Retirement.......To Thailand.

[Muhendis]

Well theblether. Aren't you ambitious! I hope your wish comes true. There was a program on TV some time ago about famous train journeys. It looked so interesting.

I know Thurso. I had to go there to do a small job for the local comprehensive school. That felt like a trip to a foreign country for me driving up the east coast from Bristol.

Thats where I had my first taste of haggis......

[theblether]

Well theblether. Aren't you ambitious! I hope your wish comes true. There was a program on TV some time ago about famous train journeys. It looked so interesting.

I know Thurso. I had to go there to do a small job for the local comprehensive school. That felt like a trip to a foreign country for me driving up the east coast from Bristol.

Thats where I had my first taste of haggis......

I was up there on Boxing Day, I couldn't be bothered hanging around my house eating day old turkey so off I went for a drive ( I live in Glasgow when I'm in the UK ). It's a desolate place, but the photos I got that day made it worth it. The trip I outlined is recognized as being the longest continuous rail trip in the World, that's part of the attraction of course. i'll be hopping off the train everywhere to get as many pics as possible. Here's some from the Sutherland area, Highlands, Scotland, taken on Boxing Day last year.

[Muhendis]

Nice pictures theblether. You've a good eye for a picture. They should be well placed in your book.

[kevvy]

It’s interesting that while we’re working we dream of having time off, but when we are retired we miss the work.

For many working people, a job fills the largest percentage of their waking time, and coworkers become an important part of their community. It’s normal for a retired person to feel a sense of loss and displacement when a significant portion of your identity goes away.

Loss of work can leave a big void for many retired people, especially men.One way to address this problem is to find new “work”, whether paid or unpaid. I retired 6 years ago , then last year started a company to do some business. Now going to semi retire mid next year and open a deep sea fishing club down south .

[Muhendis]

I have to confess that for me there was always a very thin line between work and hobby. I will always continue to involve myself in projects that I used to do for customers in the UK although farming now takes up most of my time. I cannot imagine what it must be like for others who say they will be glad when they can retire. Why do a job for years and years that you don't enjoy?

[TheSpade]

To each his own but it always somewhat amazes me as to the number of farangs who retire to Thailand but don't ever get around to traveling around Thailand and it's neighbors. However do remember thatf when you travel if you expect /demand/ want everything to be just like home you should just STAY home.

It amazes me the amount that live here and haven't managed to get further than Lower Sukhumvit or Walking Street.

Never explored the rest of the country.

Even a few of the young guys I know just arrived in BKK or CM and stayed put. Never went and explored this incredible country. They have no excuse as they are young and fit and should have some sense of adventure.

Has anyone made a list of things to do before they die?

Haven't sat and written a list but there's a fair few things I want to see and do in the world.

Done a good chunk of them already and I'm not yet 30.

Some already done include trekked to Machu Picchu in Peru, visited Salar De Uyuni in Bolivia, ride the death road in Boliva by bike, go inside the infamous San Pedro Prison in La Paz for an illegal tour, celebrate Carnival in Rio and visit the favelas, snorkel the great barrier reef (liked it so much did it 4 or 5 times), backpack Australia, SE Asia and South America (still not done every country in South America) etc.

There's many more places I want to visit and things to see and do. Would love to travel from Europe to South East asia by train or maybe drive it, road trip across America, visit Cuba and Mexico, still haven't made it to Japan yet, want to travel round India.

How could anyone be bored when retired with so much to see and do in the world?

[rgs2001uk]

I quit my job because it was stressing me out. My blood pressure was sky high though medication brought it under control fairly quickly.

I have now lived here for over 8 years and almost certainly have better health than had I stayed in Scotland. Also, I get fewer colds and when I am ill, I recover completely within a couple of days compared to up to 3 weeks when I lived in Scotland.

I do think it is vital to have some sort of hobby to keep you occupied. I have had a life long interest in astronomy so am taking the opportunity to study it at university level with the University of Central Lancashire. 10 modules to go and I'll have a degree.

The collapse in the value of sterling against the baht is hurting but I still have a comfortable life style. The girlfriend wants to move to Bang Chang where some of her family stay. It makes sense financially though I'm not sure I want to make such a move yet.

Alan

Alan, not having a pop at you, but you are the first to raise a couple of pertinent points

I'm not sure I want to make such a move yet.

Its your retirement, enjoy it and do what suits you.

The girlfriend wants to move to Bang Chang where some of her family stay.

