7 years in Thailand

[Lacessit]

25 minutes ago, Pravda said:

 

Maybe I am overthinking everything and I should just stay.

 

BUT I am also worried when me and wife get old. Canada gives free money to people over 65 and also free healthcare. In Thailand it will be hard. I have a place paid off in Canada, so at least housing will not be an issue. For those not familiar with my life story I didn't even grow up in Canada. I am an naturalised citizen, perhaps this is why  I don't feel anything towards the country, just trying to think logically. 

Isn't the Canadian pension available regardless of where you are?

You may want to consider selling the place in Canada, or renting it out for income, if that's not already being done.

Canada has had 10,000 coronavirus deaths so far, and it's right next door to the USA, which is a basket case. Thailand has had 59. That's enough of a selling point for me.

[Pravda]

4 minutes ago, ChakaKhan said:

And Tim Hortons-Timbits!!!!   Get your skates on Gordy You're going in!   Maple Leafs! take off you Hoser eh!

 

There are 4 Tim Horton's branches in Bangkok and they look pretty damn nice compared to Canada.

[ChakaKhan]

2 minutes ago, Pravda said:

 

There are 4 Tim Horton's branches in Bangkok and they look pretty damn nice compared to Canada.

Wow..never knew that...as soon as I land in BKK im still at airport to fly up north....may need to stop by eh?

 

Will note the best Big mac I ever had was in BKK......compared to the <deleted> in the states....Kudos to BKK

[Grumpy one]

I have thought about your dilemma myself.

My worry about returning home is will the wife be happy there.

She loves to visit Aus, but living there is a lot different.

Then after you have departed this life what will she do.

Return to Thailand or try and start a new life o/s

At present I have put it in the too hard basket, and am happy to be here

[OneMoreFarang]

8 hours ago, Ron jeremy said:

Thailand is no place to get old

Correct, we all stay young here - at least in our heart.

[Pravda]

26 minutes ago, ChakaKhan said:

Wow..never knew that...as soon as I land in BKK im still at airport to fly up north....may need to stop by eh?

 

Will note the best Big mac I ever had was in BKK......compared to the <deleted> in the states....Kudos to BKK

 

It's a new thing. The first branch they opened was at Canadian embassy. Now they have it at Samyan Mitrtown (fanciest one). Sacon mall (strange location) and other I never been to. Latte is satisfying. Ice cap is different. Donuts are different. As with every chain in Thailand it is not directly owned by original company.

 

There is an article about in English back in January from the site we are not allowed to link.

Edited October 28, 2020 by Pravda

[rosst]

19 hours ago, Pravda said:

And I told wife to start applying for PR. We are leaving. 

 

Except I can't bring myself to leave. 

 

I don't wanna sound like one of those posters, but I really didn't come here for the girls. Maybe this is why I was so lucky never to get ripped off. My life here is what many would consider boring, but for some reason I enjoy it every single day. One of the reasons I wanted to go back is honestly the money is starting to run out. I lost 90% of my income due to covid. Yet every time I think back how f**, *** miserable I was back "home" in Canada I get f***#** miserable. It's a vicious circle. 

 

So I told wifey we are staying here. She got kinda pd off, but she says as long she's with me she doesn't care where she is. But she's concerned about my health. Healthcare in Canada is "free". Yes that's a good point and pollution here is suckorama but then I start thinking how f$$***# miserable I was I change my mind again. 

 

For the past month I have spent sleepless nights about moving or not moving. If I do go back I know for sure we both won't be coming back. There is something about this place where among all this misery the life is still not taken too seriously. 

 

What to do? 

I empathise with you, I am the wrong side of seventy and having a few health issues. 

I am living in the Philippines and whereas I don't have any immigration and visa issues, I am living in the provinces and four to six hours from capable medical treatment at my cost Vs free medical treatment back in OZ. 

Like you, my beachside home and relaxed lifestyle is very attractive and unlike your situation it is not a financial decision. 

Birth is a terminal illness, be happy for as long as you can is the way I look at it. 

I may go back for a warranty service and then return to paradise. 

[Grumpy one]

30 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Correct, we all stay young here - at least in our heart.

I feel like a 20 year old, maybe 2 if I'm lucky  

Edited October 28, 2020 by Grumpy one

[Stargeezr]

If you have a place in southern Canada, well you will at least have nice Summers,

  You will get your pension when you get to 65, and can start your CPP at 60.

