A Sense Of Stability

[Igaar]

Do you guys living in Thailand have a sense of stability there? I lived there for 2 years but moved back to Europe around 1 year after my son was born. I didn't feel it was a stable life as a family. Constantly having to figure out how to get the visa renewed, corruption, floodings, robberies, crazy traffic etc. At the same time the government obviously doesn't really care about foreigners, so you're on your own regarding everything. I can take care of myself but it feels a little more secure to always have a backup here at home. So I moved back in order to gain that stability. After I came back my wife and I left each other, so now I'm living alone with my son here. I love my son more than anything, but honestly the life as a single parent in Europe can get kind of shitty and you become a part of that hamster wheel routine where every day feels like the same. I know I could live like a god in thailand and I miss that sun year round, having maids in the house, eating out every day, going swimming every afternoon etc. But at the same time I'm hesitant to move back because of all the reasons I mentioned and after all there is a reason I only stayed there for 2 years. I'm a young guy at only 25, and I know that many mature families choose to move there with the whole family. So it must be possible to find some kind of security there. Or is part of living in thailand just living day to day on the edge?

[zzdocxx]

Seem like good questions to be asking yourself.

How would you live like a god? What line of work are you in, or do you have the means to live indefinitely on savings?

[Igaar]

Seem like good questions to be asking yourself.

How would you live like a god? What line of work are you in, or do you have the means to live indefinitely on savings?

I have an internet business that's been going for over 5 years with a good stable income, so money is not the problem. It's enough to live a nice stable "a little above average" lifestyle here, but it still felt better in thailand where I never had to think about money.

[Deserted]

Thailand is okay for short-term stay but for long-term stay offers a less stable future. A lot of people become bankrupt and have to move on. I'd make your money elsewhere before committing to Thailand. If you love your son like you say, you might want to think about what's best for him. I'm sure he'd get a much better education where you are.

Don't fall into the grass is always greener trap... .

[Igaar]

Don't fall into the grass is always greener trap... .

That is exactly what I have been fearing I'm doing. When I lived there i ended up craving to live here. Now I live here and crave to live there. It could go on and on...

But yes my son is definitely the number one priority and the only reason I'm in doubt. If it was not for him I had already moved as there really wouldn't be anything to risk.

[Deserted]

Well, if you've already left the place I wouldn't go back personally. I'd say its likely that you'll leave it again, but hey, that's just me.

[Igaar]

Well, if you've already left the place I wouldn't go back personally. I'd say its likely that you'll leave it again, but hey, that's just me.

Logically I can see you are right, there's just a lot of temptations constantly calling for me. And no, I'm not just talking about the sex. I should probably just stick to going there for a long holiday a month of two every winter when it's the coldest here. Thanks.

[Dibbler]

If you are settled where you are now, and financially able to make ends meet and can afford to give your son a decent education, then perhaps you can satisfy those desires for the warmth and small pleasures of Thailand with an annual visit with your son during your northern winter. Your visits will help your son maintain his identity as a half Thai but you know you both can escape the things that trouble you in Thai society. Thai society seems to be going through a slippery slide into moral depravity that's worse than I've seen in over 20 years of being in this country. I definitely intend to have my son take his formative teenage years and secondary schooling overseas.

[soi41]

Why don't you combine the best of two worlds? If you can work from anywhere, why not take your son and move to Thailand, get along on an EDvisa for a while, get a live-in maid to help you take care of your son, instead of feeling trapped as a single parent in cold Europe. Your son is still an infant, so as far as education is concerned, it is still 10 years down the line, before it becomes a serious issue. And I am sure that a happy father, is better for a kid than a good nursery. If you are feeling being in the hamsterwheel already, it is only going to be worse in the future, which will reflect negatively on your relation to your child. So do the right thing for yourself and hope, that it will be good for your son as well.

As for your worries about the "unstable" Thailand. How many expats are directly affected by corruption in their everyday life? Apart from the occasional 200 baht fine for a trafficviolation.

Floods? Seems to forget that most of Thailand was NOT flooded. I live in Hua Hin, we never saw any water. Reading between the lines, I think you miss Thailand, so take your son and get to the airport. You are only 25, what have you got to lose?

And imagine what a superstar you will be with the Thai ladies, a man actually taking responsibility for his child.

[Igaar]

Why don't you combine the best of two worlds? If you can work from anywhere, why not take your son and move to Thailand, get along on an EDvisa for a while, get a live-in maid to help you take care of your son, instead of feeling trapped as a single parent in cold Europe. Your son is still an infant, so as far as education is concerned, it is still 10 years down the line, before it becomes a serious issue. And I am sure that a happy father, is better for a kid than a good nursery. If you are feeling being in the hamsterwheel already, it is only going to be worse in the future, which will reflect negatively on your relation to your child. So do the right thing for yourself and hope, that it will be good for your son as well.