This is from what I have witnessed over the years, the killer for many relationships.

The sudden realization that instead of enjoying his retirement dreams the farang wakes up one day and it hits him, all he is doing is financing someone elses dream.

[theblether]

To each his own but it always somewhat amazes me as to the number of farangs who retire to Thailand but don't ever get around to traveling around Thailand and it's neighbors. However do remember thatf when you travel if you expect /demand/ want everything to be just like home you should just STAY home.

It amazes me the amount that live here and haven't managed to get further than Lower Sukhumvit or Walking Street.

Never explored the rest of the country.

Even a few of the young guys I know just arrived in BKK or CM and stayed put. Never went and explored this incredible country. They have no excuse as they are young and fit and should have some sense of adventure.

Has anyone made a list of things to do before they die?

Haven't sat and written a list but there's a fair few things I want to see and do in the world.

Done a good chunk of them already and I'm not yet 30.

Some already done include trekked to Machu Picchu in Peru, visited Salar De Uyuni in Bolivia, ride the death road in Boliva by bike, go inside the infamous San Pedro Prison in La Paz for an illegal tour, celebrate Carnival in Rio and visit the favelas, snorkel the great barrier reef (liked it so much did it 4 or 5 times), backpack Australia, SE Asia and South America (still not done every country in South America) etc.

There's many more places I want to visit and things to see and do. Would love to travel from Europe to South East asia by train or maybe drive it, road trip across America, visit Cuba and Mexico, still haven't made it to Japan yet, want to travel round India.

How could anyone be bored when retired with so much to see and do in the world?

I picked up this photo of Machu Picchu from Facebook today........it's now on my list of things not to do.

Gawd, is it really as steep as that?

[FiftyTwo]

....... The collapse in the value of sterling against the baht is hurting but I still have a comfortable life style. The girlfriend wants to move to Bang Chang where some of her family stay. It makes sense financially though I'm not sure I want to make such a move yet.

Alan

........This is from what I have witnessed over the years, the killer for many relationships.

The sudden realization that instead of enjoying his retirement dreams the farang wakes up one day and it hits him, all he is doing is financing someone elses dream.

I agree with RGS,

Moving near her family would likely be a big mistake.

[StreetCowboy]

Is there no-one else here that aspires to retire to Thailand, chase dolly-birds, get pissed every night, ride a motorbike recklessly till they have a fatal accident, and all the other things that they should've been doing when instead they were slogging away at college?

SC

[Pinot]

Retired 4 years ago at 59. I wonder now how I ever found the time to work a job. I've written three books, working on #4 (One of them was "The Essential Thailand Retirement Guide"). I entertain at the local bar once a week for fun. I walk 4 clicks a day on a beautiful beach and swim 1000 meters. I love being retired. Also helps having a beautiful Thai wife half my age.

I do see a lot of punters floundering here. They don't seem to have much going on except hitting the bar. It's an easy place to drink yourself to death.

You need a plan. Exercise and little creativity has been my secret.

[cpofc]

Is there no-one else here that aspires to retire to Thailand, chase dolly-birds, get pissed every night, ride a motorbike recklessly till they have a fatal accident, and all the other things that they should've been doing when instead they were slogging away at college?

SC

College? Hell. I was doing that when my peers were still in high school!

I don't have any degrees adorning my walls.

What I do have are the greatest memories one could ever hope for.

[NoshowJones]

There seems to be a wealth of different ideas about retirement with not too much polarization of views. It seems to me that we all try to choose what we like and how we want to spend the rest of our lives. I also

notice quite a few comments on the financial aspect of retirement so I guess we are also all well aware of the need to prepare. Many people in the UK have too many financial encumbrances to do what most of

the contributors here have achieved. For them retirement to a comfortable life is little more than a dream. We are fortunate enough to have the skills/good judgement/luck to get where we are and enjoy doing

whatever we have chosen to do.

My previous existence was very fulfilling. As a contracting engineer and musician I got to see many parts of the world. Socially I would enjoy visiting my friends and playing music together. Then of course there

was the beer after. Now I find so many of my friends and colleagues have moved on as I have done. Life does not stand still. Retirement is just another part of the great adventure.

Has anyone made a list of things to do before they die?

Me? Write some books, I'll be delighted at that. I then have four journeys that I want to make, three I think are do able and one difficult.

