Chasing The Dream

[MrJohnson]

They'll be looking until the day they die..................same as me

It depends on how bad things have gone in your life in the past. I am 25 years old and I have been sued 2 times and lost $50000.

All I want now is $1200 a month income so I can sit on the beach and relax with minimal stress. For me its not sitting on the beach that is so fun, its what I am not doing (work,rat race,family) that is so soothing.

Do you really think that you can spend the next 50 or 60 or even more years of your life sitting on a beach and relaxing? After a few months most of us would be bored out of our coconuts.

The happiest times in my life have been the times when I have been the busiest, but still had enough time for relaxing pursuits. I suspect that most of us would be healthier, and happier, living a good healthy mix of work and play.

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.

[oldsparrow]

You guys do realize, expats are seen as "outsiders" here in the western world. Many folks call us crazy for leaving to a poor country like Thailand, but also a big part, does understand. Now: Why do we "westerners" who have got everything, want so badly to a 3rd world country ( for instance Thailand ). And why do some Thai's want to go to a "western" developed country? I think it's al part of the discovery and journey. It has been written and prooved, that when you have been a longer time in a country like Thailand, and then you return back home, you see life in a different way than before, which most other people who are living there are not seeing. All this makes it hard to explain, when the question comes : " Why on earth want to move to Thailand " ?

For the poorer and less educated one they can have more safety net and opportunity in lives for the same profession. ie. Taxi driver, waiter or men who sign up as private in the military.

For the educated one. They go west for they can make much more money from their skill. Many student abroad get attracted by better offers. Most scholarship student has to comeback according to their contracts. To avoid the braindrain the gov. scholarship contract termination term requests 3 times compensation of the money they had spent on the student.

[siamamerican]

I've chased a dream the last 8 years in America. Now, in Thailand, I just try to enjoy the current day. I still find myself occasionally desiring something a little better, bigger or prettier than what I already have, but with each passing day I search a little less. Old habits are hard to break.

[soihok]

You forgot all people are different my idea of heaven, my own house on a hill no neighbours, land full of palm trees (my hobby) and me strolling round them, nothing else, can lose the cars and toys have no inetrest in them, not interested in meeting people or being sociable at all.

The world is your own!

But why would you want isolate yourself, especially in a country like Thailand where the family and community rule.

Personally I love the welcome that a Thailand family/community offers,, if you would like to stay alone on a hill,,,go to North England and I can gaurantee that no one will speak to you ...ok you,ll have no palm trees but you swap it for South Spain and isolate yourself.

I,m as happy as Larry in Thailand and I can tell you that if it wasn,t for the support of our family here,,,,,I would be a very sad and lonely person.

[soihok]

Just to add.

One of my daughters is Autistic.

She would receive a great deal of help in the UK with respect to schools and specialists, she is Thai/British.

The warmth and support that the community gives her here cannot be substituted.

I can say that I am a happy man and that my heart is now alive and kicking in Thailand.

The world is a big place and I,ve travelled in countries such as China, Peru, India, Morroco, etc, etc, etc, End of the day you stop at a place that you find at one with.

Edited August 24, 2009 by soihok

[sokal]

They'll be looking until the day they die..................same as me

It depends on how bad things have gone in your life in the past. I am 25 years old and I have been sued 2 times and lost $50000.

All I want now is $1200 a month income so I can sit on the beach and relax with minimal stress. For me its not sitting on the beach that is so fun, its what I am not doing (work,rat race,family) that is so soothing.

Do you really think that you can spend the next 50 or 60 or even more years of your life sitting on a beach and relaxing? After a few months most of us would be bored out of our coconuts.

The happiest times in my life have been the times when I have been the busiest, but still had enough time for relaxing pursuits. I suspect that most of us would be healthier, and happier, living a good healthy mix of work and play.

I hate working with a passion. What are you doing at work that is so exsiting ? People that get bored don't have enough hobbies. I have a list of hobbies a mile long.

So if you won the lottery you would still go to work because you would get bored ?

[soihok]

,,I,ld really like to establish a stock car and banger racing circuit here in Korat.

Land price dictates that the track would be outside of Korat.

I think that about 30 rai would do it, bigger the better. Land price aint cheap but I am serious about this.

Edited August 24, 2009 by soihok

[zorro1]

there is a saying that 80% of men live lives of quite desperation. Im less desperate here and hate working so suits me fine. get a kick out of the "I have 100 thousand dollars and Im 35 can I live here" posts. most say no go home make 1 million come back when your 60

Edited August 24, 2009 by zorro1

[mahtin]

"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them."

Henry David Thoreau

Edited August 24, 2009 by mahtin

[soihok]

there is a saying that 80% of men live lives of quite desperation. Im less desperate here and hate working so suits me fine. get a kick out of the "I have 100 thousand dollars and Im 35 can I live here" posts. most say no go home make 1 million come back when your 60

Do mean that you are 1 metre and 35 cm and hate working?

