There are many countries. Plenty of good places to go on holiday and many retirement havens.

Most people, I guess, live, until they are old, where they can work or have 'family'.

If you did not have a Thai wife/ girl friend/business are there actually any good reasons for living here rather than somewhere else?

Given those criteria, no.

If not for the girlfriend, and a 13 year old mutt on his last legs, I'd be outta here, to a country with similar values to my home country.

If it wasn't for the two nippers I'd never have come back here to be honest. I'd much prefer to see the rest of the World first and then retire to Devon.

Oh well. Never mind.

OP "are there actually any good reasons for living here rather than somewhere else?"

Well, I guess if I lived in another country I might ask myself, "are there actually any good reasons for living here rather than somewhere else?"

I came out here to further my interest in bird-watching. I have found a particular liking to the the brown coloured, short legged varieties mostly native to the north and north-east areas of the Kingdom.

I guess the OP has never been to Great Yarmouth.

I came for work. when that finishes I'll go home.

Why live anywhere when you can always go somewhere else ?

If I didn't currently have a wife/gf here, next week I would have.

That's what's great about Thailand, the ease of acquiring a wife/gf/children.

I'm guessing there might be other countries where you can do that easily, but I haven't found them (yet).

Lived here and there....and compared to Jamaica this place is paradise. For this region Thailand for me is the best option. Live near Vientiane and go there often....now that is a real dung hole. Sort of like the Tijuana of Mexico.

So yes the weather, the people, easy lifestyle, no big brother atmosphere, moderate cost of living, great place to raise children, not many foreigners (in my area anyways) and good food.

Many reasons:

The climate.

The women!

It is cheap. I know some posters will not agree. But I think it is cheap!

The smiles. 90% fake or for money, But I still enjoy it.

Easy the get permission to stay long time.

The food. Both the streetfood and all the good restaurants.

Thai politics!! You couldn't make it up. Super entertainment.

I became hansum without plastic surgery!

The very colourful everyday life.

Been here 10 years. My only regret is, that I didn't come earlier.

I came out here to further my interest in bird-watching. I have found a particular liking to the the brown coloured, short legged varieties mostly native to the north and north-east areas of the Kingdom.

No sighting of the lesser spotted tit yet?

Moved my business here about 6 years ago. When I sell up or retire will probably split my time between here and Australia probably more in Oz. I think I would go round the twist if I was forced to live out all my retirement years here. Too many things frustrate and annoy me here. Need a break in a structured society for a while to regain my senses.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I came out here to further my interest in bird-watching. I have found a particular liking to the the brown coloured, short legged varieties mostly native to the north and north-east areas of the Kingdom.

Don't forget the beautiful Double-Breasted Mattress Thrasher.

Mostly nocturnal, but often found in flocks near beach communities.

are there actually any good reasons for living here rather than somewhere else?

Yes, tax reasons and ease of living here, no one asks any questions.

Its at time like this I feel sorry for my American friends with the draconian IRS on there back.

Personally I would rather be elsewhere and so would the mrs, but the visa situation prohibts this.

Never could understand why the good old US of A has never introduced some sort of retirement visa, guess they would rather have illegals than those with money.

are there actually any good reasons for living here rather than somewhere else?

Yes, tax reasons and ease of living here, no one asks any questions.

Its at time like this I feel sorry for my American friends with the draconian IRS on there back.

Personally I would rather be elsewhere and so would the mrs, but the visa situation prohibts this.

Never could understand why the good old US of A has never introduced some sort of retirement visa, guess they would rather have illegals than those with money.

That's a bloody good point. US retirement visas. Where are they? Why aren't they?

Because Thailand is the best country in the World, ever. We number one.

Because Thailand is the best country in the World, ever. We number one.

Because Thailand is the best country in the World, ever. We number one.

Because Thailand is the best country in the World, ever. We number one.

Because Thailand is the best country in the World, ever. We number one.

Still better than other places for setting one's own business.

But would rather leave somewhere else for retirement.

To a place with more to visit/see, more substance.

Also Thai partner's wish. So will see how we can manage it altogether.

I came here to get away from there,

maybe after all the dissatisfied expats leave,

I can enjoy it more.