   Your wife can become Canadian and qualify for a pension at 65, as well. Yes and

the medical issue is real, as hospitals in Thailand are expensive if you have to go

and stay in one.  My Thai family has told me of how many baht they have had to

pay for some older relatives that have gone to the hospitals in Bangkok.

  You can even buy your wife some Winter clothes pretty cheap, if you chose to

go back during this Winter. Only Ontario and Quebec have lots of covid, the

rest of the country is quite covid free.

Geezer

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, Pravda said:

 

Maybe I am overthinking everything and I should just stay.

 

BUT I am also worried when me and wife get old. Canada gives free money to people over 65 and also free healthcare. In Thailand it will be hard. I have a place paid off in Canada, so at least housing will not be an issue. For those not familiar with my life story I didn't even grow up in Canada. I am an naturalised citizen, perhaps this is why  I don't feel anything towards the country, just trying to think logically. 

 

Make Canada your Plan A while you doggy paddle the next couple of Plan B years here in Thailand. I don't think there's much point in anyone prematurely burning any bridges that they may well need in the future. There are many foreigners of an older demographic with a longer Thai tenure who probably wish they had kept their homeland options open when they had the opportunity.

[teacherclaire]

 After an accident that broke my right leg four times, I had a surgery at the local hospital. Unfortunately, in a way that I'd never have been able to walk,  or to ride my bike again.

 

 Then, after eight months, I had only one choice. Going back and trying to get back into the system that my surgeries would be paid for. 

 

Even having a sister and two brothers, I had to live at a place for homeless people with all the crimes and drugs for the time I wasn't in the hospital. Only two guys got killed that time!!!

 

And if you think it can't get worse, it always does. The whole hospital was diseased with a severe bacteria that had then eaten half of my leg's flesh away before they figured that out.

 

A lady who'd also received an artificial knee joint then lost her leg, I was sure that I'd be the next. 

 

And that was one of the best hospitals in a "Western country!"

 

Okay, shi_e happens, but why so much of it?

 

I considered that ten years ago as one of my worst experiences ever.

But if I'd have to go there now, it would worsen even with a functioning leg.

 

Many friends have passed. No house or apartment for me waiting, I'd have to find a way to get back into the system, and I'd have to leave my family here.

 

I can't cook, I don't know how to iron my clothes, and I'd not even have a bicycle if I'd go back.

 

 OP, think about all these "goodies" you might not have when going back. There's always a way out. Sometimes we just don't see it. 
Hang in there. 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2020 by teacherclaire

[mr mr]

19 hours ago, Pravda said:

And I told wife to start applying for PR. We are leaving. 

 

Except I can't bring myself to leave. 

 

I don't wanna sound like one of those posters, but I really didn't come here for the girls. Maybe this is why I was so lucky never to get ripped off. My life here is what many would consider boring, but for some reason I enjoy it every single day. One of the reasons I wanted to go back is honestly the money is starting to run out. I lost 90% of my income due to covid. Yet every time I think back how f**, *** miserable I was back "home" in Canada I get f***#** miserable. It's a vicious circle. 

 

So I told wifey we are staying here. She got kinda pd off, but she says as long she's with me she doesn't care where she is. But she's concerned about my health. Healthcare in Canada is "free". Yes that's a good point and pollution here is suckorama but then I start thinking how f$$***# miserable I was I change my mind again. 

 

For the past month I have spent sleepless nights about moving or not moving. If I do go back I know for sure we both won't be coming back. There is something about this place where among all this misery the life is still not taken too seriously. 

 

What to do? 

 

i know right. i just came back to thailand in july 2019 after being back home for 10 years. home is changing rapidly and that might be something you want to consider as well. 

 

i am also sleepless debating weather or not to sell up everything at home and make it a permanent stay here. this whole virus debacle has changed everything. 

 

i plan on moving south in thailand soon. most of my time was spent there before. can't stand the pollution and traffic of bkk.

 

that free health care might not be so good or free in the coming years though. our country is in serious debt trouble and things are not looking too rosy for future generations on those subjects. 

 

i do miss the quiet and fresh air though. not much else to be honest. most of the negative things here do not have a huge impact on my life. selfish yes but it is an advantage compared to back home. 

 

ohhhh canada eh

[bbabythai]

1 hour ago, teacherclaire said:

Sex perhaps once a month? And if so, with chemical help?

