A more interesting and less beaten to death question would be, if money were no object, and you could find a slim, attractive partner, where would you actually prefer to live?
 

For me, both those qualifiers are easily satisfied. So why am I here?
 

For people with less money and mate options, the juice is definitely worth the squeeze.

2 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

I’ve actually been thinking about moving back to New York City

Bye, have fun.

1 hour ago, Sir Dude said:

This is actually a much more complex question than many think... and the poll should have the option of "None of the above".

Yes, you get all the usual reasons like cheaper to live here, more fun, the weather, it's the craziness and alive experience etc. but that doesn't reflect some of the deeper and less well understood reasons for why many want to stay.

Firstly, it's a funny old paradox here, what I mean is, that the longer you stay here and achieve longevity/success (decades in some cases), the harder it becomes to move on (unless you are rich) having invested so much time and effort into it, as you inevitably get more deeply invoved in the country over time through a decent wife, property, job, and all sorts that makes restarting elsewhere become a big ask and only can happen if really motivated to do so by something... plus having surplus cash (some can and some struggle). After long amounts of time, then connections and assets etc. in home countries can diminish and many, not all though, realise they don't have much to go back to at an advancing age... there is much ageism in western countries on many fronts plus the resentment of the young. You could easily end up in some foresaken appartment surrounded by crime and ignored by the whole of society, plus being constantly harrassed/taxed into the next world by the DWP and UK Treasury or IRS etc.

Secondly, many western countries have socially sent themselves down the toilet, and society and culture aren't recognisable to many people any more resulting in a desire to not contribute anything more, and also fear that they would be miserable back in their home countries and ignored. Don't even start on the topic of getting a job these days in the UK etc. if you are over 55... good luck, even the kids can't find jobs.

Thirdly, for the younger types, then the girls, parties, and ease of which it is to scam and break the law in Thailand without being caught probably also appeals to the younger demograpgic of all countries... guess they are rolling the dice.

Forthly, Thailand actually has so much to still offer on almost every front, which most places don't even come close, even if some are catching up fast. Thailand is not the deal it once was, but is still okay if you can navigate the officialdom nonsense and be legit.

Let's be honest, which would you choose as a normal guy that is averagely financially okay, but not rich... London or Bangkok? No contest really.

BUT, you cannot get a bevvy in the afternoon like in UK.

29 minutes ago, Will Iam Not said:

Bye, have fun.

Wow, thanks.

 

you too.

Desperately trying to hang onto something that was a magical time or memory.

 

Now many are stuck on a pension with no alternative.

 

 

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Different than the USA, and quite settled in & happy.  Daughter also lives here.

 

How many times can same questions be asked 🙄  At least my replies are getting shorter, sparing y'all from yet another mini novel.

Hopefully as time goes on they will get shorter ..if we find that the case it means you have found yourself a life !

FFS get a hobby ,your on here 34 hours a day 

For a man who has less than 10 years left your wasting it 

Can you really yell at someone for being here all the time when you would have to be here all the time yourself to know that they are here all the time?

56 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

A more interesting and less beaten to death question would be, if money were no object, and you could find a slim, attractive partner, where would you actually prefer to live?
 

For me, both those qualifiers are easily satisfied. So why am I here?
 

For people with less money and mate options, the juice is definitely worth the squeeze.

 

46 minutes ago, Will Iam Not said:

Bye, have fun.

he is a bore, even more so than the OP’s silly poll.
 

15 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Desperately trying to hang onto something that was a magical time or memory.

 

Now many are stuck on a pension with no alternative.

 

 

 

Many came for a girl, a job, or some other type of fantasy as you suggested. But then many stayed for other reasons. Realistically, less than 50% are actually skint and stuck here on a pension with no alternative. Many also have a good amount of money, options, an interesting lifestyle, travel a lot, do interesting things and don't live in some far-flung peasant village in the Northeast with a Thai wife.  

why are you so desperate to stay in thailand, when you dont like it, Eric ?

13 minutes ago, short-Timer said:

 and don't live in some far-flung peasant village in the Northeast

But.....they might ( pretend) be happy living in "some far flung peasant village on the north East " like our regular 34 hour  contributer 

I don't know if they are or just pretending to be for the sake of the wife

2 hours ago, lanng khao said:

Its better than living in the UK

Cant argue with that

Times 2

 

I never saw white people act so bad as in England

22 minutes ago, short-Timer said:

 

Many came for a girl, a job, or some other type of fantasy as you suggested. But then many stayed for other reasons. Realistically, less than 50% are actually skint and stuck here on a pension with no alternative. Many also have a good amount of money, options, an interesting lifestyle, travel a lot, do interesting things and don't live in some far-flung peasant village in the Northeast with a Thai wife.  

