Express yourself now folks with positive thought. Please no negative BS. We ( at least I ) have lived in Asia since the Vietnam War and been in Thailand, Philippines, Okinawa and Japan. I only noticed one thing, people do NOT change. It is nice to see people post their journeys of living in Thailand or other Asian countries, but one thing is missing I feel and that is living here in a spiritual world of simplicity. Really, we don't need much when we are up there in our late chapter in life, just the freedom of feeling free after all them hard years of work. What is your thoughts. 

11 hours ago, camper star said:

the freedom of feeling free....

It's all in the mind.

You can be anywhere in the world.

That's all at matters......

 

You are brainwashed to believe you are somehow free. It does not matter what country you are in, if you got a birth certificate after you were born you are a slave to the system. Truly free people are living in the woods or jungle somewhere, and they do what they want at all times with zero government involvement. We are getting further from this everyday that passes.

Well there is a feeling of being more free in Thailand because it is not so

strict as other "western" countries.

Many laws here are more of guidelines than inforced , like trafic laws.

Trafic repression with sky high fines back home , come to mind.

This does give a feeling of being more free .

Of course , I don't know how it is in other Asean countries.

 

 

For me living in another country seems natural. I have lived in many countries over the last 40 years and am quite happy to go with the flow. If I didn't like the way things were in a country I would go somewhere else. You don't have to stay somewhere if you dont like it.

29 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Well there is a feeling of being more free in Thailand because it is not so

strict as other "western" countries.

Many laws here are more of guidelines than inforced , like trafic laws.

Trafic repression with sky high fines back home , come to mind.

This does give a feeling of being more free .

Of course , I don't know how it is in other Asean countries.

 

 

 

 

Yes until someone breaking the 'laws' effects you hey.

 

This simply has to be the most idiotic statement on this forum 

Thanks Donnie !

14 hours ago, camper star said:

Express yourself now folks with positive thought. Please no negative BS. We ( at least I ) have lived in Asia since the Vietnam War and been in Thailand, Philippines, Okinawa and Japan. I only noticed one thing, people do NOT change. It is nice to see people post their journeys of living in Thailand or other Asian countries, but one thing is missing I feel and that is living here in a spiritual world of simplicity. Really, we don't need much when we are up there in our late chapter in life, just the freedom of feeling free after all them hard years of work. What is your thoughts. 

 

Have you made you Tax return?

I live out in the countryside and while things are peaceful and generally relaxing, it is still hard to get away from it all and find true peace and quiet. I have recently been taking daily hikes with my new dog, and discovered two possibilities for getting away from it all.

 

There are these temples which are like spiritual retreats, often manned by one or two caretaker monks, with very few visitors which provide a very spiritual and relaxing environment (once the dogs stop barking.)  Some have interesting art work as well.

 

 

 

 

In central Thailand there are these rocky hills and small mountains all over the place. The farmers till as far as they can up to the hills and then there's often an access road between the farm land and the mountain. It's very peaceful and quiet in these areas, and you can really get a sense of getting back to nature.

 

 

 

 

Have met many interesting characters on these walks as well.

 

 

"Buddy"

 

You can 'free from' stuff that impacts your being harder, the cold, the competition to survive and less for your money, ie. back home... but being free doesn't equate to having yourself to live with hour-to-hour, without purpose. Work gives you purpose, without it creating your own purpose is as challenging as work. So what is "freedom" exactly? We're never free from ourselves. Experiencing freedom can sometimes be better, when it's hard-earned. Nice topic btw 👍

13 minutes ago, Arthur Mullard said:

You can 'free from' stuff that impacts your being harder, the cold, the competition to survive and less for your money, ie. back home... but being free doesn't equate to having yourself to live with hour-to-hour, without purpose. Work gives you purpose, without it creating your own purpose is as challenging as work. So what is "freedom" exactly? We're never free from ourselves. Experiencing freedom can sometimes be better, when it's hard-earned. Nice topic btw 👍

Work only gives purpose to the purposeless.

I've never allowed work to validate my life.

Work always got in the way for me, and restricted my freedom.

 

Anyways,

Freedom's just another word for 'nothing left to lose'.

22 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

I live out in the countryside and while things are peaceful and generally relaxing, it is still hard to get away from it all and find true peace and quiet. I have recently been taking daily hikes with my new dog, and discovered two possibilities for getting away from it all.

