Its cheap cause there is nothing to buy and nowhere to go out, eek

He's not only nice but he's reeeech...!!!

Just remember, OC, that as many have observed it's different touring here and living here.

There may be many initial unpleasant surprises when both you and the GF are faced with being around each other all the time- I've rarely known for those who move here to expand a relationship to be pleasantly surprised, though I suppose it's possible.

On the other hand, once you've moved a bit further up the learning curve, there are many PLEASANT surprises, too- oh, so many!

And if you're with someone that you suspect requires support, you'll have many opportunities to meet those who won't....

Remember to take it slowly and make sure you'll have the support that YOU need, too- make sure you've got trustworthy foreign friends around somewhere here to act as a baseline.

^ she says, with a purr and a wink.

..edit: that was ment for patsycat!

Could apply to me too, I guess, at least to Point #3...

I've only got such and such money to live with purr month

Hey, that would keep me in Whiskas for years...

never an easy decision, and all anyone else can provide is viewpoints and experiences. in the end, you will need to make the decision.

however, some points I observe and will share:

some of you may know, I recently moved countries myself. was not an easy decision. people talk about weighing the pro's and con's. i did that too, but in the end, it wasnt that the number of pro's exceeded the con's, (it was infact to the contrary):

job prospects for me in new country would be far worse than the great job I had in thailand

life would be more expensive, can hardly afford the little luxuries I was accustomed to in thailand

very very few friends in new country (if at all), certainly no family or anyone I can call on should the need arise

(by the way it is not a novelty for me, as its not exactly the first ooportunity for me to see a different country, so it wasnt the 'thrill' or adventure factor either)

but I still decided to do it.

why?

it may sound simplistic ...but in the end it was based on these:

I can, and knew that even with likelihood of a hugeeeee setback in my career, financially and otherwise, I will still be able to manage

(so this part is important - you need to work out if despite whatever goes wrong, and all the nuisance you will find in thailand and ADD to that another 70% that you dont anticipate, or even make that 200%...almost imagine the worse case scenario...then think if you can still cope? )

but more important for me was...I kept reminding myself: Thailand will always be there for me to go back to (well I hope )

stuff: I came here with one (big) suitcase, a small hand luggage, and my laptop. the next time I move..Ill have to think of what to do with not my shoes, but the collection of my shoe racks

but seriously Old Croc, the way I see it from what you have described: the only main hurdle that I worry about would be your mother.

you are spending your days alone, and I sense that is not what you prefer.

you are not working in Aus. so should be able to do similar things in thailand to keep you occupied.

you didnt mention friends in Aus aspect. are there a lot, or some limited friends that you talk to or can count on for support and companionship if need be?

health - you can always get a good private insurance (with the amount you have allocated per month, you can definitely afford good insurance).

besides if its an illness that requires planned operations and such, you can always go back to Aus for them if really feel the need. (but Im seeing more people fly to thailand from europe and elsewhere for treatments...so surely it cant be all about it being cheaper only?)

and well...this may sound crude, but its the reality....if it so happens to be a major emergency case where you think being in Aus would give you more chance at survival due to skill of doctors there? hmmmm things can go wrong any place...anyone could have a heart attack nearest to the best hospital and doctors in the world and still not survive!!

I certainly am very aware that life is short and things can change at any time without us having much control, and yes we should go ahead and do the things we want while we can. But I also believe there really is no rush. Unless you are miserable in your current situation (which I dont think you are, or you would have made some changes already). Take your time to make the decision, and yes the trial if can be arranged then go for it. (but again.....Ive lived overseas for 3 months in the past, it is still not going to be the same as moving entirely)

whatever you decide, all the best and remember regardless of where you end up, we will still be seeing each other here

never an easy decision, and all anyone else can provide is viewpoints and experiences. in the end, you will need to make the decision.

however, some points I observe and will share:

some of you may know, I recently moved countries myself. was not an easy decision. people talk about weighing the pro's and con's. i did that too, but in the end, it wasnt that the number of pro's exceeded the con's, (it was infact to the contrary):

job prospects for me in new country would be far worse than the great job I had in thailand

life would be more expensive, can hardly afford the little luxuries I was accustomed to in thailand

very very few friends in new country (if at all), certainly no family or anyone I can call on should the need arise

