Tired Of Retirement - The Dream Versus The Reality

[Mobi]

Funny you should say what you said in you last paragraph.

A couple of days ago I pm'd admin asking if is possible to have a specfic "Retiement in Thailand" sub forum.

I also think it could be very useful

A bunch of old farts discussing our prostates and where we can find a good deal in Viagra?

It will take some convincing as far as I'm concerned - I don't think I've got one foot in the grave quite yet

Would the forum be closed to those under 60?

[PeaceBlondie]

Personally, I like the idea of a subforum or topics for us old farts. Sometimes I feel like I do when there's a religious forum that invites the atheists to argue, or a gay forum that invites the homophobes, or a sports forum that invites the anti-jocks. We should not have to justify our own existence to those who have no clue. It would be nice to say among ourselves, "Yeah, Mick Jagger was right, forty years ago - it's a drag, getting old." Or to say without opening a copy of the AARP magazine, "You know, I'm glad I can finally smell the flowers and get stung by bees."

[jaideeguy]

PB.....

Not to stray too far from the OP, but you said in an earlier post.................. "No, that's a rule against expats collecting Social Security before their full retirement age, overseas."

are you saying that an expat cannot opt for early SS retirement at age 62 and must wait till age 65??

bad news, if true......

[bkkharry]

PB.....

Not to stray too far from the OP, but you said in an earlier post.................. "No, that's a rule against expats collecting Social Security before their full retirement age, overseas."

are you saying that an expat cannot opt for early SS retirement at age 62 and must wait till age 65??

bad news, if true......

Well I am 62 and drawing social security in addition to my pension. You just get a reduced benefit when you take your social security at 62.

Must be an old DeadHead.

Edited November 12, 2007 by bkkharry

[Naam]

But maybe you should consider the fact that you can only offer the point of view of a person who is unable to converse in Thai, whereas I, and many others, have been on both sides of the fence - having been at one time unable to speak Thai, to farangs who now can. So I would respectfully suggest that our experience is a little more valid than your own - not withstanding your undoubted greater intellect - being a retired scientist an' all.

Mobi, i think i made it quite clear that i can only speak for myself and i mentioned (more than once) that i respect other opinions. what i reject is advice based on generalising because it just doesn't apply to me.

and yes, i fully agree if you think i'm an @sshole as i'm quite used to it. since a few days more than two dozen of my friends from various countries of this planet have gathered for our traditional annual "general meeting" in Pattaya. and not one single day has passed that i wasn't called an @sshole because i live a rather secluded life.

[Naam]

Would the forum be closed to those under 60?

other criteria should be used, e.g.:

-no enlarged prostate = membership under review

-getting "one up" a second time without a blue or yellow pill = membership denied!

[PeaceBlondie]

For those confused about retirement in Thailand and drawing SS benefits between your 62nd birthday and your full retirement age (FRA), please read my post #85 again. If you don't work as an employee 46 hours in a month, you get your full check (which of course is reduced from what it would have been at FRA). If you tell the SS you were employed more than that, you lose your entire check for that month, regardless of the dollar amounts of your wages or your pension. Once you reach FRA, you can work again, subject to the phased-in dollar limitation which is now at $1,080 per month.

This is a typical subject for a forum about retirement.

[jaideeguy]

yep, a retired old 'deadhead' thanks you for confirming that i will get my pittance from the social security system [as long as it will survive]. too bad jerry didn't get his!!!

[naka]

Funny you should say what you said in you last paragraph.

A couple of days ago I pm'd admin asking if is possible to have a specfic "Retiement in Thailand" sub forum.

I also think it could be very useful

A bunch of old farts discussing our prostates and where we can find a good deal in Viagra?

It will take some convincing as far as I'm concerned - I don't think I've got one foot in the grave quite yet

Would the forum be closed to those under 60?

Never met a soul under 60 who lived on the dark side ... Oops ... bed time.

Didn't really mean it Mobi, it's the beer.

Naka.

Edited November 12, 2007 by naka

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

When I think about it a forum for retired over sixty sounds rather depressing. I don't know what kind of shape my prostrate is in but I can remember as a kid I would write my name in the snow. Now it would have to be in morris code. The only blue pill that does me any good is aleve for my arthritus. And as you get older sometimes those farts get squishy.

Not a subject to brighten up my day.

[farang prince]

Retirement? Who the hel_l has time for that? I have a mother who is 89 that I care for six months out of the year, two Golden Retrievers that demand two six-mile walks every day, and a Thai lover who chases me around the bedroom. And I'm writing a book. I've retired from two 20-year careers and if I keep this pace up I might not make it to my next birthday...but I'll die with a smile on my face. Age is just a state of mind.

