I thought it would get easier here at older age

[jwest10]

10 hours ago, StandardIssue said:

 

Trapped in Thailand, retirement in the home country is rarely a comfortable option for men who make Thailand their home early on in their professional life. They make enough to get along in Thailand but have an insufficient nest egg that can provide them retirement in their home country. They get stuck in Thailand and in many cases, have to work right up to the very end. Thailand can be a trap that way.

Yes, many have wonderful Thai wives and families, and yes, we look after them, but so too, very much viz a versa.
Many also have no family and just a very few friends back in Blighty, and it would be impossible to even exist there, and also no way can get a spouse there. Well, not any more and it was very difficult 21 years ago!!
Maybe sell some land, but like other places, not in our names and also, they seem reluctant to sell, but if we run short, then some of us may be lucky,
Yes, been here 18 years, and an amazing place, but hard on fixed income like frozen State pensions and yes, families can be expensive but do not feel stuck and the same as if one gets an emergency but one has a little set by,

Also, some Thais think old Blighty is great, but one has to remind them of all the taxes and they think one can get a job and yes have a couple of friends and they get told how very hard it is and yes the same everywhere.
The answer is how can we exist on a very small amount and no thanks.
We also keep up with the news in the media too.
 

[NanLaew]

10 hours ago, Lorry said:

As you get older,  in the eyes of Thais you resemble more and more not a working professional,  but a typical retiree aka old sex tourist. They treat you accordingly. 

Elder Thais are treated with respect,  elder farangs, of course not. Thais do not respect farangs. They respect money, they also respect elder humans (= Thais) - not soi dogs and other assorted vermin.

 

Try getting the seat for the elderly on the BTS. You don't even get the senior fare,

 

Maybe the OP should get a t-shirt with "I used to work for your government" printed in Thai.

 

That should get him the respect he thinks he deserves.

[dutch boy]

41 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

 

This was my plan. I lived it large (35)40-50 and married at 50 (unplanned) to a 32yo.

 

I have to laugh the guys that wait until they are not only retired but on full Social Security or pension. There's good as dead. My guess is they settle in and by the time they're pushing 70 they've got serious health concerns, can't much handle the heat nor the food and don't last.

 

Planning is good but too much planning or plans that disallow spontaneity or simply you actually doing or taking action or bad plans.

I would have to agree that waiting until full retirement or pension to move to Thailand drastically reduces ones changes of a better experience and enjoyment. I moved to Thailand at the age of fifty three when I was already retired for five years. Three years later I married a woman over thirty years younger than me. Now in my 70's, I am really slowing down and wish I had retired earlier in life. I would not have as much money now but I would have been able to enjoy Thailand at a younger age when I could fully appreciate it. 

[Ralf001]

39 minutes ago, novacova said:

Why work in a country where one may only be able to build a limited amount of wealth and assets and faced with a dead end? Work in your home country and accumulate wealth and assets, then retire and have your fun. 

Living here allows me accumulate wealth and purchase assets back in my home country.

 

Gotta love a full western expat salary package !

 

[Hummin]

41 minutes ago, novacova said:

Why work in a country where one may only be able to build a limited amount of wealth and assets and faced with a dead end? Work in your home country and accumulate wealth and assets, then retire and have your fun. 

Right now I'm planning to educate myself to personal trainer, diet and nutrition coach with international certificate for maybe later start a gym and have work permit. 

 

Many elderly struggling with these young pt's who doesn't understand how it is to become elderly, and barely interest them for the clients individually needs.

[worgeordie]

Respect it has to be earned ,maybe your not a nice person ,you have to 

treat others with respect to earn it yourself, I am tired of Frangs on  here,

Youtube and most likely other social media sites i don't bother with  

complaining about Thailand ,its people and how expensive it is here now,

as if there was no inflation in their country ,why don't you all just FFFFFFF fade away

 

regards worgeordie

 

[KhaoHom]

44 minutes ago, dutch boy said:

I would have to agree that waiting until full retirement or pension to move to Thailand drastically reduces ones changes of a better experience and enjoyment. I moved to Thailand at the age of fifty three when I was already retired for five years. Three years later I married a woman over thirty years younger than me. Now in my 70's, I am really slowing down and wish I had retired earlier in life. I would not have as much money now but I would have been able to enjoy Thailand at a younger age when I could fully appreciate it. 

 

I always say the game is not to die with the most stuff , but with one baht in your pocket owing no one.

 

Now married, that's changed somewhat, but overall philosophy not.

[Lorry]

12 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Respect it has to be earned ,maybe your not a nice person ,you have to 

treat others with respect to earn it yourself

It's exactly the opposite in Thailand,  and you can see examples everywhere,  everyday in the country. 

Respect is something that results from your position in society.  Farangs don't have any position in Thai society,  they exist outside of it.

Rarely has something so wrong been posted about Thailand. 

 

[NanLaew]

1 minute ago, Lorry said:

It's exactly the opposite in Thailand,  and you can see examples everywhere,  everyday in the country. 

Respect is something that results from your position in society.  Farangs don't have any position in Thai society,  they exist outside of it.

Rarely has something so wrong been posted about Thailand. 

 

 

Total conflation of 'face' and kriengjai with respect.

 

Since these are unique to Thailand, it doesn't apply to farangs unless they've been here so long they think they deserve it.

[IsaanT]

7 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Nothing in life gets easy as you age. Life peak is 20 to 35.

On the contrary, I feel I have yet to peak and I'm 65... 😉

Life is what you make of it.
 

[Lorry]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

Total conflation of 'face' and kriengjai with respect

So, in your opinion, in Thai culture there is a difference between face and kriengjai and respect?

Please elaborate.

[hotsun]

16 hours ago, Chinagmaiguy said:

I had always thought the older I got here the more respect I would get. How wrong I was. For 25 years I had my fun, worked for the government and had various professional jobs in Thailand. The older Thai's always get more respect but I seem to get overcharged more and more and overcharged for the simplest things, medical services especially. Sure, you can say I'm cheap and bitter but others I know have noticed the same thing. To the point of not feeling safe. I wonder how long i should stay on here? Ok go ahead with the nasty responses. 

 

Its not because you are getting older, its because thailand is getting worse over time at an exponential pace. Dont burn your bridges back home

[NanLaew]

6 minutes ago, Lorry said:

So, in your opinion, in Thai culture there is a difference between face and kriengjai and respect?

Please elaborate.

Yes.

 

But I'm a farang, so what do I know?

[youreavinalaff]

2 hours ago, Lorry said:

It's exactly the opposite in Thailand,  and you can see examples everywhere,  everyday in the country. 

Respect is something that results from your position in society.  Farangs don't have any position in Thai society,  they exist outside of it.

Rarely has something so wrong been posted about Thailand. 

 

Speak for yourself.