First of all I am somewhat sure it's been a thread before but my search skills are not all that super. So here is the question I have for anyone who wishes to play. What age were you when you moved to Thailand? What was the biggest draw for you? And looking back at the last while that you have been here would you choose to do the same if you could go back?

For me it was 32 when I left to move here full time. I had made a few visits prior to the choice just to check out what everyone was talking about. The draw was that while I work offshore O&G it was one of the countries that let us type of folk stay tax free. So not losing 42% of my money to feed x3 families that have parents to lazy to work was a huge deal. And though I have only been here for a modest 8 years I would have no reason to choose any different. It's been a fun and crazy ride since I came to stay. Seen some good and bad things and have never stood back and said " Idiot why did you come"

Any other takers?

When I came to Thailand, I was 41 years old and the reason for coming here was a job as GM for a European Manufacturing Company. About 6 months in, I met the 'girl of my dreams', which, in fact, turned-out to BE the girl of my dreams. Been happily married for 20+ years now and my Lady is a Lawyer and I am also still happily employed - and sailing on the Eastern Seaboard is fabulous ! ! ! - Regrets ? - None !

63. Sex.

23, internship which turns to a job. 27 now and still in the same company.

I came here a few times as a university student and at 23 I moved here full-time. I will be 62 later this year and I am still very happy here.

As I say on my profile page: "I have lived in Thailand my entire adult life. Soon after completing my studies, I moved to Bangkok. I was not sent here by military, government, god or corporation. I just bought a ticket and boarded a plane with no real plan. I had no idea what I would do or how I would stay here. Somehow it all worked out."

I was first here in 1974 as a backpacker but returned often in the 80s for business - took an early retirement in 1998 and had no question that I wouldn't be happier here - as with you, a fun and wild ride at times has settled into a pleasant provincial life...

Age 53, a 3 week holiday escape from a nasty divorce.

Didn't go back, divorced in my absence.

Been here seven years now.

22 years old.

I was spending most of my wages on Durex.

26, came to spend 6 months at the beach. never left.

Came for work..stayed because I am so handsum.

Age 30..

I remeber when my first job pulled out of Thailand... I was like ffff that I am staying this place is awesome.. My local looks like a bar which has hot chicks dancing on the hour.. How can I go back to my local back home where it has fights on the hour.

Sent from my c64

Edited February 16, 201610 yr by wow64

Just shy of my late 30's....was doing movie work as a Brad Pitt double for some forgotten movie here in Southeast Asia....at some point just decided to live off my good looks and big money...never looked back....it is Lieland after all.....?

38, Met my future wife in USA and she lured me here 10+ years ago. Not enough energy or desire to move back.

Interesting stories, no doubt.

62yrs. young

could not afford to live in the U.S. with what i first got from disability insurance and then social security.

24 came to learn Thai and live here for the rest if my life. 31 years later have achieved the former and hopefully not yet in the middle of the latter.

Edited February 16, 201610 yr by carter1882

I was 61 and have been here for 8 years.

The reason was i went through a divorce in Australia.

And came here for a holiday in 2006 and fell in love with a Thai Lady.

Whom i since divorced too.

Still love the place but not as much as before.

I came here for holiday in 2006. After 7 days into my holiday i realized I was not having daily seizures that I had in the US. I went from a seizure a day (meds 3x per day) to a seizure a year (no meds). I told my friends to save my seat at the bar and went back to the US and quit my job as a high performance DB researcher for Sun. I did some research and took the president of a small company out to dinner. By the end of the dinner I had invented a job, pay scale, benefits and soon moved back for good.I was back 3 months later and have never looked back.

Prior to this I had been traveling the world for fun, and never found the "right" place. Now 10 years later I am married to a Thai with 2 kids and a nice place on the beach. I work from my house even after Cisco bought my company and never worry about anything!

39

I wanted to retire.

First come here as an 8 year old, always loved it.

