To do it or not to do it....spend it all.

[JSixpack]

Despite what some posters have said about needing to marry to have someone to take care of you when you get old, there are other ways to do. You can pay people to take care of you. Live-in house keepers, round-the-clock nurses, etc. are available.

Nice to know that you are so rich. However what are those of us that aren't to do?

Shockingly, you then don't pay people to take care of you.

What you do is obvious: first, you come onto the forum and rail against the wicked Thais for not providing the round-the-clock nurses for you. It's not fair, especially after all the expert advice you gave--freely, without solicitation or thought of payment--about beautification, architectural design, and construction matters. As a farang, you're obviously unwanted. Thailand is shooting itself in the foot! Killing the goose that laid . . . well, all those 20 baht notes for cold Changs.

Secondly you ask the forum members how, after you've replaced your old expired passport, you can pay your overstay and airfare back to the good ol' nanny state. You're told the usual answers: ask the Embassy, contact charitable organizations, or relatives back home. You inevitably observe that the relatives have labeled you a pest and hope for your quick demise. Some forum member suggests that maybe the other inmates in IDC will provide some nursing care.

Assuming you get the overstay cleared and a ticket home, then just before you board the plane, you turn around and give a satisfied, knowing smile: that 10 meters of shoddy construction you had pointed out never did get fixed. You were right all along. That'll show 'em! Heh.

Edited August 19, 2014 by JSixpack

[thaibeachlovers]

Despite what some posters have said about needing to marry to have someone to take care of you when you get old, there are other ways to do. You can pay people to take care of you. Live-in house keepers, round-the-clock nurses, etc. are available.

Nice to know that you are so rich. However what are those of us that aren't to do?

Shockingly, you then don't pay people to take care of you.

What you do is obvious: first, you come onto the forum and rail against the wicked Thais for not providing the round-the-clock nurses for you. It's not fair, especially after all the expert advice you gave--freely, without solicitation or thought of payment--about beautification, architectural design, and construction matters. As a farang, you're obviously unwanted. Thailand is shooting itself in the foot! Killing the goose that laid . . . well, all those 20 baht notes for cold Changs.

Secondly you ask the forum members how, after you've replaced your old expired passport, you can pay your overstay and airfare back to the good ol' nanny state. You're told the usual answers: ask the Embassy, contact charitable organizations, or relatives back home. You inevitably observe that the relatives have labeled you a pest and hope for your quick demise. Some forum member suggests that maybe the other inmates in IDC will provide some nursing care.

Assuming you get the overstay cleared and a ticket home, then just before you board the plane, you turn around and give a satisfied, knowing smile: that 10 meters of shoddy construction you had pointed out never did get fixed. You were right all along. That'll show 'em! Heh.

Are you referring to me? I don't pay people to look after me, I look after myself and have done so all my life.

I hope I never would expect my wife to look after me when I'm an old, drooling, incontinent waste of space.

If I don't want to go "home" and cast myself into the state care home system ( a fate worse than death IMO ), I hope I have the guts to do the honourable thing.

[JSixpack]

Nice to know that you are so rich. However what are those of us that aren't to do?

Shockingly, you then don't pay people to take care of you.

What you do is obvious: first, you come onto the forum and rail against the wicked Thais for not providing the round-the-clock nurses for you. It's not fair, especially after all the expert advice you gave--freely, without solicitation or thought of payment--about beautification, architectural design, and construction matters. As a farang, you're obviously unwanted. Thailand is shooting itself in the foot! Killing the goose that laid . . . well, all those 20 baht notes for cold Changs.

Secondly you ask the forum members how, after you've replaced your old expired passport, you can pay your overstay and airfare back to the good ol' nanny state. You're told the usual answers: ask the Embassy, contact charitable organizations, or relatives back home. You inevitably observe that the relatives have labeled you a pest and hope for your quick demise. Some forum member suggests that maybe the other inmates in IDC will provide some nursing care.

Assuming you get the overstay cleared and a ticket home, then just before you board the plane, you turn around and give a satisfied, knowing smile: that 10 meters of shoddy construction you had pointed out never did get fixed. You were right all along. That'll show 'em! Heh.

