Expats who want to leave, if they could

[55Jay]

Just now, fathersicksendmoney said:

It was definitely more fun as a tourist. I have friends that have a great life hunting and fishing back home and when the snow comes they head to Thailand and are always excited to be here

The divided life here and somewhere else, is great if you can pull it off financially.

 

[impulse]

9 minutes ago, duanebigsby said:

Anyone who got fed up with -45 °c winters perhaps??

 

 

But didn't it make you cherish the spring and summer?  The great thing about cold is you can always add more layers.  I've had great outings in -45 degrees and the Wyoming wind.

 

Once you're down to your skivvies, you cannot take any more off to beat the Thai heat and humidity.

[chrisinth]

1 hour ago, Maradona 10 said:

Haha. That actually took a bit longer than expected. Nobody up's sticks gives up everything at home if they are happy with everything and absconds to Thailand. End of chat.

It all depends on the individual and how happy that individual was. Of the top of my head I can't think of anyone who was happy at home and just decided to give that up and move to Thailand, with the exception of some here for the work. That's not how it normally happens.

 

Then there are the people who, according to their passport, come from a country but haven't in reality been there for years. I for instance left home when I was still 16 and joined the armed forces. Truth is that the longest period of my life remaining at a static location (including my childhood) has been Thailand. I am sure there are a lot more like me here as well.

 

Another truth is that not everyone is cut out to be an ex-pat, little hint; if you miss home that much, don't let it become long term and pack your bags now before it is too late. Generally the things you miss will become harder to accept and you may miss the boat home later on. You read that here first, don't forget it..................

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

Now here is a question; to all you  expats, in all seriousness, how many of you would leave  Thailand if you could, or regret ever coming here in the first place?  For myself, I'm ambivalent at best  and have yet to settle to the idea of LOS as my 'final destination' in life. Maybe that will come, but, increasingly,  I'm not at all sure that it will.  The reasons are many and various, but I guess in the round, the serenity of retirement is missing somehow.   Too many hassles impinge on my life. 

Sounds like you are looking for an excuse.
I don’t need to troll your own posts.
Recently though I think you said “if you had not made a promise to a woman” you would never consider Thailand anymore.
Stuff it.
Get on with your life.
Go back to your country.
You probably won’t be missed and you don’t owe anything here to anyone.

[fiddlehead]

I posted this before, but it fits well in this thread also:    A traveler came upon an old farmer hoeing in his field beside the road. Eager to rest his feet, the wanderer hailed the countryman, who seemed happy enough to straighten his back and talk for a moment.

"What sort of people live in the next town?" asked the stranger.

"What were the people like where you've come from?" replied the farmer, answering the question with another question.

"They were a bad lot. Troublemakers all, and lazy too. The most selfish people in the world, and not a one of them to be trusted. I'm happy to be leaving the scoundrels."

"Is that so?" replied the old farmer. "Well, I'm afraid that you'll find the same sort in the next town.

Disappointed, the traveler trudged on his way, and the farmer returned to his work.

Some time later another stranger, coming from the same direction, hailed the farmer, and they stopped to talk. "What sort of people live in the next town?" he asked.

"What were the people like where you've come from?" replied the farmer once again.

"They were the best people in the world. Hard working, honest, and friendly. I'm sorry to be leaving them."

"Fear not," said the farmer. "You'll find the same sort in the next town."

[NCC1701A]

53 minutes ago, Maradona 10 said:

''Never going back to USA.  And I had everything you could ask for there. Sold it all.''

 

 

Yea, course you did. If you had everything in the US, was happy and successful, loving family and friends, there's not a chance in hell you would have decided to emigrate to Thailand. Makes ZERO sense. Not sure who you're trying to kid fella.

wow what a insulting post.

[Spidey]

2 hours ago, Maradona 10 said:

I have always believed that all of us given the choice would rather have a great life back in one's own land, if money was no object and had family etc.

 

What person in their own country who had everything a man needed and was happy with his lot woke up one morning and thought 'I think I'll move to Thailand'?

I had a nice house 2 grown up children and a great wife and more than enough money to sustain my lifestyle. However, a couple of years after retiring, it just wasn't enough for me. Searched for a new home and quickly homed in on S.E. Asia. After staying in most countries over here, Cambodia for the best part of a year, I finally decided on Thailand. Lucky to find a new partner and eventually settled down here. Now I have zero thoughts about living anywhere else.

 

If you want to find expats who fit the OP's description, expats who have burnt their bridges and are now trapped here against their wishes, look no further than this forum. Those that jump on any poster when the voice the slightest criticism of Thailand, no matter how truthful or trivial, are in denial and can't admit to themselves, or others, that the home that they are now forced to live in is anything less than perfect. Farang "face"!

