Old Expats In Thailand - Possible Hell On Earth?

[cdnski12]

Besides the 1000's of farang ripped off every year, men 65+ years old, need to give some thought to their long term health. There is a 100% chance that you will require some form of significant health care in the next 20 years. Thailand is probably not the place you want to be, if you have a stroke, cardiac problems or prostate cancer. One needs to maintain one's access to Health Care in one's home country. The requirement for good Health Care after age 75 is paramount. After reviewing my own circumstances, I decided that I should return to Canada. My Thai GF took it bad, but she has since found another Farang, younger and richer than me. Good for her and her family. I only return to Thailand for a few months of golf per year.

[wigantojapan]

Well, my vision was to live somewhere upcountry when I would be old and without any income, and not have to worry about some 90 day reporting or renewing of the visa every year. Oh dear, I will have to find another country for this dream then, Burma here I come

cambodia

but if you are over 50 you cannot marry a cambodian

you can own land,own a house

work and you do not need a cambodian

no need for 90 day visits or lots of money to start work/business

[Judecalling]

I'm a Brit, but currently living in Canada with my Thai wife. If I thought I had to endure Fall, Winter and Spring here, after my retirement in 2 years - bad weather from October to June, and pretty much the same in the UK, I'd be tempted to end it now.

But, I have the prospect of 300 days of sunshine in Petchabun; 12 acres of non floodable land to play with; golf and good restaurants 50km up the road in Petchabun city; enough income to be very comfortable in Thailand, with investments in Canada and pensions from Canada and UK.

Do I worry about it all going tits up in 20 years? Have I ever worried about not knowing the future? No - I live in the moment and give thanks for meeting a wonderful Thai woman who looks after me like a king. My promise to her? To keep her financially secure until she dies.

The fact that she has forced me to play golf I'm prepared to forgive, even as my balls continually slice off to the left and I curse my ineptitude. Life's pretty good - and not spoilt by the prospect of growing old in Thailand.

Enjoy the moment and do some meditating and the future will take care of itself.

Good. Let's hope you keep your balls centred and "unsliced".

Could not have said that better myself ... but was thinking it. ! Hilarious and my reason for joining.! I will attempt something a bit more serious when i see if my first post has worked. (Totally agree with TommoPhysicist and from a female point of view ... if i do 'bodge' this) Thanks for the test run.

[vegasphl]

After reading this entire thread, I guess my living in good old Las Vegas, United States of America for 39 years isn't that bad. Got a government pension, wife has Disability checks. We make 136,000 Baht per month. Wife lets me go to LOS-Pattaya anytime I want.

Here, I eat at McDonald s, KFC, Burger King and Carl's Jr. or any casino restaurant I want. Own a very big home, low mortgage payment, drive a brand new Nissan. No kids at home. Am 67 years old but Every Thai lady who asks me when I am in Pattaya how old I am..I ask them "How old do you think." They say 52. So I guess I'm DOING ok.

I was a government auditor for 35 years and i don't trust ANYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES you heard me...NO ONE!!! I don't believe anything I hear and only 50% of what I see. I've been to LOS 6 times. I read the Bangkok Post and the Nation everyday I am in LOS. Without a doubt, there is more corruption in LOS. At least in the states, only 20% of the cops are on the "TAKE." And only 50% of the Politicians. Unlike LOS where they are about 95% CORRUPT.

Yes, Thai people are getting educated and cheers for them. Hospitals are charging more and more for medical help. BUT, a hell of a lot less than in USA so shut your trap when you criticize Thai medical folks when they seem to be opportunistic. If you don't like it in LOS, just LEAVE. If you don't have enough money, who is to blame for that. Not the thai folks, not the prime minister of Thailand (she certainly is pretty) not the Thai doctors or nurses. YOU are to blame...no one else.

To those who have made the move to LOS and are happily married and successful, my congratulations. To those who critise the Thai folks, ITS YOUR FAULT....NO ONE ELSE!!! Have a great day and night.

sO THAT BRINGS ME TO THIS POINT. Why would any one in their right mind want to marry a thai girlfriend??? You can be a butterfly. Why buy a house when you can rent. Why do the things that are so stacked against a Farang. (I don't think it is a racist term. I prefer to think of it as pissing off the racist thai's. I know I got the best of them when they call me a Farang. So I just gloat when they refer to me as Farang.)

