Did you burn your bridges when you moved to Thailand?

[giddyup]

I know I did, 5 years ago I sold the house I'd lived in for 25 years and pretty much all of my personal posessions and bought a house in Thailand. There's no going back for me now, the mere thought of having to do so gets me depressed. Thailand is far from perfect but I have no regrets about the choice I made. What about you?

[Costas2008]

If I burn the bridges, where am I going to live under then?

[giddyup]

If I burn the bridges, where am I going to live under then?

You can always crawl under a rock.

[JLCrab]

What bridges?

[daveAustin]

Well done, until you're other half kicks you out or immigration.

Btw, you haven't actually burnt your bridges. You have sold up and relocated, which many people do. Burning your bridges signifies quitting your job, telling your boss, family and friends where to go and tearing up your passport. You have merely moved, no big deal. As long as you're fine with being looked down upon and forever the tourist you'll do well

[bunnydrops]

That would be Yes and No. I also closed my business and sold all my assets there. I'm retired and know I could return but my life there would not be as comfortable as here. Still have some investments but I would run through my savings in short order if I did not go back to work.

[giddyup]

Well done, until you're other half kicks you out or immigration.

Btw, you haven't actually burnt your bridges. You have sold up and relocated, which many people do. Burning your bridges signifies quitting your job, telling your boss, family and friends where to go and tearing up your passport. You have merely moved, no big deal. As long as you're fine with being looked down upon and forever the tourist you'll do well

Definition: If you burn your bridges, you do something that makes it impossible to go back from the position you have taken.

In my case that's true. I couldn't now afford to buy a similarly priced house to the one I sold, because I have invested a large proportion of the money in the house here, and even if I managed to sell the one here (probably at a loss) I would still be behind the 8 ball because property prices have risen significantly back home. As far as being looked down upon, I don't feel that, but maybe you do for good reasons.

Edited August 21, 2014 by giddyup

[buck99]

I too sold my 560 SM house in the USA, all my "stuff" and left behind a life time of friends. I discovered having lots of possessions including friends has it's obligations and is confining. I now live in a 120 SM condo and consider it huge. I have a lovely Thai girl friend, a few nice Farong friends here and lots of time for myself. I don't think I could ever fit in again in the US. I would just be another old man living alone. I have a grown daughter and a brother that I chat on the phone with each week and visit each year but other than that I have no connections with my past life.

[pgrahmm]

Sold a lot of stuff but kept a car and an RV back home so I visit/tour and be surrounded by my own stuff.....I have a house full of furniture stored where the vehicle is that sooner or later I'll have to deal with somewhere along the way......a lot of things are of sentimental value - possibly I should have shipped more household stuff in the container - and for sure I should not have shipped the car.....

[bkkjames]

The topic is essentially "Did you go all in?" and this was covered not 2-3 weeks ago at length on here. Next.

[giddyup]

The topic is essentially "Did you go all in?" and this was covered not 2-3 weeks ago at length on here. Next.

Sigh... that's the problem, there's no such thing as original thought any more.

[mania]

No although we did consider selling our home we decided at the last minute to keep it since

a relative wanted to rent it.

We had thought selling was a must since managing a rental from here would be too hard.

In hind sight we are glad we kept it. These days the rent from it is like having 3 rentals here so that is good +

we always have the option of moving back & having a place.

Oddly enough it is my wife who is Thai ( but has dual citizenship ) who misses that home the most.

She misses the size & the garden/greenhouse etc as she loves working outside on it.

Also the weather there is very hospitable so that is possible year round.

I would say if nothing else folks who relocate should always at least leave a financial nest egg where they came from.

We also did that aside from the home. That is something that can be used to live on for a few years to re-start a life there.

With the understanding it will never be used here as it has that specific purpose.

That way you have what you have here & if that should go pear shaped for what ever reason...health ...politics/visa requirements etc

you have an option easily tapped

Edited August 21, 2014 by mania

[96tehtarp]

No, I didn't burn my bridges. I followed the advice I was given by people who have more experience than I have in these matters. They told me; "Never burn your bridges".

My bridges crumbled and slowly fell apart due to lack of use and maintenance.