 

I think they do protesteth too much sire.

[chrisinth]

1 hour ago, moe666 said:

Geez all the whining and crying about feeling like you are trapped. Just stop the way you are thinking you where thinking the same way when you moved to Thailand. I am trapped here at home I need a change. After a few years in Thailand the new wears off and you are back to the same place that brought you here to start with

Agreed with the whining and crying. Once the 'new' wears off, do something else. Your imagination is the only thing stopping you; don't get caught in the mainstream or rather, don't wait for permission from the mainstream.

 

I've been the sexpat/bar-stool expert, got bored with that and changed which side of the bar I was on for the next 12 years. (That likely saved my life, but I detract). After 12 years the wife and I decided (yes, both of us) a rest was in order so quit the bar scene and concentrated on my day job. I have hit that happy medium with my life, so for me, no reason to whine or cry. Nothing planned when I moved here, take the future as it comes, but dug in as it were being a loyal husband, house/car/dog owner with nothing to prove to anyone.

[BEVUP]

56 minutes ago, impulse said:

And 5,000 GBP to get set up with an apartment

As an Englishmen said to me about Auss 

How are you going to get one without Rental references 

[tassieman]

as far as i can tell...all depends on what presents....luck of the Thai draw? I am always heartened to hear of those for whom the cards fell right in their re-moval to Thailand. It hasn't quite worked for me yet and so back-to-base to reconfigure. Strange...very strange lol. More the money the better perhaps AND a wise (VERY wise and careful) attitude to what can be possible relative to conditions on the ground.

[fathersicksendmoney]

47 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

The divided life here and somewhere else, is great if you can pull it off financially.

 

One has a house he inherited in Canada and rents that out on air bnb for 6 months and then rents here on Air bnb. Very very nice set up

[55Jay]

6 minutes ago, chrisinth said:

It all depends on the individual and how happy that individual was. Of the top of my head I can't think of anyone who was happy at home and just decided to give that up and move to Thailand, with the exception of some here for the work. That's not how it normally happens.

 

Then there are the people who, according to their passport, come from a country but haven't in reality been there for years. I for instance left home when I was still 16 and joined the armed forces. Truth is that the longest period of my life remaining at a static location (including my childhood) has been Thailand. I am sure there are a lot more like me here as well.

 

Another truth is that not everyone is cut out to be an ex-pat, little hint; if you miss home that much, don't let it become long term and pack your bags now before it is too late. Generally the things you miss will become harder to accept and you may miss the boat home later on. You read that here first, don't forget it..................

Same.  I left the US when I was 18 for my first duty station in Japan, a ship, and went all over the place on this side of the world for 3 years.  What an adventure that was,  I was hooked.  Back in the US for 8 years, some of which was spent deployed back overseas.  I packed up and left the US in 1998 with Uncle Sam, no real plan, single, no kids, and just never found my way back.  In another few years, I'll have lived longer outside the US than in it.  Where'd it all go!  LOL!

[Lungstib]

42 minutes ago, chrisinth said:

Then there are the people who, according to their passport, come from a country but haven't in reality been there for years. I for instance left home when I was still 16 and joined the armed forces. Truth is that the longest period of my life remaining at a static location (including my childhood) has been Thailand. I am sure there are a lot more like me here as well.

Same here. My passport was a little book that helped me to travel and work around the world. The problem is of course that most immigration offices dont see it that way. Here is the only home I've ever had and yet a little stamp in that book says I am here on a temporary stay. 30 years, temp stay, LOL!

[altcarrbob]

Its accommodation mainly that keeps me here,no way could I afford the rent back in UK as I have this house now,but truly I'm pissed off.Money no object ,to a point,good pensions,got the mutts(another reason I'm stuck here) but yes,come up on the UK lottery Id be out of here like yesterday  (just bought tickets for tonight's draw  European lottery)

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, Maradona 10 said:

''Never going back to USA.  And I had everything you could ask for there. Sold it all.''

 

 

Yea, course you did. If you had everything in the US, was happy and successful, loving family and friends, there's not a chance in hell you would have decided to emigrate to Thailand. Makes ZERO sense. Not sure who you're trying to kid fella.

You might find it hard to believe, but there are those of us out there who had it all, all meaning what, possessions, but no quality of life, and one day we woke up and sold it all for a better quality of life here in Thailand Vs working 5/7th of your life for that a big salary of $170k plus a year, for no quality of life, paying high taxes to support others, Medicare levies and the cost of living to just reducing that figure even more, and if you had a mortgage, you were left with even less.

