expatdreamer Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Recently Green77 sought advice on whether he should move to Thailand, and some of the responses got me thinking....for all of you expats - if you could go back in time, what would you have done differently. For example, Gary A's informative response indicated when he first arrived in Thailand he invested in a couple of businesses which went sour meaning he had to return to the West to work for 5 more years, something I am sure he would have preferred not to have done, before then returning to Thailand for good. So what would you have done differently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travel2003 Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I would have moved here earlier. But I now have the luxury of knowing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazygourmet Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I would have continued to do some business instead of procrastinating and living on my rental incomes. But even after 20 years in South-East Asia I am -only- 46, so it's still not too late for a change. New year resolution... Maybe!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canopy Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 1. Get the most suitable, long term type of visa you can immediately. Visa rules are always changing, usually raising the bar to qualify, more expensive, or getting phasing out. 2. Devote a lot of effort into learning the language immediately and don't let up. And as someone mentioned, it's never too late even if you have been here a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNF55 Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I could kick myself for not having applied for PR 10 years ago when it was somewhat affordable and obviously also easier to get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovelaos Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Bought more land when it was affordable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARISTIDE Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I should have learned the piano Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vpi78 Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I would pay more attention to my gut/common sense and less to/ignore the "web-experts" like Slickman. It turns out most of those guys are/were shills for the businesses that advertize on their blogs ... but again common sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetotravel Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 More money can never hurt. Staying home to earn it and miss out on the great life here is a touch choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GooEng Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 (edited) less drink/drugs, more work/saving$$ Edited December 15, 2011 by GooEng Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I would build two smaller houses, next to each other, rather than one larger one, looking-ahead to the days when our kids leave-home & we don't need so much space for just the two of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vpi78 Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 More money can never hurt. Staying home to earn it and miss out on the great life here is a touch choice. Especially in some of the bars where touching is allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoneyboy Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 1323947670[/url]' post='4914345']I would build two smaller houses, next to each other, rather than one larger one, looking-ahead to the days when our kids leave-home & we don't need so much space for just the two of us. Is that one for the wife and one for you,I'm confused Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awohalitsiktoli Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 More money can never hurt. Staying home to earn it and miss out on the great life here is a touch choice. Especially in some of the bars where touching is allowed. I would never have moved here......never have gotten involved with a Thai women (i.e. marriage).......never have invested in anything here. Instead, I would have moved to New Zealand or Panama or some other place. Thailand has been going downhill from the day I first moved here (over twenty years ago), and the decline has accelerated over the past ten years. The really good days (80s and 90s) have gone and will not return. I am looking forward to leaving (yes, I know, do not let the door hit you in the ass on the way out....blah, blah, blah). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaimate Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 If i could go back in time what would i change? NOTHING!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooters Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 More money can never hurt. Staying home to earn it and miss out on the great life here is a touch choice. Especially in some of the bars where touching is allowed. I would never have moved here......never have gotten involved with a Thai women (i.e. marriage).......never have invested in anything here. Instead, I would have moved to New Zealand or Panama or some other place. Thailand has been going downhill from the day I first moved here (over twenty years ago), and the decline has accelerated over the past ten years. The really good days (80s and 90s) have gone and will not return. I am looking forward to leaving (yes, I know, do not let the door hit you in the ass on the way out....blah, blah, blah). Its called progress. You may want to try Burma for that 3rd world feeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetotravel Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I would never have moved here......never have gotten involved with a Thai women (i.e. marriage).......never have invested in anything here. Instead, I would have moved to New Zealand or Panama or some other place. Thailand has been going downhill from the day I first moved here (over twenty years ago), and the decline has accelerated over the past ten years. The really good days (80s and 90s) have gone and will not return. I am looking forward to leaving (yes, I know, do not let the door hit you in the ass on the way out....blah, blah, blah). Been to Panama or Costa Rica lately? They ain't getting better either. I was turned off by the bars on the windows, increase in crime and home invasions. But I heard they were great places in the 80's and 90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I would have gotten a degree in education