I know I have it better than most thai people and I make sure i always give a big tip to help them where ever I am in LOS. Cheap buggers deserve to get criticized by everyone.

[masterbiker49]

OK, but not everyone is that lucky like billd766, many marriages end up in divorce after all (no matter how much they have loved each other before, and I am sure as hell they often did). My point was that it would be really nice to have the same rights as my wife, the same as is granted to Thais abroad.

It would be really nice, wouldn't it, it for everything that affects our life there would be one law or rule valid in the whole world. In this era of globalisation, it would make life so much easier.

We wouldn't need solicitors then,think of all the people that would be unemployed/unemployable!

[mikecwm]

I'm a Brit, but currently living in Canada with my Thai wife. If I thought I had to endure Fall, Winter and Spring here, after my retirement in 2 years - bad weather from October to June, and pretty much the same in the UK, I'd be tempted to end it now.

But, I have the prospect of 300 days of sunshine in Petchabun; 12 acres of non floodable land to play with; golf and good restaurants 50km up the road in Petchabun city; enough income to be very comfortable in Thailand, with investments in Canada and pensions from Canada and UK.

Do I worry about it all going tits up in 20 years? Have I ever worried about not knowing the future? No - I live in the moment and give thanks for meeting a wonderful Thai woman who looks after me like a king. My promise to her? To keep her financially secure until she dies.

The fact that she has forced me to play golf I'm prepared to forgive, even as my balls continually slice off to the left and I curse my ineptitude. Life's pretty good - and not spoilt by the prospect of growing old in Thailand.

Enjoy the moment and do some meditating and the future will take care of itself.

Good. Let's hope you keep your balls centred and "unsliced".

Could not have said that better myself ... but was thinking it. ! Hilarious and my reason for joining.! I will attempt something a bit more serious when i see if my first post has worked. (Totally agree with TommoPhysicist and from a female point of view ... if i do 'bodge' this) Thanks for the test run.

Glad you're getting value for money from the Forum Mr Newbie - first post - congrats.

If you persist in hanging out here you will find that there are grumpy, self righteous, retired, old gits, (they must be retired, they seem to live at their computers!) who have nothing good to say about anything or anyone. They seem to spend their lives in some perpetual acidic froth spewing garbage for all to read - or if they have brains, to ignore.

You'll soon find out who they are. Why they live in Thailand is any one's guess. I think they'd be happier in Margate or Sunderland or even Widgeemooltha (abandoned town 631 km east of Perth, West Australia which I once passed through looking for a large granite monolith called Peak Charles - we found it and put up the first rock climbs).

Anyway - welcome to the fringes of Zombieland.

[Suradit69]

life is a risk and and nothing is permanent. The only thing that is permanent is change itself. That is what life is all about.No matter where you are.

Yes, some people manage to be happy wherever they are and others work over-time to find reasons to be angry & indignant wherever they find themselves.

For some the grass is always greener elsewhere, whether Malaysia, Cambodia, Las Vegas or Burma ... until one settles in, finds a laundry list of grievances and starts ranting about life there.

Part of the problem for retirees is that once they stop working they don't know what to do (other than complain) and if they also decide to move to another country, they cut themselves off from friends, family and the social network they established over the years. Add in that they are not understood because of language issues and frustration mounts. Lacking any easy way to deal with all this, they begin to see the locals as out to get them, they turn more and more to booze, and they spew their "righteous" indignation on TV. All their problems are caused by Thais and Thailand. It isn't the Disneyland they thought it would be.

Life for farangs in Thailand can be great or it can be horrible, but the difference is more to do with the nature of the farang than with Thailand.

[kerrysum]

So many interesting stories........

I did enjoy them all.... But I do have a question? So a retiree has to report every 90 days, for life? I have never found the answer to this question....... Or does it depend on what country you are from.....?????

Despite what some can say, I still love Thailand in its' ways.....

None of us can say that things have not changed over the years in our own home countries.... But we must remember, that no matter what, we are a quest in their country..... I have never lived in the South myself, it never appealed to me, I like the Northern Provinces, well the agricultural areas..... But still it is a choice, that YOU make....

I wish you all the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kilosierra

[falang07]

I love my Thai wife and I do trust her ............ BUT, I still have my Thai bank account and my US bank accounts in my own name. My condo in Jomtien was purchased before we got married and is in my name. My pickup truck is also in my name. Trust is one thing but blind stupid trust is another thing.

