The living’s cheap, the YouTube videos look great, your friend knows of a friend’s friend who loves living out there. Those lonely single man nights will be a distant memory, and hey, the forums are full of contended pensioners espousing the joys of retired life by the sea. You’ve been looking forward to living there for years, and it's getting to the point where you feel like a call girl that’s never been had. So why shouldn’t you just sell up and join the other RAMs (Retired Abroad Men)?

Don’t retire to Southeast Asia if….

You don’t have the dough.
With exchange rates having the ability to surprise you faster than an amphetamine addicted illusionist, forecasting how much money you’ll have in three years let alone ten might be difficult. Unless you’re some kind of foreigner fat cat, have considerable amounts of passive income, or proven over time you’re able to manage and make money successfully, take a very hard long look at how much dough you’re going to have access to. Because although it’s still possible to eek out an existence on a social security check each month, the lifestyle that sort of money affords is not going to be enough in the near future for many as the region becomes an increasingly expensive place to live. And at least keep a few grand to get you home as your friends and family may not be the “get outta Dodge” card you’d hoped they were - sobbing phone calls back home and gofundme tales of woe are kind of embarrassing.

You’re a goose.
Most long term expats have seen more personality disorders or unsavory character traits in individuals than a resident doctor in a psychiatric ward. Life for the socially challenged in Southeast Asia is mostly one of isolation and hardship. It’s not just fellow expats who will tire of your social deficiencies and show you the error of your ways, locals will grow weary of your disrespectful attitude also - with every chance of attempting to “re-educate” you with some farming implements. If you have issues, stay home and sort them out! Southeast Asia’s people are some of the most patient and respectful people in the world, but your constant ungracious behavior will only be tolerated for so long by everyone.

You’ve got nothing to do.
Sorry to be the whorebinger (harbinger) of bad news, but the novelty of cheap beers and accessible women eventually wears off for many. Yes, some expats continue to enjoy living in sin in Southeast Asia even after a great number of years, but for more than a few it becomes just another place to exist over time. If you’re not the type of person who finds it relatively easy to be busy, explore, take up hobbies or new things of interest, you may just become that cantankerous old cunt nobody wants to speak to at the end of the bar because he can’t help but criticize every aspect of life in his adopted country. Believe it or not, Southeast Asia can become boring if you let it.

You like peace and quiet.
Unless you’ve got your heart set on an almost monk-like existence far out on the fringes of civilization, living in the pandemonium of Southeast Asia’s towns or cities can have you reaching for the whiskey and Diazepam faster than a cheetah onto a limping impala. Whether it’s a wedding, a birth, the 30/60/365 day anniversary of the birth, a death, the 30/60/365 day anniversary of a death, the cellebrations, the monks, the mosques, the vehicles, the neighbors, the dogs, the cats, the bars, the drunks, the horns, the gatherings, the food sellers, the karaoke, the tvs, the music, the yelling, the fights…., it can be one continuous uproar of bedlam, mayhem and chaos. Picture a distinguished duck dressed in a suit holding an umbrella sitting at the front of a small boat being rowed quietly on a peaceful lake - it’s not that.

*Go easy you lot*

Add your own. Or not.

"Add your own"

Don't say that Fu,
It's bad enough being all four of those ^^^ without anybody adding anything else.

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 6:34 pm "Add your own"

Don't say that Fu,
It's bad enough being all four of those ^^^ without anybody adding anything else.

Ha! The irony, we're all the above but too narcissistic or stupid to know.

Personally, I've found that Cambodians are very patient with those of us who are mentally challenged.

Bad place to be if you're an alcoholic.

BeachesOfNepal wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 7:11 pm Bad place to be if you're an alcoholic.

Or a surfer. But then again you could ride the waves of desperation rolling out of some of the bars - it's an endless ride.

I'm a goose. I'm good to go.

@Kung-fu Hillbilly 100 pct. spot on analysis ! Thank's. Unfortunately for those that carry the full load of their mental garbage with them and become a nuisance for all of the rest of the Expats here. BUT: There is light at the end of the Tunnel !
In the past 18 years living in Cambodia i met quite a lot of Expats which surprised me and made me hold a mirror of my own prejudice right in front of my face.

I met Expats from all over the World that were a real treasure trove of knowledge and experience in so many fields previously unnoticed by me. From Tree Experts to professional Farmers and simple gentle people that got along with everyone of the local population.
I also met the poor sods which are mostly Army Vets, ex Police and federal Gov. Agency people that often suffered post traumatic syndroms which none of us could help heal.
Most challenging for many expats seems to be to connect to other Asian Expats let alone African, South American or Arab Nationals. Prejudice hangs over them like a lead cloud. Very sad when i look at the young Iranian Restaurant Owner in Kampot who himself is a perfect example of a World Citizen.