I want to catch a train in Thurso, Scotland, go through the Channel Tunnel, over to Brussels then head for Russia........Germany/Poland/Belarus/St Pete's/Moscow. Then join the trans Siberia express, Siberia/ China........using the train as much as possible, go through Vietnam and Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and finish off in Singapore.

Easily doable.

I would love to take the Via train from Vancouver over the Rockies to Toronto, then head out to Nova Scotia.

Easily doable.

Fly To Sri Lanka, tour the Island then go over the Ocean to the Southern tip of India and traverse up to the Himalayas overland.

Doable ( I think ).

On a separate trip, fly to Singapore and attempt to traverse by land and sea to Darwin, Oz, travel across Oz, take a boat to NZ, then a boat to Chile ( preferably ), traverse up through South America overland to Mexico, the States, and eventually to Nova Scotia, and try to get a sea route back to Scotland so that way I've traversed the World by land and sea.

I think this leg would be very difficult to pull off.

If I'm spared I'll defo do the first three, the last one, hmmm.

I was in Nova Scotia for a month a few years ago. There is a place called New Glasgow there, that's where I stayed. I would recommend it.

[NoshowJones]

....... The collapse in the value of sterling against the baht is hurting but I still have a comfortable life style. The girlfriend wants to move to Bang Chang where some of her family stay. It makes sense financially though I'm not sure I want to make such a move yet.

Alan

........This is from what I have witnessed over the years, the killer for many relationships.

The sudden realization that instead of enjoying his retirement dreams the farang wakes up one day and it hits him, all he is doing is financing someone elses dream.

I agree with RGS,

Moving near her family would likely be a big mistake.

I think a lot depends on the family. Mrs Possums mum and dad have lived beside us the whole eight years I have lived here, and I have always liked to see them whenever they come to our house.

[seajae]

at 60 I am too old to get a job back in Australia even if I wasnt disabled, here I can potter around playing with my plants, enjoying the weather, just being myself at a pace that suits me. I have a wife I love and a family I get on with pretty good, retirement here is great and you dont feel totally useless as you do back home, all these things far outway any hassles with the people or customs/thainess of some but would still like to be able to do something more if I could find it, worked all my life up to the injury and just not ready to lie down and take it.

[jimbobs1]

I love my job, I get paid pretty well and love that money, but after a burn-out some years ago, I realized that it is not a job to be done up to 65...

I will retire in 2-4y, depending on many factors (economy in Switzerland and Thailand, situation in Thailand at time of retirement), but the main factor is to have enough money to spend for the rest of my lifespan. I did my budgeting 3y ago after having been to Thailand many times over a period of 4y and after having fallen in all the possible traps known and written about on here..

I looked into different places, from the south of Europe to South America to Florida to Indonesia and Thailand - and Thailand is my choice. My budget includes an apartment / townhouse and spending for me and my Thai GF and her kids of around 100K monthly, while receiving around 80K from the Swiss pension fund when reaching 65y... and I can reach 100y without running out of money.

I have already made friends and joined clubs, will try to do some charity stuff through my friends, will learn golf and "perfect" my Thai and Russian language skills, but will mainly be family man and enjoy reading, travelling around Thailand and otherweise enjoy to do nothing.

And of course... will do my best to reach 10'000 posts and 5'000 likes on ThaiVisa and apply for a moderator job...

Ah so that's how some of these clowns get a moderators job,,,5000 likes eh ,

[harrry]

I love my job, I get paid pretty well and love that money, but after a burn-out some years ago, I realized that it is not a job to be done up to 65...

I will retire in 2-4y, depending on many factors (economy in Switzerland and Thailand, situation in Thailand at time of retirement), but the main factor is to have enough money to spend for the rest of my lifespan. I did my budgeting 3y ago after having been to Thailand many times over a period of 4y and after having fallen in all the possible traps known and written about on here..

I looked into different places, from the south of Europe to South America to Florida to Indonesia and Thailand - and Thailand is my choice. My budget includes an apartment / townhouse and spending for me and my Thai GF and her kids of around 100K monthly, while receiving around 80K from the Swiss pension fund when reaching 65y... and I can reach 100y without running out of money.

I have already made friends and joined clubs, will try to do some charity stuff through my friends, will learn golf and "perfect" my Thai and Russian language skills, but will mainly be family man and enjoy reading, travelling around Thailand and otherweise enjoy to do nothing.

And of course... will do my best to reach 10'000 posts and 5'000 likes on ThaiVisa and apply for a moderator job...

