Why, actually, do you live here/keep coming back?

[TeeKay]

1) No income tax.

2) Tasty local food.

3) Easy to obtain a long visa extension.

4) Fairly cheap place to live when all costs are taken into consideration.

5) Fairly reliable infrastructure (electricity, water, internet, roads).

That's about it.

Ditto!

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[Munger]

A good life with adequate health insurance here (unavailable to me in USA)

WHAT, Obama fixed it, and it is now $2,500/ year (average) cheaper. Wise up

[JLCrab]

A good life with adequate health insurance here (unavailable to me in USA)

WHAT, Obama fixed it, and it is now $2,500/ year (average) cheaper. Wise up

I first purchased Health Insurance here in Thailand during GWB's first term.

[Ulysses G.]

A good life with adequate health insurance here (unavailable to me in USA)

WHAT, Obama fixed it, and it is now $2,500/ year (average) cheaper. Wise up

That's a good one!

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2013/dec/12/lie-year-if-you-like-your-health-care-plan-keep-it/

[HardenedSoul]

In a nutshell, my outgoings here are one third of what they were back home, the food is fabulous, I pay zero tax and nobody pokes their nose into my business.

I do miss driving, though

Win-win

[Berkshire]

In a nutshell, my outgoings here are one third of what they were back home, the food is fabulous, I pay zero tax and nobody pokes their nose into my business.

I do miss driving, though

Win-win

Miss driving? Should try it some time. I actually love driving in the LOS. Probably for the same reasons some of the older dudes hate it. Driving in the US is having to worry about cops hiding behind billboards waiting to harass you for every little infraction. Perhaps a tad exaggerated, but that's what it feels like.

[nickmanchester2]

In a nutshell, my outgoings here are one third of what they were back home, the food is fabulous, I pay zero tax and nobody pokes their nose into my business.

I do miss driving, though

Win-win

yeah, driving is great here, when i first got the car it was a bit of a honeymoon period as i didn't have a bike anymore and loved having a car again like most people have in the uk.

now i still like the car, and i wont be selling it anytime soon compared to the UK - great for visa runs, aircon, cheap petrol, cheap tax, cheap insurance, cheap repairs, the one time i did get stopped an was over the limit (i dont do this anymore) I got let off with 200b fine.

yea, driving is a bit better here if you adapt to the driving style of the locals - undertaking for example is now part of my driving style

[nidieunimaitre]

Autumn and Winter in Thailand: dry, warm, not hot / seafood and fruit / my own swimming pool and huge garden / can save money from my pension while living well

In combination with

Spring and summer in Europe: different cultures within easy reach / flowers / scenery / free and excellent health care / wine and (belgian) beer

What will I choose if the day comes that I have to choose between Europe and Thailand?

I do not know....

[NoshowJones]

1) No income tax.

2) Tasty local food.

3) Easy to obtain a long visa extension.

4) Fairly cheap place to live when all costs are taken into consideration.

5) Fairly reliable infrastructure (electricity, water, internet, roads).

That's about it.

Excellent post KK except for 5)

Sent from my GT-S5360 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[celso]

Money

[bkkgooner]

My amazing family, the freedom away from "home" to be my own person, not paying nearly half of my salary in taxes, super weather, local market with super meat, lack of junkies and aggressive scum like back home wandering the streets.

[KittenKong]

5) Fairly reliable infrastructure (electricity, water, internet, roads).

Excellent post KK except for 5)

Honestly, they can be much worse elsewhere.

[NoshowJones]

5) Fairly reliable infrastructure (electricity, water, internet, roads).

Excellent post KK except for 5)

Honestly, they can be much worse elsewhere.

The first five miles of the road between the main highway and my village has not been repaired during the eight years I have lived here, and is in a dreadful state. It is not unusual to have blackouts here, the last one about four weeks ago lasted for more than twelve hours.

The water supply gets cut off about 11.30pm every night, but fortunately, I have my own water tank.

Sorry for going off topic here, but I could not find Pattini's restaurant in Soi Buckaow.

[KittenKong]

The first five miles of the road between the main highway and my village has not been repaired during the eight years I have lived here, and is in a dreadful state. It is not unusual to have blackouts here, the last one about four weeks ago lasted for more than twelve hours.

The water supply gets cut off about 11.30pm every night, but fortunately, I have my own water tank.

That doesn't sound too good but in Jomtien I don't have anything much to complain about.

I do think that if you tried a similarly sized village in Africa (or even in one or two countries that are next door to Thailand) you would be happier with your lot here.

Sorry for going off topic here, but I could not find Pattini's restaurant in Soi Buckaow.

It's here:

http://goo.gl/maps/rRhUH

You can even read the menu without leaving home!