Been quite busy of late and quiet on the boards, my plan to move to Thailand for a year or even retire there has been put on hold due to family illness so in the mean time I have bought a house down near the family and am in the throws of packing up and moving. Of course I miss being in Thailand so much that I have started planning for a quick two week sojourn to LOS later on this year, once settled into the new house I reckon I will need some massaging and sex by the hot boys at Hero and Prince.

 

Long term I am now looking at splitting my time between Australia and Thailand, not too sure if it will be split evenly (6 months by 6) or go over for a couple of months 2 or 3 times a year. Plenty of time on my hands to work that one out and you never know I may win the lotto (hahaha) and just retire to a life in LOS.

I suspect there are quite a few of us in similar situations as you describe(caring for aging relatives, downsizing our own home, possibly relocating, and planning for our own imminent retirement).  I feel free when I am in Thailand and part of me wants to spend more time there and part of me wonders how I would handle the frustrations I think I would have with the "Thai way". I find myself getting antsy for my own culture after about two months.

 

Another thought is thinking further down the road when I won't be able to (or want to) travel as easily.  I started a topic under THE BEER BAR to see if other members have comments.

 

 

 I feel free when I am in Thailand 

 

That is one of my little pleasures when I am in Thailand, I feel free with no one (work nor family) putting the pressure on. Still looking to the long term and am really looking at spending more time in Thailand.

Freedom is not a little pleasure, it is what makes every stay in Thailand an absolute joy...