and growing koi.

  Finding weathered wood in the fields and making Orchid derangements. 

Have a one Rai farm where I am always building something and spending 1000, baht to grow 100bht worth of vegetables LOL

  Cooking and baking

Traveling 

Setting everyone straight on this forum 

Not enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do. 

Just finished building this Sala all by myself and am very proud 

Point being you got to find the things that interest you and keep busy. 

 

 

If I lived in the US where I own properties I would be busy with them instead of paying the property management people for upkeep.

 

The sala looks crazy nice.

[TorquayFan]

Unusually - at 76 now, I still miss the buzz of work, (I was lucky to have some good jobs).

 

I ride the bike to the coast 3 times a week, clean the rubbish from a long river bridge, coffee with friends on arrival and ride back. Its only a 30 km trip but I'm tired for the day after that.

 

Missis sells at Market sometimes so I might be on driving duties.

 

Read the news on line. Post on Forums including Scancell cancer vaccines where I have a big investment..

 

Enjoy TV greatly, currently Poldark and Death in Paradise the evening fare. Afternoons it's The Bill, MotD, Pointless or sometimes a film. I see you can access National Theatre productions on line so I'll subscribe to that.

 

Once or twice a week a swim in a quiet hotel pool.

 

A couple of nights out a week with the Missis at Restaurants or visiting Friends and the occasional karaoke party, otherwise a nightly sojourn to the 'Pub' for 2 beers and Falang chat.

 

I read the occasional book and just completed a devilish jigsaw that took me 3 months, (zebra and wildebeeste at a watering hole). It's a 1000 pieces and if anyone wants it I'll post it to you FOC.

 

Visit friends and stay a few days in the west, north and Isaan as often as possible.

 

With a 3 month trip to the UK each year

 

AND I'm still bored - I'm working on it ! 

 

 

 

Edited February 11 by TorquayFan

[Prubangboy]

24 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

How do you find 'good quality fiction'?

 

 

I'm still in my son's life, he's 12 and I'm near enough your age.

I'll tell where NOT to look: that category called Thai Modern Fiction in The Asia Bookstore.

 

I recently bought 4 such books and was very underwhelmed. I won't even list the titles, because they're same ones you see every time at the airport. A book of short stories about Bangkok all felt like first drafts.

 

Problem: Thai's are too non-confrontational to gin up a meaty plot conflict. That's why they bring the ghost on to move the story along.

 

For Non Fiction Thai Books, Phillip Cornwel-Smith's 2 books (Very Thai and Bangkok) glimmer with insight and arcania about everything around you. He writes in the heady realm of Cultural Studies; he's a guy who stares deep into the noodle bowl and ponders.

 

Very Thai is out again in an updated edition, noting how much strange Very Thai stuff has vanished. Good Thai interest books have one shot in the bookstores and then they vanish for good. Anything that gets a reprint is top tier.

 

Slithering South by Steve Van Beek is a good travelog about drifting the length of The Ping River in a small boat that just had a reprint. He now has a companion book out, The Latte River, that completes the journey. Very Bill Bryson-esque.

 

A truly great book is something that you might fall into twice a year, if you're lucky. Snakehead is another Asian book that a lot of people here liked.