Have you ever thought about taking testosterone? I have a friend in his 70s on it. He shags his 30 yr old 1 to 2 times a day and doesnt need the pill. He does loads of exercise. Being aged in the 70s is not a death sentence

[Boomer6969]

Just stay, your wife will probably be happier here. Just get a good health insurance, if you are not too old to get one. If you don't have kids a pension of 5000 USD/month gives you a fairly decent life here, while you'd only scrape by with that in Farangland. Just imagine penny pinching in the cold with a frustrated Thai lady.

 

Ok, that's not always the case as it depends on your level of income and on whether her level of education is sufficient to start a successful career in Canada.

[robertson468]

19 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

My home in the UK is leased out until November 2022. I am currently stuck outside of Thailand in a b and b with my visa about to expire. If I can get back by summer next year, I'll come for 15 months only, then go back, sell the house and fund the move for my family to the UK. The issues with covid have just shown how delicate life is living with her outside of my home country. Better to bring her and our daughter to the UK. I cannot say our standard of life would be better, but we'd always be together, schools and doctors are free and no visa nonsense. Thailand - apart from my family - holds nothing for me. Easy to leave.

PM me.  I think I can offer you much better than B & B and at very reasonable monthly rent on the lovely Koh Samui and near the sea.

[JusticeGB]

I tried living in the Philippines and Laos and didn't like the food in the Philippines or anything in Laos. My eldest daughter who lives in England said that I was to Politically Incorrect to be able to live in England without being arrested. If I see a pretty girl I always chat her up I have got used to it. The weather in England stinks as well. However if I get immobile my daughter has prepared a special room for me in her house as she doesn't want me to live on my own if that happens. In the mean time I have found health cover for under 6,000 baht a month which will cover virtually everything in a Government hospital including a private room in a Government hospital. For a minor op it would cover most hospitals. The cover continues until 99. The premium will go up when I reach 80 and again when I reach 90. Most Thai companies cease cover at 75.

[ravip]

_{This COVID has messed up the life plans of many people. Impossible to clearly think ahead.}

[4MyEgo]

20 hours ago, Pravda said:

And I told wife to start applying for PR. We are leaving. 

 

Except I can't bring myself to leave. 

 

I don't wanna sound like one of those posters, but I really didn't come here for the girls. Maybe this is why I was so lucky never to get ripped off. My life here is what many would consider boring, but for some reason I enjoy it every single day. One of the reasons I wanted to go back is honestly the money is starting to run out. I lost 90% of my income due to covid. Yet every time I think back how f**, *** miserable I was back "home" in Canada I get f***#** miserable. It's a vicious circle. 

 

I hear you loud and clear and it is a serious dilemma to be in, and it leads me to the old cliche, make your bed, lay in it, (no disrespect intended), it is only as vicious as you allow it to be.

 

I have seen many expats here trapped, mostly living day by day on their pensions finding out it is diminishing with the pound, $ Euor having dropped over recent times, and as the cost of living here increases, they are having to change their diets to Thai style diets to sustain the existence they have wanted to maintain here.

 

A question for you, was your wife with you when you were living in Canada ?

If not, it might not be so miserable if she is with you this time around. 

 

The above said; delayed planning or lack of it which appears to be the case here, can put you in situations whereby you cannot move forward, e.g. here you find yourself not having prepared for your wife's PR years ahead in the event of the sh-t hitting the fan, which one always has to take into consideration, as it's part of life's planning, suffice to say it has hit the fan here as well, but I am prepared. 

 

As I said earlier (no disrespect intended), however if your money is running out, it would appear that you have limited choices, i.e. unless you have some assets to unload here or back home.

 

As boring as life can be here, and like you, some of us enjoy it, we need to eat and maintain our life styles and have backup plans, a plan B, C, D are a MUST, E is optional.

 

Unfortunately a lot of expats only look at plan A, which is moving to Thailand as quick as possible to get away from the rat race, and without a fallback positions, some of those who invested their nesteggs, have seen them diminish because they trusted their "loved ones" only to be ripped off hard and fast when handing over their only power, "money".

 

Plan B money in the bank in your name with at least 3 years worth of private health cover, or be prepared for the public hospital system. 

 

Plan C money in bank for at least 3 years survival money (including visa extension amount) in the event that you lose your main source of income, which has happened here.

 

Plan D, money in the bank in your homecountry for at least a year's survival in case you need to relocate to back, it should be enough to cover rent, food and utilities until the government benefits start to flow in when you restore your residency, usually 6 months for medical.

 

Plan E, run out and buy a lottery ticket before the 1st and hope for the best.

