Thread: Retired or not?

I sent my friend an e-mail declining the offer. His response was "I understand completely." Even he wouldn't do it if the tables were turned.

I quit measuring my happiness or accomplishment by the work I did, earnings, or toys bought and sold long ago. While I don't live a completely austere life, it is quite simple nonetheless. I am free from the intrusion of the work place and its mostly competitive caustic environment. Those days are gone forever.

Thanks again "Oh,Oh" for your sage advice.

I also used to have "letting down the side" feelings when I turned down a job - kind of like 'if they thought enough of me to offer it, maybe I should have taken it'. Quite ridiculous, really, as they only saw you as a solution to their need. Eventually, you get over it, but it was kind of strange. Maybe a need for a post-retirement validation of your own perceived worth.......

I have been officially retired now for a little over 6 months and have no regrets. There were a number of good offers thrown at me before coming over here for very good money ($150,000-$200,000), but I had already made up my mind. It had been 6 years since I met my little lady and we have a boy who will turn two in June. Enough time had been wasted, so I packed it all in, liquidated everything and made the plunge.

My profession was one that allowed me to work abroad a little and that was when I first experienced Thailand. I did not love my profession, but it gave me the money to do the things I wanted to do without much limitation. Would I ever go back to that life? No, I don't think so, but I have learned never say never. Right now I am pretty much living on my social security checks and building a house off some of my retirement money while banking the rest. I feel pretty comfortable and do not feel any financial pressure like when I was working.

If you have a profession you love, I understand working until you can not work anymore. If you are working to afford a good life then you probably will also need to continue working. If you have enough money to live on and do not love your job, then you can retire full time and live happily ever after (one would hope).

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Maybe a need for a post-retirement validation of your own perceived worth.......

Exactly, good insight. In this case, (my case) it was a call out of the blue with no active job search. A friend asking a friend.

I've seen many of your posts rickschoppers over time. I think you have a good sense of what is important.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

If you have enough money to live on and do not love your job, then you can retire full time and live happily ever after (one would hope).

Not that easy for many who have no interest outside there job and an unhappy home life.

Suppose the secret is to throw it all down the shitter retire to Thailand and enjoy what short time one has left.

Many seem to do this and its a viable alternative I would argue.

Originally Posted by terry57

Not that easy for many who have no interest outside there job and an unhappy home life.

it is their life and everything is in their hands

don't feel sorry for them!

What if you have outside interests, plenty of resources, and a good home life? Are you still allowed to throw it all down the shitter for a piece of Thailand?

Not everyone here is a misfit or malcontent. Your case excepted, but chalk that up to quality drugs and active lifestyle. Lots of jealous folks here Terry. Only dream of living like a Rock Star.

Originally Posted by ltnt

Thanks again "Oh,Oh"

Your life is your life and the decision was yours.

Originally Posted by ltnt

What if you have outside interests, plenty of resources, and a good home life? Are you still allowed to throw it all down the shitter for a piece of Thailand?

Erm, I am confused with this post and maybe someone can explain it for me.

Why would any person who has all of the above possibly want to come live in Thailand ?

I imagine that a few guys have relocated there farang wife to Thailand after there retirement but it would be very rare indeed I would Imagine.

The vast majority take a new Thai partner which seems much more sensible.

Maybe I'm missing something in his post.

Whatever.

Originally Posted by terry57

Why would any person who has all of the above possibly want to come live in Thailand ? I imagine that a few guys have relocated there farang wife

you are assuming that someone who has a good home life is married!

says a lot about you, Terry, the unmarried man

^

Doc, are you off your Meds lately by any chance. ?

Your following me around like a crying little whining bitch.

Do me a favor and fuck off will you.

Theres a good girl.

Thanks for that.

Loon faced turd puncher...??

Originally Posted by terry57

The vast majority take a new Thai partner which seems much more sensible.

yeh 25>45. simple math.

Originally Posted by terry57

few guys have relocated there farang wife

No ferang wife. Assumption incorrect. Sorry to say it, but Dr. Andy's correct.
"Loon faced turd puncher." Good one. Photo request of such an animal please.

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Loon faced turd puncher...??

Eloquent.

Originally Posted by ltnt

I've seen many of your posts rickschoppers over time. I think you have a good sense of what is important.

Thanks for that. I only wish this sense extended into my earlier years when I made some very stupid mistakes.

Terry, I think you have the wrong idea of why all of us chose Thailand to retire/live. I travelled most of my life looking at countries thinking whether I could spend some extended time there. At first, I thought Mexico back in the '80-'90s before all the drug cartels ruined everything. It had the pace, the people, the environment and most important for me, the lack laws for everything. I once thought you could do anything in Mexico, short of killing someone, and not get hassled. As we all know, that environment changed along with the Mexicans figuring out how to raise the cost on everthing for the grino to match what it paid in the US.

