Where next.

[liveinlos]

It seems the whole world is buggered.

correct

so instead of a lot of old men whingeing about their sad, negative lives, make those lives happy wherever you may live

Anywhere you live can be dissected and faults found, but also the benefits if you be positive

It is common that some people will never be happy with their choice, because that misery is inside them and travels with them

I don't think anyone is whining, everyone is stating their own opinions and situations are different for everyone.

You have to be an idiot to think you can make life happy where ever you live? Maybe you should try that speech with the teachers living in the south getting killed everyday or move yourself and your family down there and tell us how happy you are dodging bullets on the way to school everyday.

The point is anyone can survive and scuttle along through life with a meek existence anywhere and lull themselves into thinking that it is happiness or completely give up and settle for what little they have.

People can falsely lull themselves into thinking they got the world by the balls by living in Chiang Mai and other places while their kids grow up to be as uneducated as all the Thai's around them.

It was a pretty damn happy time in 1997 when the financial markets crashed here overnight. Maybe you didn't live here then but I can sure tell you it wasn't a happy time for anyone or any personal misery someone was carrying around like you claim.

If you think Thailand isn't heading in that direction again, all I can say is wait and see. Let's see how happy you are in the markets crash again overnight and all your cash is trapped in the bank.

It is common that some people realize and understand the downward slide Thailand has been in for years and wanting to improve the quality of life for their families

Some people you cannot argue with because it is like wrestling with a pig in the mud, the pig simply enjoys it to much.

You come off pretty darn arrogant thinking it is a bunch of old men whining when some people are smart enough to be looking ahead for greener pastures.

The problem with these forums is that instead of sharing something positive, there are always those like yourself interjecting personal opinions that have no merit or add anything to any of the readers here

There are some times you should simply not say anything if you cannot contribute positively

Your comments are not the sign of a happy man at all

[ltnt]

because that misery is inside them and travels with them

Nicely put Andy. Simple and to the point. Although Liveinlos does not agree with you're sentiment. Perhaps we get caught up in our own version of right/wrong and somewhere in-between liveinlos, as you are trapped economically, personally and emotionally it appears by your dream being dispelled.

All the world is in turmoil, its not just Thailand. You're thinking, or reasoning power is excellent, but looking toward America as your escape is faulty to the inth degree. You're 50 plus, there are no jobs for you there, unless you have connections/networks. If not, I would suggest you apply for a job in the ME where Ex-pats make what they're worth. You have a good education, and background in military stuff, so its a natural transition to the M.E.

I was in and out of Thailand before the 97 bubble, during it and after 97. Its not hard on people who have nothing in any series of events. Life remained exactly the same as it always was, shitty end of the stick. those greedy Thais that mortgaged their futures and their children s futures and their grandchildren s futures in the 90's are back doing it again. Nothing changes. The biggest bubble maker is never going away. "Greed." That goes for every county and its citizens.

Good luck with you're decision and I agree, 7/11 is a bad decision. Looked at it 9 years ago. Try a coffee shop in a good to great location.

[sabang]

The laissez faire attitude here is certainly addictive

Addictive to some- but anathema for others. Fortunately I belong in the first category, but many westerners do not. We really are a stressed out race, y'know.

There is no boredom in my entire life that has ever compared to living this far out in the sticks

Actually, rural Thailand is a great place to end up if you're already bored. Bored of working, consumerism, congested cities, stressed out people, stoopid fashions, shallow ambition, shopping malls selling branded shite, etc etc. It's a great place to turn your back on all that, and live a pleasantly boring life instead.

[liveinlos]

because that misery is inside them and travels with them

Nicely put Andy. Simple and to the point. Although Liveinlos does not agree with you're sentiment. Perhaps we get caught up in our own version of right/wrong and somewhere in-between liveinlos, as you are trapped economically, personally and emotionally it appears by your dream being dispelled.

All the world is in turmoil, its not just Thailand. You're thinking, or reasoning power is excellent, but looking toward America as your escape is faulty to the inth degree. You're 50 plus, there are no jobs for you there, unless you have connections/networks. If not, I would suggest you apply for a job in the ME where Ex-pats make what they're worth. You have a good education, and background in military stuff, so its a natural transition to the M.E.

I was in and out of Thailand before the 97 bubble, during it and after 97. Its not hard on people who have nothing in any series of events. Life remained exactly the same as it always was, shitty end of the stick. those greedy Thais that mortgaged their futures and their children s futures and their grandchildren s futures in the 90's are back doing it again. Nothing changes. The biggest bubble maker is never going away. "Greed." That goes for every county and its citizens.

Good luck with you're decision and I agree, 7/11 is a bad decision. Looked at it 9 years ago. Try a coffee shop in a good to great location.

Maybe you should reread the first post?

Trapped economically?

