Are you slumming it as an ex-pat?

Getting back to the original post, No I do not think for one momnet we are slumming it, many who live in our home countries may think so,but keeping up with the Jones's as it where is not something I have ever subscribed too and I am happy with my lot. Other people may very well think that I am slumming it, but slumming as a word is what other people think of you NOT what you think of yourself. We all have our own standards of living, what is good to some people is slumming to others.

I often say 'I live like a King here' and quite frankly compared to how I would be able to live on my income back in the UK, I do .I actually did a cost of living comparison a while back and was amazed to discover that I would qualify for social security and tax credits were I trying to live with my dependants back there .

Well, i would be a lot happier if i still got more than 60 baht to the pound, but in UK my prospects are: -

I now live on a pension, which is just high enough to keep me off any benefits, but i would need to spend 60% of my income on rent, 30% on essentials (basic food, fuel, car, insurance etc). 10% left will not pay much for holidays, entertainment, or anything else. Culture (as in theatre, live music) is normally totally beyond my means and meals out, drinks out are very much luxuries to be avoided. Participating in sport - well again 1 days participation would be half the monthly disposable income. Transport outside of using a car is extortionate and where i live is very limited. In the UK i can exist; I would need my 70 channels of crap because could not do much else. By the time i get a bigger pension, i would have died of boredom.

In Thailand, i can pick my accommodation (within reason), pay for essentials, and still have enough for eating and drinking out, travel, entertainment (although limited in choice) and some sport. I do not have to shiver for half the year, and, as you said, the opposite sex still has some interest in me - whatever their motive (but finding an honest, well reasonably honest women is not hard).

I came upon Udon by chance but it ticked all the boxes from the first day i visited it. Ok, I will never be Hi-so, but i can be comfortably middle classed. And whatever some people have experienced, the Thai people here have made me very welcome so far.

BobHelm wrote:Financially I think there are 3 types of expat living in Thailand Pete (well maybe 4 if you include the criminal one as a seperate unit ).
1. Retired. These people (me included) have a set income that exists no matter where they live. While the strength of the baht against other currencies would alter the balance, generally speaking as long as expenditure in Thailand is less than their homeland then they may be living in a slum but it is a better class slum than they could afford in their place of birth. As I am from the UK & housing & associated costs are just so much more expensive at home than here that is especially the case.


It is NOT necessary to get involved in the 'bureaucracy' in Thailand. I get a year 'o' non imm visa from the Uk because that suits my situation of returning to the UK on a regular basis - it means I have to visit Laos every 90 days - but only for seconds & no one can refuse me entry - as long as I obey the normal rules of acceptability when entering a foreign country.
:

Yes that broadly reflects my view. On your last paragraph I have some questions but I think it may take us down new avenues way off topic, so will ask in the visa forum .

The other aspect I like is the freedom I have here. Last year I had a storage room built at our house, Dear Old California god only knows how many permits I would have to get, pay for inspections at every stage. Seeing the guys at immigration four times a year really don't bother me if it did I would mail in the 90 day reports. Beyond that I don't really have any contact with the government unless I run a red light or something. Maybe pay to get into a National Park or something. No I don't like paying the tourist rates. But. I have the option not to go.

If you enjoy cultural aspects they are here as well a good presentation of traditional Thai dance is beautiful. They do have there own version of Opera, might have to drive a bit to see it.

Here is one thing I don't understand, your wife won't go with you if you leave? Didn't work all those years to enjoy this time frame of life. After you death she could return or live anywhere she wanted I'm assuming she is a bit younger then you?

They way I look at that is spent my entire life taking care of others hence those wonderful working ours. Now it's my turn. If I wanted to live in another place that is not the wife's option that is mine I earned it.

Didn't the family take care of themselves before you came along, they can still do that. What it really breaks down to is money and if have a driving desire to wear the white hat you can send that to them. More then likely they would like that better anyway

This is not practice shot at life, you need to enjoy what time you have. So you want to be in the states go, your wife will go with you or not. Is your obligation to be the bread winner? What is your wife's obligation is not to care for you?

You have had your ears pinned back enough not my intention. I just don't understand your thinking.

I didn't expect anything more from you.

Sorry, that above comment was in reply to Khun Paul whose post I forgot to quote

I have to admit that was a but confusing didn't expect anymore writing or something else

I have a very close friend who lived here for awhile, Heavy into hunting and fishing. Like Thailand as an aspect of his life. I really admired him, he had nothing negative to say about Thailand, it just fit his needs and that is how he explained it. Thailand simply is not everyone's cup of tea.

Normally if you want something here you can find it or create it and some times the search is 90% of the fun.

Anyone who wants you not to suffer will tell you rent first, there are lots of things to learn and adapt to and the firs few years can be very difficult. But once it's home it's and not much is going change that. I would venture to say there was something that brought you to Thailand beyond finding a wife, you can find that in a lot of other places much closer to the states. By the way I don't mean you personally I don't even know you. The first thing that made yuo look at Thailand a a place to leave was in the home country. Guess what it's still there.

When i first came I wrote down a very detailed narrative of why I left. First few years I read that many many times man did I think I screwed up or what. I would read that and realize all the crap I left behind was still there if I wanted to change my life I knew it wouldn't be there. As matter of fact the way things are now it's probably worse then when I left it.

I have two daughters there adults living their own lives. I have the money set aside for them to come visit. Why don't I go there simple they don't have time top hang out with me. They come here I have all the time in the world for them.

For me I will always be an American. But. it's not my home Thailand is.