Lately I have been reading a lot of very good blog posts that have touched upon the issue of expats. With Christmas fast approaching many of the expats will feel the need to go back to their roots, visiting family and friends over the festive season to savour some of the things they have missed and to remind themselves why they left in the first place. Over the coming 12 months a new exodus of foreigners will migrate to Thailand for reasons of work, retirement or just to live the life of Riley, but is this migration trail only a one way route.
The longest period I have stayed in Thailand was four months and whilst it gave me a greater understanding of the country, it certainly was not enough to determine whether I would be able to adapt to the very different culture and pace of life. Reading some of the articles written about the problems faced by the expat community is most helpful for people like myself who are planning for a future in Thailand. To read about topics such as language difficulties, being accepted within the community, visa’s, health insurance and Thai law are a big help but they must also be some of the causes for people heading back home. Surely not everyone who settles in Thailand stays there forever.
Long days of continual partying can turn the Life of Riley, into the life of oh really, the money’s gone I’d better go home. A lack of funds is probably a major contributor to many folk booking that one way ticket back to the mundane life they lived before, but what other reasons unzip the stowed away suitcase that brought with it tomorrows dreams. The break up of a marriage or the sudden end of a work contract, a failed business venture or family problems back home are obvious reasons and there are many more.
Those of you currently enjoying your life settled in Thailand may have seen within your community newcomers or indeed long time residents, that have now gone with good reason or without explanation, is this a common occurrence or extremely rare, I would like to know. Are their departures one of parties of grandeur or with a tail slipped between fast moving legs, left in the light or the dead of the night, birds of a feather may stick together but surely some slip away.
I have often wondered that when I am ready to take early retirement in Thailand, my dreams may have been fed on so many perfect holidays with very healthy budgets, and perhaps the reality will be tighter purse strings and a sometime mundane life, but at this moment that would seem perfect to me. Has your Thailand dream worked out the way you expected it to or is the grass that was greener now scorched and black. I hope your Thailand dreams are well on track and the words goodbye Mister Riley never answer you back. Good luck and stay your way.
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Hi HD. The Thailand Dream for me is living in a country where the weather is good and the prices are affordable enough for me to enjoy some retirement time without worrying about money. Whether this will always be the case, well only time will tell. I am not short sighted and I have pondered what would happen for example if my health took a turn for the worse-chances are I would head back to “nanny state UK” to cash in some of my National Insurance contributions! Originally I had considered living 6 months UK 6 months Thailand but decided it was too much hassle.
Greetings Mike. When your comment is longer than the post you are answering I can only assume you have to much spare time,sounds marvelous, just finished a 12 hour night shift.After your Winter fuel payment have you had many people knocking at your door wrapped in thick woolens and heavy scarves with a stuffed robin balanced on one shoulder, “ao satang krap.”
I think many people move to places like Thailand to escape their own limitations only to discover a change of climate doesn’t change the root problem LOL
Thought-provoking stuff. Yes I think the gloss fades after the initial rush, that several months long perception that you’ve suddenly landed in paradise and what’s more it’s virtually free. But hopefully without sounding too much like some kind of sexist, I’m not one for the combative, pint-drinking, I’m-as-tough-as-you-are-let-me-open-the-door-for-you-cook-your-own-dinner women that seem to be the norm more and more these days back in Europe. That’s their right of course, it’s just that it’s not for me. So no matter how much the gloss fades, no matter how much the £ suffers, I’ll always feel more at home here I reckon.
On t’other hand you touched on a raw spot as it were ref the unexpected. Without this becoming a *too much detail* comment, I only came here in the first place through the breakdown of a 20 year relationship. Not my choice to leave either, having two teenage kids back in France. Still you have to get on with your life, so I did. Came to LoS, new gf, pregnant … then ex-wife dies suddenly and unexpectedly at 45. So now I’ve got a life and responsibilities here, but am faced with trips back and forth to France. You just never know what’s waiting for you just around the corner, out of sight. Another reason I like the Thai approach to life – why make elaborate plans, worry non-stop, when things usually turn out different to expectations anyway. One day at a time …
How common are those sudden expat disappearances? I’ve hardly noticed any. There are few you just know are heading right back to where they came from. But for most – especially those in their mid-40s and up – the mundane life, the respect, the gentle people, that’s pretty much all they need most of the time, I reckon. Does me anyway, and I’m dreading the trip back to Marseille Dec 18th
testing … testing … my comment has been eaten by a giant mango … testing …
Thanks Pete for an emotional comment straight from your heart….I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your ex wife and perhaps moving to the LOS will ease the hurt but not make you forget someone who has been such a massive part of your life……As far as comments go I think yours is a mirror image of your blog site, 100 percent first class. Giant mangos, let me explain, I am having giant mango sized problems with my sidebar widgets affecting certain functions of my site, but with the equally excellent My Thai Friend displaying on my EC card I will put off my attempts to negotiate with my HTML until tomorrow. The 14 day HTML War will continue with me at present losing the fight. Hope the three of you (Thai mice excluded) are doing swell. Sweet dreams and as they say around Mansfield way that’s one sweet looking yuff.
Thanks mate appreciated. Mansfield eh, a bit south of my origins (North Yorks). Hope all your plans work out while you’re still fit – it’s not just about the money is it. It’s getting the timing right – and a lot of that’s down to luck, or fate as the Thais would have it. How many blokes work their guts out until they’re 65 (or is it 68 now), then peg it after rolling around a luxury cruiseliner in a wheelchair for a couple of years with the only thing regularly attached to their nether regions being an incontinence bag.
What the hell’s the point in that.
Iam stuck in Halifax west York’s no passport fore the wife my flight to Bangkok down the pan up to 6 weeks to get the money back
the wife as given me a pass if I would like a holiday but its not the same as going with family and is it safe for a bald 40 year old to go to l.o.s on is own my mate from Burnley says yes and he’s in pats waiting i like the blog and hello to all
my name is john brook i run my website about udon thani from my cold dormer bedroom in sunny halifax
Hello John, I would say Pattaya and Thailand are a much safer place than England in general, and a hell of a lot safer than most UK cities and towns. Be street wise and you’ll be perfectly safe, go to Udon Thani and you can’t go wrong.
Огромное спасибо за потрясающие идеи!!! Буду следить за блогом, много всего интересного. А мой блог о науке, надеюсь, тоже понравится
yo, http://www.thaisabai.org great name for site)))
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