As for your worries about the "unstable" Thailand. How many expats are directly affected by corruption in their everyday life? Apart from the occasional 200 baht fine for a trafficviolation.

Floods? Seems to forget that most of Thailand was NOT flooded. I live in Hua Hin, we never saw any water. Reading between the lines, I think you miss Thailand, so take your son and get to the airport. You are only 25, what have you got to lose?

And imagine what a superstar you will be with the Thai ladies, a man actually taking responsibility for his child.

Yes correct, there's a long time until he need to go to school. My biggest concern right now is his language as I suspect he might get a little confused about first living in thailand, then moving to Sweden and starting to grasp the swedish language, and then moving back before he start speaking it and starting all over again. I speak danish with him so it would be his second language that would be switched out. But what you're saying it what I have been thinking. A really really happy father in a crazy country might be better than a mildly depressed and irritable father in a very civilized country. I'm also sure travelling and constantly experiencing new things and people gives the child something that living the hamster lifestyle doesn't. Not easy to decide.

[Igaar]

If you are settled where you are now, and financially able to make ends meet and can afford to give your son a decent education, then perhaps you can satisfy those desires for the warmth and small pleasures of Thailand with an annual visit with your son during your northern winter. Your visits will help your son maintain his identity as a half Thai but you know you both can escape the things that trouble you in Thai society. Thai society seems to be going through a slippery slide into moral depravity that's worse than I've seen in over 20 years of being in this country. I definitely intend to have my son take his formative teenage years and secondary schooling overseas.

I think that would be a good idea for your son to go overseas for his teenage years. My son is only 2 years old though, so it's a long time coming. As a european all education is free for him here (including university and everything) and the standard is very high, so affording that would not be a problem. Everything is paid through a (really high) tax.

[soi41]

Why don't you combine the best of two worlds? If you can work from anywhere, why not take your son and move to Thailand, get along on an EDvisa for a while, get a live-in maid to help you take care of your son, instead of feeling trapped as a single parent in cold Europe. Your son is still an infant, so as far as education is concerned, it is still 10 years down the line, before it becomes a serious issue. And I am sure that a happy father, is better for a kid than a good nursery. If you are feeling being in the hamsterwheel already, it is only going to be worse in the future, which will reflect negatively on your relation to your child. So do the right thing for yourself and hope, that it will be good for your son as well.

As for your worries about the "unstable" Thailand. How many expats are directly affected by corruption in their everyday life? Apart from the occasional 200 baht fine for a trafficviolation.

Floods? Seems to forget that most of Thailand was NOT flooded. I live in Hua Hin, we never saw any water. Reading between the lines, I think you miss Thailand, so take your son and get to the airport. You are only 25, what have you got to lose?

And imagine what a superstar you will be with the Thai ladies, a man actually taking responsibility for his child.

Yes correct, there's a long time until he need to go to school. My biggest concern right now is his language as I suspect he might get a little confused about first living in thailand, then moving to Sweden and starting to grasp the swedish language, and then moving back before he start speaking it and starting all over again. I speak danish with him so it would be his second language that would be switched out. But what you're saying it what I have been thinking. A really really happy father in a crazy country might be better than a mildly depressed and irritable father in a very civilized country. I'm also sure travelling and constantly experiencing new things and people gives the child something that living the hamster lifestyle doesn't. Not easy to decide.

It is a funny old world! My reason for answering to your post was that I could relate to it. After reading your answer I realize we have a lot in common. I am Danish, lived in Sweden where I was a single parent for 15 years! So I know what I am talking about, when I say: Go for it! I couldn't do it jobwise, but in your situation there would be no doubt in my mind. As for your kids language(s), don't worry about it, children are smart. Know a 8 year old girl here Swedish/Thai, who switches between Swedish/Thai/English without even thinking about it.

Whatever you decide to do, best of luck.

[Dibbler]

If you are settled where you are now, and financially able to make ends meet and can afford to give your son a decent education, then perhaps you can satisfy those desires for the warmth and small pleasures of Thailand with an annual visit with your son during your northern winter. Your visits will help your son maintain his identity as a half Thai but you know you both can escape the things that trouble you in Thai society. Thai society seems to be going through a slippery slide into moral depravity that's worse than I've seen in over 20 years of being in this country. I definitely intend to have my son take his formative teenage years and secondary schooling overseas.

I think that would be a good idea for your son to go overseas for his teenage years. My son is only 2 years old though, so it's a long time coming. As a european all education is free for him here (including university and everything) and the standard is very high, so affording that would not be a problem. Everything is paid through a (really high) tax.

My son is only 3 so I have him in a bilingual school and he is 12 years away from needing to enter a proper and affordable high school education in Australia. By the way I first came to Thailand when I was 25, and spent most of the years since then here. Was around for three major coups, and two major floods and the tsunami, managed to avoid getting caught up in the trouble