6 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I enjoyed Krabi and Trang very much, but how is insurance validity in the other provinces? My travel and nomad insurances do not cover those district because of government warnings, but how is the life and health insurance?

I thought travel warning was only for the 3 yala pattani and narathiwat. I neved had life insurance and my wife always took care of health insurance so I dont really know.

I was in my late 20s when I lived in hat yai. Went back to canada after for 10 years then moved to bkk after going back. Back then I didnt think much of insurance 😆

You said: "...the fact that "permanent residency" is something that legally Thailand does not offer"

I have Permanent Residence. So do some of my friends who have lived and worked here for many years.

23 hours ago, Hummin said:

Curious, are you on the Grandad rule?

If you are referring to the 800k baht on deposit being grandfathered down to 200k baht, no I am not although I should be. I have been too slow to activate this move but your question has prompted me to now do so, for which many thanks.

Just now, Thingamabob said:

If you are referring to the 800k baht on deposit being grandfathered down to 200k baht, no I am not although I should be. I have been too slow to activate this move but your question has prompted me to now do so, for which many thanks.

I'm confused, you claim you got permanent residency?

On 5/8/2026 at 8:49 AM, Thingamabob said:

A long time ago I took the decision that I would live and die in Thailand. Nothing since has led me to reconsider that decision.

25+ yrs for me & still 'Lovin it' ... Rock On ...

7 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I'm confused, you claim you got permanent residency?

No. I apply annually for an extension of stay based on retirement backed by 800k baht permanently deposited in the bank.

On 5/7/2026 at 1:51 PM, Big-Dog said:

Who cares what Thailand does? I have my US passport and a wallet of credit card, plenty of money, multiple properties all paid for in the US.

Suck a lemon Thailand

Magno capite.

4 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

No. I apply annually for an extension of stay based on retirement backed by 800k baht permanently deposited in the bank.

Magno capite.

Then you are among the most of us, no permanent stay, but stay as long you extend your stay based on the requirements, and as long you can extend your stay. So by term, you are a guest with no permanent stay

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

Then you are among the most of us, no permanent stay, but stay as long you extend your stay based on the requirements, and as long you can extend your stay. So by term, you are a guest with no permanent stay

Correct.

1 minute ago, Thingamabob said:

Correct.

Sorry, I mixed you up with Thaiowl,

31 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Sorry, I mixed you up with Thaiowl,

No problem.

I don't bother with all this rumour mongering which has been going on lately

Affecting personnal money coming into Thailand for people sraying over 180 days

Until it directly affects me via the bank or immigration authorities

On 5/7/2026 at 4:06 AM, georgegeorgia said:

What are the statistics of long term farang expats leaving thailyto go back to their own country?

Oh please spare us the details

I hope many do. They generally sit around and complain caomplain about their own country and tbh its exhausting!

17 hours ago, blaze master said:

How are these factors considered high quality of life ?

The high quality of life exists beyond those factors. For me it's about kind friendly people that have a great sense of humor and a wonderful sense of light-heartedness, the amazing food, the travel opportunities in this region, and the cost of living.

17 hours ago, emptypockets said:

So why do you stay in Thailand?

See my latest post for just a small fraction of the reasons why I not only stay here, but I love it here. Every area has its pros and cons and I do not belong in America anymore, it's no longer the nation that I grew up in, the quality of life has diminished so dramatically, the cost of living has soared to a ridiculous extent, and I'm thrilled to death I'm no longer living there.

5 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

If you are referring to the 800k baht on deposit being grandfathered down to 200k baht, no I am not although I should be. I have been too slow to activate this move but your question has prompted me to now do so, for which many thanks.

Yes spend it whilst you have time left I say ..... especially at your age

Also you may consider 6 months extensions instead of annually

I don't think anyone who sticks to the regs, honestly fulfills the requirements and accepts the T+Cs has anything to worry about.

Whatever happens though: We were all warned the moment we landed (in my case then at the Don Mueang golf course - that alone told me it wasn't Kansas) not to invest anything here we couldn't simply walk away from.

Either you understood that or you didn't.

