Thread: If you do not wish to live in LOS

Originally Posted by runner

Quite often the best places to retire are the best places to work too.

True. Thailand qualifies. One can make a living and retire here. I did.

LOS - wife's home country.

Otherwise - Italy. Bella Italia. a lovely country. Fantastic food, beautiful passionate people, pleasant language.

Next up - my home country - USA. probably Mississippi, Bama, perhaps, Louisiana. Good food, pleasant living, friendly people. Enjoyable lifestyle.

I'm in Guatemala now, cost of living similar to Chiang Mai. Spanish is certainly easier to speak, read and write than Thai.

If you are approaching retirement and can't afford to retire comfortably in your home country then there are many great places to live that will match your income. But if you have a Thai wife it is going to be pretty tough to sell her on moving to Mexico or Uruguay and not Issan

You are not wrong, Carnwadrick.
In my mid 60s, no pension, my $$$ is dwindling - still quite OK.
Coming from Oz, I am biased towards Asian countries but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Thai wife in the Nth - she does not even like going to BKK. Food - another challenge.

I have no intentions of ever leaving Thailand. No reason to. I've tried 90% of the places listed already so I'm not going back.

If it were a more peaceful location and without its draconian laws and religion, I wouldn't mind living in Saudi Arabia. That's not going to happen, but it is a very diverse geography, warm most of the time, generally gracious people, nice beaches and blue waters, deserts mountains and aqua farms. I like isolation.

I am in agreement. Leaving LOS is a remote chance.
If I were to, India - visa etc to difficult.
Morocco etc - interesting but again logistically a big challenge.
So, I guess - LOS it is - 12+ years now.

Rickchoppers--forget Venezeuala as the drop in oil price has devatated that country ( and govt policies ). Shortages of everything and very high crime rate. The people are really hurting now.

Originally Posted by Paddy Whackery

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Panama, Belize, Mexico, Venezuela, Honduras, in that order.

I speak much more Spanish than Thai, otherwise all have low cost of living and is closer to the US where I can use Medicare.

Likewise, i have a lot more spanish than my non-existent thai. Mexico would be a great place if not for all the corruption. I spent a few days in Tijuana last year and it's a tragedy of monumental proportions. Not just blocks of derelict buildings, but entire neighborhoods of derelict buildings. It should be the most prosperous place on earth, with a good dollar exchange rate, nice weather, cheap healthcare and just a tram ride from San Diego. If it wasn't for the narco trade scaring people away, americans would be retiring there in droves and everyone there would have a job.

Taiwan might be an option...now where did i put that lotto ticket???

Tijuana is not really Mexico. It is like saying all of Thailand is like Pattaya. I surfed and fished Baja for over 30 years and stopped after the drug cartels started causing problems and prices began to rise. There are parts of Mexico that are very nice, but they still do not have the infrastructure needed. Many foreigners retire to Mexico but the prices have still risen dramatically over time once a particular area is infested by gringos.

^couple friends just went to live in Mexico, San Miguel Alliende I believe. Nothing much, just a tourist heaven for arts type folks. The shine will wear off soon. Good they are just renting at $2,000/mo for a 1 bedroom apt.

Interesting Baja is so common on many peoples minds. Used to go every Friday night when in my teens...wide open place. Anything goes and everything did. Ensanada was great, K-69 just a little ways outside was great for surfing and weekend parties. Swimming with the seals and porpoise was great. T. J> could have been a great place but the corruption killed that one.

^
One of my favorite surf spots along with Stacks. We would camp out next to Estero Beach for 1 dollar a day and buy cases of Carte Blanca beer for 3.40 as long as you returned the bottles. Those were the days.

To pay 2000 dollars for a house is high IMO. One of the reasons I picked Thailand to retire in. They must be staying in a gringo neighborhood which I always avoided.

^Yes they are, but the towns pretty much Gringo. Same as Guadalajara, 200,000 Gringos. I don't know the attraction with "interior Mexico." If I were going there to retire it would be on the Pacific coast near Playa Azuel, south of Acuapulco. Great beach, don't know about now, cheap and clean.

