For those of you who have lived here for years?

[Lacessit]

5 hours ago, susanlea said:

Over 75s should get drunk every night and hire a bed friend. Your life is nearly over. Enjoy it.

I am not going to be much use to the bed friend if I am drunk every night.

 

Over 75's usually get up once or twice a night to pee. Alcohol is a diuretic which guarantees 5 or 6 trips to the bathroom. That does not sound enjoyable to me.

 

I don't know where people got the idea getting sozzled is necessary to enjoy life. As for the other, IMO I enjoy a good dump more.

[GammaGlobulin]

I would have left Taiwan much earlier, to come to Thailand.

I should have left Taiwan in Y2K.

 

 

[JimTripper]

I have known a couple guys who ended up having to leave back to their home countries due to getting old. At least one fell back on existing family, not sure about the other. It's something to consider. There are no social programs here to help you out.

 

If you don't have solid relationships (which a lot of guys here don't) you're going to be on your own as you age. Medical problems, infirmities, etc limit your mobility and you will need to figure out how to survive. These creep up on you quickly and may prevent you re-establishing yourself in another location.

[Lacessit]

I certainly would have changed what I did in Australia, in hindsight.

 

Here, I think the only thing I would have done differently would be to learn to read and write in Thai, instead of just speaking it.

[Lacessit]

2 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

I have known a couple guys who ended up having to leave back to their home countries due to getting old. At least one fell back on existing family, not sure about the other. It's something to consider. There are no social programs here to help you out.

 

If you don't have solid relationships (which a lot of guys here don't) you're going to be on your own as you age. Medical problems, infirmities, etc limit your mobility and you will need to figure out how to survive. These creep up on you quickly and may prevent you re-establishing yourself in another location.

Valid points. However, aged care here is comparatively affordable.

 

If you have a solid relationship with a Thai woman, her entire family will look after you.

[Gandtee]

2 hours ago, Gandtee said:

I've been married to my Thai wife and lived here for 37 years. At 90 I don't regret any of it.

 

[JimTripper]

26 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Valid points. However, aged care here is comparatively affordable.

 

If you have a solid relationship with a Thai woman, her entire family will look after you.

I'm guessing they were not wealthy or they could have checked themselves into a care resort somewhere. The Thai family thing is probably easier with money as well, or so I hear. Old age has a way of draining your finances.

[swissie]

56 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Valid points. However, aged care here is comparatively affordable.

 

If you have a solid relationship with a Thai woman, her entire family will look after you.

If your hospital bill exeeds your liquid assets, the Thai Family will not remember your last name.

[SAFETY FIRST]

10 hours ago, steven100 said:

some folks are happy in any place .....  good for you  .... 

Agree.

 

I am a glass half full guy and would probably be happy living anywhere, as long as it had a warm climate and near the beach. 

I'm a lucky one, I work on rotation, so I'm only here for a month then back to work for a month, I have a large family and travel regularly, I meet many Thai people from all over Thailand, always welcoming. Thai's are the nicest, warmest, happiest, friendlies people I've met. 

I feel keeping things positive and having a positive attitude has a reflection on how we see others and how others see us.

 

Sadly, some people will never be happy wherever they live in this world. 
 

[SAFETY FIRST]

9 hours ago, Gandtee said:

I've been married to my Thai wife and lived here for 37 years. At 90 I don't regret any of it.

Love it, I wish there were more like you here in Thailand. 

 

Have a nice day. 👍

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

9 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

10 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Crikey, I've lived here for over 20 years, still in my 50's.

 

Reading all the negativity.

How sad it must be for some of you guys living your miserable life here in Thailand.

 

I'm the happiest guy on the planet, would not have chosen to live anywhere else. 

 

I did like Vung Tau when I was working there, would have been my next choice. 

 

It may be ok for you as you have $$ ,many of us like myself are very poor forced to work 12 hours days and double shifts on Sunday's .

When we do go to Thailand we are locked up in our 6 weeks annual leave in a large Condo with small cell rooms 

I work on an offshore drilling rig. 

I work 12 hours a day, 28 days straight. 

 

I don't think you are poor, I read that you own properly in Sydney, probably worth millions. 💲💲💲💲

 

I've read your postings in the past, you seem to be bitter, negative at times. Try to be more positive in life, you'll enjoy life more, try it. 

 

 

 

[Ralf001]

13 hours ago, susanlea said:

Not me. I enjoy relaxing. Going to car racing next 2 weeks. Then football match if started. Then some new gyms.

Racing at Buriram ?

 

What events are on  ?

[1FinickyOne]

15 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Don't waste your time learning the language, don't need it in Bangkok, Pattaya, ChiangMai, with Google translate and google lens it makes it simple

learning the language is a door into the culture... best thing I have done here. Thai people might be much more fascinating than you think... 

[rwill]

I'd respond but I'm only 66...

[scubascuba3]

15 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

learning the language is a door into the culture... best thing I have done here. Thai people might be much more fascinating than you think... 

i talk to plenty of educated Thais, maybe try and meet those ones

[soalbundy]

15 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Don't waste your time learning the language, don't need it in Bangkok, Pattaya, ChiangMai, with Google translate and google lens it makes it simple

Learning a new language is an intellectual pursuit that not only keeps your mind sharp but also earns you the respect of the locals, it also gives one an insight into the psyche of the locals. I speak 3 languages and that enriches my life. People who don't speak German for instance say that Germans have no sense of humour, having lived there for over 35 years and speak German fluently I can say that this just isn't true, it's just nuanced differently from British humour. Listening to Thai girls speak in relation to their falang escort is also amusing. I remember seeing a loved up falang with his Thai girl who was making arrangements with 3 other Thai girls to go out eating, " Later", she said, "I've got to give this", indicating the star struck falang, "A service first, it won't take long." I felt sorry for him but couldn't help laughing, which drew shocked glances from the girls.