 

Ok 40 percent. Still a lot of dreamers.

8 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Ok 40 percent. Still a lot of dreamers.

 

Those dreamers are better off at least still having something to dream about, living in the Far East. If they didn't, some might intentionally check-out early. For those types they are better off living a crappy life in Thailand than perhaps an even crappier life in their own country. You are talking about people who wouldn't have options no matter where they are. For them, Thailand is probably no better and no worse.

- I'm definitely here because it's cheaper back home my savings was going lower and lower..living here in Thailand I can easily save over 1,000 quid a month.

 

- But, I can't live here year round I've got to visit other countries at least 2-3 months a year. 

 

- The farangs here a like the French foreign legion. 

12 minutes ago, Furioso said:

 

- The farangs here a like the French foreign legion. 

I definitely notice a giant disconnect between the tone of this board and the people I meet on Soi 31.

 

I put that down to money. Everyone on Soi 31 is enjoying the absolute best of Thailand and suffering absolutely zero of its downside.

 

If I’m in a bedsit in Pattaya, that ratio is steeply reversed.

2 hours ago, Sigmund said:

I may say that with all the immigration and bureaucratic hassles, more and more house or condo owners in Thailand are selling and moving out. Those who can anyway..

This comes up often with Dor-Mor, Thai for immigration. I do my 90-day check, once a year, get my extension, and give immigration oficer the correct paperwork to get the job done in and out max 45 minuets

Other bureaucracy not been a problem for a while,I would not leave Thailand just because of the above.

Long story short ,my rented out flat in the Uk,is a lot more hassle being trying to get the 5 yearly electrical safety ticket  sorted out, and a new fireproof front door, has been going on for 5 months now ,just hassle all the time ,life here in LOS a lot better.

3 hours ago, marin said:

Its home, and we are happy here. 

 

You are one of the biggest forum stalkers in the entire country. How fake happy are you really?

42 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

You are one of the biggest forum stalkers in the entire country. How fake happy are you really?

Nice climate for stalking.

1 hour ago, Prubangboy said:

put that down to money. Everyone on Soi 31 is enjoying the absolute best of Thailand and suffering absolutely zero of its downside.

Paying 300 baht for a beer and 2000 baht for sushi is happiness? Fake happiness.

1 hour ago, Prubangboy said:

If I’m in a bedsit in Pattaya, that ratio is steeply reversed 

Oh please many of these guys are in 21sqm bedsits some with no balcony and they are happy .

I regularly go around the Flybird Condominium block and peer through their screen doors 

Many have music playing 

17 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Paying 300 baht for a beer and 2000 baht for sushi is happiness? Fake happiness.

It’s great to eat out in a nice restaurant.
 

Or….or is it? Is it really?
 

Thanks for that bracing bit of self reflection, but yeah, it’s great to eat out in a nice restaurant.

I moved here as a company relocation, and used the opportunity to get permanent residency, and stayed after retirement.  Going back to my home country is not an attractive options, as it's the most negative, woke and increasingly islamic country in the known universe, and even the weather there is depressing for 48 weeks a year.

 

I may have preferred Vietnam as a base, but having met a wonderful Thai woman, generally like the Thai culture, built a house and have PR, so that tips the balance away from Vietnam.

 

8 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

 I peer through their screen doors 

Many have music playing 

Please, tell us more.

17 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Oh please many of these guys are in 21sqm bedsits some with no balcony and they are happy .

I regularly go around the Flybird Condominium block and peer through their screen doors 

Many have music playing 

Music means happiness?

41 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

Please, tell us more.

Oh don't be so melodramatic 

59 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

Please, tell us more.

How long are you outside their screen door peering in?

 

Do you ever bring a chair with you to really get a good peer in?

 

What music are you hearing?

 

Is it like ABBA if they’re German, or Hotel California if they’re American?

 

Do you ever get peered back?

 

Who blinks first?

Happiness is eating 1 apple pie but not 2

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Happiness is eating 1 apple pie but not 2

Why eat it when you can just peer at it?

 

’ could be a solid weight loss strategy.

 

relatedly, about your own concerns, why go to Italy when they have the Olive Garden?