What would happen if my wife should die before I do? Why would I subject my financial well being to her family?

She does have the PIN number to my Thai bank account and she can get that money from the ATM if I am not able or if I should pass away unexpectedly.

Absolutely agree with you!

[falang07]

Falang 07

May in be that impersonal and rude to ask how old you are?

Gladiator

I will be 40 in a few years.

[NancyL]

So many interesting stories........

I did enjoy them all.... But I do have a question? So a retiree has to report every 90 days, for life? I have never found the answer to this question....... Or does it depend on what country you are from.....?????

Despite what some can say, I still love Thailand in its' ways.....

None of us can say that things have not changed over the years in our own home countries.... But we must remember, that no matter what, we are a quest in their country..... I have never lived in the South myself, it never appealed to me, I like the Northern Provinces, well the agricultural areas..... But still it is a choice, that YOU make....

I wish you all the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kilosierra

Yes, people here on 12-month retirement extensions to their visa have to fill out a form if they remain in the Kingdom for more than 90 days. It is free and can be done by mail. I really don't see why it's considered to be so onerous by some people.

The max fine for failure to do 90 day reports is 5000 baht, but realistically they charge a max of 2000 baht unless someone is rather blatently ignoring the rule (like never doing it) and/or rude about it when asked why they haven't been doing 90 day reports.

[Gary A]

I think that you can do the 90 day reports via the mail in most places. As for myself, I report in Chiang Khan which is on the big river bank. A couple of kilometers up the road is a group of restaurants and various shops also right on the river. It is a nice day trip and an excuse to visit one of the many restaurants. I for one make lemonade from lemons. It's your choice to complain about it or to enjoy the trip.

They have recently much improved the 90 day report process. No more copies or paperwork. They scan the bar code from your previous report slip and that's it. Takes about 10 minutes.

[sirchai]

Two men, both over 70 live in a village in lower north east. Their lives are really miserable. No insurance, can't speak one word in Thai.

Both are most of the time sick.

Their wives are just waiting until they die. Both have a good pension, but the wives do what they can to milk them more and more..

I do not know other men than them over 70 where I'm living, but I wouldn't like to suffer like they do. There's nothing they can enjoy.

Edited July 2, 2012 by sirchai

[Suradit69]

The Very conserative rich/elite/Army/Police, dont like us, dont want us. I feel sure that in the coming years they will make it harder and harder for us FARANG (What a racist word)

The people with the most political clout are also those with the biggest interest in the economy. While they may not want some drunken farang staggering around on Walking Street to marry their daughter, they would be the last ones to want to do something that will hit real estate prices, including the over supply of condos that they've built and financed. They want farang to shop in their malls, buy or rent their condos, ride in their taxis, stay in their hotels/resorts, and use their internationally-targeted medical services. While they may want to weed out the people who live here perpetually on tourist visas because they can't meet the financial requirements for a retirement visa, it would make no sense for them to discourage farang who have money to spend.

And yes, of course their interest in foreigners is financial. What other reason would they want people from other countries to stay here? Most countries work to attract tourists and many want retirees to move in. None of them do that because of their love of mankind or because they hope to attract indigents from other countries.

Later Whem my visa was all ready I asked the Imigration officer what would happen when I am too ill, too old to come here. She looked quite shocked and Said, you must come,you must come to get your visa!

What sort of visa does Immigrations issue? Visas are normally issued by embassies and consulates.

Edited July 2, 2012 by Suradit69

[billd766]

60s to 70s is not old. It all depends how you feel about yourself and your health. Its a lot cheaper here to go to the hospital than western countries. Enjoy your retirement.

68 felt very old to me toolhis morning when I got up at 5 am to get my son prepped for school.

After he went at 6 and I wrapped myself around a cup of coffee, read my emails and the papers online and ate breakfast life seemed much better. I even did 1 1/2 hours work up at my wifes shop with the weed whacker.

Life's Good really.

[billd766]

I didnt buy my wife a house at all.She had some land up here in the countryside and I gave her the money to buy the land next door.

I paid for the house etc and also for another plot of land that she owns up the road a bit.

Where is it against the law for my wife to own a house and land in her name?

It isn't mine it belongs to my wife and son

If I give her the money to do so and sign it off at the amphur that it was her money it is HER house and land not mine.

I don't believe it is against the law for you to give an unencumbered gift to your Thai wife to buy/build a house and land.

