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Thread: Retirement.

  1. #1
    Thailand Expat

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    Retirement.

    https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic..._campaign=news

    I notice that Thailand has steamed into the top ten locations for retirement, with gushing pride from TAT of course.

    Has Thailand morphed into the kind of place you might consider for a retirement home?

    There is a big difference between finding your ideal life partner, and deliberately choosing a country based on purely retirement options. I know very few who came here just to die in relative peace and comfort.

    Certainly there are options for the retiree, in terms of busy and interesting social activities, or the more rural and even cultural retreats, but I’m equally sure, there are many who came to relax in a tropical climate where the living costs are as amenable as the company.

    Its easy to be critical, and forget that in many ways, Thailand is still a developing, third world country. It has sufficient Wild West culture about it for elderly drunkards to settle here, but has it changed much over the last decade?

    In my personal experience, the significant numbers of single blokes arriving for holidays, or even staying long term, has dried up, to be replaced by a similar number of families opting for cheap package tour visits.

    But what of the retirees? Is it still bristling with options today, or has the climate changed as Thailand tries to drag itself into developed country status. TAT will seize on anything and willingly blow it out of proportion, so what is the truth about Thailand as a retirement destination?

  2. #2
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    Depends what kinda retirement you want.


    I'm very happy here with mine.

  3. #3
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    How much do you need to retire in Thailand?

  4. #4
    A Cockless Wonder
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    Quote Originally Posted by Switch View Post
    https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic..._campaign=news
    You cannot start a TD thread by linking to a TV thread.

    That is a jailable offence.


  5. #5
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    I was living here numerous times working for US companies and just liked it. Sure it has its issues but overall its an alright place to live. Now that said, I did end up meeting a woman later and we just connected which was just a plus in all of it.

    This is why I had no issue building a casa here with her and calling it a career. Its an easy life.

  6. #6
    กงเกวียนกำเกวียน HuangLao's Avatar
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    Retire....??


  7. #7
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    Yeah a great time to fuckin retire to Thailand
    Top troll thread from TV and possibly Smeg for a Friday night to see who's living the dream.

  8. #8
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Well,

    All places have pros and cons. Personal druthers, legalities, financials, infrastructure, medical, cuisine, hobbies, the list goes on and on.

    Thailand’s “OK”. In the uhm... contest, Thailand ranked #9 out of 25.

    Wife’s decision, home country, she “suffered” twenty plus years in the States, so, I’ve got more than a decade to go before the score evens up.

    Now, to the real Thailand: pretty temples, pretty girls, excellent food, reasonable cost-of-living, minimal taxation, fine beaches, culture, diversity… then, add in the pollution, vermin, traffic, police, immigration, food, poverty, noise, smells, attitudes, crime, culture (other side of the coin), language, military…

    Many visit, some relocate, a few stay, some leave… vacationing here is quite different from living here.

    A successful expat retirement takes a certain type of individual with a good amount of flexibility, living in a foreign country is not for the meek.

    As I said earlier, wife’s home country, it works for me. Better places, sure there are many, but, I’m flexible and intend to die here. Hopefully not in the near future though.

    My biggest concern is the political/military administration, things can go south in an instant.

    Should the proverbial shit hit the fan I’m at the mercy of my extended family and the US Embassy…

  9. #9
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by buriramboy View Post
    How much do you need to retire in Thailand?
    enough to pay the bills

  10. #10
    In Uranus
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    Quote Originally Posted by buriramboy View Post
    How much do you need to retire in Thailand?
    I do not think that that dividend check your uncle cuts you to stay away from the family business is enough. Best you stay in Blighty and go out after dark looking for dick twinkboy you pathetic creeper.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by bowie View Post
    enough to pay the bills
    I was just being facetious due to the question having been asked a million times.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by bsnub View Post
    I do not think that that dividend check your uncle cuts you to stay away from the family business is enough. Best you stay in Blighty and go out after dark looking for dick twinkboy you pathetic creeper.
    The Walter Mitty Tesla driving property magnate having another night alone with the bottle. That skanky crack ho you call a girlfriend not letting you play stink finger anymore?

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by buriramboy View Post
    I was just being facetious due to the question having been asked a million times.
    The question about your repressed sexuality?

  14. #14
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by buriramboy View Post
    I was just being facetious due to the question having been asked a million times.
    ditto...

  15. #15
    I'm in Jail

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    Die here? Well if you're here you've allready upped the odds of that. No joke in that. As for myself I'll admit I've not toured Thailand. In fact I've only done a few tours of Laos and only this time of year. I can't wait to come here in the hot, humid rainy season. You know, because I'm loving this "dry" season so much.

    Figure it like this, a Seattle basement at 98°F. I think the Japanese pay for this type of environment, Sorry I don't know the word for sauna.

    Of course I'm out in the styx in Laos but Bangkok would work for a bit then tour around ect.

    As for being able to that depends. On health, sense of being and wealth.

    I was talking to a girl in town that said she gets by in Pakse on 350usd a month. I wouldn't l plug myself anywhere in the world on less than what it would take to get back to reality. But that's just me.