Decided to move when I was 27, I remember the exact moment. Sitting on Chaweng beach Samui and was reading "Rich Dad, Poor Dad". It asked the question " how much money do you need to be wealthy?" The answer was " when you can choose not to work "

I announced it to my (ex) girlfriend, my mate and his girlfriend then and there I was moving.

Only regret is I wanted to be cashed up before I came, and it took twelve years to do what I thought I needed. I really could have come over before, I didn't need as much as I thought I did, I should have come earlier.

I am now at a level of happiness I could never have imagined before.

Thailand is a wonderful place.

To those who have said they came in their twenties all I can say to you is that you are bloody lucky bastards! If only.

Came here in 1986 at age 47. I was living in a friend's villa in Capri in December and it was colder than a polar bear's ass with no heat other than a fireplace. Saw from the newspaper that Bangkok was 85 degrees so I packed up and moved. Washington Square is gone, Soi Cowboy is nothing like iit once was, and Pre- Walking Street was a delightful little strip of bars. Only one regret - I outlived my Thai wife after 23 wonderful years of marriage.

October 1982 for no particular reason and with no particular plans - I knew nothing about the country. I was 19 years old and it was my first trip. Have been here ever since. Visited the UK twice in that period, once for a funeral (my mum's) and the last time in 1999 for work and spent a grand total of three days in London.

Edited February 16, 201610 yr by GarryP

56

I can live a western lifestyle cheap

Found a great live in

Great weather compared to The Great White North

Came here at 20 while working in Vietnam, came back to stay after the contract was finished. However, I preferred Vietnam, so left after about six months. Visited here often over the next 30 years. Retired to the Philippines 10 years ago, but 9 years ago came to visit a friend for Christmas and stayed again. Getting ready to go somewhere else, probably Vietnam again.

Came the first time with my parents when I was about 10 years old, for the next 30 year I guess I came to Thailand at least once a year (made easier by that fact I was living in Hong Kong so weekend getaways were common)

Was recruited from Hong Kong 7 years ago when I was 41 to take on an IT management role in Bangkok.

Still in Bangkok although I have changed jobs a few times.

No plans to leave. Bangkok is now my second home after Hong Kong (and rapidly becoming my first home).

36 , doing restaurant business and I met hotel reception girl and we married ,, best thing happened to me ..

When I came to Thailand, I was 41 years old and the reason for coming here was a job as GM for a European Manufacturing Company. About 6 months in, I met the 'girl of my dreams', which, in fact, turned-out to BE the girl of my dreams. Been happily married for 20+ years now and my Lady is a Lawyer and I am also still happily employed - and sailing on the Eastern Seaboard is fabulous ! ! ! - Regrets ? - None !

good for you nice happy ending

I moved here full time age 54, I'm now 66. I came here from China then Hong Kong, not wanting to go back to Europe or the US to live I decided to retire early, it's all worked out really well for me personally although it took going down a few wrong turnings to eventually get on the right road.

I was 58 and just through a bad divorce. Wanted a change, tried business here, did not work. Now retired and found a great Filipino here.

Thailand has changed and not for the better. In 18 months we will move to Philippines.

64 when I moved to Bangkok. I first heard about Bangkok from my two brothers who were here in 1968 on R&R during the Vietnam war. That's all they talked about were the women. So, I finally visited in 2010. Visted twice a year for the next 3 years. Developed some farang friends, meet a thai lady and felt comfortable enough to move here on Sept 1, 2013. Each year I like it better.

I visit America once a year to do my taxes and see friends. Best move of my life yo move here.

Came here as Marketing Director with an MNC at 35 years old. Been here 26 years. It's been a great ride. Heading back to my home country to live later this year.

51years young but started at 21.After that 1st trip i knew SE Asia was for me.Worked until i had enough of money and definetly enough of work.Now i do what i want to do.So i liked the lifestyle and i live surrounded by the locals.