Another point left out, which came to my mind after reading a few of the last posts:

 

"would love to live in Pattaya, but just can't because of wife/family/lack of money/ mama does not let me out of the basement so to feel less miserable I belittle others who actually can by accusing them of being whore mongers without even knowing their life circumstances".

Gone! Now in Goa!

5 hours ago, AlexRich said:

I agree. Pattaya has great shops, restaurants, cinemas … if you want to avoid the sleazier side you can do it easily. 

I tried to avoid it and failed. Ended up moving. I did not have a motorbike to drive away though, maybe that helps.

3 months Goa, 2 months Bali, 6 weeks ago UK, back then to Thailand.

On 11/4/2024 at 11:31 AM, heybuz said:

I've never been to elsewhere 

Where else have you not been?

Sitting here with a hoodie on, thinking to buy a room heater.

Hate this cooler weather.

On 11/4/2024 at 8:13 AM, kwonitoy said:

Left 3 years ago with my son so I could raise/educate him in Canada.

Just moved into our new custom build house and life could not be better.

IF you can survive winters.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-live-through-an-Alberta-winter

 

I'm not poking fun of you. I've tried to do what you're doing. I could not - got very depressed. I belong to warm / hot (if dry heat) climate.

14 minutes ago, GypsyT said:

IF you can survive winters.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-live-through-an-Alberta-winter

 

I'm not poking fun of you. I've tried to do what you're doing. I could not - got very depressed. I belong to warm / hot (if dry heat) climate.

 

After 25 years of Thailand and working in the Middle East and other too hot places, I love it here in Alberta. It's where I was born and raised

It's nice to have real seasons again.

 I've got an attached heated 3 car garage, that takes a lot of the bite out of winter.

I suppose if I had unlimited finances, I would probably live here only a few months of the year. I despise the government and immigration here, and it does feel like the nation is moving backwards. But, considering the fact that I do not have a fortune, I will stay. There are many issues to consider. Going back to the US is not an option. I would not want to live there now, unless I was being paid over a million dollars a year, and then I would only do it for 3 years, and then leave. For me, it is about quality of life, and my level of fulfillment on a daily basis, which I seem to have here in abundance. A big factor here, is the relatively light hearted attitude of the people. You just do not find that in the US, where most seem bitter, disenchanted, unfulfilled, and heavy hearted. And everything is over priced. 

 

This is an entirely subjective topic, of course. But some of us live very good lives here. Some of us have been fortunate enough to find an outstanding woman, who is delightful to be around, on a daily basis, always has our back, and is fun, smart, and lovely. For me, that likelihood of finding that back in the US, would be very low. So, that is a big factor for me. The second factor is just the quality of life. Sure, I miss alot of the culture back home. The theatre, independent film (which I can download here with no issues at all, and a super fast 1 gbps fiber optic connection, at under 700 baht per month!), stand up comedy, live jazz, etc. But I have a lovely home that I rent, for about 8% of what I would pay in California, I live very well on an income which is not huge, have access to great health care, at a tiny fraction of what it costs in the US, and do not have to put up with alot of the aggravation that I had to when I lived back there.

 

I will stay. Happily. I have my issues, but I would have issues anywhere I went. 

 

Honestly, this is old hat. I've been here for over 23 years. Every 6 months or so the topic comes up. Really? Who gives a f.f. whether you're coming or going. Click bait comes to mind. 

8 hours ago, save the frogs said:

we've had this discussion.

not everyone is in pattaya for hookers.

pattaya is a great place to live for many reasons. 

 

Thank you for giving the same answer I would have!

36 minutes ago, Dr. Zorg said:

Honestly, this is old hat. I've been here for over 23 years. Every 6 months or so the topic comes up. Really? Who gives a f.f. whether you're coming or going. Click bait comes to mind. 

some people have doubts about whether they made the right decision, and want other people's perspectives.

hummin doesn't do clickbait. 

On 11/4/2024 at 11:57 AM, edwardflory said:

Why would I leave?????

I live a upper (American type) middle class lifestyle with a wife ( Thai ) in a 2BR house with fenced yard and a garden ( wife's). in a gated community 20 minutes from center city.( also have condo just outside BKK area ). 4 major stores within 5 minutes away, Immigration 10 minutes away.

My TOTAL LIVING EXPENSES are 40% LESS than just the COST of my large 1BR apartment in a complex, in a medium size USA city when I was single.

Just a bit of a different twist. A large part of retiring to Thailand was my inability to enjoy a retired working middle class retirement in the USA. I agree with you that I can have that earned retirement here in Chiang Mai. However, my sustainable monthly income is $2400 usd ($1570 of that from SS). As an American, I am taxed on worldwide income but as my income is under the amount required … I owe no income tax. Along comes Thailand proposing to change the rules after I have lived here as my only global residence, they require I bring in 65K baht a month and now they say I am to pay income tax. We will wait and see but … there are other countries wanting retirees to spend their money in those countries and some of them will allow joining their national healthcare scheme after a period of trouble free residences.

On 11/3/2024 at 6:34 PM, Hummin said:

Are you staying, leaving or coming? If leaving why ? 

 

For me, it was three factors who finely made my choice. This spring was horrible hot, extended the burning seasons, and possible being taxed in Thailand, even I will actually maybe save some by doing so. Still we will be able to live in Thailand partly, and we (wife) still have investments here, so future will tell how we will do it in future. 

