What I Love About Thailand

[stogie bear]

If it's somehow possible for you, then go!...

Well - that's my point. It's possible for everyone. All I hear is excuses from people who don't really want to live here but like the idea of it. (Nothing wrong with that mind you!)

If you have a great job at home or a mortgage payment or a family that you feel duty bound to annoy then by all means dream about another life. But too often I hear people fooling themselves that one day their lives will somehow magically get better and they'll be laying on a beach with a teenage girl straddling their hearts until it's time to check in at the gates!

Hey, Kahuna... My post isn't aimed at people who have suddenly stumbled on this place and like it. It's more aimed at people who have known for ages what it's like and still insist on being shackled to The West.

I'm on a one way ride and I can't go back and change the bits I didn't like but I can make sure that the journey to the end will be as happy and as enjoyable as possible.

[TTChang]

What's funnier are the people who want to retire here! What a wasted life that is.

 Hey, Kahuna... My post isn't aimed at people who have suddenly stumbled on this place and like it.

Just in time, Stogie! I was getting ready to debate the first quote with you on Sunday night on behalf of Kahuna & me.  Although I did think you might mean those that delay any decision until they are old & crotchety.

I only travelled out of Europe for first time 2003, after spending many family 'sun' holidays in Spanish resorts in the Med or Canaries, both before & after divorce.  Then to Oz, later to LOS.   Visited LB bar for first time November year ago.

Now thinking of retiring here, or at least spending 6+ months a year in LOS, and dont have to agonise on financial ability to do so.  Probably agree with KL, Hua Hin looks favourite for location - with regular 385 baht train trips back to the candy stores.  Considering Jomtien, too, but not yet convinced on Pattaya - maybe I need some mentoring on that?

[olekunde]

each to his own, but huan hin wtf!!! if you first gonna stay in los why choose a place that is so far away from the sanuk, taken that's the main reason you're going.

you could also check out rayong, south from jomtien, about 30min drive, but jomtien should cover most of your needs.

but it looks like you should visit thailand a few times more to see where you would like to stay, and what you are after. those train-rides could easily get on your nerves after a while ..

[TTChang]

Found a mentor already!  

Truth is I love being in Thailand, for many of the reasons KL mentioned.  So it's not just the LB sanuk.  But you are right about need to stay in LOS longer, and then make any location decision.  Got to get some fresh air somewhere.   Already rejected staying full-time in BKK.

[stogie bear]

Pattaya is like the wild west. Hua Hin for me every time.

[Guest]

(SamplerDoc @ Nov. 02 2006,07:44) Hmm funny you post this....
I have been for the past 2 months or since coming back from BKK....considering going to LOS for 1 year while still getting paid a half salary from the states just to sit on my ass and party.  Very tempting but so much to consider....

Losing half my salary but on the other hand making half and living in LOS, but
What about the Visa issue?
Living costs, for food and shelter... (exclude the LB costs)

Could it be done or am I dreaming?

Course if I stay in the states ..I would consider going to LOS for 2 months vacation instead.

I will do 1 of those 2 options but which?
Any thoughts from you all on here or PM or both would be great.  Thanks in Advance

OK, I thinkthe rest of the world has been successful in convincing you to "just do it". For me a more important question ...

where and what the heck you do to have a luck like this? seriousely, if it's just remotely possible I want to move to your city and do what you do. Is it something in the government?

[SamplerDoc]

After X number of years at work, I am able to if I wish take 6 or 12 months off at half pay and still keep health benefits to study or recover ones health.  This is allowed about 3 times or so over a career.

I now know after discovering the joys of china and LOS just this summer that I need that break at half pay to enjoy these gems while I have health, youth, and cash.

The question now becomes:  Take off 6 0r 12 months and starting when?  In December or June?

The next BIG question is:  Do I stay in USA and be productive and well rested (not my number one option), Go to China to work on a 1 year contract and be paid fairly well (about 1k usd per month, apt covered by them), plus that half pay from USA job, I could live well in China, or Lastly go to LOS for a few months up to a year but just relax, no working.

If I do pick the LOS option then where do I live?  What kind of house or apt or condo and in which city are all good questions along with that pesky visa issue.

I will add that I am single, that is no wife or children or house payment (yet).  So now seems to be the time but where to and for how long
Thanks for all the insight so far, sure need more thoughts and ideas.  I have already started asking at work how to process this option without letting the cat out of the bag

[PigDogg]

12

[PigDogg]

One idea is to have a cheap base of operations in Pattaya, say 6000 a month but travel around quite a bit.

Visa runs don't seem like the end of the world cause there's not that much downside to a trip to Bali or an occaional quick trip to Cambodia. But i'm talking out of my and the guys who live in the LOS can give you better advice.

I strongly advise the 12 months assuming that it's purely 6 vs 12 and by doing only 6 you don't get to keep 6 in your time bank.

As far as when to start if you're doing 12 months I'm not sure it matters.

[Stewart]

I have moved here from Sinagpore...
1/3 of the cost of living... including the rent, food, gg,lb etc... fantastic city..
In a recent news article (Bangkok Post) Bangkok was not even in top 50 most expensive cities in the world! Moscow # 1, Singapore #13...

1/3 of Spore? No way. All the research I did showed about a 20-25% reduction

[SamplerDoc]

I am still debating this move, day in and day out.
Keep coming up with so many minus and plus items.

What to do about routine dental and health care?
Family problems at home, family getting sick dying, getting married etc...
Taxes and bills?
Car and home?
How would one take care of all this while being overseas half-way round the world?

[kahuna]

(SamplerDoc @ Nov. 12 2006,04:45) I am still debating this move, day in and day out.
Keep coming up with so many minus and plus items.

What to do about routine dental and health care?
Family problems at home, family getting sick dying, getting married etc...
Taxes and bills?
Car and home?
How would one take care of all this while being overseas half-way round the world?

Seems to me as if you're inventing reasons not to go...

Dental and medical care are very inexpensive in LOS...
Last spring I paid over 4k USD for dental work that likely would have cost much less than 1k USD in Thai...Some guys (ask Billy) have all their dental work done while on their holiday because it's so inexpensive...

Medical insurance to cover expenses in Thai is available I believe...And as I recall is not very expensive... Moreover, medical care does not appear very expensive in Thai even without insurance...And it's also possible your existing medical insurance will cover some costs..

Family problems...or events...that's why they invented airplanes...a few hours and you're back at the starting point...

Taxes, bills, etc., easy...most you can pay online these days...those that you can't, change your address to a family member or close friend and have them pay the bills for you...

Your car...if you want to keep it...there are many storage facilities to store a car for very little cost...or let a family member keep it for you...

Your home...That's a bigger problem unless you elect to sell it...But if you want to keep your home, find a reputable property management firm and let them worry about rent, maintenance, etc...

I'm certainly not trying to make your concerns simplistic, but they are things that I've thought about as well and there are solutions for all of them...People do it every day...No reason you can't...I'm not trying to talk you into going...simply suggesting that there are simple solutions for all the problems you might face....And I'll bet there are guys on this Forum that have actually made the plunge and will have much better answers for you...

kahuna

[stogie bear]

[SamplerDoc]

I should have made this more clear sorry guys...
I am going back to thailand in perhaps 6 months and it will be for a much longer time.  So, yes I am going to go back for X number of months my concern is if i go for a year all the above and visa issues.
A shorter amount of time like a few months no worries at all.
So, I guess I need answers and information to figure out how long I am going to stay.  Its going to be a month or two or year, still not sure about that.
Thanks again all.
SB feel free to add more details

[stogie bear]

Sometimes I reply by mobile so I have to keep it short!