(But I do know of at least one female Thai judge that has ruled this was against the law)

But it is against the law for you to give your wife money to buy land which you then call/consider YOUR house.

This is called a nominee purchase and is strictly against Thai law.

Sorry to disappoint you but I don't remember claiming this as MY house at all and no it is/was not against the law to give my wife the money to buy the land and build the house.

Everything has been done in here name not mine and up here Judges seem to have more common sense than only one female judge elsewhere.

I am not on the blue Tabian ban though I do legally have a yellow tabian ban in my own name.

You seem to have a negative attitude to life when in reality life is good so make the best of it that you can while you are here.

I am sorry to say that you broke the law and you know it.

Don't be sorry.

I didn't but if that's what you believe have a nice day.

[billd766]

I fit that profile mostly.

I am 68, married to a Thai with a dual nationality son, house and everything except my motorbikes registered in my wifes name.

I am on a retirement visa extension and not a marriage one. got enough pension monet to keep me going unless the GBP drops to 35 or so.

So far after 19 years of knowing my wife, 12 years of marriage, 8 years of our son I read this post.

Thank you for your concern but speaking for myself I don't have any worries or problems that I can see in the future.

Quite frankly I have had a great life and a good 19 years relationship with my Thai wife and if it all ended tomorrow I would wish her all the best for her future life with our son who I would dearly miss, pack my bags and move along.

Unlike a few posters on TVF I came into the marriage knowing that I would not be legally able to own much and one of the things I did in my marriage was to ensure that my wife would be well looked after and have a reasonably comfortable life.

I am aware that when I was born many years ago I came into the world with nothing and was surrounded by my parents and my brothers love.

My parents are long dead though my brother is still alive and the love is now the love of my family.

I am also aware that when I die if I only have 10 baht and nowhere to live or a gazillion baht, 20 houses, 50 cars and anything else I want in the world, sure as sh1t when I die I can't take it with me but I can take the love of my family.

What is worth the most?

You don't fit that profile - if your wife divorced you, you could stay in Thailand as you have a Thai citizen(your son) who is dependant on you.

Also, you would surely be entitled to half of everything?

I did say that I fit it mostly and yes I could stay quoting my son as a dependant but I would have to change my visa extension from retired to a Thai dependant which would save money.

Also if we did divorce and I got half (which I wouldn't take anyway) where would my then ex wife and son live and I suppose where would I live also.

Some people on this thread are negative, some like me are positive and I am proud to say that I am content living here.

Nobody can plan ahead with 100% certainty.

I might have a crash on my motorbike tomorrow and die, on the other hand I may not and I may live another 20 years.

Edit for bad spelling

If I do I really hope my spelling improves.

Edited July 2, 2012 by billd766

[Gary A]

I gave my wife money to buy several properties. I don't think it is illegal to give your wife money. Every time she bought a property, I had to sign a document saying that I have no financial interest in the property. The document says nothing about where the money came from. I don't think the land office or government cares where the money came from. My wife often deals in properties and it has made no difference where the money came from, I still have to sign that document.

My wife changed her last name to mine when we married. I do know guys whose wife kept their maiden names. They did not sign the disclaimer document. That may cause problems in the future.

[HeavyDrinker]

My wife left me 1000B on the kitchen table, snag is she took it from me wallet before she went to work and has absconded with said wallet leaving in it's stead a note saying

"If you come home in such a state as you did last night, shouting as to how Spain are a load of $£**Ss you will be sleeping with Graham (the dog) in future..."

Frankly Graham is far more cuddly than the wife.....

[TommoPhysicist]

Frankly Graham is far more cuddly than the wife.....

..... and a better shag?

[brit1984]

Frankly Graham is far more cuddly than the wife.....

..... and a better shag?

For the sake of animal welfare, it is lucky you are an arable farmer...

Sent from iPhone; please forgive any typos or violations of forum rules

[Badbanker]

I came here with nothing and have done OK over the past 25 years. My wife of 18 years and son of 13 year do now own property and she has been employed at the same place in middle management, for the past 25 years with a reasonable salary.

Sadly before my dear mother in law passed away recently, she would come to me on occasions and ask if I had enough money and offer to give me some if I needed it. I really did love her regardless of the fact she left us a nice chunk of change in her insurance policy.

My wife has complete autonomy in her finances but consults with me on any larger issues.

