Living in America; cha-ching!

[xyzzy]

I remember my first time in Phnom Penh, and thinking some day I'd like to come back and live here for a while. The thought stayed with me and finally I did it last year. Now no longer do I have to live with the wonder of what it would be like to live there. The curiosity has been removed. At the moment I have gotten all of these places out of my system and can appreciate home more, as I don't feel like life is happening elsewhere.

During my second trip to Costa Rica a female tourist asked me if I wanted to move to CR like seemingly everyone else that visits does. I replied "I haven't spent enough time here yet to know why I don't want to live here."

[deepthroat]

During my second trip to Costa Rica a female tourist asked me if I wanted to move to CR like seemingly everyone else that visits does. I replied "I haven't spent enough time here yet to know why I don't want to live here."

Great response. I have to admit that part of my desire to live in Asia comes from a "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" type fantasy.

Too many guys come to Asia on a vacation, and then decide that they're going to give up everything to move there permanently. What they find is that "wherever you go, there you are". The everyday realities, the mundanity, the petty frustrations that bedeviled them in their home country - they will leave eventually catch up with you no matter where you go.

I think kahuna and BB have exactly the right idea; stay as long as feels comfortable, and then make sure you got an exit strategy to get back home again. Rinse and repeat.

[JaiDee]

Too many guys come to Asia on a vacation, and then decide that they're going to give up everything to move there permanently.

You'd be surprised just HOW often this happens! Many men, I'd even guess the majority of men who visit Thailand, end up saying after a 2- or 3 week visit "man, I want to live here!" I know I did.......and quickly put in motion a plan where I could live half of the time there and half of the time here, which to me was the best solution; giving up either just didn't seem to be an option.

But as you say, the grass is always greener and all that......I love Thailand and Laos, love the beaches and the food and the vibe, the weather, etc.......but especially the cheapness factor. It's so damn cheap over there compared to here! But some things you can not put a price tag on, the intangibles only found back home.....chatting with real, lifelong friend with no accents; seeing family again, generally the only people who REALLY love you, unconditionally and deep down; driving around in a car, the chilly dew on the grass in the morning ....playing basketball with my brother yesterday was fantastic, we used to do that shit 30 and 40 years ago.

I'm not big into fiction, but I enjoyed a book I read last year called The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, which is a huge international bestseller. It tells the story of a young boy who is always searching, searching, for something new and exciting to take him away from his everyday, humdrum sheep herding life. He travels the world, falls in love, gets ripped off, tries different jobs, etc.... always searching for that holy grail of happiness which is always seemingly just out of reach; until he finds himself right back where he started, at home. He finds TRUE happiness and peace of mind there because, well, it's home!

[farangbah]

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

It's a classic monomyth, or "hero's journey". Same reason you like Star Wars.

I also think he ripped of Siddhartha, which, I think, ripped off the Buddha, which is the quintessential monomyth...

Check out the work of the mythologist Joseph Campbell who, essentially, lined up all the stories from all the cultures in history and said, "Hey, look, they're all the same!"

(he also went to George Lucas' house and rewrote Star Wars for him...)

[xyzzy]

but my health care is $493; ouch.

I forgot to comment on this the first time. I had to get my own insurance a few years ago at at age 52. I got $5000 deductible health insurance for $332 a month. In three years time it went up to $522. You might expect some nasty surprises around the first of each year. Crossing 50, 55 and 60 seem to make it worse. As far as I'm concerned I felt like they gave me a low ball price and then they really jacked the rate every year. I'm now on a VERY high deductible government plan and still paying a lot.

[ArchieBunker]

Yeah we all got bitten by the bug the first couple of times we experienced the many charms of Thailand. After a while (if one is lucky enough to spend LOTS of time in Thailand) it is as if you were a kid with a new toy. At first, you would play with it every day for a long time. Then, you ended up playing with it less and less. Thats why it is such an epic error for guys to move to Thailand after some holiday visits. Some of the shine comes off of Thailand the more you stay and the more experiences you have. Dont get me wrong, its still great and I still enjoy it. If I had enough money I could live there full time but my life is different and situation is way different than all of youse. I still say the best thing to do is to keep a foot in both places. Yeah, I know its tough to do and could be expensive to do. I know some guys who live in Thailand 24/7 and they are completely happy. One thing in common these guys have is that they dont act like tourists when they live there.

The last time I was there, I hardly went out and it was about 3 weeks before I went out to a bar and had a beer. I know that sounds weird to some but I am not crazy about the bar scene anymore. Its just different. Like if anyone were to move to Las Vegas would you be at the casinos every week and go to shows all the time?? No you wouldnt...........

WHOOP DEE DOOOOO!!!!!