 

Early retirement by 10 years has allowed me to enjoy taking in the fresh country air, has eliminated stresses that I used to have in my life, (non existent) since I moved here, paying no taxes on investments to support others which literally gives me what I was on after taxes, Medicare levies, etc etc.

 

I do how I want, when I want, and to know that I have enough money on a comfortable monthly budget that will last me till I am 101 adds to my quality of life here.

 

I return every 18 months where I was born in Sydney for a week, that is enough, I visit mum, my adult daughter and some close friends, none of them are happy, mum who is 83 is constantly complaining that she cannot survive on the pension, my daughter is stressed out seeing what is coming for her future, my friends complain of the cost of living and taxes they pay.

 

Here I sit in the morning drinking my coffee with Mrs happy of 11 years, smelling the fresh air, listening to no cars or bikes going by, just watching the beautiful butterflies as they make their way past us.

 

I am in no rush to go anywhere, why would I ?

 

The problem with most Xpats, and excuse the truth because it hurts, is the majority of xpats didn't plan for their retirement, they drank their wages, now drinking the pension and have nothing to fall back on, personally if I had to depend on the pension to survive, I too would be depressed too, so saying "who are we trying to kid fella", is disingenuine, we are content, and will remain here as long as we are allowed to remain, that said, we can also up and leave at anytime to a new destination, why, because we have the funds to do it, "it does actually makes sense", if you can see past your disbelief and jealousy. 

 

For those thinking going back is going to make them happy, well happiness is within, and with full pockets 555

 

 

Edited July 17, 2018 by 4MyEgo

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, impulse said:

And 5,000 GBP to get set up with an apartment and furniture and another 2,500 GBP to buy a beater car to tide you over, and if you're American, another $1,000 USD a month for health insurance (and hope it covers you since you had some work done in Thailand), and..and..

 

It's not hard to see how some people end up feeling trapped wherever they happen to live, be it Thailand or a city back home where their last job left them stranded when they were downsized.

 

1

Most of the western world has free health care for their entire life, America is an anomaly in western civilization.

Nobody needs a car either, a bicycle is fine. Rent a caravan, trailers are nice these days.

Why does everyone expect the best of everything, right from the get go?

Edited July 17, 2018 by BritManToo

[BritManToo]

27 minutes ago, altcarrbob said:

Its accommodation mainly that keeps me here,no way could I afford the rent back in UK as I have this house now,but truly I'm pissed off.Money no object ,to a point,good pensions,got the mutts(another reason I'm stuck here) but yes,come up on the UK lottery Id be out of here like yesterday  (just bought tickets for tonight's draw  European lottery)

Loads of cheap rentals up North, Newcastle isn't that bad.

Then you could try France or Spain.

[BEVUP]

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Most of the world has free health care,

When retired on the public system

Edited July 17, 2018 by BEVUP

[Maradona 10]

30 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

You might find it hard to believe, but there are those of us out there who had it all, all meaning what, possessions, but no quality of life, and one day we woke up and sold it all for a better quality of life here in Thailand Vs working 5/7th of your life for that a big salary of $170k plus a year, for no quality of life, paying high taxes to support others, Medicare levies and the cost of living to just reducing that figure even more, and if you had a mortgage, you were left with even less.

 

Early retirement by 10 years has allowed me to enjoy taking in the fresh country air, has eliminated stresses that I used to have in my life, (non existent) since I moved here, paying no taxes on investments to support others which literally gives me what I was on after taxes, Medicare levies, etc etc.

 

I do how I want, when I want, and to know that I have enough money on a comfortable monthly budget that will last me till I am 101 adds to my quality of life here.

 

I return every 18 months where I was born in Sydney for a week, that is enough, I visit mum, my adult daughter and some close friends, none of them are happy, mum who is 83 is constantly complaining that she cannot survive on the pension, my daughter is stressed out seeing what is coming for her future, my friends complain of the cost of living and taxes they pay.

 

Here I sit in the morning drinking my coffee with Mrs happy of 11 years, smelling the fresh air, listening to no cars or bikes going by, just watching the beautiful butterflies as they make their way past us.

 

I am in no rush to go anywhere, why would I ?

 

The problem with most Xpats, and excuse the truth because it hurts, is the majority of xpats didn't plan for their retirement, they drank their wages, now drinking the pension and have nothing to fall back on, personally if I had to depend on the pension to survive, I too would be depressed too, so saying "who are we trying to kid fella", is disingenuine, we are content, and will remain here as long as we are allowed to remain, that said, we can also up and leave at anytime to a new destination, why, because we have the funds to do it, "it does actually makes sense", if you can see past your disbelief and jealousy. 