Aside from my consulting work, I daily work in situations that involve foreigners in distress and always am shocked at the fact that they have come to Thailand and thrown away their rule book and expect to survive. I know of literally hundreds of horror stories!

When I ask them if they would in their own country, meet a whore and get married shortly there after owing to her prowess in bed, they say of course not!

The rules HAVE NOT CHANGED!!! Just because you do not speak the language, does not mean there are no laws. There are! In the UK many migrants are disadvantaged because they do not speak English and by the same token many foreigners in Thailand are disadvantaged because they do not speak Thai.

I am 55 and will have a small pension coming when I hit 65. My wife and I are best friends and both speak each other languages fluently so their is no communication breakdown. Her computer is along side mine and she is humming an English lullaby at this moment.

Wedded bliss goes both ways. I have never been unfaithful to my wife and neither has she, even tho both of us have had opportunities to stray and have talked about it. It is a matter of trust that has built up over the years that we would never wish to break.

I feel like I am an old expat in Thailand and if this is hell I want a lot more of it. We are not rich but have enough to live in a similar manner to where I was brought up.

Only one thing we have both agreed on. In the event of a split, she gets the property but I keep the Maybach

Edited July 2, 2012 by Badbanker

[garyk]

I live in Thailand. But before I came over I made sure my home was paid for and a good tenant in it. I contract out the rental to a rental agency. Works pretty good. And I have the security of having a place to retreat to. But, during my travels here I have seen my share of this very thing happening. It happens more than you think. Many come and do not think about the future or a decent exit strategy. Actually I have seen it so much it makes me save more here and I try to create a safety net for myself. It is a retirement paradise if done right or a retirement nightmare if done wrong.

Edited July 2, 2012 by garyk

[NancyL]

I came here with nothing and have done OK over the past 25 years. My wife of 18 years and son of 13 year do now own property and she has been employed at the same place in middle management, for the past 25 years with a reasonable salary.

Sadly before my dear mother in law passed away recently, she would come to me on occasions and ask if I had enough money and offer to give me some if I needed it. I really did love her regardless of the fact she left us a nice chunk of change in her insurance policy.

My wife has complete autonomy in her finances but consults with me on any larger issues.

Aside from my consulting work, I daily work in situations that involve foreigners in distress and always am shocked at the fact that they have come to Thailand and thrown away their rule book and expect to survive. I know of literally hundreds of horror stories!

When I ask them if they would in their own country, meet a whore and get married shortly there after owing to her prowess in bed, they say of course not!

The rules HAVE NOT CHANGED!!! Just because you do not speak the language, does not mean there are no laws. There are! In the UK many migrants are disadvantaged because they do not speak English and by the same token many foreigners in Thailand are disadvantaged because they do not speak Thai.

I am 55 and will have a small pension coming when I hit 65. My wife and I are best friends and both speak each other languages fluently so their is no communication breakdown. Her computer is along side mine and she is humming an English lullaby at this moment.

Wedded bliss goes both ways. I have never been unfaithful to my wife and neither has she, even tho both of us have had opportunities to stray and have talked about it. It is a matter of trust that has built up over the years that we would never wish to break.

I feel like I am an old expat in Thailand and if this is hell I want a lot more of it. We are not rich but have enough to live in a similar manner to where I was brought up.

Only one thing we have both agreed on. In the event of a split, she gets the property but I keep the Maybach

Good to see you weigh in on this topic, Badbanker! You've definitely seen the good, bad and ugly in your work. The reminder that if you can't keep up a relationship your home country, then you probably won't be able to do so here is on-target. It's much of what I see in my daily interactions.

Edited July 2, 2012 by NancyL

[TommoPhysicist]

Good to see you weigh in on this topic, Badbanker! You've definitely seen the good, bad and ugly in your work. The reminder that if you can't keep up a relationship your home country, then you probably won't be able to do so here is on-target. It's much of what I see in my daily interactions.

I agree

I couldn't keep up a relationship in my home country, failed after 27 years.

I'm expecting the same result here ........... I estimate my next divorce will happen about 10 years after my death.

In the event I'm wrong, I'll just have to make sure I keep enough cash to purchase myself another 20 year old.

Edited July 3, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[Pops]

Lets look at the alternative: Living back home in Europe, like my parents do.

Being a single old man there, what do you have ?

