would you still feel comfortable in your home country?

[Crazy chef 1]

after living here for quiet a few years i sometimes think how i would feel if i have to go back to ol' europe.would i still fit in the system,the over regulated society,the enourmous cost of living?not sure about it.i love it here,i can water my garden half a day and it doesn't effect my water bill too much.i go out for food almost daily,i dont need to heat my house,the electric bill is still under control,the ppl are not looking so miserable when going to work as in my home country,i dont have to worry too much if i violate some minor traffic rules,i do have here most of the products i need,i couldnt even have my dogs with me due they are banned in my home country...and the list could go on.

the only thing i had no problems to go back is to work much easier due of common sense and work ethics.

what about you- especially long timers?

[tim armstrong]

That's a really good question. The short answer is No, and I come from arguably the best part of Oz, with some of the world's best beaches and environment. But Oz is rapidly becoming the most expensive place on the planet to live in. More importantly, I like the unpredictability here, despite the current situation. I have enough friends, I'm never bored, life is simple,still relatively cheap, and there is not a regulation for everything.

I do miss Oz and it's still home, but only for a holiday to see relatives and friends. I would find it hard to fit in back there, especially as I'm semi retired.

[claffey]

Lived in Thai for six years. Been back in Ireland and UK for three years now. Went back to college and now getting some work experience before going back to Thai, hopefully. I spend most of my time on Thaivisa dreaming about Thai. I left Thailand with about 10000 euros in savings. After bring here for a few years I owed 10 grand!! And your right.Everything is going on bills. I received an estimate for my gas bill yesterday.577 pounds!! Checked the meter and the true reading is about 400 pounds..Every penny goes on outgoings. My only solace is that after six months in Thai i'll have some disposable income again.The UK is miserable...

Another point. I've noticed that people in UK are obsessed with property and mortgages. I don't understand the logic of a it all. I'm a teacher and I've witnessed other teachers telling students that if they are not successful they will never get a mortgage!! Ridiculous mentality in my opinion. Tying your finances to a bank for forty years! Madness..At least in Thailand it is easier to get a short term mortgage if you meet the qualifying criteria that is..In UK you work and live to pay bills and live on credit..In Thailand the standard of life can be less focused on surviving and you can actually live your life....

[soihok]

Good post Claffey.

I agree the UK is miserable.

Having left the UK about 20 years ago (I am 48 years old), can't say that I don't feel at home when I go back (twice in the last 10 years for two week holidays visiting family).

I certainly see that the grass is greener on the other side.

For quite some time, the UK is going through a cultural exchange. Loads of people have moved in (immigrants), and loads of people have moved out (Brits).

People will say that you get free schools and free health care. This is true - if you don't pay tax - this is the problem. The welfare system has created a monster.

I feel its not for me. I realised this when I was in my mid 20's - got a one way ticket to New Dehli with Aeroflot and haven't looked back since.

Best thing about the UK is the passport and promise of a state pension, and beer, and Sheffield United, and Cider, and Fish and Chips, and .....er....leaving.

Thailand is far from perfect, but it is a better place to be as long as you have money.

[canman]

Left Canada at 19 and have not lived there since. The old saying "you can never go home" is so true. I did not really understand what that meant until visits 'home' after many years away.

[nisakiman]

I live in Europe, but not in UK, which is my country of origin. Where I live (Greece, for more than 10 years) is in many respects similar to Thailand insofar as it is pretty anarchic, and in some ways even more relaxed than Thailand. For instance, you have to be very unlucky to get done for a traffic offence (seat belt, crash helmet etc), you won't be breathalysed unless you are in an accident, and not always then,if it's minor. Despite a blanket smoking ban, you can smoke in most bars and restaurants (and even in public offices, you'll see ashtrays on the desks), and overall, as long as you aren't too antisocial, you can do much as you please. And the crime rate is much, much lower than either Thailand or UK. I still never lock my car or worry about break-ins. Not only that, but if you offered a Greek cop 'Tea Money' for any reason, he would probably arrest you. I may well move to Thailand in the next year or two, but I can't see myself ever living in the UK again. It is rapidly becoming an Orwellian dystopia, with the state interfering in every aspect of people's lives. The government is in thrall to the 'Public Health' lobby and their rag-tag army of single-issue minority (but well funded) lobby groups.

No, I don't think teams of wild horses could drag me back to the repressions of the UK.

[Crazy chef 1]

now i work to live- before i lifed to work.

sorry never get the live/life thing correct.

[soihok]

Wish I can say the same, but I am working 60 hours a week now so I don't have to later - kind of thing.

No debts, just swelling the bank balance.