[Henryford]

16 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Don't waste your time learning the language, don't need it in Bangkok, Pattaya, ChiangMai, with Google translate and google lens it makes it simple

 

I agree. It's useful to know a few phrases and numbers etc but in the main cities you can get by fine without knowing Thai. With the new Samsung AI apps you can talk to anyone.

[2baht]

15 hours ago, bob smith said:

I am not over 75 but I've been living here for many years.

 

If I had my time again I would never have moved to Thailand.

 

Biggest mistake of my life.

 

bob.

Where would you have moved to in retrospect, Bob?

[2baht]

24 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

Thai people might be much more fascinating than you think... 

Name 3!

[susanlea]

11 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I have made up my mind.

Based on being so heavily invested in Thailand for so long, I will try to stay indefinitely.

However, that wasn't the question here, what I would do!

I posted what I would advise for people that haven't moved to Thailand YET.

Latin A suits Americans. Too far for others.

[susanlea]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

Racing at Buriram ?

 

What events are on  ?

Me, the cleaner and Bob racing bath tubs on wheels.

[g00dgirl]

Make a real effort to learn the language early on, hiring a good personal tutor helps.
Then once you understand what is being said about you, you leave. 😄 
 

[sirineou]

Don't jump the gun!!put in your time and wait until you are ready.

  Nothing worst than having the time when you retired, but not the funds to do anything. 

  Come to Thailand a few time , the real Thailand not party time Thailand, expose yourself to Thai culture, with all the good and bad, so it will not come as a shock to you when you are living here , reality hits. and you are trapped here because you burned bridges to come here, or back home has moved on. Then when things are not as you had hopped would be, you start blaming the Thais and not yourself for not having adequately prepared.  

[tandor]

16 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

jing lor?

jai

[tandor]

16 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

jing lor?

chi

[susanlea]

11 hours ago, Hummin said:

Honestly, not much less than 800 baht a night without pool worth looking at. Some seaside guesthouses at jomtien with big rooms have great deals for around 18k a month, no pool though 

 

450 baht in Hua Hin.

[Gsxrnz]

Platinum advice. - don't tell the missus you're out playing poker with your mates and arrive home with your shirt inside out and missing a sock.

 

Don't ask me how I know.

[Ralf001]

45 minutes ago, susanlea said:

Me, the cleaner and Bob racing bath tubs on wheels.

 

Well thats dissapointing, was hoping there was racing.... Planning a run up on the bike next weekend to visit friends, would have been great to catch some track action too.

[Presnock]

I retired here in 2003...married a Thai lady and we now have a 20-year old daughter in college.  I worked here several times in the past and while I lived in many countries around the world, Thailand was at the top of the list.  The PI was 2nd place - both have no cold weather nor snow!  But Thailand definitely won out on local food.  Both countries' citizens welcomed western foreigners.  I speak both languages, and like the people of both countries.  I don't drink alcohol, use any drugs not even aspirin, nor did I run the bars.  I played a lot of golf early on over the years but slowed  down a lot.  Now at 77, I still walk 6 km every day, lift weight every third day and do core exercises for an hour every day that I do not lift weights.  Fortunately, Thailand has an abundance of fruit and veggies so I eat healthy, avoid fast foods  and

red meats and ultra processed foods.  I have not even had a cold  since retiring here though I did catch the COVID (sore throat for 2 dayas only).  I now have given up driving myself and use one of the call-ups

for any transportation needed.  I enjoy watching Korean drama series and movies but keep the amount screen time to a minimum.  I do read novels daily and check out this forum evey day for an hour or two

depending on anything new.  For new folks, avoid the bars, lots of great places to visit that are totally undeveloped in this country.  Try to be patient and chill every day as life can go smoothly if one practices this ALL the time. As for any new folks,  we still have no real idea when and if the tax situation will get worse or not.  The  new govt continues to argue on the pros and cons I think in the impementation of the

opportunities they feel are available from the expats since we have no say in the yea or nay of anything locally.  Our only recourse is to re-locate to another ASEAN nation that recognizes what the expats can

bring with them.  BTW I got rid of everything prior to coming here, and realized that I would enjoy life here until I died - I still feel that way, now have an LTR and with the DTA and the LTR am not concerned with the current tax situation - we'll see how that develops over time I guess.  Life here can be great depending on what one can put up with.  Always chill...good luck to all

[prakhonchai nick]

Came here 38 years ago...........moved lock stock and barrel. Had a house built just up a soi from Jomtien beach..no tourists then, beach deserted. Relocated to Isaan 23 years ago Bought a house.  Have a basic understanding of Thai language and speak it when necesary. Best not to understand here in Isaan as all the locals will try and tap you up for a loan  My answer to all requests "mai cowjai".

 

Been back to my home country 3 times each for 2/3 weeks. Could never return... Not the country I grew up in. Overwhelmed with non natives.

 

Here to stay.  What would I have changed?   Nothing much. May have kept my house in the UK had I not needed the money.