Hello, My name is April

[Guest]

Hi everyone, my name is April originally from the USA, and have been living in Thailand for the past 12 years, and now retired for 4 years. <BR>Before coming to Thailand I owned an old Titan motorhome and eventually a 29' Komfort 5th wheel trailer. The Titan for the most part nickle and dimed me to death.&nbsp; In San Jose Calif. where I worked out of and lived in the Titan, anytime the traffic was backed up because of a motorhome not able to start at a traffic light, it was my Titan! Which my best friend renamed it the Titanic! I did many repairs on the motorhome and the 5th wheel, so I'm pretty aware of the ins &amp; outs of recreational vehicles. <BR>If I were to come back to the USA, I would probably buy a cargo van that was already insulated inside, I know these are hard to come by, but I've seen them especially on Craigslist. A 1999 Ford E150 van is about right, dark exterior to be more stealth, eventually with solar panels to be able to bug out&nbsp;easier. I know what it's like to street park a motorhome and live fulltime, because I did it with my Titan for 3 years, and finding an ideal parking place is difficult to say the least.&nbsp;But being I'm retired now I would stay mostly out of cities and&nbsp;see how it is to live in BLM areas around America. I've watched many Youtube videos on bugging out, being stealth and many ways people are setting up their rigs, so eventually I'll share some of my ideas on the subject.&nbsp;

 

[Scott_1776]

<p>Welcome, you sound like you'll fit right in with this lot of trailblazers and outside the box thinkers. Are you in Thailand and planning on come back State side soon?</p>

 

[caseyc]

Hi April,

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you are already living in paradise in Thailand. Why would you want to come back? Just curious. I'm not far from San Jose myself.

Casey

 

[offroad]

where in thailand?

 

[wagoneer]

tieland is a place i rarely visit (I GO CASUAL). A BIG HUG AND A BIGGER WELCOME

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone for your replys to my post! I always have a plan B in my back pocket just in case my life here in Phuket Thailand falls through, the main difficulty is maintaining a visa here when you don't have the big bucks to get a retirement visa legally, which is $25,000 in a Thai bank. As a retired American I live off of my social security benefits like so many others do, but here in Thailand that's a nice wade of cash compared to what most Thai people earn. So I'm able to live in a Thai villa in a typical Thai style 12 plex building project, my unit is a 2 bedroom/1bath which I've furnished comfortably enough in an American style. I help take care of a special needs child I met when she was 2 years old and now she's 12. She stays with me on weekends and holidays. I was an accomplished school teacher here for 7 years, taught at a bilingual school here in Phuket for 2 years where I met Panwasa (special needs child) and then taught at bilingual/international schools in Bangkok for 5 years. When I retired I moved back to Phuket to further help Panwasa. Her English grammar is far superior to any Thai student and so good you would think she's an American! <BR>So if&nbsp;I was forced to leave Paradise here and come back to the states, plan B would be to buy a full size van like a Ford E-150 cargo in decent shape, under 120,000 miles and travel the USA in stealth and meeting up with others like yourself to spin some of my wild yarns concerning my deverse life! This year I was 70, but still have lots of spice and vinegar!

 

[Ziggy Moon]

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">ยินดีต้อนรับ</span> <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[caseyc]

Hi April,<br><br>Does that mean you need to maintain $25,000 in a Thai bank at all time in order for you to be able to stay in Thailand as long as you like?&nbsp; If that amount falls under $25k, or you don't have any funds in a Thai bank, I'm guessing that means the government can order you to leave?&nbsp; I'm only asking this because&nbsp;I have a friend who is considering retiring in Thailand in another 10 years or so.&nbsp; He has visited Thailand many times, and he tells me all kinds of crazy stories of his adventures there. This friend wouldn't have any trouble putting up $25k in a Thai bank. His main problem is keeping out of trouble with all the various Thai women there trying to marry him! <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif">&nbsp;Let's just say he likes the bachelor lifestyle. <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif">&nbsp; Is it true you can live comfortably on (US)&nbsp;$1,200 monthly&nbsp;in Thailand? That's what my buddy tells me. The Social Security website tells me I should be receiving about $1,300 monthly at retirement age, which won't be for over a decade.&nbsp; Just curious.<br><br>Anyway, good luck to you.&nbsp; If you might need any advice in the future, I'm only 1 hour drive from San Jose.<br><br>Thanks, Casey