 

For those thinking going back is going to make them happy, well happiness is within, and with full pockets 555

 

 

Good rant. As for 'fresh air' ha ha..you live in an oven. Anyhow, enjoy the butterflies, lol.

[BEVUP]

4 minutes ago, Maradona 10 said:

For those thinking going back is going to make them happy, well happiness is within, and with full pockets 555

As mentioned good rant

I can see exactly were your coming from

But I must say one thing 

If you were able to earn 170K most your life then you shouldn't have a problem

I'm an Auss & certainly understand about their Taxes & Levies 

Some Aussies went back to qual for Pension & they certainly didn't get anywhere near a major city to rent 

[4MyEgo]

17 minutes ago, Maradona 10 said:

Good rant. As for 'fresh air' ha ha..you live in an oven. Anyhow, enjoy the butterflies, lol.

An oven, we have 3 seasons here, summer, the rain season, and winter, one short of where I used to live, as we had spring.

 

Fans and air conditioners do wonders, as does having a well insulated house with high ceilings, yes comforts do help, when you have to $'s 555

 

The butterflies I do enjoy believe you me, the two legged ones especially....

[4MyEgo]

11 minutes ago, BEVUP said:

As mentioned good rant

I can see exactly were your coming from

But I must say one thing 

If you were able to earn 170K most your life then you shouldn't have a problem

I'm an Auss & certainly understand about their Taxes & Levies 

Some Aussies went back to qual for Pension & they certainly didn't get anywhere near a major city to rent 

I wasn't earning $170k for most of my life, more around the $100k, but the last few years during the housing boom did help as there were less qualified people in the work I was doing, so the bucks went up, now that the housing market has gone down, 2 years after I retired, the bucks have gone down, so the timing was perfect.

 

Yes, for those going back to get the pension, they have to live well away from any City, a one bedroom modern apartment about 10 kilometres south of Sydney for example, at a place called Wolli Creek would set you back $500 a week minimum, that said, its more than the pension pays.

[Maradona 10]

1 minute ago, 4MyEgo said:

I wasn't earning $170k for most of my life, more around the $100k, but the last few years during the housing boom did help as there were less qualified people in the work I was doing, so the bucks went up, now that the housing market has gone down, 2 years after I retired, the bucks have gone down, so the timing was perfect.

 

Yes, for those going back to get the pension, they have to live well away from any City, a one bedroom modern apartment about 10 kilometres south of Sydney for example, at a place called Wolli Creek would set you back $500 a week minimum, that said, its more than the pension pays.

Do they have butterfly's and coffee?

[impulse]

47 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

2 hours ago, impulse said:

And 5,000 GBP to get set up with an apartment and furniture and another 2,500 GBP to buy a beater car to tide you over, and if you're American, another $1,000 USD a month for health insurance (and hope it covers you since you had some work done in Thailand), and..and..

 

It's not hard to see how some people end up feeling trapped wherever they happen to live, be it Thailand or a city back home where their last job left them stranded when they were downsized.

 

1

Most of the western world has free health care for their entire life, America is an anomaly in western civilization.

Nobody needs a car either, a bicycle is fine. Rent a caravan, trailers are nice these days.

Why does everyone expect the best of everything, right from the get go?

 

I'd hardly characterize a 2,500 GBP beater as "the best of everything".  More like the minimum safe transport for those who don't choose to live in the middle of a city where amenities are within cycling distance.  Especially if you intend to get a job, which may not end up being within a short cycle of home.  I don't know about your profession, but folks who cycle into their interview in my field don't generally get serious consideration.

 

Edit: And there is no "free health care".  Anywhere.  It may be "included" in the services you pay taxes for, or paid by others if you're destitute in a civilized country (which excludes the USA).  But it isn't free.

 

Edited July 17, 2018 by impulse

[geordiel]

1 hour ago, altcarrbob said:

Its accommodation mainly that keeps me here,no way could I afford the rent back in UK as I have this house now,but truly I'm pissed off.Money no object ,to a point,good pensions,got the mutts(another reason I'm stuck here) but yes,come up on the UK lottery Id be out of here like yesterday  (just bought tickets for tonight's draw  European lottery)

Bit off-topic but can you buy tickets for Euro Lottery without residence there?

[altcarrbob]

3 minutes ago, geordiel said:

Bit off-topic but can you buy tickets for Euro Lottery without residence there?

Use vpn with specialty server

[Denim]

Living in Thailand I haven't had to work or be an employee. Living in England would cost more so  I would have to work and maybe be an employee jumping through somebody else's hoops.

 

However , if I was stinking rich so that I didn't have to work but could have everything I wanted , then as Madonna says ,it would probably be different.

