Retirees Soon to be living in Bangkok

[Inquisitorial]

Hi one and all.

This is my first post, I have been reading all your posts for the past few months with interest.

Being a newbie to Thai Visa forum I am keen to know how many farang’s actually retire in Thailand as a married couples? It would appear from reading your posts that many of you have met and married Thai Ladies.

We are planning to spend half of the year in Thailand (Bangkok) and the other half in Australia – just wondering if there are any other forum members doing this?

Apart from this forum is there a club where farangs meet/ network.

Apreciate any tis and/or pitfalls we need to be aware of with living in Thailand.

[saakura]

Hi one and all.

This is my first post, I have been reading all your posts for the past few months with interest.

Being a newbie to Thai Visa forum I am keen to know how many farang’s actually retire in Thailand as a married couples? It would appear from reading your posts that many of you have met and married Thai Ladies.

We are planning to spend half of the year in Thailand (Bangkok) and the other half in Australia – just wondering if there are any other forum members doing this?

Apart from this forum is there a club where farangs meet/ network.

Apreciate any tis and/or pitfalls we need to be aware of with living in Thailand.

Keep your husband on a tight leash.

[CharlieH]

If you are planning on Bangkok, perhaps you would be better placing this in that local Bangkok forum for comment and advice.

MOVED

[mogandave]

Taking your wife to Thailand is like taking sand to the beach.

Good luck.

[1BADDAT]

You and soibiker will be the only 2 foreign couples in bangkok that didn't come for work. I suggest you get in contact with him. But whatever you do, don't point out anything resembling questioning this great country.

[smokie36]

I would say six months in and out of Thailand is an excellent way to doing things....will stop you getting bored and you can be in both places when the weather is good for you.

There are always loads of events going on in Bangkok....depends on your interests really....the Aussie chamber of commerce run loads of events...good way to meet a few from your country.

I have to admit keeping out of the bars and endless restaurants is a big challenge for me!

[p_brownstone]

You might want to look at joining the British Club, Swimming Pool, Tennis Courts, Snooker etc. etc..

Good place to meet other residents and / or retirees.

http://www.britishclubbangkok.org/

Patrick

[SoiBiker]

You and soibiker will be the only 2 foreign couples in bangkok that didn't come for work. I suggest you get in contact with him. But whatever you do, don't point out anything resembling questioning this great country.

My wife and I are not retired.

Good luck to the OP. As you can see, sadly this forum is not as welcoming or helpful as it might be.

[1BADDAT]

You and soibiker will be the only 2 foreign couples in bangkok that didn't come for work. I suggest you get in contact with him. But whatever you do, don't point out anything resembling questioning this great country.

My wife and I are not retired.

Good luck to the OP. As you can see, sadly this forum is not as welcoming or helpful as it might be.

When did I say you are retired? Did you or your wife specifically come to Thailand for work?

[SoiBiker]

You and soibiker will be the only 2 foreign couples in bangkok that didn't come for work. I suggest you get in contact with him. But whatever you do, don't point out anything resembling questioning this great country.

My wife and I are not retired.

Good luck to the OP. As you can see, sadly this forum is not as welcoming or helpful as it might be.

When did I say you are retired? Did you or your wife specifically come to Thailand for work?

Yes.

But the OP didn't start this thread for you to ask me inane questions about my personal circumstances. If you're so fascinated by me that you simply must talk about me, go start your own thread.

Inquisitorial - should you still be reading past this sadly typical disruptive trolling - don't be put off by what you read here. Whilst those who've married a Thai lady are the dominant group on this forum, Bangkok has a thriving expat scene with people of all ages, nationalities and genders.

As for meeting other expats, you could try Internations - http://www.internations.org/bangkok-expats. Meetup.com is good for finding groups of people who share an interest or activity. I'm sure there are other groups out there too.

It can seem like Bangkok is just about men meeting women, but that's only a tiny part of what happens here, and easily avoided if you stay out of a few small bar areas.

[MaeJoMTB]

Best not to call yourself a racist name.

Many of us would be put off meeting you because of that.

I don't care if your skin colour is white.

I do care if you feel it important to proclaim that fact.

[fang37]

My observation. An expat bring his partner to LOS is a guarantee to infidelity usually follwed by divorce.

TEMPTATION. FORBIDDEN FRUIT.