[wayned]

I burned everything except what I took as luggage so that my ex-wives wouldn't get it!

[Sigurris]

I sold up and came here with 3 million baht and opened a business. Pure sink or swim. Luckily I swam and after 3 years sold up for three times what I bought here. I then invested all of it in a beautiful condo where I have lived since. I have a job for a western company paying western wages and no mortgage so I am better off than I was in the UK. But I am stuck here unless I sell the condo, which as everyone knows is not easy.

However I like it here and have no wish to return to the UK. Things can go wrong but they can in the west. What will I do if things go wrong? I have no idea. Do I worry about it? No. Life is uncertain.

The way I look at it is, as I drink my tea in the morning watching the fishing boats return to shore having left my beautiful gf to have an extra 30 minutes sleep before she gets up to go to work, life is good. No debts, no cold weather, home of my dreams, slim beautiful gf, friends, car, bike. If I die tomorrow I won't regret the move.

Bridges burnt.

[GuestHouse]

Absolutely not.

Post a negative comment about Thailand and within minutes you will have someone reminding you that 'we are guests here in Thailand'.

Its not much of an intellectual response, but it is a very valuable contribution - Don't ever forget it, unless you have a PR or a Thai Citizenship, you are a guest.

Putting aside political change that could force foreigners to leave, it is not simply a matter of where you have your assets, where you have your family - at sometime in the future you will retire, you'll need to meet the retirement rules. And they are never going to get easier.

Live in country where you are a guest - Have a workable plan B.

[samuibeachcomber]

The topic is essentially "Did you go all in?" and this was covered not 2-3 weeks ago at length on here. Next.

yes but repitition can be good for the soul and memory

[samuibeachcomber]

Some are cautious by nature others impulsive.For me i have always got by and survived even when my impetuous decisions later get me into a bit of strife.Some live by the heart some by the head.Main thing is not to worry which can kill long before the money runs out!

[giddyup]

Some are cautious by nature others impulsive.For me i have always got by and survived even when my impetuous decisions later get me into a bit of strife.Some live by the heart some by the head.Main thing is not to worry which can kill long before the money runs out!

I agree, you can be too careful in life and therefore never have the kind of adventures risk can give you. When I sold up and retired here at the age of 66, I thought, "what's the worst that can happen"? Even, worst case scenario, all falangs are kicked out of Thailand, I'm not going to be sleeping on the streets or having to rattle a tin cup.

Edited August 21, 2014 by giddyup

[samuibeachcomber]

I always do what my heart tells me....it can lead to utter disapoinment sometimes,but "you pick yourself up" and move on.but in the process you get fantastic experiences.Being too cautious can lead to having a very bland life.

I have burned everything and dont care a toss.....i know i will always be ok as long as i take care of my health.

[Thakkar]

The universe is a vast place and we all come from it. The atoms that make up you and me will eventually reconstitute into something else, perhaps a bridge. So don't worry about it.

More prosaically, as long as you still have your sanity, some true friends and family, and your citizenship, you haven't discarded anything of value.

Stay in touch with family and friends, stay sane, and keep your passport up to date.

T

[Jdiddy]

My definition of "burning bridges" would be just prior to leaving max out all your credit cards with cash advances, take out personal loans, not paid tax for 3 years ect ect prolly get a free 100-200k out of it if you play it right

[slipperylobster]

I never did make it to the bridge. Speaking for myself, I flew all the way here.

[willyumiii]

The topic is essentially "Did you go all in?" and this was covered not 2-3 weeks ago at length on here. Next.

Dearest BKKjames...

Just a thought for you James.

Not everyone sees everything posted on TV everyday and some things may get by some of us.

Yes, even in Thailand, some of us have a life other than our computers.

Why are you so concerned that others may be interested in a topic you are tired of???

If you have been there and done that,

Just quietly move on to another topic that is good enough for you James.

No need for rude, off topic replies.

If you were the only TV member, I could understand.

You are not and I do not.

I myself can identify with the Op's thread

I sounds like one I could have started myself

The only thing I left behind is a few boxes of old photos...too heavy to ship for the price

So please forgive the rest of us James if you do not read every post every day

I can not read every post and reply...not even all of your off topic replies.