I fail to see how owning 2 homes, a farm, 2 vehicles that are all paid for and investing in a business has trapped me economically or maybe you cannot read and are just trying to kiss some ass here?

Being able to throw down US $50,000 cash really sound likes I am economically trapped?

Coffee shop?

If you had bought a 7/11 9 years ago when they were booming and locations readily available you would have been living the good life by now

You are clueless as to what is going on here.

By the way in and out of Thailand doesn't qualify you for anything

How many Thai's committed suicide and lost everything they owned in 1997?

You are quite short on truth and the facts

Re-read the first post before you speak next time

More bullshit comments from those in and out that think they know it all

You are the exact reason why more people do not contribute and post here

When you are selling helicopters to the Army, overhauling AAV-7 for the Navy and doing computer systems engineering modifications for Thai Airways then come and tell me how economically challenged I am.

Not everyone here is TEFL like you think

Just another bullshit talker that these farang forums are famous for.

[Rural Surin]

It seems the whole world is buggered.

correct

so instead of a lot of old men whingeing about their sad, negative lives, make those lives happy wherever you may live

Anywhere you live can be dissected and faults found, but also the benefits if you be positive

It is common that some people will never be happy with their choice, because that misery is inside them and travels with them

Well thought out, Andy.
All this above is true.....how is it that those collective whiners can't see this?

[sabang]

"I'm unhappy because of where I am living."
This is one of the great lies people tell themselves.

[beazalbob69]

The laissez faire attitude here is certainly addictive

Addictive to some- but anathema for others. Fortunately I belong in the first category, but many westerners do not. We really are a stressed out race, y'know.

There is no boredom in my entire life that has ever compared to living this far out in the sticks

Actually, rural Thailand is a great place to end up if you're already bored. Bored of working, consumerism, congested cities, stressed out people, stoopid fashions, shallow ambition, shopping malls selling branded shite, etc etc. It's a great place to turn your back on all that, and live a pleasantly boring life instead.

My thoughts exactly Sabang thats why I am making the move. I have had more than enough of western living. Everything is fake. Ever been to Disney World? Almost made me puke. Pay through the nose for a bunch of plastic bullshit. I don't know why so many don't notice it.

[Rural Surin]

"I'm unhappy because of where I am living."
This is one of the great lies people tell themselves.

A relative to: I become bored easily....

Boredom, like unhappiness is derived from within.

[bushwacker]

Let me start by saying thanks to <livinglos> for his posts and of course taking the time to give us such detail to consider. Needless to say, I agree or at least understand his POV.

I would agree that a 7/11 is a bad idea. One point that I do not remember seeing is that they can open up another store right beside yours if yours turns out to be very profitable. All in all this deck of cards is stacked and not in your favor.

Although only have lived here for 4 and a bit years, I have seen many of the negative changes that have been shared on the thread.

Lately, I have been looking at options for other places to live but really feel an economic constraint. I am retired, but money is not a problem. Well, maybe mentally it is a problem. The issue for me is justifying paying 2 or 3 or 4 times the price for the same product, just because I reside in a different country. So, where as I could easily live in USA, Canada, Europe (etc), why would I live in a country where an average dinner for 2 in a restaurant costs $100 when I could have maybe different food but taste and good for $17. There are 100's of examples. And of course we all know that there are pros and cons, likes and dislikes, personal choices ... this is what makes us all different. So for me, my family of 3 live very well on less than $2000. In Canada, this would cost me over $6000. I could afford to do it, but the mental anguish makes me economically challenged and so I choose to stay here. Until Thailand becomes too expensive or I stumble on another country that is better.

Currently I am looking at Malaysia, Philippines, Columbia and Uruguay.

From the sounds of it liveinlos, has accumulated many assets here, and possibly the economic challenge for him will be to unload the assets at a good price if he so chooses to move on. My wife was on the buy a house kick, any house, for a long time. But then after the flood, it was buy a house that will not get flooded. So, I would think that the flooded house is going to be a huge challenge.

But for sure, the country seems to be regressing!

[chassamui]

liveinlos - Many thanks for such a detailed response. If you still have several years left to secure your family's future then it is difficult to find a way out.

Andy - I don't think posters are actually whining, rather putting in place the arguments for staying or leaving. I'm a cup half full sort of guy mostly.

Sabang - From following your excellent construction thread, I guess you have many years of experience and have made your life the way you want it to be. I too enjoy the peace of the countryside.

The contributions have been helpful overall and I still have time to consider things before coming to a conclusion. It has certainly helped clarify a few things for me. I may be a cup half full sort of guy but I am also pragmatic and will err on the side of caution. I have few assets here that could not be liquidated quickly if the need arises.
I suspect my views differ to most posters because I am retired and others have vested interests here.

[Loy Toy]

I could not stay here in Thailand without a family, a job and normal daily life commitments to keep my going and more accurately disciplined.

