The Road Less Traveled
The Times They Are a Changin'

By Pattaya Pete

After you've been here for awhile you start sounding like your father when he used to tell me about the Sinatra days. Of course guys my age are using The Beatles and Ziggy Stardust as our reference point ?

For example, I remember when the Baht was 24 to the dollar or you could go to Koh Samui and find magic mushroom omelettes served in most of the better eating establishments, and Patpong was a National Institution. To use another song analogy, "those were the days my friend we thought they'd never end"... (not really one of my musical reference genres.) Foreigners were not just respected but welcomed along with their money of course. It's been 15 years since I decided to live in Thailand. If you add another 3 years to that as holiday time spent before coming here, I've racked up a good 18 years of experience along with the point of references that come with it. This certainly does not mean that someone who has been here for any length of time knows everything that needs to be known to live successfully. On the contrary, what it does mean is that, the time spent "in country" gives those people, with that point of reference I previously mentioned, a slight advantage in terms of being able to survive any changes that may affect their stay here. They know more people and know, there always seems to be a way to get around obstacles in a country that builds it's culture on "flexibility".

Things are definitely changing here evidenced by the challenges Foreigners now have securing long term visas, work permits etc. It simply is a different environment than 18 years ago. For someone contemplating living here, it takes much more research and subsequently much more financial resources to do so. Long gone are the days when someone could come here with 1 Million Baht, buy a lease on a small shop house and live happily ever after. This in my opinion doesn't mean that living here will not be possible or rewarding but rather one needs to really examine their motives and have a proper game plan to execute.

All of these changes have really created some anxiety for many people who never thought they would ever see change or that it if it did come, it would come gradually. To some I'm sure, it almost feels that the Thai's to some degree, learned everything we could teach them, gave their children the money earned from the Foreigners living and taking holidays here, factored in some formal education and then decided to get rid of any person with white skin that did not fit a certain profile. It would only be natural to ask the question, what is that profile. I have asked several Thai and Foreign people this same question and this is what I have concluded from our conversations. You of course may have a different take on the subject but if there's even an ounce of correctness in these words than it would be worth examining.

The people not really wanted:
1. Those people who come with a backpack, eat at noodle stands and live in Guest Houses (you know who you are, you would still get a normal one month pass but after that, forget about it.)
2. Those who have had problems with the Authorities through bad deals, illegal activity, etc.
3. Those who work here but don't really contribute to the tax system or do very little to contribute to Thai society. Beer Bars and Go-Go Owners may fall in this category, although I personally feel they contribute more to Thai society than many may believe. Just think of how much money is contributed through salaries etc. that are sent home to those provinces where making a descent living is almost impossible.
4. Foreign Military Personnel. Although things may change, my sources tell me that the Thai's don't really like the idea of having people who may be doing INTEL work in their country. This constitutes from what I hear approximately 20,000 people living in Thailand presently.

Those accepted:
1. Those who have children and are married to a Thai National who meet ever changing requirements.
2. Retired men and women who meet the bank deposit requirements.
3. Tourists who stay for 1-3 months.
4. Those who are working here legally with a work permit.
5. The 50 Million Chinese that are expected to be coming here next year. Seems like after the recent coup, China gladly let the Thai Govt. know that they would contribute any Military aid needed. Those countries that denounced the coup and cut off aid, well, they may not receive as many "favours" at least at this point.

Of course, if you understand anything about Thailand, you know that things are always changing and what used to be policy today may be antiquated thinking tomorrow. Visa requirements and laws regarding investment etc, as one acquaintance that does a good business processing visas put it "are changing day to day". The real fact of the matter is that no matter how comfortable we may be, once we acclimate to another culture, the fact that Foreigners are always Guests in that culture means that we will need to be flexible enough to adjust and adapt.

Of course the only real other option to that is to go back to our home countries albeit a bit older than we were before we came to Thailand. This for many is not a viable option as going back means re-acclimating to another environment all over again. Not a pretty picture.

In summary; for those who are interested in coming here to work and live, there are many opportunities opening up along with emerging new markets. Good reliable research needs to be done and a good game plan for the implementation of those ideas. A good reliable Attorney is critical for your success. This in itself can become a chore as you will really need to "feel" comfortable with your choice and it may take a bit of shopping around. For those of us that already live here; know that, like everything in life, things change and we need to accept things that we have no control over. Better put, "always look at the bright side of life". In addition,, let's keep in mind that those people who have come to live here and do so with the right spirit may need help from time to time. Sometimes this may just be a shoulder to lean on, sometimes more. Whatever the case, we are all on the road less travelled and have more in common than we have differences.

The Road Less TraveledThe Times They Are a Changin'

The Road Less Traveled
The Times They Are a Changin'