    I did visit the newest dental clinic today just to feel it out. The doc was Viet the gal Loa. She translated for us as I asked about his practice. It's like hey man, just pull the right tooth.

    Not too down low. Here is a pic.
    Last edited by fishlocker; 11-01-2019 at 07:59 PM.

  16. #16
    I'm in Jail

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    I didn't take a pic inside. That would be rude.

  17. #17
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fishlocker View Post
    Die here?
    Yup, conscious decision. Spent my life traveling, gets very old, lots of work in moving, did my very last relocation (planned relocation). Can't control the future and if things go south, gotta get outta here, but, can't control that.

    Again, wife's home country, happy wife, happy life, ya know. So, I'll settle here. Been to and lived at more places than I can count. Pretty much all are the same, pros & cons, good folks & bad folks, common sense but, home is where and what you make it.

    I'm happy... no more work, schedules, missions, milestones, reports... quite like an empty bucket list with a blank "To Do" list.

    Quite blissful when the highlight of the day is grocery shopping, or, on one of those really productive days, filling up the gas tank.

  18. #18
    I'm in Jail

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    Nice, good for you. Someday I may give up my working ways and slow down a bit. I just don't know if I'm ready for that at this point in my life.

    It is somewhat of a brain tease going from being surrounded by the gang I am at home and that of here. Believe me it's a challenge. If I wasn't a perfectionist and lowered my expectations, as I do when here to a dumbed down level I've never experienced in the west, I could deal and learn to overlook the "situations."

    Example. They build a beautiful room for me then ask were I'd like the curtain rods placed. I show them exactly how high above the window to center the curtains.

    I come back ten minutes later and I've a level rod with four inches on the right and three on the left!

    Almost lost it. I'm glad I was smiling and laughing as I said in English " you can build a room like this and not hang a curtain rod"
    I pointed at bils wife who was in the room and said that she could probably have done a better job!

    We straitened it out and I helped them with the other one. They are close but not spot on.

    Like I said learning to lower expectations is a must around here. If not I'd go bonkers
    Last edited by fishlocker; 11-01-2019 at 08:42 PM.

  19. #19
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    Been thinking about leaving Thailand myself, been here a long time, bored. have 100 rai of rubber and 10 rai of industrial' land.
    Baht is strong compared to the Oz Dollar, or UK pound, like northern Queensland and the highlands of Scotland.
    ]
    House prices are not bad, given the exchange rate, may be time to pull the plug and more on.

  20. #20
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    Where would you more on to?


    Quite happy spending the next 40 years in SEA meself. Vietnam, Laos perhaps, when I get older, Burma if the infrastructure and development take off in 20-30 years time, The Philippines or Indo if feel like beaches.

  21. #21
    I'm in Jail

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    I've some rental properties in the states and XXk annually in dividends from investments, no Tesla, haha. I still don't feel safe about jumping ship onto a foreign Shore. I've looked around a bit and figure in five years or so I may use this place as a winter retreat.

    Thought about other income streams like a hotel, restaurant or guest houses but I've seen too many failures here in Laos.

    Retirement should be that, retirement. No worries, no workers, no headaches.

    South America may be on the list. Thailand is not #1 for many reasons. I can't imagine where Loas is on the list.
    But as others have stated it's where thier honey is from so there you go.

  22. #22
    I'm in Jail

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    It's 9pm and I have to admit it's peaceful here. I hear crickets and other insects and a lizard clicking about above me while out on the north deck as I gaze at the lights across the river reflecting off the water.

    I could live like this. It sure is tempting but then I'm gonna need a bigger boat...

    fish

  23. #23
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fishlocker View Post
    I come back ten minutes later and I've a level rod with four inches on the right and three on the left!
    deja vu...

    I worked primarily with degreed engineers, a cut above the rest ya'd think, initially (least 'til I learned how things are here), I spend so much time "redoing" stuff that just wasn't up to requirements.

    The sad part about it is, these were good motivated folk who liked my and wanted to please me. They (unfortunately for all involved) were performing at their peak. They were doing the very best they could. Turned out I had to do everything that was critical - somewhat frustrating, but, you do what you got to do.

    Course, they liked me so much because the other falang on the job was an angry hot headed (or hot hearted in their terms) who well, let me put it this way, he was not diplomatic.

    Anyway, I had a job to do, you work with the tools you got and you make it work. Adapt to the situation, or go crazy with frustration.

    Those days are behind me now - tolerance - live it.

  24. #24
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fishlocker View Post
    Example. They build a beautiful room for me then ask were I'd like the curtain rods placed. I show them exactly how high above the window to center the curtains.

    I come back ten minutes later and I've a level rod with four inches on the right and three on the left!

    Almost lost it. I'm glad I was smiling and laughing as I said in English " you can build a room like this and not hang a curtain rod"
    Sounds like it was similar to going to the dealership because the car pulls to the left, then they think it's fixed after lowering the tires to 25 psi on one side of the car.

  25. #25
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Luigi View Post
    because the car pulls to the left
    Well, my folk would have overcorrected and got it to pull slightly to the right. - See that, no more pulling to the left!

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