Have you thought about getting a digital nomad job?
Digital Nomads
I do have it. The issue is the visa. I work remote on an island where I have my tax residency
I started back to my 'real' life in September.
Heading back to Thailand in January.
I spend a good portion of every year in Thailand. It's where I feel most relaxed.
Happy Cake Day!
And yes, Thailand does make me feel the same.
It does relax me as well. When I go back something irks me about hearing everyone's conversations and Americans are so loud and inconsiderate it's almost like a constant low-grade torture.
Me too. Thailand and Bali, at least a month or two in each annually. Often I ended up in Bali more though.
i traveled for years. now i have a family, kids. it's a small window of time that you have this freedom. don't waste it
The best option is avoiding the family / kids and just plowing (dating) for decades.
that sounds pretty lonely.
not to mention all the awkward meetup with cousins and friends who all have kids and you're alone.
So your saying to have kids because 'everyone else is' and your not comfortable being alone with yourself and/or a partner?
Don't give into the pressures of society.
"Omg totally awks... better devote my life to raising a child for multiple decades to avoid the cringe."
Or just meet a fellow nomad and don't have kids ever 🙂
Damn well you only live once… how you want to spend your time?
It’s been years and I still feel the same way.
Same, I go back almost every year.
The problem is that you are not the only one that feels the same about Thailand, so they've become rather strict with immigration rules. It's hard, to impossible to just roll up and live here anymore. You need to get a proper, long term visa.
Lived in Thailand since 2015 and love it.
Exactly. Did you buy elite visa?
Thats where most people struggle
Where specific in Thailand did you stay and for how long were you there?
I see a few posts like this on the various Thailand subs each week. They make me smile because we all know the real reason why the OPs have such starry-eyed thoughts on Thailand.
No shame though, it happened to me too.
What're you talking about? Serious question.
Same reason why the vast, vast majority of long term westerners here are men: Thai women are great and they make you feel amazing.
But Spoy called me a hansum man
It sucks that Thai elite visa is so unaffordable now. Previously it was worth a consideration for peace of mind if you wanted to live there long term.
$25k is unaffordable? It's pretty cheap compared to the strict income requirements of many other countries.
Plus, it filters out suspicious farangs. If you're a good person with slightly above average IQ—you can find a way if you really want to stay here.
Income requirements are just that. You aren't actually handing over money. But for an elite visa that money is gone. 15 year elite visa is $70k now, and you'll never see that money again + the benefits are worse than before as an additional fuck you. The 20 year visa basically doesn't even exist anymore (invite only and $140k lol). Very glad I got my 20 year for $28k (almost same price as a 5 year now) before all this stupid shit happened, but I bet they'll backpedal on it.
They will retract it im sure, give it time
Based on the crowds of Russians and new language schools in my neighborhood, ed visas are still widely available.
If I could go back in time, I would’ve saved the $17k I spent on the elite visa and stuck with those.
Ed visas are 1 year only and they are cracking down on fake ones
sure thailand is nice, but it's no europe/north america/australia where quality of life is much better and you fit in culturally.
There is no standard measure of quality of life. It's up to each person to decide on the things that make them happy.
agreed - i should have phrased that better. developed countries offer more comforts ,but yes it's up to each person to decide what they value.
quality of life is much better
That hugely depends on who you are and what you earn.
Yeah, I had a similar feeling, so five years ago after my kids went to university and I got divorced, I left the best place in California and visited Thailand once. And then returned. And returned again. And am here most the time now … for the same reasons you mentioned. If you want to make it happen, put a plan in place and start working on it. You can do it. 👍
I know how you feel but I'll also say it's one thing to vacation in a place and a whole other thing to need to balance work, visa shenanigans, etc. while you're staying there. And then explain to the girl you're dating you can't or won't actually stay long term
Yeah, I feel that way too sometimes. There’s always future return trips. For now, try to find what you appreciate about where you are. Be grateful for the time you had there and the time you get to have here. And hey, if it really sucks, just head back to where you were last happy.
Most people feel the same about anywhere they go on vacation, escaping reality? Even people in Thailand think the same when they go to another location for holiday….
I’ve been 4 times and think about it literally every day. I feel you.
Yes, about my 3 months in Mexico. It changed my life. I would live there if they had reliable Amazon prime 🤣
I live in the Playa Del Carmen and our Amazon Prime is great!
i mean i would just settle for real addresses for delivery, I think i still have a package at a DHL pickup in Oaxaca from last spring
They do have reliable amazon prime lol
You can get a US forwarding address from mailboxes etc. You order to that address and mailboxes etc forward your packages to your local store. It takes an extra 4 days or so and the costs depend on weight.