<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote data-attributes="member: 83689" data-quote="Jadus" data-source="post: 952446"
class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-title">
<a href="/community/goto/post?id=952446"
class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump"
rel="nofollow"
data-xf-click="attribution"
data-content-selector="#post-952446">Jadus said:</a>
</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent ">
I moved to Thailand over 6 years ago, partially because I could see the shit storm coming to America. I felt a lot more free here. Apart from dealing with immigration just a little too much, I could pretty much do what I wanted and the government left people alone.<br />
<br />
All that changed last year of course. The government got draconian along with all the other countries. Even as I write this, Bangkok is in yet another lockdown with a curfew. Before, I never saw homeless people in Thailand. Now, there are many living on the streets as a result of these lockdowns that destroyed tourism and their businesses. "Stay home and stay safe" goes the propaganda. What if you don't have a home?<br />
<br />
Things are a little better here in the north but there are still crazy things going on. Like people being arrested for not finishing their beer at a restaurant by 9pm. It definitely isn't the same country I made my home 6 years ago.<br />
<br />
I think that no matter what country you live in, you'll find more freedom away from the big cities, like New York and LA in America or Bangkok here in Thailand. I now live in a small town where things feel a little more normal. I still have to wear a mask going into 7-11 but don't wear one if I'm just walking around the neighborhood, even though a lot of my neighbors do. There is one motorcycle cop that lives in the area and he always give me a friendly nod if we pass when I'm out walking the dog.<br />
<br />
There are downsides to living in a small town in Thailand though. Less shopping choices, no western food sources and other inconveniences. For example, these villages deliver the news via loudspeakers at 7am. There is one, not so close to the house but so loud you can't escape it. This is a problem for me since I run a business in the USA and sometimes have to work late at night (morning in America).<br />
<br />
Another big problem is that Thais love to burn everything they can get their hands on. We have trash pick up here but some prefer to burn it and everyone (except me) burns yard waste. It may be more in the country but that doesn't mean the air is always clean.<br />
<br />
I suppose there is no perfect place to be. As others have said, you have to weigh the pros and cons of every location. Find the one that has the most of what you're looking for and the least of what you don't want.
</div>
<div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink js-expandLink"><a role="button" tabindex="0">Click to expand...</a></div>
</div>
</blockquote>Thailand was a dream destination for me, and I recently get here for an almost 2-month stay (2 weeks or so here currently). It's super cheap (although, it wouldn't be as cheap if covid didn't exist, the locals seem super friendly and are not trying to sell you everything (my experience in Turkey). <br />
<br />
What I think is important to realize is that it is not as stunning as #thailand on Instagram. It is still a quite poor country and the areas where locals live might not fit everyone's taste. <br />
<br />
I am thinking of extending my stay, considering the weather and costs here, but the covid impact seems to have impacted the country a lot, which has some negatives, many places are closed, it's quite littered, and I'm sure that the behind the scenes negative financial impact is quite harsh on the locals.<br />
<br />
I am still exploring, but my goal for the past few years has been to "relocate to a tropical paradise long-term", will Thailand be it? Not sure, I certainly want to explore other countries. Turns out, "where to go" is almost an equally complex question as "what should I do with my life"/ "what business to start".</div>
