How much has your life changed in LOS?

[Cowtown Comedy]

I wanted to know how other people's lives have changed since making the move to LOS. For me, my life back in the motherland demanded the latest and greatest of every giget and gaget. Cars/motorbikes had to be fast and fashionable, electronics had to be the latest and greatest, clothing had to be modern and imported, restaurants had to be trendy and expensive. With a big smile, I reflected on this former lifestyle, as I started my day with a cold bucket shower, gave my darling thai gf a kiss, and jumped on my used motorbike. Our dining pleasure tonight won't be sushi and martinis, but maybe a bowl of guey teow and a glass or two of sangsom. I couldn't be happier...

[ste860]

i think its made me more patient,not really got to have things there and then,and im also more relaxed,back home i think your under far too much preasure,and everything has got to be done before a certain time,
and in a certain way.if you understand what i mean

[buksida]

Difficult to tell for me as I was only a whippersnapper when I left my own country, I would really only notice any changes if I had to return there.

If anything I was probably more laid back and tolerant when I was younger and am getting more cranky the older I get!

[richard]

I think it depends on a number of factors

Working or retired?
Big or small budget?
Physically active or restricted?
Thai family commitments or not?

Certainly for me I do not miss the high pressure, keep up with Joneses life I spent for nigh on 40 years. Make it and lose it

I'm certainly more laid back and more tolerant. Part of that is more or less forced on you on a retirement visa. Not allowed to do this and that, so you lapse into complete 'laid back mode' knowing the wife will sort it

I'm split on the Thai family bit. Been with the same girl now for 4 years and accepted totally into her family and village life up north. BUT no kids so no ties (Thais?) in terms of staying here

Having said that, there is nothing to attract me into going back to the UK and with my mobility problem, anywhere without an old folks home is out of the question




For me the big plus is the variety of people you meet and the fall of biased opinions about other nations drilled into you by the press and governments

There are still people I know at home who have never travelled 10 miles out of their village. OK maybe it's their nature and they are content. Maybe I'm just a Yorkshire nomad

[migrant]

A little variation here.

I'm not in Thailand, but have been with my Thai (now) wife about 4+ years.

Even here she has gotten me away from the fancy California restaurants, in fact away from most restaurants.

No new gadgets, I'm keeping my older explorer that has no payments, etc...

So maybe it's not only the country, but our better halves.

[Super Joe]

I've become a lot younger and much more attractive to young desperate women.

SJ

[Gail]

As a farang lady my life has changed very much here. I have learnt a little Thai, made lots of Thai friends I am more relaxed here and all in all I just love it. When I go out of Thailand, I come back I feel as though I'm coming home, I feel very lucky to have the chance to stay in this wonderful place. Sure there are things I would change if I could but I can't so never mind. When I first moved here for the first 3 months I loved and then the next 6 months I hated it, felt very lonely because after all it is rather male orientated, but I had to go back to the Uk for family reasons for a couple of weeks and that decided me, everyone was so miserable, the prices. I went into my old work place and it was same s--t different day. Since then I have never doubted that we made the right decision to live here.

[Randy Cornhole]

I always compare living and working in London to being caged in a large hamster wheel.

You only leave the wheel for the odd two week holiday, therefore never really escaping its rotational pull, ergo you are still of the mind set that life has to be 1000 kph or you will fall off and be consumed by a pack of rabid badgers!

Its only when you really step back and leave the UK for a long period of time (at least a year) that you realise you have been existing in a heart attack, ulser inducing crazy son of a bitch bubble!!

Those of us lucky enough to have been able to achive this shoudn't really quibble too much, least we come across as a bunch of ungreatful wingers to those still turning chaotic circles back home...

[SuperTonic]

My life has definitely changed. A year in, I've gone from gadget-obsessed nerd who ate cheap shitty frozen food and did nothing much but work and swear at motorists to a much more chilled-out individual, caring not that my laptop is a piece of crap, or that my mobile has a huge crack in the screen, eating at the finest restaurants for very little money, and I don't even flinch when a car comes straight at me on the wrong side of the road.

Thailand changes you definitely. It takes you out of your little bubble. Someone posted about people not leaving their home town and yes I knew some of those back in the UK. They were very narrow in their views and unfortunately I think I picked up some of that. Being out here with so many nationalities (20+ where I work for starters) you learn to view things differently, and laugh at the absurdities of your own culture and language.

If you accept Thailand for what it is, and understand that it's never going to be perfect, it can change who you are and how you think, in a very positive way.

[Super Joe]

Top post Super Tonic,
Couldn't have put it any better

[sandman67]

I asked Conky and he says Im still the same ignorant drunk sexist indolent complete and utter b******d I was back in the UK....

except here I have a tan