Hi Ladies

I am new to this forum and welcome your advice. I admire you all as I have been reading up on all the posts; what a brave and wonderful bunch you all are.

I am 56 and want to live in Phuket (maybe) for 6 months of the year, I visited here and saw how good it is and how relaxed it all is. I want to stay away from Patong etc and wonder where is a good place to relax, be able to paint, draw, be healthy and be safe. I am educated and work here in Australia for the government and the job is very stressful. Does rent cost a huge amount, has anyone done just this; gone for only part of the year to have a break and then return to make more money for the next trip?

Is Phuket one of the best parts of Thailand girls? I haven't been to Bangkok. I am considering getting the TESOL and teaching as I already have 2 degrees and 2 Post Grads.

Hi Mermaid53 - I used to work for the Government in Australia and had been coming to Phuket on holidays. I took a years leave without pay - with just one difference I didn't go back.

I lived in Phuket for a year and then moved to Pattaya and have now been here in total 17 years! I am sure that if you want to you could manage it quite well. Rents out of any main tourist area will be cheaper and if you don't party every night you can live on a reasonable income. I am not sure what the teaching situation is like in Phuket but I would be checking with language schools (Walen for e.g.) and international schools to see what the requirements are if that is what you want to do.

I love Phuket but at the time I was there, there was not much work for westerners. Go for it - take leave without pay first up and then you know you have a job to go home to if you realise this isn't what you want.

Mermaid53 believe me there is a big difference between holidaying here and living here - whether working or not!

PM me if you want any info!

Wow...I can see myself doing this; gosh I get so sick of the public service environment and the subversive bullying and I really felt at peace in Phuket. I got asked to go in partnership with a really nice mature and very well spoken Thai businessman but will hold off on those things for now.

I will PM you and we can talk about the nitty gritty stuff.

I am going to research Pattaya and it's surrounds.

thanks

Just ensure that any business partnership doesn't entail YOU being the only partner, or the major partner, putting money into the business deal.

well, funny you should say that! the 'partnership' suggested was to be just me and him....