 

If you have no assets back in Canada then your only choices are to get your wife PR and move back there.

 

If your young enough and fortunate enough to land a job, assuming you can get a job back in your home country, depending on your age.

 

Apply for the pension depending on your age or unemployment benefits.

 

Last but not least, if your wife can get a job here, albeit, depending on where you live and whether you can live on a Thai diet, I personally cannot, or whether she can get a job in Canada.

 

Your options appear as I said above, limited, however as long as you have your health, and a partner who loves you, your better off than a lot of people are so try and look at the bright side as much as it appears to be getting dark.

 

Best of luck and better planning for your future, and I hope those who took the time reading this apart from yourself, see it for what it is, no plan B,C, and D leaves us all open IMO, in other words, without that backup, one could find one's self in a similar situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[spidermike007]

I suppose if I had unlimited finances, I would probably leave. I despise the government and immigration here, and it does feel like the nation is moving backwards. But, considering the fact that I do not have a fortune, I will stay. There are many issues to consider. Going back to the US is not an option. I would not want to live there now, unless I was being paid over a million dollars a year, and then I would only do it for 3 years, and then leave. For me, it is about quality of life, and my level of fulfillment on a daily basis, which I seem to have here in abundance. A big factor here, is the relatively light hearted attitude of the people. You just do not find that in the US, where most seem bitter, disenchanted, unfulfilled, and heavy hearted. 

 

This is an entirely subjective topic, of course. But some of us live very good lives here. Some of us have been fortunate enough to find an outstanding woman, who is delightful to be around, on a daily basis, always has our back, and is fun, smart, and lovely. For me, that likelihood of finding that back in the US, would be very low. So, that is a big factor for me. The second factor is just the quality of life. Sure, I miss alot of the culture back home. The theatre, independent film (which I can download here with no issues at all, and a super fast 550 mbps fiber optic connection, at under 800 baht per month!), stand up comedy, live jazz, etc. But I have a lovely home that I rent, for about 10% of what I would pay in California, I live very well on an income which is not huge, have access to great health care, at a tiny fraction of what it costs in the US, and do not have to put up with alot of the aggravation that I had to when I lived back there.

 

Thailand is still reasonable. It used to be cheap. Has not been cheap for a long time. But, it is still reasonable. I know people who pay 10,000 baht a month for newer 3 bedroom houses in nice towns. In major cities in the US? $2000-3800 a month. That is 120,000 baht!

I had my motorbike seat recently redone on my scooter. 400 baht. A friend of mine had similar work done in the US. $275.

I recently had a guy come over and insulate my ceiling. I bought the insulation and paid him 2000 baht for labor. In the US? $500 and up.

I recently had an electrician do some work on the house. Nearly a full day of work. Paid him 1000 baht. In the US? $500 and up.

An oil change for my scooter costs me 200 baht, with Castrol oil. In the US? $75.

When I travel here I stay in nice four star hotels in Bangkok. Usually 1800-2000 baht. Now, during Covid. Great hotels for 1,000 baht. In the US? $130 for a crappy motel. $200 and up for a nice room.

I eat well here. In a smaller town you can get a three course meal for 150-250 baht. In the US? 2000 baht and up, plus tax and a nearly mandatory 15% tip.

I visit the emergency room here to visit a specialist, and with x-rays I am out the door for 2000 baht, at a private hospital. In the US? $300-2000. An anecdote on this subject. A good friend of mine got in a bad motorcycle accident some time ago. He almost lost his leg. He got his first of 11 operations at Bangkok Hospital Samui. It costs him over a million baht. They wanted to do a second procedure. They quoted him 1,400,000 baht. He decided to transfer to Bangkok. He was quoted 460,000 baht for the same procedure, at a top private hospital there. The surgeon told him that he worked at a public hospital too, and could do the same operation there, for alot less money. He told him he would get him a quote. In the interim, my friend called a good friend of his, in San Diego, who is an orthopedic surgeon. Since my friend is a retired chiropractor, he knew all the terminology, and explained what he needed, and asked for the best price. His friend called him back the next day, and quoted him $960,000, with cash discounts! The local surgeon here got back to him, and told him he could do it for 46,000 baht. He transferred, and they did all the rest of his procedures. So, 1,400,000 at Bangkok Hospital, 460,000 at Vejthani Hospital, and 46,000 at the public hospital, with an excellent surgeon. VS. 31,000,000 baht in the US. Again, no complaints from this peanut gallery.

