All planned, or just the way it turned out ?

[The Cobra]

When I was younger, having been raised in the UK, I never even thought much of foreign travel,.Sure I had occasional holidays over the years, 2 weeks here or there but never considered living in another country.

 

Then later in life, after a divorce and later a holiday to Thailand, which then became extended, then hypnotised by the place I never left, except to go back and detach myself completely from what was.

Funny how life can unfold, there was no plan, it just happened that way.

 

How about you? Just the way it's happened, or did you have a structured plan, or was it something else that led you to lay your hat  in Thailand for the foreseeable future? 

 

[Harrisfan]

Half of life accident, half planned. Life is life. 

[Tropicalevo]

Spur of the moment stuff.

I had travelled all over Europe and Asia for the company that I worked for.

We lived in a country for two years then moved to the next one.

I realised that I was not spending much time with the wife.

She was static at home and I was always in hotels or on planes so I said, I am going to retire. (49 years old.)

I said for her to pick a country, anywhere in the world, and we will go and live there.

She replied 'Thailand' and here I am.

[connda]

46 minutes ago, The Cobra said:

When I was younger, having been raised in the UK, I never even thought much of foreign travel,.Sure I had occasional holidays over the years, 2 weeks here or there but never considered living in another country.

 

Then later in life, after a divorce and later a holiday to Thailand, which then became extended, then hypnotised by the place I never left, except to go back and detach myself completely from what was.

Funny how life can unfold, there was no plan, it just happened that way.

 

How about you? Just the way it's happened, or did you have a structured plan, or was it something else that led you to lay your hat  in Thailand for the foreseeable future? 

 

I was a military brat, and I was in the military myself.  Overseas deployments where a fact of life. And I enjoyed my time overseas - a lot! Even spent the first three years of my education in a post-WWII London English boys school.  It all shaped my world-view.  After the events leading to my last divorce, the first thing that came into my mind is, "I've leaving the country and moving overseas."  Just like that.  I've never looked back.

[Keeps]

I first visited Thailand in 1999. Returned twice per year governed by work holiday entitlement. In 2003 I was diagnosed with a chronic illness so decided to take a career break. I planned to come to Thailand for a year but ended up staying two and a half years.

 

I decided that I wanted to grow old in Thailand so made the decision to return to the UK. I was 36 then. Luckily got sorted with work within 1 month and picked up my career where I left off. At the time, exchange rate was favourable and interest rates were good so I thought I might have to work for 10 years and I would have enough.

 

Exchange rate went south as did the interest rates. I worked very hard, saved even harder so at the age of 49 I was able to stop working. Had a couple of pieces of luck along the way. 

 

I'm 56 now. I still split my time between Thailand and UK as I have an elderly mother but when I am in a position to, I will make the move permanent.

 

Best decision I ever made.

[oxo1947]

 

And no regrets Cobra---its like having a 2nd chance at life isn't it--

 

I had traveled a lot- + I was in the merchant navy for some years--

 

jumped ship In Kiwi-when I was 19 -and joined their Navy --other then Oz they didn't go much further then all the pacific islands

which was nice---some beautiful women there  with nice attitudes.

12 years latter moved to Oz joined their navy for a while--- but was getting fed with that life style & had a wife 2 little girls.

Early 80s Oz was an easy place to start a business-- I would talk about it to friends in pubs and get the usual Oz up front answer ,

every-time I said I think I could do this or that -- "Then Have a go ya Mug"    (or shut up) so I did and all that went well except for the marriage.

So at 40 and single I decided I would like to retire to Asia by 50---over shot that be 2 years.

 

Been here 26 years--I did decide to stay in every Asian country --for 3 months before decided where best--but could not stay the distance in all of them --Lao's was so boring

Cambodia at that time late 90s was a little dangerous --- Vietnam had not really got moving, people were friendly enough--especially when you learn to say

your English-- Visa's ect were always cheaper for UK--Canadian --or anyone who hadn't joined in the bombing the <deleted> out of them. I think its all leveled out  now .

  P.I  nice but I cant stand anything to do with Catholicism, went to a Catholic school for some years and found the nuns to be the most evil sadist people I have ever experienced.

I dont mind Buddhist , my wife bangs her head 3 times on the pillow every night and chants some inaudible nonsense,

but nothing about it interferes with our life style.

 

Like some on here-I would like to say after 26 years I now speak Thai like a native--- but my Thai is really woeful-- many times when I am trying order something there would be a burst of laughter from all the other Thai's around.

Like some on here--I would like to say my wife been to Uni --I am first person etc etc--but no, like me  she came from a broken marriage with 2 small girls---

she worked in a French restaurant, that my friend had talked me into eating at because, as he put it- he was tired of all this Thai <deleted> .

Been together over 20 years.