Whilst I do run off the rails at times it is the people at home that gets me back on course and enjoy where I am.

[misskit]

Chas, there is a small international expat community forming up in Chaing Dao. It's a bit remote, a couple of hours away from the city of Chiang Mai. Very beautiful area in the mountains. Touristy this time of year only and numbers are small relative to other parts of Thailand.

Check it out when you make your trip to Chiang Mai.

[chassamui]

Check it out when you make your trip to Chiang Mai.

Thanks for that misskit.

[Butterfly]

Building goes on apace with little regard for supporting infrastructure. Immigration offices make up their own interpretation of rules for foreigners. Examples of good customer service and smart marketing and after sales service are so rare they make the news.

if you are start asking those questions, then you know it's time to move on

Thailand is fine as a travel destination,

for retirement, it's debatable, I wouldn't consider it a prime location for retirement, but I am sure some arguments can be found for it.

A friend from HK wants to retire in Phuket, I strongly advised him not to. Don't these people read the news about Phuket scams or do they live in a parallel world ?

[Butterfly]

Chass, you are a Brit, right ?

shouldn't you be in Pattaya or Spain like the rest of them ?

[Loy Toy]

The OP question is such a personal one and particularly as everyone is different.

I think that Chas has outstayed his time here in Thailand and should move on to new pastures that offer new challenges.

He is also quite lucky to be able to make such lifestyle choices as most people get caught trapped in their environment and cannot do a thing about getting out of it.

[Butterfly]

He is also quite lucky to be able to make such lifestyle choices as most people get caught trapped in their environment and cannot do a thing about getting out of it.

indeed, very well said

[chassamui]

I think that Chas has outstayed his time here in Thailand and should move on to new pastures that offer new challenges.

Does this mean I have to move right away LT?

Chass, you are a Brit, right ? shouldn't you be in Pattaya or Spain like the rest of them ?

I am a Brit. Well spotted. I have a great bunch of mates here cultivated over the last few years. I checked out Belgium as I am quite fond of the Ardennes, but it is horrendously expensive. This is what happens when you plonk EU inflated salaries for non jobs in a shit country.

Spain might be an option as house prices dropped 30% last year. Somewhere inland with a pool and a gym would be ok by me.

Never been to Pattaya, or wanted to (sorry LT). Too much flesh on show only most of belongs to flabby farang.

[chassamui]

He is also quite lucky to be able to make such lifestyle choices as most people get caught trapped in their environment and cannot do a thing about getting out of it.

I made a conscious decision not to buy into non disposable assets when I came here.

[ltnt]

Just another bullshit talker that these farang forums are famous for. liveinlos is offline Add to liveinlos's Reputation Report Post Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiTweet this Post!

Wow! quite a response. Worst part is being accused of being a TEFLER. Sorry you got your heart beat up over a simple post trying to reason with you regarding your post.

Assets in Thailand are not liquid, therefore one may have many, but they are not easily sold or traded. Being able to dump 50K into a 7/11 is no small effort, but far from monumental.

Working for the Military Industrial Complex over the years obviously gave you a sense of superiority. Cheers and good luck.

[DrAndy]

There are some times you should simply not say anything if you cannot contribute positively Your comments are not the sign of a happy man at all

oh dear...my comments!? they are positive if they make any whinger sit up and look at life differently
read your own, you sound a real misery, another whiner dressed in nonsense clothing

It is common that some people realize and understand the downward slide Thailand has been in for years and wanting to improve the quality of life for their families

I have to disagree; Thailand is booming, more or less, the economy is good and life is improving for the majority

there is no downward slide, it has been all uphill since the long ago crash in 1997

[Loy Toy]

I made a conscious decision not to buy into non disposable assets when I came here.

Well enough mate.

I was referring to the fact you seem to have planned for your retirement well and can make that all important decision to live where it meets your fancy.

[DrAndy]

Andy - I don't think posters are actually whining, rather putting in place the arguments for staying or leaving. I'm a cup half full sort of guy mostly.

well, not all, but a good percentage are

they seem to blame Thailand for what it is rather than accepting it and working within the different boundaries

[DrAndy]

Assets in Thailand are not liquid, therefore one may have many, but they are not easily sold or traded.

dunno, in the last week we have sold our red bus and agreed to sell a house

all quite straightforward and easy

[Butterfly]

I have to disagree; Thailand is booming, more or less, the economy is good and life is improving for the majority

there is no downward slide, it has been all uphill since the long ago crash in 1997

actually, economic growth will displace all kind of social anchors and will actually make overall quality of life go downward

at the end it's only a trade off, some sees it as getting worse, other are getting better, but it's actually both

cheap labor will be something of the past, unemployment will rise, security will be an issue (it's already), but the average income of Thai will be very much up, and they will become real consumers

is it really better ? it's simply like home, so why bother coming here then ?