[ThaiPauly]

When I think about it a forum for retired over sixty sounds rather depressing. I don't know what kind of shape my prostrate is in but I can remember as a kid I would write my name in the snow. Now it would have to be in morris code. The only blue pill that does me any good is aleve for my arthritus. And as you get older sometimes those farts get squishy.

Not a subject to brighten up my day.

Who said anything about being over 60 to be involved or qualify? In fact there need not be an age limit at all, I have read many posts on the general forum about wannabe retirees,how much do they need to save to fulfill their dream, how much will they need to live on, where the best place to retire to is etc

The age at which we can apply for a retirement visa here is 50 anyway not 60...I am nowhere near 60

Why would a retirement forum be depressing?

We are none of us getting any younger and there is a forum dedicated to health, body and medicine that is very well used already.

Healthy retirees have a lot going for them in Thailand But some (me for example) can find retirement a bit boring so an exchange of ideas can be quite productive

My idea for a "Retirement Forum" woul be to discuss issues pertaining to how life in LOS works out for those of us over 50, discussions relating to pensions, housing, hobbies.

TP

[PeaceBlondie]

Topics about retirement can be positive and beneficial, whether we have it in a separate forum or not. Finding the right meds, or the right doctor, is a blessing. My biggest problems since retiring in 1998 have been from crashing motorcycles!

For many of us who grew up in the West, life meant activity, doing, working, going, coming back. It doesn't seem 'normal' to sit around the house and do nothing, or just type on internet forums, or drink with our friends, or sleep late and take afternoon naps. Now I'll take a late morning nap to recover from the latest motorcycle fall.....

[OlRedEyes]

Retirement is great if it doesn't entail stopping your life. To me retirement means having the luxury and flexibility in time to act as an active consultant in developing my wife and daughters' business and personal skills, and seeing them grow. One always needs a passion to continue living, and my passion is seeing and helping them fulfil their potential.

Lying around, drinking and playing golf would kill me in a few short years for sure.

[stateman]

I'll admit I haven't gone through all the postings and it is a lengthy thread, so I apologize if the OP already covered this.

My Q to the OP is: Aside from the missing challenges, if you can look purely on the bottom line for a moment.

As the RE and stock prices are projected to go south, would you consider parking your money at a safe place for now. Wait until the RE price drops significantly, then go back to pick them up at that time. You may make out quite well collecting rent etc. The price drop may be significant enough that it may be worth waiting for the big drop!

Your comment about the RE and stock market is applicable to the US market. It does seem that you are right, both markets seem to start creaking and several articles I read projected that the next couples years may see more drops.

As to challenge, I have no comment, as I am sure there are enough comments already.

[Mobi]

But maybe you should consider the fact that you can only offer the point of view of a person who is unable to converse in Thai, whereas I, and many others, have been on both sides of the fence - having been at one time unable to speak Thai, to farangs who now can. So I would respectfully suggest that our experience is a little more valid than your own - not withstanding your undoubted greater intellect - being a retired scientist an' all.

Mobi, i think i made it quite clear that i can only speak for myself and i mentioned (more than once) that i respect other opinions. what i reject is advice based on generalising because it just doesn't apply to me.

and yes, i fully agree if you think i'm an @sshole as i'm quite used to it. since a few days more than two dozen of my friends from various countries of this planet have gathered for our traditional annual "general meeting" in Pattaya. and not one single day has passed that i wasn't called an @sshole because i live a rather secluded life.

Nam, I would never think for one moment that you are an @sshole, and I certainly wouldn't call you one. Those that do, should look to themselves.

I didn't intend to offer advice - only an opinion - and I'm sorry if it came over as otherwise. Must have been contemplating my prostate, as us oldies are apt to do on occasion

[jbowman1993]

My personal view is that many western economies will begin to have a difficult time from 2007 onwards. Housing markets in the UK and US are substantially over priced and a substantial correction will take place at some point in the next two or three years. Similarly stock markets are also overpriced and a major correction is on the cards. The knock on effect will be that exchange and deposit rates will become seriously unattractive for savers.

So logically, you're going to head back and dive right in..... Not sure I follow this particular train of thought

[chiang mai]

My personal view is that many western economies will begin to have a difficult time from 2007 onwards. Housing markets in the UK and US are substantially over priced and a substantial correction will take place at some point in the next two or three years. Similarly stock markets are also overpriced and a major correction is on the cards. The knock on effect will be that exchange and deposit rates will become seriously unattractive for savers.

So logically, you're going to head back and dive right in..... Not sure I follow this particular train of thought

Before I remind you that the post you responded to is one year old and things have certainly moved on since it was written, I will remind you of the the key message of the post in the first place which was to point out that having something useful to do when you retire is critical. The concept of "moving back" was therefore geared towards being involved once again in meaningful activities and no doubt income would be derived as a result. Got it now?