Are you referring to me? I don't pay people to look after me, I look after myself and have done so all my life.

I hope I never would expect my wife to look after me when I'm an old, drooling, incontinent waste of space.

If I don't want to go "home" and cast myself into the state care home system ( a fate worse than death IMO ), I hope I have the guts to do the honourable thing.

Well, then you answered your own question, didn't you. Actually I agree w/ that view--I guess many here do.

[thaibeachlovers]

Nice to know that you are so rich. However what are those of us that aren't to do?

Shockingly, you then don't pay people to take care of you.

What you do is obvious: first, you come onto the forum and rail against the wicked Thais for not providing the round-the-clock nurses for you. It's not fair, especially after all the expert advice you gave--freely, without solicitation or thought of payment--about beautification, architectural design, and construction matters. As a farang, you're obviously unwanted. Thailand is shooting itself in the foot! Killing the goose that laid . . . well, all those 20 baht notes for cold Changs.

Secondly you ask the forum members how, after you've replaced your old expired passport, you can pay your overstay and airfare back to the good ol' nanny state. You're told the usual answers: ask the Embassy, contact charitable organizations, or relatives back home. You inevitably observe that the relatives have labeled you a pest and hope for your quick demise. Some forum member suggests that maybe the other inmates in IDC will provide some nursing care.

Assuming you get the overstay cleared and a ticket home, then just before you board the plane, you turn around and give a satisfied, knowing smile: that 10 meters of shoddy construction you had pointed out never did get fixed. You were right all along. That'll show 'em! Heh.

Are you referring to me? I don't pay people to look after me, I look after myself and have done so all my life.

I hope I never would expect my wife to look after me when I'm an old, drooling, incontinent waste of space.

If I don't want to go "home" and cast myself into the state care home system ( a fate worse than death IMO ), I hope I have the guts to do the honourable thing.

Well, then you answered your own question, didn't you. Actually I agree w/ that view--I guess many here do.

I just wanted to know your opinion of what the less affluent should do. Now I know.

For anyone that doesn't know what a state care home is really like ( if that's what they are considering ) they should visit one. The reality makes learning to fly in Pattaya an attractive prospect.

[JSixpack]

Well, then you answered your own question, didn't you. Actually I agree w/ that view--I guess many here do.

I just wanted to know your opinion of what the less affluent should do. Now I know.

My opinions are very important around here.

For anyone that doesn't know what a state care home is really like ( if that's what they are considering ) they should visit one. The reality makes learning to fly in Pattaya an attractive prospect.

Well, now, let's not rush to judgment. Your Pattaya monger might just find some good times in those state care homes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/opinion/sunday/emanuel-sex-and-the-single-senior.html?_r=0

Not quite the same though. I suppose the alcohol restriction would be a real damper for our Cesspoolians (who coined that cool word recently?) too. No Chang allowed, surely--Chang export, I mean of course. Viagra, now, could be smuggled in if not actually prescribed.

Edited August 20, 2014 by JSixpack

[ToddinChonburi]

Go for it !!!!! I am doing the same, only 49 yrs old here

[zombie nights]

OP: You only live once. As long as you have enough money, then live the dream. It ain't complicated.

[Bulldozer Dawn]

OP: You only live once. As long as you have enough money, then live the dream. It ain't complicated.

Ordinary life is pretty complicated stuff.

[salavan]

a very good idea

[Felixthecat]

It reads like you've answered your own post

[Tokay]

If you can pace yourself, why not? It's your life, so with it as you choose. Because if you are fortunate enough to have a moment to reflect on your life before you die, you will wish you did everything you wanted to do.

Just pace yourself so you don't end up homeless on the street like so many others who had the same idea as you. Pattaya will eat you alive if you are unable to keep yourself in check. And that my friend, is a fact.

[john1000]

Your going to do it. Just have a bolt hole...peace of mind.

Good luck!!

[yogi100]

It all depends on the person.

General advice is okay but everyones situation is different.

I spend around half the year in Patts but I would go crazy if I had to stay all the time.

I come and go a few months here and there.

I would only retire in Patts full time if I couldn't afford a decent life in Australia.

Coming and going is the way to go if you can afford it that way you get the best of both worlds.

A lot of guys I know do the same thing.

