If you have determined that the time is right to retire, your finances are in place and you are considering Thailand, you need to answer the question of whether Thailand is right for you. