Dont move to Pattaya

[Olddaddy]

I was talking to a expat last night in a bar in Jomtien 

Been here 2 years 

I told him of my excitement in meeting a guy in my room in several hours that was well known on Facebook 

He told me he no longer feels excited about meeting guys

Lucky to meet once a month with a guy he says maybe twice 

The excited look on him had vanished now he lives there 

"They all begin looking the same " he said ,it doesn't become exciting to meet up with moneyboys "

Day to day living gets in the way , he strangely said 

The poor guy just lost interest in meeting moneyboys for sex 

"Oh maybe sometimes I go to the sauna get it for free , but paying lost its novelty in just not as interested " he said 

Then it dawned on me what many say .....about living here in Pattaya ,too much of a good thing makes back a dull boy 

Could I move here to Pattaya ?

Probably not ready yet !

I still need excitement to look forward to every trip 

 

 

[vinapu]

4 minutes ago, Olddaddy said:

 

I still need excitement to look forward to every trip 

 

 

I always say  'one can't return without leaving first'

[PeterRS]

I have a certain sympathy for the view expressed in @Olddaddy's post. In my younger years when i was visiting Bangkok at least six times a year, I was like the lad who had discovered the cookie jar. Extending the metaphors I was in seventh heaven. So many bars! So many boys! So inexpensive!

Even when I moved here nearly quarter of a century ago, although still working for many more years I loved what Bangkok had to offer - even though the gay nightlife scene was starting to change, a result of Thaksin Senior elevating his ultra-religious pal as Minister for the Interior tinkering with laws and making life more difficult for venue owners. I still loved my nights out, many with friends, usually visiting bars after dinner and many times resulting for me in an off.

But then it all changed. Yes, I know the improvement in the Thai economy resulted in boys from many neighbouring countries replacing Thais in the bars. But age changed me. That and eventually finding a long-term partner, one who had nothing to do with the sex business. Indeed he had never even ventured as far as Soi 4 when we first met! When you have a loving partner, offing boys from bars drops virtually to the bottom of one's list of priorities. 

While many who live there love Pattaya - and I have visited a few times, I have never really liked the place and could never consider retirement there. But horses for courses. It has its charms. It has some excellent restaurants and lots of boys. But despite the attractions, if I always had to resort to paying for money boys for my sexual pleasure, like @Olddaddy's expat friend, I am sure I would end up pretty bored.

[Ruthrieston]

From my first visit to Pattaya in 1998, then with a group of friends, I had regular holiday trips every year. Then in 2011 I took early retirement and certainly could not afford to continue living in London, so I sold up and moved to live in Pattaya. I have never regretted it, and still enjoy living here. I hardly ever visit the bars now, but I feel comfortable with my quiet life here, live alone with quite a few friends around. 

[Olddaddy]

2 hours ago, PeterRS said:

But despite the attractions, if I always had to resort to paying for money boys for my sexual pleasure, like @Olddaddy's expat friend, I am sure I would end up pretty bored.

Yes and that's the difference in retirement in Pattaya or Bangkok 

You can probably meet more  free guys in Bangkok travelling through than Pattaya 

[jimmie50]

I think one of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to retirement is their failure to plan beyond the financial aspect.  The financial piece is certainly important, but it seems to me it is equally important to create a strong sense of purpose in retirement.  Aside from the nights out in go-go bars and paying for money boys, people need to find meaningful activities, either through volunteering or perhaps part-time work that aligns with our passions.  We need to remain active, both physically and mentally.  Learn a new skill, like playing a musical instrument, or take some type of classes.  It is also important to actively seek opportunities to nurture existing relationship and build new ones.  Don't isolate yourself...join a club, start a club, volunteer...but participate in some sort of group activity on a regular basis.  While it is nice to have a flexible schedule now that we are retired, it is that lack of structure that leads to boredom and depression.  It is still important to maintain some semblance of order and purpose in life.  I don't think the location of retirement is what creates the boredom.  I think it is us lacking the motivation.