Ah so that's how some of these clowns get a moderators job,,,5000 likes eh ,

I thought that many likes ruled you out.....

[foggy1]

I ( retired ) stopped earning at 50, and made a lifestyle change 2 years and 7 months ago and sold the lot, and have nothing left in the Uk now. I couldnt have come here to stay if I hadn't done that.

For 25 years prior to this I had enjoyed numerous holidays to Thailand so this gave me a small clue to life here.

My skills and luck in the working world drove me eventually to run my own small business, but after 23 years of this I had lost the passion and desire to continue.

The main idea for changing was being 80 % unhappy in the Uk and 20% happy, and seeing no future there for me, but that has now reversed, and the 20 % unhappy here are just the usual visa etc things to deal with. Thailand by choice over many countries I have visited, and still can if I desire for holidays.

Another reason for talking such a drastic step is that I feel I have enough to see my life through here, and if I dont it doesn't matter. Im not in fear of what I dont know. Although I have not been reckless with where Ive invested. Its just that I dont think or care about money too much now and get on with all the other things outside that restriction.

It also helps that I have never felt the need for kids, marriage or a serious partner here, hardly drink and don't smoke so this saves a lot of unnecessary expense. Im not ruling out a relationship in the future though.

Also its been easy to stick to the budget I set myself as I was poorer in my youth and that was a valuable tool life provided, but I didn't see it that way at the time.

After the inital 6 months peroid of re-adjustment here and not being needed in the same way I was in the Uk, I have not been happier.

My days are filled with creating, building, fulfilling passions and exploring my personal limits.... isnt that how it should be in life.

[kevvy]

Great post

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[StreetCowboy]

at 60 I am too old to get a job back in Australia even if I wasnt disabled, here I can potter around playing with my plants, enjoying the weather, just being myself at a pace that suits me. I have a wife I love and a family I get on with pretty good, retirement here is great and you dont feel totally useless as you do back home, all these things far outway any hassles with the people or customs/thainess of some but would still like to be able to do something more if I could find it, worked all my life up to the injury and just not ready to lie down and take it.

Are pensioners not allowed to garden in Australia?

SC

[Nowisee]

Retired 3 years ago at 49 and I DO NOT miss working as in working and JOB.

I still love stock investing and working on things and researching stuff, but I will never go to a job again.

Many of my working friends back home have been inspired by my early retirement and are planning their own. Many have been envious.

If someone wants to work all their life, go for it. I knew a vet that worked until he died. Loved what he did.

I liked my job, but I love what I do now... Do what ever I want, go where ever I want, when I want for as long as I want.

THE best thing about retiring was selling all my shit in the US and moving out of the country... I feel so much less burdened. No regrets (yet 555).

Now, I just need to find a place that I love and call base. Then continue to travel when I feel the desire.

Equador is high on my list and Thailand is falling. 55555

[IsaanUSA]

Great post foggy1

[phinick]

I'm planning to retire to Thailand in approximately 3 months. I had thought about Ubon Ratchathani since I had spent some time there, and felt that it might be one of the cheapest of the larger cities to live in. I will only have a retirement income of 48000 thb per month. The only problem I have with Ubon is the heat, but not sure if I could afford to live in CM. Does anyone who lives there have any thoughts? I am not one of the young ones retiring, I'm 67. In pretty good health, but would like to be close to a decent hospital, and don't think I could afford BKK. By the way, I'm alone, but looking. Thanks for any replies.

[AYJAYDEE]

I'm planning to retire to Thailand in approximately 3 months. I had thought about Ubon Ratchathani since I had spent some time there, and felt that it might be one of the cheapest of the larger cities to live in. I will only have a retirement income of 48000 thb per month. The only problem I have with Ubon is the heat, but not sure if I could afford to live in CM. Does anyone who lives there have any thoughts? I am not one of the young ones retiring, I'm 67. In pretty good health, but would like to be close to a decent hospital, and don't think I could afford BKK. By the way, I'm alone, but looking. Thanks for any replies.

good hospital, good shopping, good group of farangs, air service to BKK,

[kevvy]

Your retirement affects those closest to you and making lasting change to get the most out of retirement requires their input and support.Don’t wait to act on what is important to you act now, even if you have yet to retire practice retirement.Retirement sets you truly free for the first time in your life.If you planned in your younger days then you are on your way to a great retirement

[villagefarang]

I don't think Chiang Mai should be a problem and the North is much prettier.