 

[Guest]

Hi Casey,<BR>When I 1st came to Thailand in 2001 the US dollar was worth 40baht, now in 2013 it's down to 30baht, back then you needed 400,000baht in a Thai bank to get a retirement visa, but the Thai government raised it to 800,000baht about 6 years ago. Or you need the equevalant of 65,000baht coming in to live on each month, which is over $2000 a month and my social security benefits aren't near that much. There are ways to get around all this, like you can buy a yearly retirement extension illegally under the table from lawyers and such who pay off the Thai immigration officers for the extension, this cost from 25,000 to 35,000baht each year, but of course it's taking a chance, which I have no other choice but to do. I'm surely not alone as thousands of foreigners do it. Your best bet is to do alot of networking, being so much is in flux here.<BR>I live very comfortably here off of my SSB, if I had to return to the states the van life would be my only choice or homeless on the streets, which I've experienced also. I worked for a homeless agency there in San Jose, (Innvision) so I know the ins and outs of that lifestyle too.<BR>There's plenty of bachelors like your friend here, and he needs to watch his back because Thai women are extremely jealous and will mess you up, or have someone do it for them if you cross them to many times. I'm single myself and also celibate, so I stay totally&nbsp;away from that&nbsp;scene. Another way foreigners get themselves in trouble is messing with drugs here, one of the most popular is ya-ba a speed drug mainly from Burma. Thai jails are extreme hell and the government is extra hard on foreigners, charging them thousands of dollars to get out.<BR>I lve among the Thai people and have many Thai friends, but just a couple American friends and one South African friend who owns a language school.&nbsp;

 

[caseyc]

Hi April,<br><br>Thanks for the info!&nbsp; I could have sworn I heard less was needed to live pretty well in Thailand, but I guess that also depends on which parts of Thailand.&nbsp; If you're saying $2,000 is needed per month, then I'm guessing you probably live in an extra nice location and/or larger dwelling.&nbsp; Are there other parts of Thailand that one can live on around $1,200 monthly that's still pretty decent?&nbsp; Based on the rate of inflation, what's your guess for the next 10 to 15 years from now for Thailand? Would it be&nbsp;way more costly to live in Thailand?&nbsp; Obviously, I'm asking you to totally guess at it.<br><br>As for my buddy who is a 57 year old bachelor Caucasion guy who likes Asian women, I get a kick out of his crazy stories he tells me of his visits to Thailand. I've never been to Thailand myself,&nbsp;as I pretty much stay near home most of the time.&nbsp; The last story my buddy told me&nbsp;was that one of&nbsp;his Thai "girlfriends" called him from Thailand asking for money so her father can buy a new water buffalo to replace the one that died.&nbsp; She calls asking for money for all kinds of reasons, so it doesn't really matter what the reason is.&nbsp; Obviously without having to go into it further, these aren't really "girlfriends" in the usual sense of the world.<br><br>I've also done online research into other parts of the world that one can retire with relatively little monthly funds.&nbsp; I recall some place in Malaysia being a good spot, plus others in South America.&nbsp; I don't have any real plans of moving out of the country to retire, at&nbsp;least not at this&nbsp;present time.&nbsp; I'm simply entertaining my mind with what is possible for the future.<br><br>Thanks, Casey<br><br><br><br>

 

[Guest]

Hi Casey,<BR>The Thai government requires you to have at least $2000 a month, which most of us don't, my SSB are $1000 a month which I live nicely on.