Have a severely disabled daughter to provide for as she will never be able to support herself. This is one thing that could be helped if living in the UK, daughter is already a British national / Thai national, but quality of life is so much better in Thailand - as long as you have the money.

[yermanee]

Moved here permanently in August 1989. Had been visiting for several years.

Now visit the old country (Belgium) twice a year for short visits.

Every time a reality-check.

No couldn't live there anymore on a permanent basis (even if I can afford it).

Yermanee

[impulse]

Yes.

But there are a lot of things I'd like to think that I'd do differently- things that I have learned from living abroad where they "don't do it the same".

BTW, home country is the USA, and after I Googled population per sq km, I now understand why so many Europeans don't like it "back home". Dang, it's crowded in some of those countries.

I'd think about retiring to Canada if it wasn't bone cold- even less crowded than the USA.

Edited February 8, 2014 by impulse

[kurnell]

That's a really good question. The short answer is No, and I come from arguably the best part of Oz, with some of the world's best beaches and environment. But Oz is rapidly becoming the most expensive place on the planet to live in. More importantly, I like the unpredictability here, despite the current situation. I have enough friends, I'm never bored, life is simple,still relatively cheap, and there is not a regulation for everything.

I do miss Oz and it's still home, but only for a holiday to see relatives and friends. I would find it hard to fit in back there, especially as I'm semi retired.

Are you referring to Sydney? I go back to Sydney every 1-2 years and while I enjoy meeting my old mates for a beer and eating in some of my favorite places, I just don't feel right in Australia. If I had to go back for financial reasons I could do it, and it is likely that my 2 girls will go to uni at some stage, but if I had a choice (not Thailand) I would opt for somewhere in SEA first, or China, Arabia or possibly Africa or Europe before I returned to Australia.

[Crazy chef 1]

Wish I can say the same, but I am working 60 hours a week now so I don't have to later - kind of thing.

No debts, just swelling the bank balance.

Have a severely disabled daughter to provide for as she will never be able to support herself. This is one thing that could be helped if living in the UK, daughter is already a British national / Thai national, but quality of life is so much better in Thailand - as long as you have the money.

i am sorry to hear that- all my best wishes to her.

i have to work more than 60/70and sometimes 80 hours a week but god damn,now i know for what i am doing this- not for the taxes!!!the quality of life is here so much better and i enjoy the freedom.keep on going mate you'r doing the right thing.

[Crazy chef 1]

Moved here permanently in August 1989. Had been visiting for several years.

Now visit the old country (Belgium) twice a year for short visits.

Every time a reality-check.

No couldn't live there anymore on a permanent basis (even if I can afford it).

Yermanee

your nick name is quite misleading- always thought you are from another country...555

[soihok]

Wish I can say the same, but I am working 60 hours a week now so I don't have to later - kind of thing.

No debts, just swelling the bank balance.

Have a severely disabled daughter to provide for as she will never be able to support herself. This is one thing that could be helped if living in the UK, daughter is already a British national / Thai national, but quality of life is so much better in Thailand - as long as you have the money.

i am sorry to hear that- all my best wishes to her.

i have to work more than 60/70and sometimes 80 hours a week but god dam_n,now i know for what i am doing this- not for the taxes!!!the quality of life is here so much better and i enjoy the freedom.keep on going mate you'r doing the right thing.

Cheers CC1.

She is 11 years old and born with a severe mental disability, we (family) are over the initial shock and get on with it. We are in Malaysia for work at the moment but my daughter is now in the good care of the well known Thai family welfare system = Grandma

Yes, that old cookie the tax man and the rest of it. As I posted, some would argue that schools and hospitals are free, but they ain't. Unless you pay no tax - take benefits - disabled and can't work, etc. etc.

We were in England for a visit this summer, it still doesn't feel like home - where as Thailand does - funny old game.

[Ulysses G.]

No. Too many people are rude and aggressive in the homeland and I've had too many years of young attractive ladies actually paying attantion to me here. That would never happen, at my age, back home.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Ulysses G.

[Crazy chef 1]

No. Too many people are rude and aggressive in the homeland and I've had too many years of young attractive ladies actually paying attantion to me here. That would never happen, at my age, back home.

sad but true,not even at my age(40).

BTW where is Jingthing,transam and naam and all the old veterans- may still sleeping?

[Crazy chef 1]

Wish I can say the same, but I am working 60 hours a week now so I don't have to later - kind of thing.

No debts, just swelling the bank balance.

Have a severely disabled daughter to provide for as she will never be able to support herself. This is one thing that could be helped if living in the UK, daughter is already a British national / Thai national, but quality of life is so much better in Thailand - as long as you have the money.

i am sorry to hear that- all my best wishes to her.

i have to work more than 60/70and sometimes 80 hours a week but god dam_n,now i know for what i am doing this- not for the taxes!!!the quality of life is here so much better and i enjoy the freedom.keep on going mate you'r doing the right thing.

