2 hours ago, newnative said:

     Spouse is Thai, otherwise would not have moved here in the first place in 2010.  But, the move has been great and we enjoy living here.  

 

I suspect this is the reason that many, if not most, men have moved to Thailand.

On 4/18/2025 at 8:59 AM, camper star said:

So my question is, what was it that made that time clock click to and say " that's it, its Thailand"?

All year summer...😎

5 hours ago, Showtime said:

 

The only problems with your story is you are still subject to US taxes and although the medical facilities are nice the quality of care is not, especially if something goes wrong.  Additionally, I am not so sure how nice the people are.  Think of all the Thais who have ganged up on foreigners and how many times you have been ripped off by over paying.  Also all the extra risks in everyday life due to horrible safety standards.   That said Thailand has many good sides.

 

I am good with snow and love skiing, but that is a personal choice.

     Have no idea where you go for your medical care but my medical care here in Thailand has been great, and at a reasonable cost.   I have a terrific dentist, best by far of any I have had anywhere.  Ditto for my eye doctor, who has done both lasik and SuperSight for me, with excellent results.  Medical care so far has been mostly limited to annual physicals, heart care, and several colonoscopies, with occasional colds, etc.   No complaints with any of it.

      

17 hours ago, newnative said:

     Have no idea where you go for your medical care but my medical care here in Thailand has been great, and at a reasonable cost.   I have a terrific dentist, best by far of any I have had anywhere.  Ditto for my eye doctor, who has done both lasik and SuperSight for me, with excellent results.  Medical care so far has been mostly limited to annual physicals, heart care, and several colonoscopies, with occasional colds, etc.   No complaints with any of it.

      

Most operations go fine, but there are lots of stories about how Thai medical facilities and doctors fall far short when things don't go to plan.  When this happens the lucky ones survive or come out fine by traveling to 1st world countries.  The others unfortunately either don't survive or turn out with huge life changing issues.

19 hours ago, Presnock said:

In my younger days, the cold weather and snow were fine, I can recall during Spain assignment, we would drive up into the mountains and sky/ sled and play in the snow, then drive home and the next day drive south to the beach and sun.  Great location for all kinds of weather.  And yes, taxes we as Americans know from the time we begin working and earing any money but realize too that is necessary to fund the government.  The medical facilities here run the complete gamut from govt (lots of the same doctors also are at private hospitals) and cheaper but I have heard from friends that they would just as soon go to the govt hospital as the service was fine and then you have Bamrungrat, which is internationally recognized and has a great reputation from people that worked for me that also had operations, birthings, and other treatments all praising the treatment they received.  I have been to Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai and have received excellent care/treatment as have my wife and daughter.  We also have used Bangkok Nursing Home with great results.  The people to me were one of the reasons I opted to retire here in Thailand.  I first came here in 1972 and speaking Thai, I have never had any problems at all with the people.  I do realize that being able to communicate with them one on one about any subject just about makes them seem more interested in asking me questions and just getting along with them.  I have never been ganged up but that may be because I don't hang around the type of place where that might happen as I don't go to the bars, don't drink alcohol nor smoke dope.  I have lived and worked in well over 20 countries around the world and find Thai safety standards well above many other places.  I know all about traffic woes here and poor driving habits of many locals but while I might seethe within, I have never had any road rage actions by me or anyone against me.  I worked here over the decades for about 7 years, and then retired here over 20 years ago.  I still consider this Paradise and life is great for me and my family.  My younger daughter is 21 and has had a great education at the CM interantional school, graduating speaking, reading, writing, and even teaching 4 different languages (Thai/English/Chinese/Korean- korean was self taught and she has passed at the highest level possible on the Korean Government proficiency test given around the world).  The International school actually taught her to love studying if that is possible!  She goes off for her junior year as an exchange student from Chulalongkorn the number 1 Thai university to one of the top Korean Universities in a couple of months as this term ends. If they could fix the air pollution problem here then that would be great.  Having lived around the world, it would be difficult to find any place with the greatest variety of tasty foods as is available here and is pretty inexpensive too.

Yes, those electrical and telephone wires all over the street that are so safe.  So is the adherence to building codes and maintenance.  Think about how many times emergency doors are either blocked or locked in buildings.  Everyday life in Thailand is full of elevated risks.

19 minutes ago, Showtime said:

Yes, those electrical and telephone wires all over the street that are so safe.  So is the adherence to building codes and maintenance.  Think about how many times emergency doors are either blocked or locked in buildings.  Everyday life in Thailand is full of elevated risks.

if one looks only for negatives, then being in any particular location is a total waste of one's time IMHO

On 4/22/2025 at 9:28 AM, Showtime said:

 

The only problems with your story is you are still subject to US taxes and although the medical facilities are nice the quality of care is not, especially if something goes wrong.  Additionally, I am not so sure how nice the people are.  Think of all the Thais who have ganged up on foreigners and how many times you have been ripped off by over paying.  Also all the extra risks in everyday life due to horrible safety standards.   That said Thailand has many good sides.

 

I am good with snow and love skiing, but that is a personal choice.

Wife spent 11 years with me in the US .. told her we I retire it's her turn   ( Thailand )

 we spend about 25%  of the $ for the same quality of comfort

Taxation ..  is  "NOT" AppIicable ..  bank accts are already funded so ... only money I bring in here now  is from US Social Security 

the rest stays in the US

 

 

Only 3 reasons

 

women

women

women

I came here about 23 years ago for medical reasons (weak lungs). The climate improved my condition.  Unfortunately, although I found many Thai women to be physically beautiful on the outside, I found their inner character to be identical to my British wife >> in it for the money and little else 🙂 

 

After 3 marriages, I decided that I wasn't suited to marriage or GFs!  I've lived alone for about 10 years now and VERY much happier and less-stressed than previously.  I guess I'm in my golden years (65 years old) and still work (teach) to stave off boredom (idle hands etc).  I've just accepted a new in-class teaching job at a school in Luang Prabang (Laos) - my previous job was in Mandalay, Burma, but the earthquake and civil war made it difficult to return to Burma.

 

I'm sure that there are women out there who would happily be my GF/wife, but frankly I can't be bothered to spend the time 'assessing' them.  More likely to be let down again by some money-grabber 🙂

Hmm, I think Thailand is great in your 50's and early 60's.

 

Now I'm just ignoring the old man sex with young hooker thing

 

But it becomes increasing harder the older you get. Lets not beat about the bush, bodies start to fail and medical issues are real

 

So health costs begin to be an issue.

 

That insurance you have in your 50's becomes either unavailable or ridiculously expensive as you get in to late 60's 70's

 

Now I read all the crap about 'I self insure' which basically means you need enough money in the bank to take care of something like a heart attack

 

You want to go in some rural government hospital, those you go in alive and come out dead

 

So better hope you can afford a private hospital in your twilight years

2 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

 

But it becomes increasing harder the older you get. 

 

 

   I find its the opposite 

I’m married to a Thai a successful marriage so far 40+ years,I’m lucky tho I spend less than half my time here more in the states.between having a pension and max social security + everything is paid off we are ok in our modest way.im way to busy to be boored!