Keep making more money would be my advice and try to schedule more trips to satisfy your desires.

40k a year even in Thailand is not that much. I couldn't live on that and I don't drink a lot. I am not saying it cant be done but expenses just seem to come up especially if you have a thai partner but you end up spending on things you don't think about like emergency trips back home and health issues as you get older. All sorts of things seem to come up that you have never really considered.

This is the best advice I've seen so far on this topic and as Tolley says we're all different. I also come and go for a few months from the UK with multiple entry O visas and as each 90 days comes to an end I'm more than happy to go home and that's saying something with state of old Blighty these days.

I could sell up and live the life of Riley in Pattaya if I wanted to but the experience of many trips over many years has taught me that the constant and often blatant begging, scheming, scrounging, lies and craftiness of the girls in Pattaya would make me detest the place and avoid contact with bar girls if I lived there. it wears you down after three months.

A couple of my expat chums actually hate the girls and will not even have them in their rooms. Years ago they were barfining like there's no tomorrow but now they abstain from all sexual activity with Thai girls or anyone else as far as I can see.They've both lived in Pattaya for around 20 years and neither of them are heavy drinkers but are totally disillusioned with what they originally came to Pattaya for

You must be able to develope interests other than drinking and partying or you won't last.

Rent don't buy, that goes for both accommodation and the girls in my opinion.

I know fellows that have wed TGs, bought houses up in the boondocks and live there and been bored stiff and those that will admit it regret ever having made such a decision but others on here will say it's the best move they've ever made.

Use your loaf, don't burn your bridges and never take a drink before 9 pm and don't even do that every day.

As you get older you may encounter health problems which should be the most important factor in your decision. Will you always be able to afford medical insurance, if not hospital treatment may crucify any funds you have in reserve.

Edited September 22, 2014 by yogi100

[worgeordie]

Retired here at 42,couple years visa runs,then visa for looking after daughter,

then retirement visa,started working at young age,selling firewood,eggs,potatoes

around the doors on a barrow,school holidays,evenings,weekends,saved my money,

left school ran my own business,at 42 had enough,don't understand people who

have enough money to do nothing ,but keep on working.!

Luckily,Pattaya and its lifestyle did not appeal to me,or i suppose i would not be

here today,either that or penny less,Pattaya is OK to visit ,not to live,my opinion.

If i retired here today,i know it would not be as easy as back then,would advise

anyone doing it today, beware whats going on around you,don't get carried

away with the drink and the girls,don't trust anyone,i am very lucky in that

respect,the woman i have been with all this time,does not lie,cheat,drink,smoke,

do drugs ,and shes even more careful with money than i am,,just looks after the

home,my daughter and me ,sounds a bit boring,but i have had enough excitement

already in my life.

regards Worgeordie

[Basil B]

Got to ask.

Are you ready to retire?

Most people without a plan die within 5 years of stopping work. By then they have done the big trip around the world/country they have been promising themselves for years. Done a few projects and settled down. There seems to a loss of purpose, followed be a loss of the will to live. Look at any shopping centre to see the zombies with nothing to do but look at the shops, or any bar with the punters waiting for God (we called a bar I worked in "God's waiting room" in honour of the regulars).

This is a serious aspect of retiring especially taking early retirement. You need to plan some things to do, this does not change with location be it in Oz or in Pattaya. As said above the challenge to stop yourself having a beer in hand at 10am can be a struggle. There is a paupacy of things to do in Pattaya that do not involve being in a bar. Living in Disneyland can be fun, but it can be taxing on the body, mind and spirit.

So what will you do to fill your days?

I'm not saying don't do it. Just give the process a bit of thought.

By the way, don't rely on the Aussie pension to be there in 15 years, especially if you are planning on not being in Oz. Another thing to keep in mind is how you will be treated if you need to go home and in need for medical treatment. Long time members here may remember Udon John, he went back to Oz hoping to get medical help after living in Thailand for many years only to spend a long time in pain prior to his ultimate demise.

I could not agree more, retiring and doing nothing you will not last long.

I have felt for many years retirement should be for those who can work no longer, but saying that for the over fifties they should have more quality time, more holidays and a shorter working week, and they (we) will last longer.