and a teachers licence before coming here. One can make a decent living if they qualify to teach at international schools and there always seems to be a demand for teachers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berkshire Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 More money can never hurt. Staying home to earn it and miss out on the great life here is a touch choice. Especially in some of the bars where touching is allowed. I would never have moved here......never have gotten involved with a Thai women (i.e. marriage).......never have invested in anything here. Instead, I would have moved to New Zealand or Panama or some other place. Thailand has been going downhill from the day I first moved here (over twenty years ago), and the decline has accelerated over the past ten years. The really good days (80s and 90s) have gone and will not return. I am looking forward to leaving (yes, I know, do not let the door hit you in the ass on the way out....blah, blah, blah). I'll give you this Awoh--you're incredibly consistent. But I'm fairly certain that if you HAD gone to either New Zealand or Panama, your life wouldn't have turned out much differently. And you'd still be saying..."I would never have moved here...." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Thailand has been going downhill from the day I first moved here (over twenty years ago), and the decline has accelerated over the past ten years. The really good days (80s and 90s) have gone and will not return. I much prefer Thailand now. There is a lot more good foreign food as well as English language entertainment, books, and music. However, I will admit that the sex industry was more fun way back when. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astral Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I would have moved here earlier. But I now have the luxury of knowing. That is my thought too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seedy Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Hindsight is always 20/20 But I am where I am right now because of the things I did in the past. Changing the past would also change the present - no ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vpi78 Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Hindsight is always 20/20 But I am where I am right now because of the things I did in the past. Changing the past would also change the present - no ?? You watch way too many bad movies; Butterfly Effect, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenslegs Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 More money can never hurt. Staying home to earn it and miss out on the great life here is a touch choice. Especially in some of the bars where touching is allowed. I would never have moved here......never have gotten involved with a Thai women (i.e. marriage).......never have invested in anything here. Instead, I would have moved to New Zealand or Panama or some other place. Thailand has been going downhill from the day I first moved here (over twenty years ago), and the decline has accelerated over the past ten years. The really good days (80s and 90s) have gone and will not return. I am looking forward to leaving (yes, I know, do not let the door hit you in the ass on the way out....blah, blah, blah). Don't beat yourself up. I'm sure it's just coincidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 If I could go back in time, I would have purchased gold with every spare penny. Other than that I don't think I would have changed much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahtin Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Butterfly wing effect. Kids are irreversible. I stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StreetCowboy Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 More money can never hurt. Staying home to earn it and miss out on the great life here is a touch choice. Especially in some of the bars where touching is allowed. I would never have moved here......never have gotten involved with a Thai women (i.e. marriage).......never have invested in anything here. Instead, I would have moved to New Zealand or Panama or some other place. Thailand has been going downhill from the day I first moved here (over twenty years ago), and the decline has accelerated over the past ten years. The really good days (80s and 90s) have gone and will not return. I am looking forward to leaving (yes, I know, do not let the door hit you in the ass on the way out....blah, blah, blah). "....Thailand has been going downhill from the day I first moved here...." Suddenly, everything becomes clear. I'd feel bad about that, too. SC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onionluke Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 More money can never hurt. Staying home to earn it and miss out on the great life here is a touch choice. Especially in some of the bars where touching is allowed. I would never have moved here......never have gotten involved with a Thai women (i.e. marriage).......never have invested in anything here. Instead, I would have moved to New Zealand or Panama or some other place. Thailand has been going downhill from the day I first moved here (over twenty years ago), and the decline has accelerated over the past ten years. The really good days (80s and 90s) have gone and will not return. I am looking forward to leaving (yes, I know, do not let the door hit you in the ass on the way out....blah, blah, blah). "....Thailand has been going downhill from the day I first moved here...." Suddenly, everything becomes clear. I'd feel bad about that, too. SC It's been pure crap since they closed down my fav bar , Butterfly Affect , the girls just don't feel the same . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahtin Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 (edited) http://www.howcanisurvive2012.net/ tongueincheek no stuff this it's not even funny goodbye cruel world Edited December 15, 2011 by mahtin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felt 35 Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Not unless there had been a board in the airport when arrived here stating and explaining what the Phuket Thais see as development . However I have had one foot here and one there (Home) all the time and never done any commitment more than what necessary to have it comfortable here and when the times come and this old chap need more care I shall lock the door queietly after me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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