(by the way it is not a novelty for me, as its not exactly the first ooportunity for me to see a different country, so it wasnt the 'thrill' or adventure factor either)

but I still decided to do it.

why?

it may sound simplistic ...but in the end it was based on these:

I can, and knew that even with likelihood of a hugeeeee setback in my career, financially and otherwise, I will still be able to manage

(so this part is important - you need to work out if despite whatever goes wrong, and all the nuisance you will find in thailand and ADD to that another 70% that you dont anticipate, or even make that 200%...almost imagine the worse case scenario...then think if you can still cope? )

but more important for me was...I kept reminding myself: Thailand will always be there for me to go back to (well I hope )

stuff: I came here with one (big) suitcase, a small hand luggage, and my laptop. the next time I move..Ill have to think of what to do with not my shoes, but the collection of my shoe racks

but seriously Old Croc, the way I see it from what you have described: the only main hurdle that I worry about would be your mother.

you are spending your days alone, and I sense that is not what you prefer.

you are not working in Aus. so should be able to do similar things in thailand to keep you occupied.

you didnt mention friends in Aus aspect. are there a lot, or some limited friends that you talk to or can count on for support and companionship if need be?

health - you can always get a good private insurance (with the amount you have allocated per month, you can definitely afford good insurance).

besides if its an illness that requires planned operations and such, you can always go back to Aus for them if really feel the need. (but Im seeing more people fly to thailand from europe and elsewhere for treatments...so surely it cant be all about it being cheaper only?)

and well...this may sound crude, but its the reality....if it so happens to be a major emergency case where you think being in Aus would give you more chance at survival due to skill of doctors there? hmmmm things can go wrong any place...anyone could have a heart attack nearest to the best hospital and doctors in the world and still not survive!!

I certainly am very aware that life is short and things can change at any time without us having much control, and yes we should go ahead and do the things we want while we can. But I also believe there really is no rush. Unless you are miserable in your current situation (which I dont think you are, or you would have made some changes already). Take your time to make the decision, and yes the trial if can be arranged then go for it. (but again.....Ive lived overseas for 3 months in the past, it is still not going to be the same as moving entirely)

whatever you decide, all the best and remember regardless of where you end up, we will still be seeing each other here

Thanks for your post Mig.

Sorry if you've previously talked about why you moved (to Sydney?), I missed that post.

In your reply here, you don't really elaborate on that, except to say that considered you could manage, and that you could always return if neccesary. I am curious as to why.

I guess you went for the experience and adventure?

You don't sound that happy about where you are Mig, perhaps you should think about moving on?

For the record, while I have visited Sydney many times and like the place, I could never live there.

Don't tell Ping, but I much prefer Melbourne or Brisbane.

On subject.

It is the situation with my mother that is putting my plans on hold. I feel guilty about the fact that it seems I am just waiting for her to pass to move on myself.

Regarding the health care situation, I am aware that Thailand has the infrastructure and staff to match almost anything in the world. It's just the fact that where I am, I'm very organised with insurance, several tame specialists and continuing treatment. My last major op cost me the price of my daily newspapers in hospital and nothing else. (apart from hefty yearly insurance premiums) To start it all again in another country is just one of the onerous tasks to contemplate.

I do have some good friends here, although not as many as I once had. They do tend to drop away as the years go by.

My friends are mostly married and making their own retirement plans that will probably put distance between most of us, and also mean an end of our Old Farts drunken Friday lunches. Nothing lasts forever.

I'm very likely to have more friends, in similar situations to me, in Thailand. It's like a big retirement home for us bitter old codgers, all linked together by Thaivisa.

All the best Mig. :jerk:

Depends on where you live Old Croc, Health care on Koh Phangan is pretty piss poor, IMO. I'd hate to have something serious happen, as it means a speed boat ride to Samui.

As for your mother, well there is no reason to feel guilty, we are all human and feel selfish from time to time. But, having my mother pass away relatively young, all I can say is be grateful that you've got her. Help her to enjoy her remaining time and know that she is loved and if you are very lucky, the same thing will happen for you.