Went to Xtapa-Zajuantinejo once. Getaway place for folks from Mexico City. Great wide open beaches empty of everything. Just you and the beach. Mexicans stay in the resorts swimming pools.

Peru was on my list, Cuzco. then Bali, but not now. thought seriously about Chile due to their European influences and beautiful ladies. Argentina as well not all that bad. 2 years in Venezuela and that cured me of Military Leaders.

Sumatra might be a good destination? Cambodia and Laos always open options...Vietnam is ovr priced and over policed, so its a no.

Canada? Cheap for Americans today, but still "its Canada." No thanks. Eastern Europe perhaps? Good enough for Snowden...and Looper...

Originally Posted by cnx37

I am in agreement. Leaving LOS is a remote chance.
If I were to, India - visa etc to difficult.

Sri Lanka / Andaman islands?

This bollox I keep reading about Thai women not adjusting to living in the West, has anyone actually got any experience of it or is it just something that was said once upon a time, repeated endlessly and became fact??? I know a fair amount of Thais from all different walks of life in the UK and I've yet to come across one in the UK who has failed to adjust/settle.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

^
One of my favorite surf spots along with Stacks. We would camp out next to Estero Beach for 1 dollar a day and buy cases of Carte Blanca beer for 3.40 as long as you returned the bottles. Those were the days.

To pay 2000 dollars for a house is high IMO. One of the reasons I picked Thailand to retire in. They must be staying in a gringo neighborhood which I always avoided.

Problem is sod all places left where the USD is worth anything...Thailand, Phils, certain places in South America. You could live in Cambodia but it sounds like one big, dysfunctional theme park and certain things cost more than you would pay in thailand. Even Vietnam looks pricey these days...

U tube "expats reserve channel" or "expats full" for some good info. The Hobotraveler would be the guy to ask. Having actually been there (90 plus countries) that is. I hope to travel a bit myself before committing to any one place. Hell if I was young and had the money I would sail around a while. Always liked the Lagoon Catamarans. The crew of SV Delos is living the dream now. I admire that though I need sound security before I toss what I have to chase something else.

Sri Lanka has an attraction to me. Years ago, I spent some time in Kandy. I stayed in a Buddhist wat & met a widow of a gem dealer.
Lost all contact now.
Websites are uninformative.

Originally Posted by Yemen

Rickchoppers--forget Venezeuala as the drop in oil price has devatated that country ( and govt policies ). Shortages of everything and very high crime rate. The people are really hurting now.

Had it on my list because of the great deep sea fishing. I am aware of the issues they have in that country, but what country doesnt have issues?

Originally Posted by buriramboy

This bollox I keep reading about Thai women not adjusting to living in the West, has anyone actually got any experience of it or is it just something that was said once upon a time, repeated endlessly and became fact??? I know a fair amount of Thais from all different walks of life in the UK and I've yet to come across one in the UK who has failed to adjust/settle.

My wife adjusted to life in the West no problema but was glad to get back here after 30 + years in Farangland.

It's all about the Family, you know?

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

My wife adjusted to life in the West no problema but was glad to get back here after 30 + years in Farangland.

That's along time to be keeping a hostage mate. Stockholm syndrome?

Originally Posted by Lancelot

I'm in Guatemala now, cost of living similar to Chiang Mai. Spanish is certainly easier to speak, read and write than Thai.

What is the cost of living in Guatemala versus Thailand?

Originally Posted by chassamui

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

My wife adjusted to life in the West no problema but was glad to get back here after 30 + years in Farangland.

That's along time to be keeping a hostage mate. Stockholm syndrome?

Finding oriental food stores was the major difficulty.

Taking her out of LOS gave her a good perspective on the natives here when we got back!

The UK is fine for a black and white, workaday existence - yet, a largely comfortable one.

However, there is something inherently pleasing about coming to in an Isaan ditch with broiled rat on the belch.

It is indeed a tough call.

^ So don't make that call - find a place that offers the best of both worlds. They do exist.