Short-Time Life vs. Thai Wife Life: Who’s Actually Winning?

[Harrisfan]

44 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

There is a select group of men who cannot be alone. It's in their DNA to be in a relationship aka married. IMO the only reason to have a steady lady is if you have a kid together.

 

I enjoy cooking, quite capable of taking care of myself. The idea of having a wife who will take care of you in your old old age would not be my choice.

Don't u get lonely?

[gejohesch]

On 7/17/2025 at 9:29 AM, SoCal1990 said:

So you got the two common routes you see foreign men take in Thailand. The “settle down with a Thai wife” path, and the “short-time, no-strings” path.

 

The wife route often comes with a hefty monthly price tag. Family costs, house, car, ongoing support, it all adds up really fast. And after the honeymoon period fades, a lot of these guys quietly admit they’re lucky to get it once a week, some go months, some basically live in a sexless routine with constant financial outflow. Living the "quiet roommate" life. At best it's like living with a maid. 

 

Then there’s the short-time crew. Pay as you go, zero drama, no in-laws, no PMS, no monthly bills except rent and beer, more action in a week than most married guys see in a year, always on demand, always with a smile. They spend less, get more, and keep their freedom. And they can hire a maid if they need one to clean their place and do their laundry. 

 

So who’s really ahead in the long run? Maybe the wife-life is just a stable trap with diminishing returns. Or maybe it’s pure bliss. Maybe the short-time guys are the smart ones, avoiding the slow financial and emotional bleed. Or maybe they’re the ones missing out on something. Guess it all depends on one's own perspective.

I agree in general with those advocating for the "wife route", for so many reasons given above which do not need to be repeated. I have been lucky to meet a lovely and very pretty Thai woman, 20 years younger than me. That was over 17 years ago now, and we are still going strong. On the sex side (a main theme and concern it seems), my experience is not at all less action in a year than a short-time guy gets in a week.

 

So, I'm lucky enough, but I also have to admit that 1) I often get rather annoyed with some recurrent issues typical (I think) in a farang-Thai marriage. IMO, Thai people seem to demonstrate an incredible talent for never learning....; and 2) Even though I'm fulfilled at home, thank you, I often feel the urge for a little "sideshow". I had so many great experiences when I was on the short-time route, I miss it a bit. I will be very honest : the only reason I have stopped the short time adventures is my concern for health.

 

All in all, there must be 3 categories of men, not 2 - do not ignore the "married life combined with a bit of short time fun". We are all different, is it not?

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, gejohesch said:

All in all, there must be 3 categories of men, not 2 - do not ignore the "married life combined with a bit of short time fun". We are all different, is it not?

 

Not all women go for that.

There was a guy kicked out of his home in the news on AN recently. Could be she caught him cheating ...

Good luck pulling that off in a long-term marriage. You risk breaking a bond that takes years to build with someone. 

 

[gejohesch]

14 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

Not all women go for that.

There was a guy kicked out of his home in the news on AN recently. Could be she caught him cheating ...

Good luck pulling that off in a long-term marriage. You risk breaking a bond that takes years to build with someone. 

 

I do not deny what you are saying. Not at all, in fact I think you are 100% correct. I was only saying, being totally honest, that the short-time "demon" does not always go away. I'm not saying it's good or it's bad, I'm just saying it as it is.

[FriscoKid]

20 minutes ago, gejohesch said:

I often feel the urge for a little "sideshow". I had so many great experiences when I was on the short-time route, I miss it a bit. I will be very honest : the only reason I have stopped the short time adventures is my concern for health.

Normal libido does that. A lot of married guys suppress it somehow. Must be boring going through life when you can't even look forward to a bit of strange anymore. 

 

If you're worried about HIV, you can get on PrEP. 

[EVENKEEL]

8 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Don't u get lonely?

I take it you're the first group I mentioned.