Thanks James.

[Seastallion]

The universe is a vast place and we all come from it. The atoms that make up you and me will eventually reconstitute into something else, perhaps a bridge. So don't worry about it.

More prosaically, as long as you still have your sanity, some true friends and family, and your citizenship, you haven't discarded anything of value.

Stay in touch with family and friends, stay sane, and keep your passport up to date.

T

I sometimes disagree with you....but you're the guy with the smarts, albeit a little bit of a different lateral than mine. Big tick to what you wrote.

I refuse to sell my house back home. Having come from subsistence living to owning a nice home and business, I value what I have, but could care less if I lost it. I sold my business to finance my (our, wifey and I) life here, knowing that wifey is well qualified to sustain us anyway. The house is rented, giving me my ciggie and Hong Thong money, plus a whole lot more, wifey earns her salary,, most going in to savings....

Every asset we buy here is in her name (it just makes life easier), but if it all went tits up, we (or I alone, for the pessimists here), could go back to a freehold house on a big section and get by.

No, I didn't burn my bridge.

I should say, I didn't burn my bridge mainly because I want my kids to have an inheritance. A house in NZ is more useful to them than a house in Rhek Thum or Ah Sol, wherever....but it is also a passive income while I'm alive.

Edited August 21, 2014 by Seastallion

[Thanet]

Bridges can usually be rebuilt, if you put your mind to it.

[canuckamuck]

I think my bridges got better over time.

[apetley]

I realised that I finally burnt the bridge when I auctioned off my collection of Hawkwind lp's back in the UK leaving nothing else just before moving here for good.

[Suradit69]

Well done, until you're other half kicks you out or immigration.

Btw, you haven't actually burnt your bridges. You have sold up and relocated, which many people do. Burning your bridges signifies quitting your job, telling your boss, family and friends where to go and tearing up your passport. You have merely moved, no big deal. As long as you're fine with being looked down upon and forever the tourist you'll do well

Definition: If you burn your bridges, you do something that makes it impossible to go back from the position you have taken.

In my case that's true. I couldn't now afford to buy a similarly priced house to the one I sold, because I have invested a large proportion of the money in the house here, and even if I managed to sell the one here (probably at a loss) I would still be behind the 8 ball because property prices have risen significantly back home. As far as being looked down upon, I don't feel that, but maybe you do for good reasons.

I charred a number of bridges when I left the US 40 years ago. Since then I've lived and worked in 4 countries outside the US as well as spending a few years back in the US two separate times completing graduate degrees. Probably totally uprooted and moved just about everything I owned & cut a lot of ties at least 10 times during that time span .

This is the first place I've lived in those 4 decades where I didn't keep a bunch of packing boxes, tea chests and trunks in a spare bedroom ready for the next move. Time & natural decay have caused most of those bridges to my life back in Illinois to crumble.

I fully intend to live out the balance of my life here. After a somewhat nomadic existence this is as close as I've come to a permanent place to stay during a large part of my adult life. Burnt bridges may not be an entirely appropriate analogy for me, but it would be hard to identify exactly to what I could consider going back. Going back isn't limited to geographical locations, it would mean going back to places, people and a time that exist no longer in one place.

There are a number of places I sometimes think it would be nice to go back to, but practically speaking it would be impossible. I didn't choose to retire here without giving it a lot of thought. No surprises. No regrets. Wasn't wearing the saffron colored glasses when I made the decision, so the decision was not impulsive and I have not turned into a bitter old thing blaming Thailand & Thai people for the choices I made.

Edited August 21, 2014 by Suradit69

[Cypress Hill]

Nah no burned bridges.

Got family, car, bank accounts and stock back in England and while I love Thailand, I can't really take it seriously

People come here and build lives without considering the foundations.

They put property, cars and other assets in other people's names or through shifty company arrangements that likely will NOT stand up to "junta-style" scrutiny; they start businesses with 100% of the capital but end up owning only 49% of the equity

I'd have to be a complete tool to torch my links at home to pump money into a country in which I had F.A. in the way of rights just because there's easy p***y there.

Sorry but that's what most - NOT ALL - of these guys have done.