 

Looks nice. Where is this? Hard to find nice places to walk your dog that doesn't have other dogs about. I have some concrete and dirt roads around the area which is fortunate.

 

2 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Looks nice. Where is this? Hard to find nice places to walk your dog that doesn't have other dogs about. I have some concrete and dirt roads around the area which is fortunate.

 

 

You gotta study GoogleMaps to find these back roads. Telltale sign that there are few houses (and dogs) on the road is the absence of utility poles. There are several black top roads in my area which have 7 km + stretches without any houses, problem is there's still road traffic. I get up at 2:30 - 3:00 am in order to be able to safely let the dog off the leash. I can usually see cars coming from a kilometer away.

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Work only gives purpose to the purposeless.

I've never allowed work to validate my life.

Work always got in the way for me, and restricted my freedom.

 

Anyways,

Freedom's just another word for 'nothing left to lose'.

Some people detest work, doing a job they hate. They can't wait to retire. Work to them is a burden.

 

Other people love their work, look forward to every day. It doesn't matter if they are stablehands, truck drivers, or a professional in a specialist field. They enjoy their work.

 

I was lucky to be in the latter category. I still enjoy creative endeavors, and feel sorry for those who drift aimlessly. That's not freedom. It's stagnation.

 

When were you busted flat in Baton Rouge?

 

 

I certainly feel more free in Thailand that I ever did in Australia, a true nanny state.

I have, as have you, lived in Asia since 1971, but full-time since 1979.

 

Yes, I live free in Asia, and refuse to be burdened by material things, as you also state.

 

Unlike you, perhaps, I have taken my unburdening and freedom to a higher level.

 

I now no longer wear clothes in my compound, even though I keep the ambient room temps in my rooms at 20-degrees C.

 

I am used to this cold temperature in Thailand, now.

I would not have it any other way.

 

Once I get my living spaces down to the right degree, I just keep it that way.

And, this is the most cost-effective solution.

 

When I have guests visiting, which is once in a Blue Moon, then I put on clothes, obviously.

Normally, I just don the Preppy Look.

 

Speaking of being a Preppy, very fortunately, I have never had the urge to murder anyone...unlike...

That preppy from Princeton, who is now in the news in America.

 

Allegedly, he seems to have killed his brother, recently, with some sort of golfing iron.

As we know, the FIVE-IRON is the most versatile, and good for putting even.

 

I no longer keep a set of clubs in my compound.

Golfing and Clubs are for the Caveman.

 

I do not live in a cave, even though I now have my bedroom completely boarded up, and sealed against the...

Dust, Noise, and Heat of the Hot Season.

 

YES....

I DO live FREE in Asia, and in Thailand, these days.

I love CM, too!!!!

 

I am not a complete hermit, however.

I enjoy interacting with my wonderful Thai neighbors.

I just hope that they have, by now, stopped seeing me as a Farang...and...

 

I think they have.

 

FREEDOM

FREEDOM

What a great Havens song....!!!!

 

NOTE:  So fortunately, I chose a decent set of ACs, which relieves me of undue worry about ICING ISSUES, something that seems to plague many members here on TV.

 

 

Most of us are free here or wherever we find ourselves.  Only thing that is really different are the outcomes of choices here compared to America for example. Choosing not to work at 42 and live in America would have had a much different outcome then doing it in Thailand.  I have more than I really need here in Thailand and in America I would have had not much more than food and shelter.  

8 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I have, as have you, lived in Asia since 1971, but full-time since 1979.

 

Yes, I live free in Asia, and refuse to be burdened by material things, as you also state.

 

Unlike you, perhaps, I have taken my unburdening and freedom to a higher level.

 

I now no longer wear clothes in my compound, even though I keep the ambient room temps in my rooms at 20-degrees C.

 

I am used to this cold temperature in Thailand, now.

I would not have it any other way.

 

Once I get my living spaces down to the right degree, I just keep it that way.

And, this is the most cost-effective solution.

 

When I have guests visiting, which is once in a Blue Moon, then I put on clothes, obviously.

Normally, I just don the Preppy Look.

 

Speaking of being a Preppy, very fortunately, I have never had the urge to murder anyone...unlike...

That preppy from Princeton, who is now in the news in America.

 

Allegedly, he seems to have killed his brother, recently, with some sort of golfing iron.