 

 

 

Depends where you live. At the beach it's fine (I don't mean Pattaya). And taxes....procedure not finalized.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Some of us have been fortunate enough to find an outstanding woman, who is delightful to be around, on a daily basis, always has our back, and is fun, smart, and lovely.

OK but I don't want a Thai girl to have my back -- as she is a Thai citizen and I am not, I want her out in front taking the hits, if any. Since my wife is from an RT Police family, she tends to do that anyway.

it is about 8 C now in home country... only 25-30 C difference

 

prefer not to freeze

 

too poor for this tax thing anyway, loooooooooooooooool

 

all the self proclaimed millionaires here ... get ready to pay or leave

2 hours ago, itsari said:

Where else have you not been?

Don't go there where you' ve never gone there before. Never been to Goa, but whatever works for you via con dios.

On 11/3/2024 at 8:59 PM, freedomnow said:

As I'm not tied with a kid or or my Thai g/f anymore..I'm only visiting Thailand part of the year and going to investigate dating prospects in Colombia/Brazil/Argentina...the dating bar highest in Argentina..but so are the chix...I still pass for 36-38 - so I better get moving...haha.

Dog or cat years?

9 hours ago, BruceWayne said:

 

I think that's why there's so many thickos there.

Well, that and the fact the sex cases Thailand attracts tend to be drunk and/or thick.

 

Oh well.

You shouldn't base your opinion based on the people you hang out with....

 

Oh well.

2 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

OK but I don't want a Thai girl to have my back -- as she is a Thai citizen and I am not, I want her out in front taking the hits, if any. Since my wife is from an RT Police family, she tends to do that anyway.

Although I can certainly imagine the benefits of having RTP in the family, what would concern me is just the spectacular level of moral and ethical bankruptcy. Am I wrong? Are there any ethical cops here? 

49 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Although I can certainly imagine the benefits of having RTP in the family, what would concern me is just the spectacular level of moral and ethical bankruptcy. Am I wrong? Are there any ethical cops here? 

Well my F-I-L is retired and was mostly what we in US would call a beat cop in a semi-rural area. Never a big shot like the ones you suggest. But I'll guess he could call in a favor if he had to.

 

And you left out from your reply above there is only one captain of the ship

5 hours ago, Dr. Zorg said:

Honestly, this is old hat. I've been here for over 23 years. Every 6 months or so the topic comes up. Really? Who gives a f.f. whether you're coming or going. Click bait comes to mind. 

Terms of living in Thailand changing, and opinions based on experience as well. I will always look for my best options of where I feel home and satisfied. 

4 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Depends where you live. At the beach it's fine (I don't mean Pattaya). And taxes....procedure not finalized.

I have lived on the beaches around Thailand, but I enjoy visiting them for holidays now, more than living there permanently, as I get older I do not have the drive to kayaking, diving, climbing as much I used to do and I never was rhe guy lying flat out at the beach. 

 

I still like to work tho, so my options is better back home where I come from, as well fishing and picking Wild berries and mushrooms. 

 

Quality food is an another reason why I choosed to relocate back. It is not only a few things, it is the whole package adding up.

8 hours ago, rwill said:

You left out "Leaving Thailand for medical reasons"

That's a valid reason

7 hours ago, Pdavies99 said:

Gone! Now in Goa!

How is Goa compared to Thailand? Actually never been to India, feels to much people for me. Cambodia was not a thing for me, at least those few places I visited, being harassed everywhere I was going. I like quiet, and be able to walk everywhere without being harassed. 

18 hours ago, PJ71 said:

It's not often i do, but i agree with you.

 

Thailand works for me, life is too easy here.

Life is easy in Thailand, it is just minor things that's adding up and makes me want to leave for something I feel is better for me and my wife. At least for 10 years, and then we will see.

 

Getting her dual citizenship is one of the reasons, which could be handy in a crisis as a new pandemic or war, or an natural disaster. As well adding up on my pension funds doesn't harm. 

 

 

13 minutes ago, Hummin said:

That's a valid reason

I left Thailand as well for medical reasons now i got free healthcare free hospital and free doctor visits  

13 hours ago, BruceWayne said:

It's a complete sleaze pit. 

 

Lovely place, really.

 

13 hours ago, BruceWayne said:

Anyone who doesn't live there can admit it so why not be honest?

 

Admit to ignorance, yes. They know very little about Pattaya. The topic has been thoroughly discussed elsewhere.

 

<SNIP! Stereotypical bashing>

31 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I have lived on the beaches around Thailand, but I enjoy visiting them for holidays now, more than living there permanently, as I get older I do not have the drive to kayaking, diving, climbing as much I used to do and I never was rhe guy lying flat out at the beach. 

 

I still like to work tho, so my options is better back home where I come from, as well fishing and picking Wild berries and mushrooms. 

 

Quality food is an another reason why I choosed to relocate back. It is not only a few things, it is the whole package adding up.

Beautiful post ,I put a love emoji 

Thankyou for your service 

8 hours ago, Pdavies99 said:

Gone! Now in Goa!

Oh what a negative post 

All I can ask is you have done positivity in your life and enjoy whilst you can , surely thats not too much to ask !!