Friends of mine, who are single, enjoy the company of a young, beautiful woman for a couple of hours, for 2500 baht. In the US? $800 an hour now for a beauty, with alot of attitude.

I could go on and on, all day long. I live at a level here, that I would never be able to live at, in the US, in most of Europe, in Oz, or Canada. Yes, the higher baht is an annoyance. And yes things are more expensive than they used to be. But, it is very relative.

Sure, Thailand has changed. My first trip here was in 1976! It was so much different than now. The politics here are absolutely regressive. The army is horrendous. Will that ever improve? I think so. I think the youth will eventually oust them, as they are virtually useless to Thai society, with the exception of protecting the elite. those in power and the super wealthy. But alot of things here have improved since then. The infrastructure here is quite good. Sure they could use a high speed rail. That would be amazing. Hopefully it will happen. The whole world is different now. The whole planet is being affected by a greatly expanding population, inflation, environmental issues, politics, and congestion. So, we are going to experience some of that no matter where we are. All I know, is that every day I wake up, I am very glad to be here, very glad to be with the woman I am with, and thankful for my life. Would I feel the same way in the US? I seriously doubt it. Most of my friends back in the US, say they would trade positions with me, in a heartbeat, if they could. I believe them. And I feel for them. The quality of life where I came from is a pale shadow of what it used to be. No thanks.

There is one more consideration. No matter where we go, we still have to contend with ourselves, our attitude, our issues and our minds. So, some will always be seeking greener pastures. Nothing wrong with that. But, it does not insure fulfillment.

 

 

Edited October 28, 2020 by spidermike007

[Stevemercer]

My plan was always to retire to Thailand, stay here for 10 years (age 55 - 65) and then decide whether to stay here or go back to Australia. I'm 60 now.

 

If I move back to Australia, I want to do so while I am still relatively healthy and mobile. My Thai wife is ex-government so I have free health care while in Thailand. That certainly helps a lot.

 

Money will be a critical factor when it comes to making the decision. By age 65, I'll be getting close to the financial threshold of whether I can actually afford to start again in Australia (assuming we can't sell our property here in Thailand). My wife is a Thai and Australian citizen, which helps. 

 

I'm not sure, but I've got a few more years before I have to decide one way or another. Maybe something will happen that will take the decision out of my hands!

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

But I have a lovely home that I rent, for about 10% of what I would pay in California, I live very well on an income which is not huge, have access to great health care, at a tiny fraction of what it costs in the US, and do not have to put up with alot of the aggravation that I had to when I lived back there.

 

Thailand is still reasonable. It used to be cheap. Has not been cheap for a long time. But, it is still reasonable. I know people who pay 10,000 baht a month for newer 3 bedroom houses in nice towns. In major cities in the US? $2000-3800 a month. That is 120,000 baht!

You say your Thai rent is 10% of California rent ........ but Thailand isn't cheap.

You've just contradicted yourself!

 

UK housing rent would cost 150% of my entire pension income, here it's 25% (and I'm buying the house for a Thai woman).

I can't see any other expenses as significant.

 

Edited October 28, 2020 by BritManToo

[KKr]

4 hours ago, Pravda said:

for a wife

lucky you, the fav goes with you ?  

????

????

????

Joking aside, difficult dilemma.
Good thing the wife says she'll go with you either way.

Going back is, at least for me, not an option after some 35 years as expat before coming to Thailand to avoid the freezing weather.
Considerations:
Healthcare: 
imho in Thailand better than Northern America.
In NY went to hospital with evident pneumonia, "doctor" looked at X-Ray and, without even touching me, said "no pneumonia", give paracetamol and sent me home to cough more white phlegm (apologies for the details).
Next morning went to an old Russian doctor in the neighbourhood, he knocked on chest and back, said "do you hear the difference between this place and this place?" and pointed his finger on the infected part of my lungs.
(Of course there are also good physicians in the USA, otherwise I would not be writing here ???? or anywhere else for sure, after an emergency operation a few years later.)

Cost of Living:
no need to elaborate, you get what you pay for, but to me it seems even the cheaper options in N.A. are more expensive than in LoS. (not talking about imported Vintage Caviar, but about regular food.)
Electricity, Water, 
Government Health insurance is where you will save: $ 500 - 1000 per month.

Cars, and for some also motorbikes, are needed in both places and cost money.

Education:
you don't mention kids, so let's not get started on that one.