As we know, the FIVE-IRON is the most versatile, and good for putting even.

 

I no longer keep a set of clubs in my compound.

Golfing and Clubs are for the Caveman.

 

I do not live in a cave, even though I now have my bedroom completely boarded up, and sealed against the...

Dust, Noise, and Heat of the Hot Season.

 

YES....

I DO live FREE in Asia, and in Thailand, these days.

I love CM, too!!!!

 

I am not a complete hermit, however.

I enjoy interacting with my wonderful Thai neighbors.

I just hope that they have, by now, stopped seeing me as a Farang...and...

 

I think they have.

 

FREEDOM

FREEDOM

What a great Havens song....!!!!

 

NOTE:  So fortunately, I chose a decent set of ACs, which relieves me of undue worry about ICING ISSUES, something that seems to plague many members here on TV.

 

 

Another good read! I feel honored to be acknowledged at the end 🙂

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

Yes until someone breaking the 'laws' effects you hey.

 

This simply has to be the most idiotic statement on this forum 

Can  you explain your reasoning more in English to be clearly understood. Thank you.

11 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Another good read! I feel honored to be acknowledged at the end 🙂

Life really is more joyful when you have less in the 4 walls that surround you in life and can walk out into nature and choose the pickings of the next meal to fulfill the life of simplicity.

Some people are comfortable living outside the bounds of their "homeland."  Most people are not.  So, many of those of us who have traveled extensively during out lives and choose to live outside of our "homelands" probably do feel a sense of freedom.  Those who can't leave are in a way - shackled.  This life ain't for everybody. 

1 minute ago, connda said:

Some people are comfortable living outside the bounds of their "homeland."  Most people are not.  So, many of those of us who have traveled extensively during out lives and choose to live outside of our "homelands" probably do feel a sense of freedom.  Those who can't leave are in a way - shackled.  This life ain't for everybody. 

Thanks, that's a good understanding of the path of journey of with not a destination. Kind of like the wind is our roadmap in life.

How free is a bird from the chains of the sky?

27 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

How free is a bird from the chains of the sky?

The chains of the sky is the love chirping of the birds of joy and happiness in their flying in the beautiful skies of Thailand.

1 minute ago, camper star said:

The chains of the sky is the love chirping of the birds of joy and happiness in their flying in the beautiful skies of Thailand.

 

Until they get eaten by flying fish.

1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

 

Until they get eaten by flying fish.

are you referring to the scams of the flying fishes lol

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Work only gives purpose to the purposeless.

I've never allowed work to validate my life.

Work always got in the way for me, and restricted my freedom.

 

Anyways,

Freedom's just another word for 'nothing left to lose'.

You and Bobbie McGee huh?

 

16 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

You and Bobbie McGee huh?

 

Like a bird on a wire, I have tried in my own way to be free.

(His wife Rita, not Leonard)

4 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

I live out in the countryside and while things are peaceful and generally relaxing, it is still hard to get away from it all and find true peace and quiet. I have recently been taking daily hikes with my new dog, and discovered two possibilities for getting away from it all.

 

There are these temples which are like spiritual retreats, often manned by one or two caretaker monks, with very few visitors which provide a very spiritual and relaxing environment (once the dogs stop barking.)  Some have interesting art work as well.

 

 

 

 

In central Thailand there are these rocky hills and small mountains all over the place. The farmers till as far as they can up to the hills and then there's often an access road between the farm land and the mountain. It's very peaceful and quiet in these areas, and you can really get a sense of getting back to nature.

 

 

 

 

Have met many interesting characters on these walks as well.

 

 

"Buddy"

 

Similar to my experience. I have lovely walk in the country that only takes 10 minutes to get to.

 

I used to go to our local temple and sit inside reading a book for an hour or so at about 9pm. But sadly they now lock the gates at 5pm because they've had some thefts. Sign of the times. I guess I could go at 6am but that's not gonna happen. Lol

 

I recently found a little glade with a pond not far away and sat there for a while; me and the mozzies. Might have a few more outings before the rains. Nice to get some peace and quiet and dappled sunlight. Good for the soul.

3 hours ago, atpeace said:

Another good read! I feel honored to be acknowledged at the end 🙂

 

The honor is all mine, let me assure you.

 

And, oddly enough, you and your general well-being has recently been very much in my thoughts.