Huge bills, always stress about something, rules and regulations coming out of your nose and mostly ugly big women (of your own age for that is mandatory for otherwise you are a dirty old man) that also want to be provided for, just like Thai women.

Oh yeah forgot this one, we can buy land back home and do not have to go on visa runs.

The land we buy back home, we get taxed on like crazy, for the government milks us to the bone.

Also we cannot even build on it what we want, we cannot even determine the color of the paint we paint our own houses in, back home.

The visa runs bother me also, but still better then living back home because Thailand offers, besides beautiful women, wonderful food etc. one thing we lack back home and that is: Freedom !

Back home even the pace we walk and breath in is being fricking regulated.

Give me Thailand anytime !

[Judecalling]

I'm a Brit, but currently living in Canada with my Thai wife. If I thought I had to endure Fall, Winter and Spring here, after my retirement in 2 years - bad weather from October to June, and pretty much the same in the UK, I'd be tempted to end it now.But, I have the prospect of 300 days of sunshine in Petchabun; 12 acres of non floodable land to play with; golf and good restaurants 50km up the road in Petchabun city; enough income to be very comfortable in Thailand, with investments in Canada and pensions from Canada and UK.Do I worry about it all going tits up in 20 years? Have I ever worried about not knowing the future? No - I live in the moment and give thanks for meeting a wonderful Thai woman who looks after me like a king. My promise to her? To keep her financially secure until she dies.The fact that she has forced me to play golf I'm prepared to forgive, even as my balls continually slice off to the left and I curse my ineptitude. Life's pretty good - and not spoilt by the prospect of growing old in Thailand.Enjoy the moment and do some meditating and the future will take care of itself.

Good. Let's hope you keep your balls centred and "unsliced".

Could not have said that better myself ... but was thinking it. ! Hilarious and my reason for joining.! I will attempt something a bit more serious when i see if my first post has worked. (Totally agree with TommoPhysicist and from a female point of view ... if i do 'bodge' this) Thanks for the test run.

Glad you're getting value for money from the Forum Mr Newbie - first post - congrats.If you persist in hanging out here you will find that there are grumpy, self righteous, retired, old gits, (they must be retired, they seem to live at their computers!) who have nothing good to say about anything or anyone. They seem to spend their lives in some perpetual acidic froth spewing garbage for all to read - or if they have brains, to ignore.You'll soon find out who they are. Why they live in Thailand is any one's guess. I think they'd be happier in Margate or Sunderland or even Widgeemooltha (abandoned town 631 km east of Perth, West Australia which I once passed through looking for a large granite monolith called Peak Charles - we found it and put up the first rock climbs).Anyway - welcome to the fringes of Zombieland.

Don't you worry about it .. i like "grumpy - self righteous - old gits" .. because i love character, learning and strength. For 176 posts ... "Zombiland" isn't so bad for you is it. ?I didn't even read your post in it's entirety ... it was the quick humour only that appealed to me - "Test Run"Wonderful to hear that you are being treated "like a king" ... good on you. : )You have it all right for you. Love for me is very much different. : ) Edited July 4, 2012 by Judecalling

[falang07]

The visa runs bother me also, but still better then living back home because Thailand offers, besides beautiful women, wonderful food etc. one thing we lack back home and that is: Freedom !

In here you contradict yourself a little, mandatory visa runs and freedom in one sentence do not come together very well

[soihok]

I can see what state of mind you may be in another 30 years ( not quite 40 yet and worrying about retiring ), if all you can comment on, in "Pops" post, was this

[falang07]

Everyone should be worried about retiring, even young people. Anyway, my comment was meant to point out that the freedom of farangs is very limited in Thailand with all the 3-month reporting, uneven rights after marrying, being unable to own a company, having absolutely no right to buy even a small land (100 square meters would be OK for me, and there would be no risk for Thailand that we farangs would buy all the Thai land if they allow us to own at least the land under the structure where we want to retire), etc. Some of you might have the false feeling of freedom in here since you are able to bribe the cops which is quite hard back in Europe/USA (or maybe not that hard, just the rates are quite higher). Otherwise, I do not have the feeling of being any more free in here than in my own country where I can do literally everything I want (except for mating with underage children or doing other illegal activities, which you might be able to do in here if you pay the right price to the right people). We should call things with the right names, Thailand is great for cheap food (i.e. Thai food, western food is way expensive in here), cheap girls and great weather. Freedom is limited for farangs in here. Just simple facts.