Have you gone full blown native??

[EVENKEEL]

Did you sell up everything in your home country, stop renewing the driver's license, give up your phone number? I'm just saying I would feel extremely vulnerable had I done all that. I keep a personal residence, pay property taxes, keep a car in the garage, have a current DL. 

 

On one hand giving up the life in home country must be a huge sense of freedom. Some would consider the move to be brave, while others would call it naive. 

 

Just wondering how many regret putting all the eggs in one basket.

[FolkGuitar]

When I left the States to move to Asia, I bought a one-way ticket.

I sold off all my assets, I said goodbye to all my friends, kissed what family I still had, and closed the door on my US life. My US driver's license expired in 1995.  In the past 35 years, I have returned 2-3 times for family business, but family is gone now, and I haven't been back in almost 15 years.  I maintain a mailing address with a freight forwarder just for any US companies that won't ship internationally.
With the current situation in the US right now, there is no way in hell that I would even consider a visit.
Thailand is home.

[Gottfrid]

I don´t deal with eggs. They are fragile.

[fredwiggy]

I renew my license as I visit there yearly to see my kids, their families, and go hunting, fishing and shopping, at least until we move back there for good. 

[connda]

35 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Did you sell up everything in your home country, stop renewing the driver's license, give up your phone number? I'm just saying I would feel extremely vulnerable had I done all that. I keep a personal residence, pay property taxes, keep a car in the garage, have a current DL. 

 

On one hand giving up the life in home country must be a huge sense of freedom. Some would consider the move to be brave, while others would call it naive. 

 

Just wondering how many regret putting all the eggs in one basket.

 

Life if fickle.  Think you've got it all planned out, then one day a tuk tuk comes out of nowhere and hits you in a zebra-crossing and you end up needing a Go Fund Me pages to pay for your long term medical expenses in your home country for the rest of your life.  Or the United States decides that China can't be allowed to be Number 1 on the Global Economic Hit Parade and starts are war with the Chinese on their home turf, which in turn sucks you in like a vacuum cleaner as you become incarcerated indefinitely, or a meteorite hits you in the head in the ultimate of freak accidents. Or you die an early death boom-booming the maid while the Mrs is away on a shopping trip.

You think you've got it all sorted out - and then you don't. 
My advice: Don't worry, be happy!
 

 

[giddyup]

Totally burned my bridges when I left Oz 16 years ago, sold my house, car etc and never been back. Don't regret any of it.

[Lacessit]

65% of my assets are still in Australia. I sold my house, but can live with my son if need be.

 

My driver's licence has expired. My medicare card has another 3 years to go.

 

A driver's licence is not a problem. I can get an International Driving Permit here, which is valid in Australia for one year. I rent a cheap car.

 

I guess I could say I am a fence-sitter, even though I am almost exclusively in Thailand.

 

One thing is for sure. I tense up when I land in Australia, and can feel myself relaxing when I land in Bangkok.

[novacova]

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

Did you sell up everything in your home country, stop renewing the driver's license, give up your phone number?

No to all the above. Keeping the properties, vehicles etc, one property stays empty for the annual few weeks return and a family member lives at the other. And will hold on to it in case things go south here or at least until old age makes it impossible to deal with. 

[Ralf001]

kept my houses and renew my driver licence.... thats bout it.