 

I would live in the UK and just have eleven and a half months  holidays in South East Asia.

[grollies]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

You might find it hard to believe, but there are those of us out there who had it all, all meaning what, possessions, but no quality of life, and one day we woke up and sold it all for a better quality of life here in Thailand Vs working 5/7th of your life for that a big salary of $170k plus a year, for no quality of life, paying high taxes to support others, Medicare levies and the cost of living to just reducing that figure even more, and if you had a mortgage, you were left with even less.

 

Early retirement by 10 years has allowed me to enjoy taking in the fresh country air, has eliminated stresses that I used to have in my life, (non existent) since I moved here, paying no taxes on investments to support others which literally gives me what I was on after taxes, Medicare levies, etc etc.

 

I do how I want, when I want, and to know that I have enough money on a comfortable monthly budget that will last me till I am 101 adds to my quality of life here.

 

I return every 18 months where I was born in Sydney for a week, that is enough, I visit mum, my adult daughter and some close friends, none of them are happy, mum who is 83 is constantly complaining that she cannot survive on the pension, my daughter is stressed out seeing what is coming for her future, my friends complain of the cost of living and taxes they pay.

 

Here I sit in the morning drinking my coffee with Mrs happy of 11 years, smelling the fresh air, listening to no cars or bikes going by, just watching the beautiful butterflies as they make their way past us.

 

I am in no rush to go anywhere, why would I ?

 

The problem with most Xpats, and excuse the truth because it hurts, is the majority of xpats didn't plan for their retirement, they drank their wages, now drinking the pension and have nothing to fall back on, personally if I had to depend on the pension to survive, I too would be depressed too, so saying "who are we trying to kid fella", is disingenuine, we are content, and will remain here as long as we are allowed to remain, that said, we can also up and leave at anytime to a new destination, why, because we have the funds to do it, "it does actually makes sense", if you can see past your disbelief and jealousy. 

 

For those thinking going back is going to make them happy, well happiness is within, and with full pockets 555

 

 

Nice post.

[BEVUP]

Also another reason people move away from their home land & can't go back

 

If they have had a bad run, could be many things EG; Divorce X how many / Child maintenance / unforseen debts / spasmodic employment / discrimination to gain employment due to injury / ect/ect

 

This is typical Auss

 

Oh & not forgetting that the cost of living is so expensive along with the rentals, there is a greater number of citizens trapped in the rental cycle

Then by the time they finish their working life rely on the Pension which would not cover their needs & the Auss Gov still can't work out why even though there have actually been (maybe ) 4 corner news segments on this 

[roo860]

You might find it hard to believe, but there are those of us out there who had it all, all meaning what, possessions, but no quality of life, and one day we woke up and sold it all for a better quality of life here in Thailand Vs working 5/7th of your life for that a big salary of $170k plus a year, for no quality of life, paying high taxes to support others, Medicare levies and the cost of living to just reducing that figure even more, and if you had a mortgage, you were left with even less.

 

Early retirement by 10 years has allowed me to enjoy taking in the fresh country air, has eliminated stresses that I used to have in my life, (non existent) since I moved here, paying no taxes on investments to support others which literally gives me what I was on after taxes, Medicare levies, etc etc.

 

I do how I want, when I want, and to know that I have enough money on a comfortable monthly budget that will last me till I am 101 adds to my quality of life here.

 

I return every 18 months where I was born in Sydney for a week, that is enough, I visit mum, my adult daughter and some close friends, none of them are happy, mum who is 83 is constantly complaining that she cannot survive on the pension, my daughter is stressed out seeing what is coming for her future, my friends complain of the cost of living and taxes they pay.

 

Here I sit in the morning drinking my coffee with Mrs happy of 11 years, smelling the fresh air, listening to no cars or bikes going by, just watching the beautiful butterflies as they make their way past us.

 

I am in no rush to go anywhere, why would I ?

 

The problem with most Xpats, and excuse the truth because it hurts, is the majority of xpats didn't plan for their retirement, they drank their wages, now drinking the pension and have nothing to fall back on, personally if I had to depend on the pension to survive, I too would be depressed too, so saying "who are we trying to kid fella", is disingenuine, we are content, and will remain here as long as we are allowed to remain, that said, we can also up and leave at anytime to a new destination, why, because we have the funds to do it, "it does actually makes sense", if you can see past your disbelief and jealousy. 

 

For those thinking going back is going to make them happy, well happiness is within, and with full pockets 555

 

 

If your mum is struggling to make ends meet on her pension why not help her out? I would not have had second thoughts about helping my mum out financially.

 

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