[lopburi3]

It can seem like Bangkok is just about men meeting women, but that's only a tiny part of what happens here, and easily avoided if you stay out of a few small bar areas.

A few small bar areas? After 45 years here I would have to say there are, maybe, a few small areas without bar areas to meet women or men or drink. But in general you would not have to travel more than a block to find.

To say other activities are available is very true - just about everything is - but to say bars are limited to small areas is just not true.

[dageurreotype]

Best not to call yourself a racist name.

Many of us would be put off meeting you because of that.

I don't care if your skin colour is white.

I do care if you feel it important to proclaim that fact.

Oh get over yourself

[1BADDAT]

You and soibiker will be the only 2 foreign couples in bangkok that didn't come for work. I suggest you get in contact with him. But whatever you do, don't point out anything resembling questioning this great country.

My wife and I are not retired.

Good luck to the OP. As you can see, sadly this forum is not as welcoming or helpful as it might be.

When did I say you are retired? Did you or your wife specifically come to Thailand for work?

Yes.

Up until today, you were the only person that I knew of on this forum or in real life that I thought came to Thailand as a foreign couple not trying to pursue a career opportunity. But apparently by your "yes" reply you did come here for a work opportunity.

I know plenty of Ex-pat couples here for work either on contract or permanently. They didn't come here for any other reason besides work. I think the OP will find that there almost zero couples like him in Thailand. And so far I don't see any replies from anyone that is a retired foreign couple here.

[SoiBiker]

I expect you've made a number of incorrect assumptions about me.

But this thread isn't really the place to discuss them, is it?

[Sheryl]

There are quite a few retired expat couples but I think more in Chiang Mai than in Bkk. In Bkk the expat couples are more often career aged. There are exceptions, of course, but CM seems to be the main destination for expat retired couples.

[IMA_FARANG]

I am retired and living in Thailand, have been here since 2010.

Not married, but lived with a Thai woman partner for over 30 years.

But with age comes changes, and we both changed with our age.

There are clubs around Bangkok where retirees meet, but I admit I'm not much a Social Joiner.

As the American comedian W.C.. Fields once remarked,, " I am not sure I would be willing to join any club that would lower it's standards to admit someone like me".

But, yes, there are clubs and associations in Bangkok for retirees, they are a little hard to find, but they are there.

Now that I am past 68 years of age I am officially at my "Grumpy old man "stage.

Edited November 23, 2015 by IMA_FARANG

[Inquisitorial]

Hi one and all

Thanks for all your comments.

Sorry if I have offended anyone, I was not and did not intend to make a racist comment. I was only curious to see if married couples retired in Thailand, so my apologies if I did offend anyone. Certainly very happy to make friends with any English speaking couples (even if your partner only has limited English). Sorry we cant speak Thai. However, First thing on my agenda is to try and learn to speak Thai - just enough so that I can communicate

I will check out the suggestions made.

We have been holidaying in Thailand on and off for over 20 years now and have always said we would like to spend some of our twilight years in Thailand to the extend that we brought a small apartment in Bangkok about 4 years ago and have downsized in Australia to a small apartment so we can enjoy the best of both countries. Incidentally, I don't think we would have purchased an apartment if we had read all your comments first, however in saying that we have been able to find very good tenants as well as have the occasional holiday between tenants so it has worked our well for us. From my perspective ownership of an apartment in Thailand is not all bad providing that one understands that it is not going to be easy to sell when the time comes.

Thanks again, I do enjoy reading all your comments in this forum even if some of them seem to go off track.

[SoiBiker]

Don't worry, you didn't say anything racist.

[Sheryl]

If moving here do not overlook the need for health insurance

[Inquisitorial]

Thanks Sheryl, health insurance is certainly on our to do list.

[mogandave]

And be sure to check your existing coverage as you may already be covered.

[chubby]

ymmv

internations and meetup, seem popular with certain groups, like the wine meetups.

i wouldn't use 'this forum' as any gauge, of much, imho ........ , in fact you probably want to avoid TV for most serious questions ymmv

if you don't mind what passes for lager beer, come out for a hash house harrier run

main risk in Thailand seems to be the roads, so try to avoids, "Vans" for intercity and double decker overnight buses, motosai taxis, except in small sois, dengue-esp in the wet season, and fellow farangs, ymmv

buying condos seem dodgy.....or a combination thereof

but maybe you know all this, if your already coming 'for 20 years' ?

ymmv

Edited November 26, 2015 by chubby