Why Do Expats Remain - Why Do They Come Back?

[pharvey]

Well, the Title of the Thread says it...

Personally, I loved the country, loved the food and pretty much loved the people (there are always TWUNTS in whichever Country you live). In a "Previous Life" I travelled (and worked/lived) internationally for many years across the Globe. Unfortunately due to health issues things may have not quite come to an end to work these days (Remote), but travel will of course be limited.

I had some difficult times in Thailand, but these were due to work and the aggravation therein and the occasional "Anti-Foreigner/Westerner" cr@p that I've experienced pretty much all my life.

These days on the FORUM, I read countless negative reports with regards to Tax, Reporting, Hospital Bills, Bank Accounts and of course TOO MANY HI-SO's coming in!! The latter is a Joke to me - Guys, you are complaining about Rich THAIS coming into a Town/City(?) where you are living as a Foreigner - sorry but true. What would your reaction be with regards to the "Foreign Influx" to the country of your birth - I'm incredibly pi**ed off with what we have in the UK)?

I would love to and will return to Thailand and HH without a doubt, but would never want to live there any longer - it was a "Retirement Dream" years ago.

[STEVE G]

For me, this has been one of the great benefits of being a frequent visitor rather than a resident.
I don't really get involved in any of the stuff that people complain about and still enjoy Hua Hin as much as ever after 22 years of going there.
My partner sorts out everything with the house and vehicles, ( which is only fair as she technically owns them ) and I just come out and enjoy myself!

[2/cb]

I like Thailand but I love Hua hin. I cannot live there because I have grandchildren and have a close relationship with them which is worth more than life itself. But I’ll be back on Soi 94 in November.

[pharvey]

For me, this has been one of the great benefits of being a frequent visitor rather than a resident.

Perhaps the best way when you can afford it! Though being "visitors" is the only way we'll be back now.

I like Thailand but I love Hua hin.

I certainly truly enjoy Hua Hin and Thailand also, but in some respects have a different outlook to a fair few Expats - I have a (Chinese) wife of 25 years and the "Bar Side" of things has never really been on my list, aside from with friends and "People Watching" with a cold beer now and again!! We always went a little way out and enjoyed the "True Thai" roadside places along the coast.

To Expand on Some of My Experiences (sorry, this is a negative one): -

Our (well my) biggest mistake was to buy a property there on a "promised" 30+30 Year Lease (which doesn't exist in reality) - of course, through a believable but quickly disappearing Expat(plus lawyer) and a Thai Company who never delivered. Thankfully, our "Villa" was built and through one way and another, we've got our money back. But believe me, many others fall foul and lose much if not everything.

[Dannie Boy]

I’m spending 4-5 months in the UK every year now, so enjoy the contrast between Thailand and the UK. They both have their good points and bad, but as long as you don’t dwell on the bad too long, life can be quite enjoyable. In Thailand I live a quiet life and never go to bars and don’t even venture out to restaurants that often, being happy to cook at home. Never experienced any real problems with visas etc, so just go through the 90 day and annual renewal process without complaint.

[pharvey]

I’m spending 4-5 months in the UK every year now, so enjoy the contrast between Thailand and the UK. They both have their good points and bad, but as long as you don’t dwell on the bad too long, life can be quite enjoyable. In Thailand I live a quiet life and never go to bars and don’t even venture out to restaurants that often, being happy to cook at home. Never experienced any real problems with visas etc, so just go through the 90 day and annual renewal process without complaint.

It was the life I was after with the LHG, though perhaps more so in the UK - understanding of course that my dear wife needed the same visits to China etc.

[Dannie Boy]

My wife doesn’t want to cut ties with Thailand - her mother, although ailing and about 90 is still going and she has a 26 year old son who still lives at home, so a roughly 60-40 split works ok for us both - I think by the time we get to returning “home” we’re ready for a change of scenery!!

[HarryVardon]

I think that the main thing I like about Thailand is the freedom from the government and local councils. I lived most of my life in Holland when there are rules for everything. Both the government and local civil servants have massive power and they wield it continually. There is almost no free parking spaces left in the country, every local council charges parking fees for just about all roads in their area. Even in small villages residents have to pay to park in front of their own house. Even if you own your own house there are strict rules about the color you can paint your door and many other things. The Dutch version of the Highway Code is as thick as a bible. There are speeding cameras everywhere, especially in places where it is safe to speed and hardly ever in places where speeding would be dangerous. It is just money collection. In Thailand the government leaves people in peace. They make laws here but if people don't like them then they are just ignored. For instance, I have heard that it is illegal to smoke within 50 meters of a public building or restaurant but that law is completely ignored by everyone. I hardly ever see a policeman here and I can do what I like with my house and grounds without interference from local government.

[buksida]

There are plenty of reasons for remaining or being stuck here, such as family, kids, or a Thai wife who doesn't want to leave, unsellable real estate investments, age and reluctance to travel, costs of relocating, health issues, etc.

I envy those with few commitments who can just up sticks and move. An ideal situation for me would be about 4-5 months a year in Thailand (I certainly don't want to permanently retire here) and I find the most content are usually those who have a good balance between time in two or more places (its also a good safety net for when the goal posts get moved).

[KhunLA]

Complete opposite for myself, and knew when I left USA, I'd have no desire to return. Whether staying in TH or not. That final decision to stay didn't really come till daughter was done school, so almost ~18 yrs after arriving. Dread the idea of air travel to anywhere, from 2-3 hr check in, to sitting in a sardine can for more than 1 hour.

Unlike others posting, not really a fan of HH, and would never live there. 1.5 hr south of, is perfect for us, semi rural and surf 5+ minutes away. Would bore most people though, and we travel about when getting cabin fever, about once a month for week or so.