Cheers CC1.

She is 11 years old and born with a severe mental disability, we (family) are over the initial shock and get on with it. We are in Malaysia for work at the moment but my daughter is now in the good care of the well known Thai family welfare system = Grandma

Yes, that old cookie the tax man and the rest of it. As I posted, some would argue that schools and hospitals are free, but they ain't. Unless you pay no tax - take benefits - disabled and can't work, etc. etc.

We were in England for a visit this summer, it still doesn't feel like home - where as Thailand does - funny old game.

i raised the same way- grand mum- the best system in the world,may not education wise ( exspecially not in english grammar or writing)but emotionally,wouldn't regreat it.

[AhFarangJa]

Went back to UK last November for a wedding (not mine!)

Felt more of a foreigner there than in Thailand sometimes, strange, but I feel UK has had its day, too expensive, a nanny state with too much political correctness. If I had to go back I would be kicking and screaming all the way!!

Edited February 8, 2014 by AhFarangJa

[Jingthing]

I'm sure I would have major reverse culture shock. At least initially.

There are some things I would really miss (bum guns) and some things I would be happy to miss (horrific customer service).

I can't really answer the question fully unless/until this happens to me, which it might.

[rgs2001uk]

No. Too many people are rude and aggressive in the homeland and I've had too many years of young attractive ladies actually paying attantion to me here. That would never happen, at my age, back home.

sad but true,not even at my age(40).

BTW where is Jingthing,transam and naam and all the old veterans- may still sleeping?

Matron has just given them their medication and told them its time for their afternoon nap.

[AhFarangJa]

Jingthing, can you imagine the shock of using a bum gun plumbed to the cold water pipe in UK!

[mogandave]

I get back to the US (usually SoCal) three or four times a year, and if my current job dried up, I don't think I would stay in Thailand. I would move back to the US.

[tim armstrong]

Kurnell- I was referring to Byron Bay and surrounding north coast NSW area. I'm going back in may for my son's wedding in a few months, and I'm sure it will be great and a bit nostalgic. But events like that don't happen everyday and sitting in a pub often, doesn't do it for me anymore. At nearly 65 the inevitable is also starting to happen around me - ie. some of my oldest friends and people of similar age are starting to die. Maybe better to be here where I won't hear about them quite so much.

[Naam]

would you still feel comfortable in your home country?

quite comfortable if my stay does not exceed a week (or two).

[robertthebruce]

Originally from the UK, i do love living here, but , saying that, London is great for Property Investments, the Property market there is crazy, and rising each month, , happy to have invested my money there....

Which gives me a great standard of living, which i could never have in the UK...

Only downside here, is ''Driving''... its Dangerous to say the least...

Gone are the days of having a nice car, now its a basic car to get me from A to B....

Thai people are lovely, Food is great, and quality of life excellent... - it works for me..

[lmfao]

Coming from Europe, to live in the USA for 6 years, then Australia for 2, now in Thailand for over two years, I am starting to forget where is home LMFAO

[brucegoniners]

Full time, only if I HAD TO.

The USA is a very unhappy place these days and getting worse by the day.

If business goes very well and I can afford it, then I would most certainly go live there part time, because I miss many of my passions, live jazz, baseball, American football and good steak.

I also miss my friends and just talking to certain Americans.

But I absolutely despise the attitude of many of the people in America, especially the women.

I get tired of getting taken to task by complete strangers for just being myself.

I had an incident in a sushi restaurant last year where this complete and total b&*ch started calling me names and arguing with me, because I was unhappy about the service. Then she pulled some other bit*&es from another table into it! This is in a very wealthy community where they think their shit doesn't stink.

And the guy with the woman (I use the term loosely) just sat there and looked embarrassed. What a total wuss!

So no, never full time. God forbid!

[Crazy chef 1]

would you still feel comfortable in your home country?

quite comfortable if my stay does not exceed a week (or two).

nice to see you.

[Crazy chef 1]

I'm sure I would have major reverse culture shock. At least initially.

There are some things I would really miss (bum guns) and some things I would be happy to miss (horrific customer service).

I can't really answer the question fully unless/until this happens to me, which it might.

welcome- thought you are off today...

[salapau]

Some sad replies - I miss my son and daughter in England so I am going back in a couple of months and will not miss the stupidity of the Thai people for one second. Blinkers off people they really don't want to know anyone who doesn't wish to line their pockets, especially a foreigner. Shallow minded population who love to shout and don't give a thought for anyone other than themselves.