It`s ok for the men but ???

Post by **John Stacey** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:45 pm

As 2 married couples who have spent many a happy holiday in Thailand the subject of early retirement/"lets get the hell out of England" often comes up in conversation.
Reading the comments made by the male population of Hua Hin and having been there ourselves ,it is easy to see that my best buddy and I could be very happy and occupied with the activities on offer.
But what about our ladies ??
Unless they have opportunities to keep themselves occupied by voluntary work/pastimes or sport etc, I am afraid that us men have very little chance of promoting the possibility of re-location.
What do the female of the farang species do to occupy their time in Hua Hin ?
This is a genuine question which we were unable to answer even when we were there.

Post by **PeteC** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:22 pm

Just a general comment John, regardless of where in Thailand Expat families are located.

You'll be retired so it's very likely that your better half will stick to you like glue and want to go everywhere you go, at least for the first several months.

Women that can't do that because their husbands are working usually get involved in one of many "ladies groups" that do charity work, sports, cooking classes and many other activities. I speak about life on the Eastern Seaboard though due to the very large quantity of expat professionals working over here, not in HH. I don't know if HH has enough female farang population to support clubs of this nature?

It's very rare though to see any farang woman immerse themselves into Thai culture, and just go walking about and exploring, especially alone. Pete

Post by **DawnHRD** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:26 pm

Wow! Loaded question with lots of answers. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

I'm sure other ladies will answer, but I'd prefer to answer specific questions, rather than go off on my own little tangent (as I often do

). Can you, or your wives pose specific questions? Either post here, or if you'd prefer you can pm me or email on info@dogrescuecenter.org
If I can help at all, I will. Plus, as I said, I'm sure some of the other farang ladies will give you their points of view.

Post by **DawnHRD** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:30 pm

prcscct wrote:It's very rare though to see any farang woman immerse themselves into Thai culture, and just go walking about and exploring, especially alone. Pete

So, what am I, Pete? A bloke?

Post by **Kraka's Dad** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:35 pm

DawnHHDRC wrote:
prcscct wrote:It's very rare though to see any farang woman immerse themselves into Thai culture, and just go walking about and exploring, especially alone. Pete
So, what am I, Pete? A bloke?

I think you are the exception Dawn.
A shining example to other farang women in Hua Hin.

From your pics you don't look like a bloke

Post by **PeteC** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:36 pm

DawnHHDRC wrote:
prcscct wrote:It's very rare though to see any farang woman immerse themselves into Thai culture, and just go walking about and exploring, especially alone. Pete
So, what am I, Pete? A bloke?

The rare exception, the rose among the thorns, the prize in the Cracker Jack box...LOL.

Pete

Post by **DawnHRD** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:42 pm

Post by **STEVE G** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:09 pm

Yes, from my limited experience of Farang Ladies in Hua Hin, they seem to keep themselves very busy looking after about 200 dogs!
The others play golf.

Post by **big jimmy** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:23 pm

My wife and I ( both Brits ) are due to retire to HH in 2010 and I have a fear it is not going to work out. I play golf so that will take up 4 days a week and the other 3 days will take care of themselves but she does nothing, not interested in sport or anything really...... Sitting in the sun and cocktail hour will soon wear off so I don't know what she will do..its at the back of my mind it won't work out..boredom will set in..I can't see what women can do in HH if they are not the out doorsy type..hope this post isn't too negative but its just the way I see it..

Post by **caller** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:09 am

big jimmy wrote:My wife and I ( both Brits ) are due to retire to HH in 2010 and I have a fear it is not going to work out. I play golf so that will take up 4 days a week and the other 3 days will take care of themselves but she does nothing, not interested in sport or anything really...... Sitting in the sun and cocktail hour will soon wear off so I don't know what she will do..its at the back of my mind it won't work out..boredom will set in..I can't see what women can do in HH if they are not the out doorsy type..hope this post isn't too negative but its just the way I see it..

So what would she do if you stayed in the UK, at least for the 4 days a week whilst you played golf?

Post by **gooze** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:55 am

What would you do in England when you are retired ?, the same problem would be there as well.

More and more farrang couples are happily living here and more and more leisure facilities are on the way fo both sexes.

Post by **Georgy Porgy** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:12 am

Excuse me - have you actually asked The Wife what SHE would like to do?
You haven't been chatting about retirement that much, have you?
Called communication - need lots of that if a couple are to retire in Thailand or Hua Hin.

Do what the regulars here will always tell you to do and test the waters for 4 month trips first and then you can both decide what is suitable recreation for both of you.

Post by **Norseman** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:08 pm

Georgy Porgy wrote: test the waters for 4 month trips first and then you can both decide what is suitable recreation for both of you.

Sound advise from Georgy Porgy.
Nobody can tell you what it will be like for YOU and your wife.
It's after all a question of personal opinion and if you and your wife feel comfortable with the rather laid-back life in Hua Hin.
Pattaya has a much larger expat. community, and I guess, a wider range of social possibilities than Hua Hin.
Why not spend 2 months here and the next 2 months in Pattaya?

Post by **big jimmy** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:02 pm

caller wrote:
big jimmy wrote:My wife and I ( both Brits ) are due to retire to HH in 2010 and I have a fear it is not going to work out. I play golf so that will take up 4 days a week and the other 3 days will take care of themselves but she does nothing, not interested in sport or anything really...... Sitting in the sun and cocktail hour will soon wear off so I don't know what she will do..its at the back of my mind it won't work out..boredom will set in..I can't see what women can do in HH if they are not the out doorsy type..hope this post isn't too negative but its just the way I see it..
So what would she do if you stayed in the UK, at least for the 4 days a week whilst you played golf?

We have lived in Asia for over 25 years so retiring in the UK would really be a death sentence..... My wife wants to retire in Thailand as we have been here countless times and adapting to life in Thailand will be no problem for us as we understand ( as much as anyone can undertsand ) that Asians think and act differently to us .. it's a joint decision to come here so she had equal input in the decsion....my question to her , which she never answers, is what is she is going to do to fill up her days...it is a problem I would think for most expatriate women but more so for those women who have spent their life in the West and want to retire here ..many western men are married to Thais so they don't have a problem with their wives adapting..

Post by **John Stacey** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:26 pm

Many thanks for the comments, I think that Big Jimmy has hit the nail on the head with the comment re western ladies.
Both of ours dearly love Thailand, have done for 14 years, but that was only for 3 weeks at a time. The rest of your life is a different matter.
If we manage to get the OK ,then a split period on a rental basis before we shift the lifestyle makes excellent sense and is one we will take on board.
Mentioning the Post to my nearest and dearest last night met with a very favourable comment which just managed to raise hopes a little bit so could be I will be coming back to this one later in the year.
In the meantime thanks again.