 

[caseyc]

Hi April<br><br>So there are 2 separate requirements? Government requires at least $25,000 deposited in a Thai bank, plus to have $2,000 income every month?<br><br>Casey

 

[Guest]

Hi Casey,<BR>The Thai gov., either way&nbsp;you need&nbsp;the equivalent of 65,000 baht each month coming in, like for instance if your SSB aren't enough then the rest is made up by enough in your Thai bank account. By the way, where do you live in Ca., you said not to far from San Jose? I left San Jose because it got to expensive for me, just parking my 29' Komfort trailer in an old trailer court was $450, so I sold my trailer for a nice profit and moved to Sacramento, living in a one room apartment behind a elderly couples house, and worked a job that turned out to be the worst one I ever had, so I worked 6 months, got laid off and lived on state unemployment benefits to get even to the employer, before I sold most everything I owned at the time a moved to Thailand, the best decision I ever made in my life!&nbsp;

 

[caseyc]

Hi April,<br><br>Thanks for the clarification. &nbsp;I may have to rethink my plans for the future, haha! &nbsp;Unfortunately, San Jose and Bay Area have become more expensive in the past year or so. Both rent prices and home prices have gone up since the previous recession. That doesn't mean the economy is great here, but certainly improved. &nbsp;Yes, a nice comfy van would make for a good night's sleep. &nbsp;I like San Jose, but I can't take the summer time heat in San Jose. Sacramento is much hotter in the summer time as you know. &nbsp;I simply can't take heat, period! &nbsp;That's why I will never live in the desert area, or anywhere above 75 degrees, haha! &nbsp;I used to have a 23' Class C used Fleetwood Jamboree RV. But parking the darn thing was a pain in the wazoo, and I ended up paying $75 monthly for RV storage in Fremont, then ended up selling the sucker at a loss. My 1995 Ford E150 conversion van is much easier to drive and park compared to my previous RV. I enjoy going on weekend camping trips with my van, and just recently went to Lake Tahoe this past weekend. &nbsp;At one point, I missed the exit and ended up in Carson City, Nevada. Duh!! &nbsp;Gas was so cheap at $3.54/gallon for lowest grade that I filled up while in Carson City, haha! &nbsp;By the way, I sent you a PM message.<br><br>Casey

 

[Guest]

Hi Casey,<BR>I've lived for a few months where you live, but my pickup truck got towed&nbsp;on one of those darn street cleaning days, and I paid a bunch to get it free. There's actually no parking meters in Thailand, not even at the malls! And unlike the USA, police don't give tickets unless your not wearing a motorcycle helmet. I also have a close Thai friend who is a taxi driver who has helped me out several times concerning my car license &amp; etc., who is also a police assistant, and he'll help me concerning any other matter. It's a big plus to be friendly towards all Thai's here!

 

[blkjak]

<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>welcome from s.w. florida .... blkjak</strong> </span>

 

[Pikachu711]

<p>Welcome to the group April!</p>

 

[stude53]

<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Welcome April! <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"></span></strong></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Bob</span></strong></span>

 

[Guest]

<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: medium"><STRONG>Thank You everyone! <IMG class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif">&nbsp;I always feel your home is where ever you hang your hat, even in a van down by the river! <IMG class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif"></STRONG></SPAN>

 

[cygvan]

hi April,<br><br>if i may comment on purchasing a dark colored van.&nbsp; i bought a red chevy express. i was looking for a white one. i suppose red is an even toss up between black and white. while i carefully insulated my van and used refelctix and another material to reduce the temp transfer into the van of a sun beating down on it, i am convinced that white would give me a few more comfort points. im able to be comfortable, especially in winter when i rarely need heat. but in summer, i do need to run my a/c (LG portable). during heat waves, it struggles. an extra 5 or 10 degrees, which i estimate would be the result of a white van, would go a long way.<br><br>i suppose it depends on lifestlye and preferences. im a big guy and cant sleep if its too hot and humid. if im awake, i can tolerate it.<br><br>im not sure a dark van provides more or less stealth than a white van. at least in the movies, dark vans always contain bad guys and cops LOL. white vans are ubiquitous as trade vehicles.<br><br>red on the other hand....well my friends laughed at me and said it too frickin obvious...to which i can only reply, sometimes the obvious is less conspicous. personally, i think my van looks like a fire dept vehicle.