After travelling around the world a few times, Thailand seems to be the best choice for me. This decision was not made until about 10 years before I retired and I started putting all of my effort into learning more about the people and the country. I had been visiting Thailand since the '80s, but that was as a vacationer, not a person looking to live there. Some of the front runners for my retirement were Belize, Panama, Nicaragua and Brazil. All were latin countries since Spanish is a language I learned after all my trips to Mexico.

It is true a lot of us come here because the cost of living is affordable and the women are some of the most beautiful in the world. Given I had millions of dollars, I do not think I would have retired in the US or any other country for that matter. I chose Thailand because I genuinely like it here.

Don't think we all have no other place to retire, or you are barking up the wrong tree.

I do think some of you lovely fellows have missed my point as in general a person who is 100 % happy with his lot would not be fucking off to Thailand.

This is a fact but to be perfectly honest as long as you guys are having a wow of a time that's all that matters but going on the amount of threads bemoaning the wows of Thailand I must say its not all sweet in the Land Of Smiles.

Many punters would be quite happy to pack it all in and return to there home countries but because they have cut there ties and burnt there bridges they are destined to remain in purgatory for the term off there natural life.

Anyway, who gives a fuk and in conclusion that nasty DcAndy is only upset with me because he has no prospects in the real world and has been forced to relocate to a 3rd world country.

Suck it up Doc, life will be over soon.

Nice house by the way but that seems to be the extent of your joyous time as you certainly are a steaming sad piece of tefling scum.

Oh did I tell you..........







Go get fuked cocksucker.

Originally Posted by terry57

I do think some of you lovely fellows have missed my point as in general a person who is 100 % happy with his lot would not be fucking off to Thailand.

that point is incorrect, dear chap, almost a Smeg-like point

people relocate for all sorts of reasons, nothing to do with whether they are happy where they are or not

incidentally, do you know anyone who is 100% happy?

Originally Posted by terry57

in conclusion that nasty DcAndy is only upset with me because he has no prospects in the real world and has been forced to relocate to a 3rd world country

your assumptions are, once again, way off mark

look at your own life and assess if you are happy with your status, that is all that matters

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Originally Posted by ltnt

I've seen many of your posts rickschoppers over time. I think you have a good sense of what is important.

Thanks for that. I only wish this sense extended into my earlier years when I made some very stupid mistakes.

We all did, that's why its called "Youth."

I got tired of waiting for the rush hour traffic to die down so I could go about my normal days and nights play. I tried rural America for a time but that was not what I was looking for either. I have been in and out of Asia and Thailand much of my adult life. I started looking and evaluating different locations based on my lifestyle and future earnings. Several places made the grade but in the end it was Thailand that took the prize.

I've been through the disillusionment part of the selection and now have settled in to what I imagine is compromise. I live my life without hindrance from anyone any government agencies, lawyers, clerks or police. A lot like Mexico was in the 60's and 70's. One of my most desired needs for selection was the lack of laws or their enforcement. Not that I'm a criminal type, but just like the freedom from enforcers. Sadly it seems those who moved here from Europe now want to impose laws that killed free men in Europe on Thailand. It sucks.

You are correct Terry, I wasn't 100% happy in my past domicile. You do have some interesting perspectives on life and as quoted, by experience not books. Keep up the keen insights.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Do you know anyone who is 100% happy?

look at your own life and assess if you are happy with your status, that is all that matters

Thank you very much Doc, now we are back to a civil discussion I will answer your questions but these are my views only and I do not expect all of Teak Door to agree with them hence my previous posts and there's no need to abuse me.

Anyway, you are 100% correct when you say we are not 100 % happy and any person who claims to be is a fraud much like the comedian who cries at night alone in his room.

All we can do is roll with the punches of life and hopefully create an environment where we reach a sort of happy medium . Its not an easy venture and takes many of us a life time to achieve.

I have assessed my life many times as you have suggested , actually started when I was 16 and I'm fairly sure I've worked it out.

All I need In my life is to be free to choose what I want to do and Financial enough to actually have the means to do it.

This makes me very happy and contented.

Thanks for asking Doc and I'm sorry I blasted you.

Cheers and lets get on with it.

I have been semi-retired for 3-4 years.
Have a business thats runs under management and carry on dealing in antiques because it as much a hobby as a job.
I cannot imagine being fully retired, as much as my kids would like me to.
I need stimulus which doesn't come from cutting the grass.
Each to their own i guess.
As for retiring to Thailand, i love the place but cannot consider living there . Too many grandchildren pulling on the heartstrings