Income:
Will Canada give you more pension or other social security benefits?
You mention lost income due to Covid, so guess you are in tourism related business.
it will take some more time for domestic tourism to pick up, as many people are in a similar financial situation.
Depending on where you are, you may benefit from that as-if-and-when it occurs.
(We are not expecting recovery of business for another 24 months or so, as our main source market is still getting heavily hit by covid. )
can you re-focus your business somehow on local needs ?? 

Family life:
if moving to Canada, my guess is that the missus expects you to show the country to her so you may be in a campervan for a year or so ????
Does she have transferable skills to lead an active life ?

What is wrong with a boring life?
Will life in a village or small town in Canada be more exciting, or just different ?
Having given up a vibrant swinging life that, after some years, started to feel emptier and emptier for a boring life, I am glad to be happy as the proverbial "pig in <deleted>".
Just have to keep working on it not turning into "deep <deleted>" 
in which case I would have the same dilemma as you have.

wish you wisdom and CU around ????


<deleted> PC translation here is: "waste matter discharged from the bowels".

 

Edited October 28, 2020 by KKr

[spidermike007]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You say your Thai rent is 10% of California rent ........ but Thailand isn't cheap.

You've just contradicted yourself!

 

UK housing rent would cost 150% of my entire pension income, here it's 25% (and I'm buying the house for a Thai woman).

I can't see any other expenses as significant.

 

 

Cheap is a relative term. When I moved here well over a decade ago, it was fairly cheap. When I first visited in 1976, it was very cheap! Now, I would describe Thailand as quite reasonable. Again, relatively speaking. Yes, rent can be very cheap here. The rest, between quite reasonable and very reasonable. Anything related to labor is cheap. The house I rent here would cost $3,500 to $4,000 a month in a decent section of LA. 

[KC 71]

52 minutes ago, fak119 said:

Don’t post your rubbish on Thaivisa.

likewise

[KKr]

56 minutes ago, fak119 said:

Don’t post your rubbish on Thaivisa.

pray, do tell me on which worthy platform you communicate and I will read there and learn to live up to those higher standards!

Facebook maybe? just saw an offer for 20 or so kg bags of dried chicken excrement for 25 Baht ?

[nobodysfriend]

When we definitely moved to Thailand some yrs ago , I sold the house and everything else I owned in Europe . All the money was transferred to Thailand , at that time I still got a good FX rate ...

I was feeling being constantly ripped off in Europe , ( taxes , prices , banks , quality of work etc ) , but I still miss the culture and the change of seasons ... but you cannot have it all , can you ?

When I see in the news what is going on in Europe and the world , I am sure that my decision to sell everything and move to Thailand was the best possible decision to make .

First , it was a bit difficult to adapt , but now I am ( we are ) happy here , I will stay . No way back .

[Old Croc]

I moved here permanently 10 years ago and considered most things to be about 1/3  the cost of similar in Australia (I bought a 3br pool villa in Phuket for less than 1/3 of the money I realized in selling my 35 yo semi detached unit in Perth). The AUD has since drastically devalued and now gives me about 1/3 less in exchange rates, but I continue to be pleasantly surprised with the cheapness of many things here.

I still make comparisons to Australia from memory, but have to remind myself that prices in Oz will not have stagnated in those 10 years.

If you have free health care in home country, are worried about problems associated with advancing age, and can't cover likely health costs here, then it may be in your best interest to head home to the life you probably left for good reasons. 

The OP states he enjoys every day here, hates the thought of returning home, but has lost 90% of income due to covid. This seems to be the main factor in his dilemma. Only he can do the sums and decide if it's worth staying here for the lifestyle or go for the boring safety and comfort of the State social umbrella. 

[Gandtee]

10 hours ago, Ron jeremy said:

Thailand is no place to get old

canada has clean air and free health care 

 

I'll think about that. I'm 87.????

[Fairynuff]

1 hour ago, bbabythai said:

I have a friend in his 70s on it. He shags his 30 yr old 1 to 2 times a day and doesnt need the pill

I’ll bet the 30 year old is desperately trying to hide that testosterone 

[nobodysfriend]

52 minutes ago, KKr said:

pray, do tell me on which worthy platform you communicate and I will read there and learn to live up to those higher standards!

Facebook maybe? just saw an offer for 20 or so kg bags of dried chicken excrement for 25 Baht ?

 Chicken <deleted> is an excellent biological fertilizer . Would like to buy some bags for that price , but that price is not real , is it ...? 55