Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Retirement----Why Thailand

 Me and my Valentines Girl
 Before
 Our home after  remodel
Ciejay and baby elephant
 Taking it easy
 A visit to a Thai Temple ---- Lots of them in every village
 OUR CITY SQUARE
 OUR CHURCH FAMILY
 US WITH NU and A ,and NICKY BOY
 Me taking a swim with Moll-Lee
Train Station 4 blocks from our home
 Fresh (and I do mean fresh ) fish
 Me and Bok taking a nap
 Sue and Alex

When we travel on vacation or we are out and about one of the most ask questions is "Why Thailand."In order to really answer that question , First, you have to know that I am married to a Thai lady , and one of my main concerns in my marriage was what could I do to make her happy .We came to Thailand in 2003 on a vacation and a chance for me to meet her family and kids. I saw at once ,how happy she was to be in her home country with friends and family , and yet have the security in knowing that she had a husband who could and would do anything she needed , with-in reason to make her happy. Not only could I see how happy she was , but I at once fell in love with Thailand , there was lots of things that attracted me to the LOS , BUT the most important one was how happy Ciejay seemed to be .
I knew it was about time for us to start thinking seriously about where we wanted to live out out retirement years , I had always thought about somewhere close to my Brother and Sister, out Tenn. way , and we went for a visit to check things out before coming to Thailand the next year on Vacation , and somehow it just didn't feel right to both of us. Before we came over to the LOS we had mentioned to each other if the opportunity and time arrived that we would look around and maybe think about Thailand (of course  it was my first visit ,so much of the decision would be on my shoulders. We looked around and then on the last day when we came to Kanchanaburi and our small village of Whang Pho  , We looked at each other and smiled, and knew this was the place. We had little daylight left for this visit to her Older Brother and the next day it was off to Bangkok to catch the plane and head home , Would you believe we found a little house and piece of land and bought it in the dark of night , saying that we would be back next year when I retired and make it our home , Everyone laughed and thought to themselves  that they would never see us again, but we fooled them all and you can read about the move and remodel and moving , in a older post , just go back and start from my first ones .

Now that was a long story to tell you the main reason  for choosing Thailand. Some of the others are as follows and in no order of importance , all of them to us are important reasons for choosing the LOS.
1.--My small SS check is enough for us here in Thailand.
2.--We were able for Ciejay to buy a house and small piece of land  with what little money we had in savings.
3.--The weather is the kind of weather I always thought I would like about a place, when I retired.
4.--The food is out of this world tasty, healthy (spicy mind you )  but plenty and fresh, and growing everywhere , even in your own backyard.
5.--The Thai people, even tho it took a while to get use to their way of life and culture and their way of thinking .
6.-- The almost crime free village and area we live in .
7.--Lots of things to see and do , and a lot of it not far from where we live .
8.--Our Thai family
9.--Our dogs(our kids )  that can run free and wild .
10.--Our home and little piece of paradise.
11.--Our village and the town folks .
12.--And our neighbors
13.--Our Drs. and health care
14.-- Our church and church family
15.-- The difference in my health since moving here to Thailand
16.-- And the difference in me and my thinking about life and living.
That's not all the reasons , I could go on and on , and you might say "well couldn't you find that in your own country ", maybe so , But we didn't. and we have found it here in what we call our little piece of paradise, that , we believe the Lord had saved just for us and all the blessings  that go along , with being Retired in Thailand and Loving It .                                                                          Malcolm

11 comments:

Martyn said...

Malcolm first let me wish you a belated happy Birthday.

You've certainly found the woman of your dreams and the retirement location that makes the pair of you happy. Long may it continue.

Thailand really has swept you off your feet and welcomed you into its arms. You've formed your own small Paradise Club in Wang Pho.

LindyLouMac said...

It sounds to me like you made the right decision. I like the remodelled look of your home.

SiamRick said...

Malcolm, you wrote: ". . . And the difference in me and my thinking about life and living."

This reason rang true to me, as I can tell from your writing you're pleased as punch to be where you are and to be with who you love. Doesn't get much better than that, if you ask me.

It also rang true for me because I have certainly changed my way of thinking and living in some ways. And they are ways that have made me happier.

All the best Malcolm and Ciejay!

Lawrence said...

Malcolm, that's a great list. No wonder you always look and sound so happy. Makes me feel good reading your blog, you know. I know where to go when I feel ever so slightly down. Many thanks.

Snap said...

Malcolm, we may join the lucky some that get to retire in Thailand...one day. It just feels 'comfortable' here, doesn't it?

Wonderful photos!

Anonymous said...

Amen to the Lord's many blessings !

Keep up the great posts.

Stuart said...

Can relate to many on your list. Just had a walk round the resort. Our next Bananas should be ready in about a week. Couldn't live anywhere else now

Malcolm and Ciejay Burgess said...

Thanks for the read and all the kind comments , we love it here , of course as I have said we do miss family and friends and Taco Bell , but for now and the future we hope , Thailand is our home .

Lise said...

This is such a touching recollection of why you are in Thailand, it seems perfect for the two of you, and I really enjoy reading about your journey...I suppose we are both on similar journeys in different spaces:) Happiness to you!

philip said...

Malcolm, it is pleasing to see that you both remain happily settled not just in Thailand but in the the town and house you first chose. I also always enjoy reading your blog and look forward to many more of them.
An update on Aasa and myself: We finally retired late last year. After looking around many areas in Thailand, for a variety of reasons we finally decided on Chiang Mai and have purchased a condo there. So now we are set for spending 6 to 9 months each year there. We are very happy with this step.
Best wishes to you and Ciejay.
Phil & Aasa

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