Agree with the attempt to control your life and tax everything in the western world. Could never imagine returning to that.

Don't experience or am around any of the negatives folks complain about in TH. Still loving it, and can't think of any place else I'd want to be.

[Big Boy]

Within 1 week of Tony Blair getting elected, I could see the writing on the wall, and started planning my escape from the UK.

Family has always meant a lot to me, so it made sense to move to a town where my daughter and granddaughters already lived.

My son had passed everything to join the police force, and was going to stay in the UK. He'd been waiting about 18 months for a placing, when the UK announced a blanket ban on police recritment for 5 years. He came with us to make the family whole again.

Yes, Thailand has a lot of faults, but where doesn't? I'm happy to see my days out in Thailand.

[KhunLA]

Within 1 week of Tony Blair getting elected, I could see the writing on the wall, and started planning my escape from the UK.

Family has always meant a lot to me, so it made sense to move to a town where my daughter and granddaughters already lived.

My son had passed everything to join the police force, and was going to stay in the UK. He'd been waiting about 18 months for a placing, when the UK announced a blanket ban on police recritment for 5 years. He came with us to make the family whole again.

Yes, Thailand has a lot of faults, but where doesn't? I'm happy to see my days out in Thailand.

Same with me, when Bush 2 got elected. Moved my investment to speculative oil stocks, Saw the Cheney / Bush administration starting a war somewhere, but never imagined they'd be that ruthless to start it, and the US would stay involved that long.

Actually surprised the election was that close, as left just prior in Sept / Oct 2000, first house finished March 2001, ready for full retirement. No kids, 2 brothers I talked to but rarely visited, since not living in same state. Sold off RE investments a year prior, before first visit to TH, Oct 1999.

Researched a few countries prior to visiting TH, which wasn't on my radar at all to retire to. Was looking at Florida or more likely Mexico and points south of. Staying in the Americas, as didn't like EU, what little I visited, and never visited Asia.

Who knew, and surprised me with that decision. TH has worked out perfect for me, luckily.

[Martinoo]

I came here through work, working in EU and US before.
I am part Asian, my skin colour confirms, and I never had a problem integrating, not with the people nor with the rules.
Rules are everywhere, same way with unfriendly regimes and people... the language plays a big part...
I retired the end of 2023 and much earlier it was clear I was not going back to EU nor US, but would stay here in Thailand... for the final years? I guess so.

Working all over the region, I repeat myself I know, I never found the perfect country with all the things we want, from taxes to stay permits, from owning investments to being accepted.... I found the best place to be here, probably also motivated by my wife.. She often came to where I worked when outside of Thailand, for a holiday... It became clear to me that she would no go live (semi) permanently anywhere else.

In 2022 my son got a trainee job here and soon told me he really liked it. His mother is part Asian like me, so again the blood crept I guess.
The company offered him a job so at 26 he is an expat...quicker then me and any other working expat I know. Never say never, but for now he wants to stay here. The company is a multinational with global presence, and he is their top talent it looks like and getting practice and schooling here with some sidesteps to the regional offices. I expect him to fly out one time and that is great for him..
I am just telling this as it became another reason for me to stay here, what better than having your kid around and seeing him grow... I missed a part of that when his mother returned to EU with him..

So for all the negativity, as earlier mentioned by the OP, mentioned here I am fine with Thailand. But are forums not most of the time about negativity??? Well maybe I am wrong... but look at the first 10 subjects...

I have lived in Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai and Bangkok and now we live rural between HH and CM...and this because our daughter worked here and now herself moved to Bangkok!!! I asked the wife, want to go back to Ayutthaya?, as that is where she is from, but she said she really loves the quiet here and funny enough so do I. Marvelous views any where we look of mountains, fields, no direct neighbours, open and clean air., very very, friendly people... The porch is the place we live and she enjoys her time in the garden...and at the pond.. and for me the beach is 20 minutes away, the motocy is my preferred transport....nothing is close but also nothing is too far away....
Just a happy message for the readers.....

[pharvey]

There's never the perfect country, the "Grass is always Greener" etc...

Despite my thoughts (previously) of retiring in Asia, especially with a Chinese wife, I think I've always had the thought of returning to the UK - exactly why I never burned bridges and kept a property. With work I've constantly travelled internationally for months if not years on end since I was in my 20's and it got to the point where I wanted to be back close to my aging parents and family (at least for a while).

Despite the utter BS that we now (+ a fair few years) have in the UK, I would always come back (though current Labour are making this more and more difficult) - I'm Welsh, a Celt and a Briton (despite my Yorkshire born and bred father ).

Whilst I was always concerned for the LHG making such a shift, she would never cut ties with China which is of course fully understandable, but she really is settled here in the Welsh countryside rather than the Metropolis of Chongqing and has been for several years. She will head back to China later this year for several weeks to catch up with family, friends and the culture etc. but has no intention of returning to China/Asia on a more permanent basis.

Personally, I have far too many issues and bad memories with regards to China, but love Asia - notably extended time spent in Thailand, though Vietnam/Cambodia wouldn't go amiss, but Japan has always been a favourite. Unfortunately, I would be a tourist at best these days.

Health issues over the last few years have actually confirmed our decision as being for the best (despite the abuse of the NHS from several quarters), I've paid my dues and both myself and the LHG are taken care of very well - treatments that would bankrupt me overseas (especially Thailand), highlighted by Big Boy's recent (very interesting) hospital report.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that views can change dramatically over time dependant on commitments/dependants, age, health, finances, not to mention the ever changing political environment.

[Martinoo]

I understand from numerous expats over all nationalities that health and health insurance are the most important factor to return home, some after years/decades of staying in Thailand. And I fully understand and agree, but man tough choices for sure.
No other reason could make me go back or somewhere else. My commitment I feel is here with my wife and family....