Been here about 23 years, although time has been spent in Burma teaching.  Now I've just retired, so no more work trips to Burma.

 

I've had my ups and downs, but the downs usually coincided with when I was married!  Since declaring myself as single for the rest of my years, life has been good 🙂 

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Wherever you go, there you are.

 

That applies to Thailand, too.

 

This is true. 

Are you happy with your life in Thailand?

 

Yep!

I find day to day existence to be much less stressful in Thailand compared to the UK. I currently split my time between the two due to various commitments. Pretty much 2 months at a time back and forth.

 

I find almost everything to be a PITA in the UK. Trying to get things done, dealing with bureaucracy etc. I know Thailand can have it's challenges but my days generally go smoothly and without incident. I can always part with a few baht to get things done if necessary which is far from the case in the UK. 

 

I am much happier with my life in Thailand and very much looking forward to the day when I can make the move permanently. 

Some days happy - some days not happy - most of the time just getting on with it.

I am now that im over 50, was not happy for the zillions of visa runs I had to do from the age of 36 until now.  Vietnam was the worst as I ended up doing about 12, 30 day visa runs one year (always to Bangkok and back to Hanoi in a day, what a killer) - they swap and change visa rules there far to much, COVID time was ok though as didnt have to leave for a year and no lockdown either for that year.

It's great here, time goes double speed which is an indicator

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

It's great here, time goes double speed which is an indicator

 

RIP

i was totally miserable back home.

if i need to leave here, not sure where i would go. don't want to go back there.

even if i'm not doing much here on any given day, i have more peace of mind. 

 

21 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

i was totally miserable back home.

if i need to leave here, not sure where i would go. don't want to go back there.

even if i'm not doing much here on any given day, i have more peace of mind. 

 

What is it that makes you think you have to leave? 
 

If I was worried, I would make sure I saved up at least a million or two in the bank just to make sure I had enough for future visa renewals. Maybe invested in an apartment as another backup. 
 

 

12 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

I think I could be just as happy in the US. 

Same here, I'm still paying taxes and ins on my properties and vehicle. 

16 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

i was totally miserable back home.

if i need to leave here, not sure where i would go. don't want to go back there.

even if i'm not doing much here on any given day, i have more peace of mind. 

 

Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam are not that different to Thailand.

If you don't have the 800kbht cash in the bank, it's not required there.

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam are not that different to Thailand.

 

 

personally I find them different in many ways, and for me Thailand is the easiest and best overall place to settle with less complications. 
 

The two worst things about Thailand is the seasonal pollution, and with the seasonal pollution, the heat, and of course the noise everywhere. But the heat and noise I can cope with if no pollution. 
 

 

 

17 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam are not that different to Thailand.

If you don't have the 800kbht cash in the bank, it's not required there.

And no retirement visa in Vietnam 

I am happy here.

 

My Thai employer just leaves me alone to do my job.

If communication is needed they send me a LINE message, no meetings.

God I hated "staff meetings" in the US.

My income is comfortable and I am lucky that I found a job that suits me.

My employer basically takes care of any immigration issues if I need any help or advice.

 

My apartment is 1/4 th cost it would have been in the US.

The only thing that is more expensive than the US is health insurance.

 

I have a couple chronic minor illnesses that are easier to take care of here than in the US because of fewer restrictions on buying medications. I have found Thai docs to be equal to or better than US docs.

 

I have a couple good friends here and that is fine for me.

 

I have a simple life here compared to the US and I like it just fine.

 

 

 

 

 

13 hours ago, Celsius said:

I'm miserable where ever I am.

FINALLY! Some BRUTAL honesty. Kudos!!!

 

😂😍

Yes, I'm happy with my life in Thailand. Glad I got the chance thirty years ago to move to SE Asia, twenty two years in Hat Yai this year, 20 years married next year. Little I would change, family life in Hat Yai is good.

I have been here 38 years ,never been back to UK ever,Thailand has been very good

to me , things have changed, as they do ,I have not , I don't bother anyone ,and noone

bothers me .

 

Even doing retirement extensions are easier than ever , less than 1 Hour last time,

don't know why people complain so much about it.90 days online reporting 10 mins.

 

It helps greatly if you have an honest ,reliable ,loving better half ,yes you can find them

in Thailand ,believe it or not,  I will die here ,not just yet I hope ,and never leave ,as I 

already have my grave site purchased at Chiang Mai Foreign Cemetery , Viva Thailand.

 

regards worgeordie

1 hour ago, roo860 said:

And no retirement visa in Vietnam 

But the marriage VISA lasts 5 years.

Downside is a bounce every 180 days.

Upside is There's a bus Saigon to Phnom Penh.

Extra happy today,

Stopped raining after 10 days, and I've been out cycling to the lake in the sun.

Still looking cloudy over Chiang Mai.

 

Life here is awesome. Great wife! Fantastic children that have the most caring and loving grandmother and grandfather. Everything I need around me and not a single problem in sight.

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Yep, I'm happy, nice wife, nice kids, nice pets, nice life.

How about you?

pretty much the same.... 

 

I can't imagine anything in my life that would be better elsewhere.... 

15 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Are you happy with your life in Thailand?

lots of people always seem to be angry or unhappy

Was happy when first arrived, 2001.

 

It's all going down hill now with all the foreigners here ruining the Thai culture and traditions, wanting to change this and that, always complaining and moaning about everything. 

 

If you are a foreigner looking to relocate or retire in Thailand, you've missed the boat, left your run too late. Thailand is becoming the same 💩hole we left behind. 

 

Worse thing about Thailand is some of the foreigners. 

 

39 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

But the marriage VISA lasts 5 years.

Downside is a bounce every 180 days.

Upside is There's a bus Saigon to Phnom Penh.

So if you're married to a Vietnamese national you have to leave every 180 days?

11 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

always complaining and moaning about everything

who is forcing you to hang out in bars with other foreigners 7 nights a week? 

 

 

Nice to see how many are happy here.

Not surprised to see Britman2's report of things going well.

From his posts he seems to have made a good life for himself.

 

Best wishes to all of you!

 

19 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Was happy when first arrived, 2001.

 

It's all going down hill now with all the foreigners here ruining the Thai culture and traditions, wanting to change this and that, always complaining and moaning about everything. 

 

If you are a foreigner looking to relocate or retire in Thailand, you've missed the boat, left your run too late. Thailand is becoming the same 💩hole we left behind. 

 

Worse thing about Thailand is some of the foreigners.

Location dependent.  Choose to live where the foreigners live or visit, expats or tourist, and yes, you have to deal with some of their silliness.  Something I rarely see, a foreigner, unless O&A, and maybe in passing at PTT / 7-11 when charging car.

 

Live with your choices. 

With the occasional ups and downs, I have a fairly stable and simple life here. I have a wonderful wife, and as I get older, my wish list keeps getting shorter. I can conclude that I am truly happy here and definitely wouldn’t want to go back to my country of origin.

4 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Location dependent. 

I fly internationally once a month, location important for me