I dont care that you are 1.35cm but it concerns me that you dont like working

[Datsun240Z]

Working is nice if you love it, it's like a hobby. Some people have the luck to make their hobby their work. How can you love work, I mean, working is just there to get an income. You now more than 50% of your life is wasted at work, instead of being with your partner right?

[soihok]

Like it or not.

You will not get a silverspoon placed in your mouth unless you are ,very,very special.

Work is what you make it,,,,,enjoy it or not,,,, its up to you.

[soihok]

I think you are very young Datsun240z.

Bring kids into the picture,, mother in law in hospital, etc,etc, where does the cash come from?

Lets stay home and pray for money and not do any work.

[yabaaaa]

The world is your own!

But why would you want isolate yourself, especially in a country like Thailand where the family and community rule.

Personally I love the welcome that a Thailand family/community offers,, if you would like to stay alone on a hill,,,go to North England and I can gaurantee that no one will speak to you ...ok you,ll have no palm trees but you swap it for South Spain and isolate yourself.

I,m as happy as Larry in Thailand and I can tell you that if it wasn,t for the support of our family here,,,,,I would be a very sad and lonely person.

I like countries the people are an irrelevance, my holdiay snaps have no people in them, palm trees grow fine in the UK, I dont need support of any family.

[soihok]

You are bubbly person are,nt you.

I guess that you wouldn,t buy the beers then.

Your name is,nt Dracula by any chance is it?

By the way,,what interest do you have in a forum on Thailand ?

Humbug

Edited August 24, 2009 by soihok

[Datsun240Z]

I think you are very young Datsun240z.

Bring kids into the picture,, mother in law in hospital, etc,etc, where does the cash come from?

Lets stay home and pray for money and not do any work.

Now, wasn't pointing at that. I realize this scene all to best. Absolutely right about that. Work always have to be, to generate income.

[2711]

I am sure there is a Buddhist teaching that answers this one....something along the lines of contentment can only be achieved if you eradicate all desire.

If you aim low, you're more likely to get what you wish.

I was aiming high until I came to Thailand. Now I aim as low as I can.

Actually if you can can be happy with nothing, but just some love from your partner. Your really best of. I've you can switch of the materialism and I want this and that thinking.

You are asking for too much!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I'm not materialistic. I'm happy here with little money, just the simple things, sharing good company, living on rice and noodles, no satellite TV, phut phutting around on my motorbike. I don't (want to) eat out too much, I don't drink too much, I have a beautiful and loyal girlfriend.

Unfortunately, my passion in life is playing golf, which, here in Thailand, costs more than the rest of my life put together! I don't work to live, I HAVE to work to play golf though .

Where are you located that the golf is so expensive?

It must be down to the Caddies tips.

[Gary A]

In my younger years, I had determined that happiness was equal to the amount of money that you had. Now being older and I think wiser, I have determined that money is important only if you have none. Material things do NOT make you happy. I am certainly not wealthy but have enough to live as I choose. I had pretty much given up on finding a good wife. As it turns out, that was what was missing in my life. I was VERY lucky to find a good one and for the first time in my life, I am content. I wasted ten years here in Thailand looking for a wife. I was focused on the wrong attributes and when it finally occurred to me that I needed a best friend with a healthy dose of common sense as well as a lover the search narrowed quickly and I got lucky. The past six years have been very good indeed.

[Valjean]

They'll be looking until the day they die..................same as me

It depends on how bad things have gone in your life in the past. I am 25 years old and I have been sued 2 times and lost $50000.

All I want now is $1200 a month income so I can sit on the beach and relax with minimal stress. For me its not sitting on the beach that is so fun, its what I am not doing (work,rat race,family) that is so soothing.

Do you really think that you can spend the next 50 or 60 or even more years of your life sitting on a beach and relaxing? After a few months most of us would be bored out of our coconuts.

The happiest times in my life have been the times when I have been the busiest, but still had enough time for relaxing pursuits. I suspect that most of us would be healthier, and happier, living a good healthy mix of work and play.

I hate working with a passion. What are you doing at work that is so exsiting ? People that get bored don't have enough hobbies. I have a list of hobbies a mile long.

So if you won the lottery you would still go to work because you would get bored ?

You know I might - and I wouldn't have thought that years ago. And not because I couldn't find something to do. It's deeper than that. I spent many years working at Microsoft with hundreds of people from Bill Gates on down who had more than won the lottery. They kept working, for different reasons - and worked hard. Perhaps I could have checked out here but instead I started a business. I love the work, I love the intellectual challenges, the creative challenges. I like building a team and seeing them come together. I like creating opportunity and watching young people grow and learn skills. I like keeping myself sharp and healthy in mind, body and spirit and for me work is part of that. I also have a young son here and I want him to grow up to see his Dad working hard so he learns the value of hard work. What I changed in my life was to design this work, my company, to be my dream job. So every day, even if it's long or stressful, is my dream.

My tailor here said to me once, pointing to his 75 year old dad who insisted on coming to work every day, "Work is God's gift to man". For me I think he's right.

I would agree with many that letting go a "stuff collection" seems to come to many who come here. I have less and yearn for less and that's a nice feeling.