Moving to Thailand was the best decision I ever made.

Cheers:

I'd rather be in Latin America but for a variety of personal reasons it is better for me to be here now... can't say I love it anymore though, especially after learning Thai language.

3 words sums up why I decided to stay, but also what I miss:

The Lovely

The Lively

The Ineffable

Edited October 31, 201312 yr by Forethat

Because i am a lazy sod ,so as my wife is Thai and my son half Thai ,i sold the buisness ,the house and came here to do sod all ,while my son is now in uni ,the wife does the house and the garden while i waste my time posting on here,

It's the "hub" thing for me - I like telling friends and family I live in a hub, mention anything and I'll say it.

are there actually any good reasons for living here rather than somewhere else?

Yes, tax reasons and ease of living here, no one asks any questions.

Its at time like this I feel sorry for my American friends with the draconian IRS on there back.

Actually, yes, I have to pay taxes to the IRS but they are less than 20% of my gross adjusted income. I posted a link earlier showing that the average American pays about 20% in taxes - even the rich. People from other Western countries on here say they would have to pay much more than that in their home country.

Also the US doesn't have import duties, so consumer items are cheap.

The US government deposits about $2,500 (78,000 baht) into my bank account every month for my social security payment. It also provides me with full health insurance including prescription drugs for about $150 (4,700 baht) per month. I don't have much to complain about.

Personally I would rather be elsewhere and so would the mrs, but the visa situation prohibts this.

Never could understand why the good old US of A has never introduced some sort of retirement visa, guess they would rather have illegals than those with money.

That's a bloody good point. US retirement visas. Where are they? Why aren't they?

Maybe they read ThaiVisa and the comments about the US by all of the "foreigners."

If you have to ask then you clearly dont know and I aint tellin !.......Sshhhhhh or more will come.

Edited October 31, 201312 yr by CharlieH

I don't have wife / gf / kids (at least that I know of), business or a job here. I just like it here. I can be almost anywhere but I choose to be here. This is a good country to live in IME.

Wife is the reason I stayed here after 7 years. Can't really say if I'd have remained where I am. I think I'd be bored enough to consider it had she not come along. Life is always going thru changes after a clump of years it seems; for me at least

I guess the OP has never been to Great Yarmouth.

I'm more of a Hemsby man myself

Farming!

are there actually any good reasons for living here rather than somewhere else?

Yes, tax reasons and ease of living here, no one asks any questions.

Its at time like this I feel sorry for my American friends with the draconian IRS on there back.

Actually, yes, I have to pay taxes to the IRS but they are less than 20% of my gross adjusted income. I posted a link earlier showing that the average American pays about 20% in taxes - even the rich. People from other Western countries on here say they would have to pay much more than that in their home country.

Also the US doesn't have import duties, so consumer items are cheap.

The US government deposits about $2,500 (78,000 baht) into my bank account every month for my social security payment. It also provides me with full health insurance including prescription drugs for about $150 (4,700 baht) per month. I don't have much to complain about.

Personally I would rather be elsewhere and so would the mrs, but the visa situation prohibts this.

Never could understand why the good old US of A has never introduced some sort of retirement visa, guess they would rather have illegals than those with money.

That's a bloody good point. US retirement visas. Where are they? Why aren't they?

Maybe they read ThaiVisa and the comments about the US by all of the "foreigners."

Just a minor point concerning your statement that "The US government deposits about $2,500 (78,000 baht) into my bank account every month for my social security payment" lest our non American friends get the wrong impression. Social security is based on a lifetime of income and social security payment withholdings made by each of us. If compared to other investment alternatives, the return on our investment is not particularly impressive. I am not complaining and am looking forward to drawing my own social security in a few years, but did not want to have anyone walk away thinking that this was free money from the US government.

Also, when analyzing US income taxes, adjusted gross income is income after deductions and exemptions. The most recent data (2009) tells us that the average tax rate, based on adjusted gross income, was 11.09%. Obviously, when calculating taxes based on total income, the percentage is substantially smaller than that number.

Cheers.

Edited November 1, 201312 yr by SpokaneAl