Edited May 9May 9 by BusyB

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

See my latest post for just a small fraction of the reasons why I not only stay here, but I love it here. Every area has its pros and cons and I do not belong in America anymore, it's no longer the nation that I grew up in, the quality of life has diminished so dramatically, the cost of living has soared to a ridiculous extent, and I'm thrilled to death I'm no longer living there.

I feel pretty much the same about the UK, although I could live materially comfortably there if I wanted. Never been so happy and proud of the young man of 20 who left to look for a better life with nowt but the clothes on 'is back.

20 minutes ago, BusyB said:

I feel pretty much the same about the UK, although I could live materially comfortably there if I wanted. Never been so happy and proud of the young man of 20 who left to look for a better life with nowt but the clothes on 'is back.

And where did this " young man" end up looking for a better life *with nowt" but the clothes on his back ?

20 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

And where did this " young man" end up looking for a better life *with nowt" but the clothes on his back ?

Naah, that would be off topic ;D

Just now, BusyB said:

Naah, that would be off topic ;D

Nothing wrong with Alice Springs Australia, glad you made it through

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The high quality of life exists beyond those factors. For me it's about kind friendly people that have a great sense of humor and a wonderful sense of light-heartedness, the amazing food, the travel opportunities in this region, and the cost of living.

To me those factors knock it down from a high quality of life. But thats just me.

Also we all turn a blind eye to some other horrible things that happen in the country.

Not saying its all doom and gloom...just looking at it reastically. Is life good in thailand ? It absolutely can be....is it high quality.....debatable.

On 5/7/2026 at 10:37 AM, StarOfLight said:

I know a guy that just doesn't like being here but is forced to because of family and funds. He constantly complains about everything under the sun. He should have left a long time ago.

Sounds like the YouTube Irish guy AlphaOmegaOccasionally. He is always complaining about everything in Thailand. Sometimes it is funny but it get really annoying after a while.

On 5/8/2026 at 8:07 AM, Bubbha said:

Not accurate.....

...and the fact that "permanent residency" is something that legally Thailand does not offer

I stand corrected. Yes permanent residency is possible. But, like another poster already mentioned, it is hard to get. The language requirements alone pose a major obstacle for Farangs. Let's face it, to learn Thai is difficult for Farangs. The 4 (5) "tonalities" of many words is unknown in western languages. Example: The word "süa" can mean Shirt or Tiger. Depending on tonality.

Imagine yourself in a Thai store, wanting to buy a Tiger.

On 5/8/2026 at 10:15 PM, KhunLA said:

25+ yrs for me & still 'Lovin it' ... Rock On ...

You have more than 31,000 posts since 2021. What did you do before joining AN to avoid your wife?

On 5/9/2026 at 7:10 PM, blaze master said:

To me those factors knock it down from a high quality of life. But thats just me.

Also we all turn a blind eye to some other horrible things that happen in the country.

Not saying its all doom and gloom...just looking at it reastically. Is life good in thailand ? It absolutely can be....is it high quality.....debatable.

Oh another brilliant post by our resident academic

Yes it is debated and so it should be !

18 hours ago, swissie said:

The language requirements alone pose a major obstacle for Farangs. Let's face it, to learn Thai is difficult for Farangs. The 4 (5) "tonalities" of many words is unknown in western languages. Example: The word "süa" can mean Shirt or Tiger. Depending on tonality.

Yes but other countries have similar language requirements. We are lucky we can still live here without proving some level of local language skills.

2 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Oh another brilliant post by our resident academic

Yes it is debated and so it should be !

I didn't even graduate high school mr smarty pants.

2 hours ago, blaze master said:

I didn't even graduate high school mr smarty pants.

Look you didn't have to tell us your from the low class ,we knew already judging by your vexatious innocuous posts !!

Oh please there's no need for bullying , have some empathy for yourself

Edited May 11May 11 by georgegeorgia

1 minute ago, georgegeorgia said:

Look you didn't have to tell us your from the low class ,we knew already judging by your vexatious innocuous posts !!

Oh please there's no need for bullying , have some empathy for yourself

You're the bully judging my economic status. How dare you.

On 5/6/2026 at 11:11 PM, swissie said:

and the fact that "permanent residency" is something that legally Thailand does not offer.

Nonsense.

https://www.immigration.go.th/?page_id=1702

Edited May 11May 11 by Ralf001