8 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

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.

Don’t you keep bank accounts in the US?

8 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

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. 

What are these plans like? I think I’d find it very difficult to settle back in the West, even with property and everything else there. But at the same time, I’d find it even harder to completely leave the West behind and fully settle in Thailand.

3 minutes ago, falangUK said:

What are these plans like? I think I’d find it very difficult to settle back in the West, even with property and everything else there. But at the same time, I’d find it even harder to completely leave the West behind and fully settle in Thailand.

Definitely a love hate relationship with the home land. It's just knowing that if I wanted to move back, I can.

1 minute ago, EVENKEEL said:

Definitely a love hate relationship with the home land. It's just knowing that if I wanted to move back, I can.

100% unfortunately, it’s not the same place we left all those years ago.

17 minutes ago, falangUK said:

What are these plans like? I think I’d find it very difficult to settle back in the West, even with property and everything else there. But at the same time, I’d find it even harder to completely leave the West behind and fully settle in Thailand.

Just the last time I'll ever move, and in a good location for my daughter's school, out in the Hill Country, near my other daughter and family. Starting all over again but it'll be worth it.

23 minutes ago, falangUK said:

Don’t you keep bank accounts in the US?

Yes. 

I still have a successful business in America so that brings me back a few times a year, but even if that wasn't the case I think I'd go back at least once a year to visit friends and family. As much as I think America is in a rather dramatic state of decline, I still enjoy my visits just for the diversity of activities, culture, friends, family, great wine, great food, etc, etc. 

Just banks, finances and friends address as mail drop. CA ID good for another nine years, no longer drs lic.

 

Living a few km from Asok.. unless I go to Sukhumvit (2-3x pm) I see farang perhaps a few a week, not always.

 

Contacts: Mother, Uncle, two best friends. Friends all moved on. 

 

Eat sandwich, steak, spaghetti or Asian non Thai maybe 3x a week at home. I never eat western food out. Pizza 3x a year. Restaurants is sushi with wife. I really like Thai food.

 

Wear proper clothes you'd see any decently Thai male wear. Certainly no flip flops or T shirts. 

 

Only trip to US when absolutely necessary. Trying to wrap that up. Never visited for ten years, but back to visiting 

 

I'm pretty dug in here.

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I get my bloods done every 6 months, 1200 baht at Mengrai labs in Chiang Mai. Cheaper than an airfare.

 

Red flagged for what?

 

If you are seen not to attend clinics, appointments for lengthy periods the Practise can flag you to the NHS and your free access is withdraw.....chances are slim I think.

9 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

My US driver's license expired in 1995. 

 

My driver's license from PA expired in 1980.

I had a warrant for speeding on that license.

The PA State Police knocked on the door, and asked where I was.

My family just told them one word....  

CHINA

 

After leaving for China, not one speeding ticket did I get.  

Maybe one or two.

But, nobody cares.

 

I don't like US coppers.

Too much like marines in battle, be they, I say.

 

 

 

 

10 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

My driver's license from PA expired in 1980.

I had a warrant for speeding on that license.

The PA State Police knocked on the door, and asked where I was.

My family just told them one word....  

CHINA

 

After leaving for China, not one speeding ticket did I get.  

Maybe one or two.

But, nobody cares.

 

I don't like US coppers.

Too much like marines in battle, be they, I say.

 

 

 

 

When you have a country where any citizen can be carrying a firearm, it's not surprising cops would be trigger-happy.

 

IMO the Second Amendment is a self-inflicted wound. Every week, there are casualties.

42 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

If you are seen not to attend clinics, appointments for lengthy periods the Practise can flag you to the NHS and your free access is withdraw.....chances are slim I think.

That's fairly draconian.

 

AFAIK once I am on the books of a practice in Australia, I am there for life, unless I tell them I have moved.

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

That's fairly draconian.

 

AFAIK once I am on the books of a practice in Australia, I am there for life, unless I tell them I have moved.

 

 

I did read....somewhere.....that even an extended holiday abroad/cruise? could cause you to be flagged........could be just scare tactics.

Not Full Blown, spend 6 months in my Thai wife's world in Thailand and 6 months in the USA in my world. Lucky and Blessed to keep both houses in Thailand and the USA. Good Luck.

22 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Mostly, don't miss missing the orange plague and the gulags.

And I am sure you are really missed........

22 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Mostly, don't miss missing the orange plague and the gulags.

Nolte: Trump Job Approval Surges to Personal Record in Far-left AP Poll:

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/08/27/nolte-trump-job-approval-surges-to-personal-record-in-far-left-ap-poll/

 

It seems the American citizens are happy with the "orange plague." You are missing out. 

 

4 minutes ago, Keep Right said:

Nolte: Trump Job Approval Surges to Personal Record in Far-left AP Poll:

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/08/27/nolte-trump-job-approval-surges-to-personal-record-in-far-left-ap-poll/

 

It seems the American citizens are happy with the "orange plague." You are missing out. 

 

 

 

53% disapprove........this was only a high in this particular poll...

 

.......no where near his highest approval of only 56%

On 8/27/2025 at 8:52 AM, FolkGuitar said:

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.

 

With the current situation in Thailand right now, if you were 35 or 40 years younger today, would you still sell the farm and put all your eggs in a Thai basket?

55 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

With the current situation in Thailand right now, if you were 35 or 40 years younger today, would you still sell the farm and put all your eggs in a Thai basket?

With the current situation in the U.S. right now, if I were 35 or 40 years younger, I would leave... even if I was unable to sell off my holdings.
But yes, I would still settle right here in Chiang Mai, and be happy to be here... as long as it lasts. There aren't very many places I'd choose to live.

3 hours ago, Keep Right said:

And I am sure you are really missed........

Certainly more than some right wing thug.