I think lots of older men fantasise about retiring in Thailand . Maybe they spend years preparing for the move - it`s something to look forward to . But when they get here , after a while they probably think " Is this it ? " They`ve reached a dead end with nothing to look forward to . I suppose a lot depends on the relationships they have - no close friends and a Thai wife who`s only in it for the money . Not a good recipe for success .

Hahahah, the floor mopper asks, I do have 2 houses in oZ 

15 hours ago, Dan747 said:

We are retired to Orlando, Florida and Ubon, Thailand all due to family being in both places. 

"The City Beautiful" Where in Olando? I wintered there from '78-'88 

42 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

"The City Beautiful" Where in Olando? I wintered there from '78-'88 

 Near the Orlando (MCO) airport, where I flew out as a Pilot. Been a resident from 1966 before Disney World. Yellowtail, you lived there when it was nice. Now you would not like recognize-Way too many Tourists and folks getting out of Blue states like NY/New Jersy and others where the traffic here is sometimes overwhelming. Lucky and Blessed. Thanks for asking and Good Luck. 

11 hours ago, quake said:

Retired at 52 in Thailand.

Could never imagine having a Thai boss, that's just to crazy.

F, work, what's the point in it, if you already have enough money / passive income / pension,  not to work.

Life is good. 

Today on second big Leo from Ma & Pa shop, perfect Monday morning. 

( but did some,  home work today, cutting,  grinding,  welding,  from 7am to 11am ) 

 Stainless steel out door sink stand made.

Jobs a good'un.  

 

Leo beer ? Might as well drink dog pee....

11 hours ago, quake said:

Retired at 52 in Thailand.

Could never imagine having a Thai boss, that's just to crazy.

F, work, what's the point in it, if you already have enough money / passive income / pension,  not to work.

Life is good. 

Today on second big Leo from Ma & Pa shop, perfect Monday morning. 

( but did some,  home work today, cutting,  grinding,  welding,  from 7am to 11am ) 

 Stainless steel out door sink stand made.

Jobs a good'un.  

 

 

You are not allowed to work on a retirement visa

6 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Leo beer ? Might as well drink dog pee....

You've tried dog pee? Yikes. that's hard core.

On 9/15/2025 at 7:12 AM, KhaoHom said:

Most on this board do not live in Thailand retired or otherwise. I would make it mandatory for members. Without this constraint the board just becomes Reddit /Thailand .. as we have seen now for years. 

What real data do you have to support your claim?

8 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Leo beer ? Might as well drink dog pee....

You are familiar with the taste of both?

6 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You are familiar with the taste of both?

And even if they both tasted the same, at least the Leo would give you a buzz.

12 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Leo beer ? Might as well drink dog pee....

Obviously.

One is free.

Because I met my Thai wife in a cafe in London. 

So, instead of rainy days we prefer the warmer climate.

On 9/16/2025 at 12:37 AM, freedomnow said:

Leo beer ? Might as well drink dog pee....

do you chill the dog pee or consume warm from the source ?

After visits starting in 1962, and living and working in Bangkok in the1980s, I retired to Thailand in 1993 having considered many other options, in East Asia, and in Central and South America. Now 84 years old, and Thailand has proven to be the right choice for me. No regrets, whatsoever.

1 minute ago, Thingamabob said:

After visits starting in 1962, and living and working in Bangkok in the1980s, I retired to Thailand in 1993 having considered many other options, in East Asia, and in Central and South America. Now 84 years old, and Thailand has proven to be the right choice for me. No regrets, whatsoever.

Good on you for making it to 84 and thankyou for your service 

 

Enjoy it whilst you can...

Retired to Thailand family ties 

Plus it's cheap to live 

Enjoy 

I lived in Thailand for many years but eventually moved back to my own country of New Zealand. It wasn't an easy decision but Thailand eventually wore me down and my personality type is one where I place great importance on security and certainty. In that respect New Zealand beats Thailand. I don't like uncertainty and as the years rolled by, there always seemed to be one issue or another in Thailand. I look at the banking issues some friends have had to deal with recently and I just don't want to face that crap. To me, retirement should be easy and hassle-free.

 

Of course I miss Thailand, but we go back for holidays frequently. Undoubtedly there are many aspects to life in Thailand that beat New Zealand hands down. The variety of food, the lower cost of living and the sense of fun are all near the top of the list.

 

For my wife who is still working, she can earn much more money in New Zealand than she ever did in Thailand, and can save north of a million baht per year.

 

Maybe one day we will move back to Thailand but as things stand currently, we have a good life in New Zealand and it is our preference to be here.

 

 

Loss of a third of my superannuation pension in tax if I leave Australia, plus huge health insurance payments. Otherwise, I would have retired here 15 years ago.

After 4 weeks on visa free entry I always want to get out of Thailand but always come back again and again . It’s a love hate thing but about 25 days into every trip things Thai, or lack of common sense, TIT things,  start to irritate me. 

Just now, terryofcrete said:

After 4 weeks on visa free entry I always want to get out of Thailand but always come back again and again . It’s a love hate thing but about 25 days into every trip things Thai, or lack of common sense, TIT things,  start to irritate me. 

You need to look elsewhere. Thailand is only your short time escape. Your feelings will get too easily offended long term.🙃🙃

6 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

Loss of a third of my superannuation pension in tax if I leave Australia, plus huge health insurance payments. Otherwise, I would have retired here 15 years ago.

Loss of a third of your super pension? Please do explain.🙃🙃

9 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

Loss of a third of your super pension? Please do explain

Income tax in Australia is ‘progressive’, ie the more you earn, the higher your rate of tax. If you don’t earn very much, you pay no income tax, so after various rebates, there’s no income tax on my relatively small pension. However, things are very different if you’re not a resident of Australia. You then pay 30 per cent tax from the very first dollar of income, regardless of how low that income is (my ‘third’ was a small exaggeration). As a resident, I do pay 2 per cent Medicare levy, so that reduces the gap a bit more, but of course being covered by Medicare makes having no private health insurance far less risky.

6 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Because I met my Thai wife in a cafe in London. 

 

 

   Was She working as the cashier there ?

3 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

After 4 weeks on visa free entry I always want to get out of Thailand but always come back again and again . It’s a love hate thing but about 25 days into every trip things Thai, or lack of common sense, TIT things,  start to irritate me. 

I completely agree! places like Bali are even more irritating.

Thailand has always been my place to relax between teaching assignments in Myanmar. But having recently reached UK state retirement age, I decided to establish my 'relaxation' base in Luang Prabang (Laos), where I used to be the boss of the international school.  TBH, day-to-day costs are comparable to Thailand, but I prefer to interact as little as possible with officialdom, and the Thai 'retirement' visa rules and requirements, 90 day reporting, Bangkok Bank KYC rules etc, just don't sit well with me.

Lived there twice; however, the older I get the more I appreciate arriving with a round trip ticket.  

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Was She working as the cashier there ?

No, she was working for a French company in Perpignan and just visited a cousin in London on a rainy weekend

7 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

Loss of a third of my superannuation pension in tax if I leave Australia, plus huge health insurance payments. Otherwise, I would have retired here 15 years ago.

Superannuation is tax free ( after 60yo)

1 hour ago, Suetape said:

Lived there twice; however, the older I get the more I appreciate arriving with a round trip ticket.  

Very true 

11 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Superannuation is tax free ( after 60yo)

If only you were correct!!  I’d have been living in Thailand for the last 15 years, and would be a much wealthier man. Super pensions, at least the one I receive from my Australian government super scheme, aren’t even tax free for Australian tax residents, it’s just that the rate of taxation applied is far lower than if the recipient loses his tax residency.