More than a few foreign retirees in Thailand strike me as miserable. Living in their small condo with crappy furniture, a rock-hard bed and not a single photo of family, are they really as happy as they make out?

Many single, foreign retirees in Thailand have simplified their lifestyle to what strikes me as the extreme. Long gone are the days of living in a house, rather many exist in a condo, often a small studio that feels like a shoebox. Where once they might have had a car or two in their homeland, now they may have a motorbike, or no vehicle at all. They might be able to pack their whole life in to just a suitcase or two.

There are plenty of arguments for simplifying your life. Capital isn’t tied up in property. You don’t have the hassles or expense of vehicle servicing and maintenance. You’re free of encumbrances and you can up and move on at the drop of a hat if you so wish.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that you need to keep busy, but I do think life is better, and more enriching if you have something or someone to care for, in other words something with real meaning.

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 10:00 am Although its stickman so thailand, am sure it fits for Cambodia.
I wonder, if i wasn't in a relationship and was living on a budget, would i want to live in SE Asia? Would i find visiting bars (i visit maybe 1 / month an thats really only to eat their food) every Or every other night a way to spend my last years ?

More than a few foreign retirees in Thailand strike me as miserable. Living in their small condo with crappy furniture, a rock-hard bed and not a single photo of family, are they really as happy as they make out?

Many single, foreign retirees in Thailand have simplified their lifestyle to what strikes me as the extreme. Long gone are the days of living in a house, rather many exist in a condo, often a small studio that feels like a shoebox. Where once they might have had a car or two in their homeland, now they may have a motorbike, or no vehicle at all. They might be able to pack their whole life in to just a suitcase or two.

There are plenty of arguments for simplifying your life. Capital isn’t tied up in property. You don’t have the hassles or expense of vehicle servicing and maintenance. You’re free of encumbrances and you can up and move on at the drop of a hat if you so wish.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that you need to keep busy, but I do think life is better, and more enriching if you have something or someone to care for, in other words something with real meaning.

https://www.stickmanbangkok.com/weekly- ... eaningful/

Khmu Nation wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 11:52 am They are here for the cheap beer and the easy women. Nothing wrong with that.

Anthony's Weiner wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:46 pm "More than a few foreign retirees in Thailand strike me as miserable. Living in their small condo with crappy furniture, a rock-hard bed and not a single photo of family, are they really as happy as they make out?

For the first 5 years in Thailand I led that sort of simple life. I wasn’t retired, of course, but my life was about as simple as it gets. I lived in a studio apartment. I had no car, nor did I own a motosai. None of the furniture was mine. Almost all of my belongings could fit in a backpack.

Getting back to retirees in Thailand, the impression I have is that many have simplified their life to the xth degree. They’ve gone too far and there is nothing meaningful left. I get it that some are on a budget and some may wish to minimise responsibilities, but take it too far and what is left?

But at the same time, it seems to me that some retirees have simplified their life to such a degree that there’s little to nothing left that is in any way meaningful. And that’s kind of sad. It’s not my idea of a great retirement."

A poorly written article in which stickboy describes his first five years in Thailand as unfulfilling and then attributes his lifestyle on the" OK Boomer" generation. A single retiree must have 800,000 baht in ready cash to obtain a visa vs the signed contract and sweet f@ck all other than a pair of dress shoes and a tie that a TEFL teacher must-have. I would suggest there are far more English as a second language teachers living on their 25,000 baht a month salary unable to afford the finer things in life than retirees living single with nothing more than a rock hard mattress. In Sisaket there is a corner at the night market where the down and out, bitter, single men of western heritage have their 3 beers a night and discuss what needs to be done to make Thailand a better place to live, all are employed as English teachers. My impression of them is if they weren t here, they would be back in Pretoria, Swindon or St Louis having a beer at night, single and bitter that their lives were had not blossomed as they dreamed of.

But to answer his rhetorical question, living alone on a meager budget and no prospects of change is a dreary lifestyle. Millions of retirees do it from Adelaide to Atlanta to Aachen. At least in Thailand the beer is cheaper, the food tastier and there is likely someone reasonably attractive that your meager lifestyle is either a step up or a lateral move and willing to share it with you. Stickboy, stick to what you know best, the latest gossip from Nana Plaza.

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 2:03 pm

Anthony's Weiner wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:46 pm "More than a few foreign retirees in Thailand strike me as miserable. Living in their small condo with crappy furniture, a rock-hard bed and not a single photo of family, are they really as happy as they make out?

For the first 5 years in Thailand I led that sort of simple life. I wasn’t retired, of course, but my life was about as simple as it gets. I lived in a studio apartment. I had no car, nor did I own a motosai. None of the furniture was mine. Almost all of my belongings could fit in a backpack.

Getting back to retirees in Thailand, the impression I have is that many have simplified their life to the xth degree. They’ve gone too far and there is nothing meaningful left. I get it that some are on a budget and some may wish to minimise responsibilities, but take it too far and what is left?

But at the same time, it seems to me that some retirees have simplified their life to such a degree that there’s little to nothing left that is in any way meaningful. And that’s kind of sad. It’s not my idea of a great retirement."

A poorly written article in which stickboy describes his first five years in Thailand as unfulfilling and then attributes his lifestyle on the" OK Boomer" generation. A single retiree must have 800,000 baht in ready cash to obtain a visa vs the signed contract and sweet f@ck all other than a pair of dress shoes and a tie that a TEFL teacher must-have. I would suggest there are far more English as a second language teachers living on their 25,000 baht a month salary unable to afford the finer things in life than retirees living single with nothing more than a rock hard mattress. In Sisaket there is a corner at the night market where the down and out, bitter, single men of western heritage have their 3 beers a night and discuss what needs to be done to make Thailand a better place to live, all are employed as English teachers. My impression of them is if they weren t here, they would be back in Pretoria, Swindon or St Louis having a beer at night, single and bitter that their lives were had not blossomed as they dreamed of.

But to answer his rhetorical question, living alone on a meager budget and no prospects of change is a dreary lifestyle. Millions of retirees do it from Adelaide to Atlanta to Aachen. At least in Thailand the beer is cheaper, the food tastier and there is likely someone reasonably attractive that your meager lifestyle is either a step up or a lateral move and willing to share it with you. Stickboy, stick to what you know best, the latest gossip from Nana Plaza.

I think if i was alone i would do one of two things, travel alot more than i do now with no home base. Stopping in places i'd like to explore more.
OR head back to the states, buy a Westfalia VW camper and drive around visiting friends and places with trips elsewhere.

I think he brings up some good points, many retires never really did much except school, work and raise a family so really get overwhelmed with so much time to themselves, (my brother comes to mind). Many have no hobbies and are not particularly happy with their lives an dont have the $$ or mindset to change. PLUS left their home countries (an x wife & grown kids) to live in SE asia where they had never even visited before they left the rat race.

Side note; I dont really understand why so many retirees spend so much time in bars ( especially the ones i see at 10 am siting in one over a beer) with the same group of "friends".

I have tried to minimize my possession and simplify my life,( an have been successful at that) but dam its hard to give up my books and art. BUT have stopped buying more:-)

Doubt i'd ever live in a studio apt, alone in one place in SE asia