I plan to retire in December 2026

@watsonwillie32

Hi, you may try living in Thailand for 3 months, then make a decision?

Each country has its own strengths and weaknesses.

In Thailand, the cost of living is low, food and accommodation are inexpensive.

But in the rural areas, few people can speak good English, as Thailand has never been colonized.

Thais are trained to be happy when they help other people, they don't want anything in return.

They are happy to make other people smile, this is the mindset of the general Thais.

And about 20% are not typical Thais. They are thieves, pickpockets, etc. People who look for advantages.

In busy cities, like Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya, more people can speak English.

Do you still work online for joy after retirement?

I am happy to give you information about Thailand, give me your questions.

@piyanootra

I do not and will not be working online. I will be completely retired living off of my monthly income from my retirement.

Hi Will,

First, my sympathies on your teaching MS, and congratulations on surviving!!  Among the many careers I have worked, a secondary one was teaching MS ELA.  Not sure how I survived without killing some snotnosed kid!!

Looks like we'll be arriving in Thailand around the same time.  I returned to the US late last year, after 4 months in Mexico and 8 in Argentina, intending to continue Jan/Feb this year.  A family issue has kept me in the US (definitely against my will, but responsibilities....), and I've just purchased my ticket to Thailand for Jan., '27.  Keeping my fingers crossed no more delays.

I have a somewhat similar plan to yours, Thailand (to which I've been three times for business, and for my honeymoon) is my third country of seven in each of which I intend to spend a few months.

Colombia is wonderful!  I lived there for 6 years in the '60-70's (expat business exec Dad), and travelled for business even through the rough years where the Embassy said "DON'T COME!!"  Like much of the world, you have to stay aware of your surroundings.  My "little" brother (1 1/2 years younger, a kid of 67!) is considering moving back 53 years after we left to return to the US.

I love China!  China was the subspecialty of the M.A. degree I earned, including one year of language study at my US university, and spent the summer of '85 in a 6 week intensive language program in Beijing (travelled 3 weeks back to HK for return flight home, in an era where they were still making it hard for foreigners to travel independently).  I took my wife for a month for our 10th anniversary. 

Sadly, I would NOT travel to China now, or at least not without some serious consultation with the US Embassy.  I would be concerned that Pres. XI would follow the Russian example of "kidnapping" foreign citizens to trade for Chinese spies arrested in the US.  (Expat community may have a different take, I haven't checked.)

Wishing you the  best, and who knows, maybe we''l get a chance to grab a beer or Scotch in Thailand next winter!

Jim

Chiang-Mai and Bangkok air pollution is bad. If you have any breathing problems I would not settle there.

You should get a "O" visa is fir retirement and is fir 1 year also get the multi entry visa too at the same time.

I would not buy a motorcycle,  car condo your 1st year here. Thailand is at the top of the list for motorcycle accidents every year fir many years.

Get bolt or grab cellphone app. Here in Jomtien Beach area includes Pattaya bolt is the most used I feel.

Get health insurance coverage.  USA Medicare does not cover or work outside the US.

But keep paying for it. If you ever go back to the USA and have been paying for Medicare you can not worry about coverage but the price if you go back is very painful.

Basically every girl or boy working in the adult entertainment area is want to extract as much money from you and have learned how to and what hart strings to pull. Keep your saving to your self do not tell anyone and keep your bank account in the US.

Open a thai bank account and before that get a thai sim fir your phone and have the vendor install it for you.  You will need a thai number for your bank account.  You will probably be using the thai bank app for QR code payment.  Everyone accepts it from the street vendors to nightclubs,  and bar girls if you tell them before you take then out of the gogo, bar, nightclub, gentlemen's club or street.

I would not use the motorcycle guys for transportation my self crashes is the reason.  I use car shares and public transportation.

Rent via a reputable company that is not a small corner office.  Thier are to many scams in renting,  buying condos and insurance,

Remember the three date rules.  You do not date the same person more than 3 times.

Do not fall in love with the 1st 5 people or shack up with a local until you have gone through over 10 people.

Never hit, slap a girl in a bar or on the street or not pay the bar bill even if it's for more than you think.  Just never go to that place again.  If you do put up a fight the street bar security,  delivery guys. And bar girls will beat you very hard.

Remember this is not your country it's there's and everything is slated to thier side. You are not in Kansas anymore.

Do not ware gold anything or real watches in adult entertainment area after 2am you are just asking for what might happen.

Look Thailand is more friendly,  safer,  happier than anywhere in the USA that I have been.

But be respectful to everyone no matter what.

Smal side note. If you drop money on the ground do not put your foot on it to keep it from flying away.  Reason it's a prison offense against the king,  and never say anything bad about the king family.  My understanding you do and you will be able to stay for years on the government.

5k usa dollars is a good amount to live on in a western style condo or house both should be rented via a legemit service they will stand with when the owner does not fix problems or return the deposit.

You will be able to eat at western type food restaurants and upscale thai ones.

You will need a thai visa lawyer or servicer. You can do it on your own but everything is in thai. You will need to decide if you are going to get your O visa with 800,000 thai baht or monthly retirement income.  If income you should get all of your financial documents showing your income translated to thai by the thai government.

Have a great time here in Thailand you can.

Doing the 30 or 60day visa run is not going to work for anyone anymore.  They may allow a couple but then they stop letting you in. So when you come in get a phone number and try a bank to open a account.  If they let you it could take 4 hours in the bank. But a lot will decline you a account. So I sugest getting help with your O visa and getting a bank account and getting your 1st visa extension.  Good luck. I think living in Thailand is better than Vietnam or the Philippines even with all the new laws and current problems.

Thank you for the information.

@Intl guy jim

Thank you Jim.

@watsonwillie32

PM2.5 is quite heavy in Bangkok and the North, but not in the South of Thailand. Please consider the map,

the South is the coastal area with the flow of sea breeze. If you love nightlife, you may like Pattaya in the Eastern region. Andaman Sea is a beautiful coast, and Thai Gulf is abundant for fishing, shipping, and also maybe a petroleum area in the future. Phuket is famous and expensive; Trang and Krabi are peaceful, the living cost is cheaper.

The PM2.5 mass concentration varies seasonally. Southern Thailand is windy, and its air quality is pretty good. Prepare for heavy rain and yearly flood during November - December. It rains across the country (like snowy), the water level in several towns is high. The flood can last 3-5 days; schools/offices are closed. Food delivery service and charity assistances may continue in the affected zone.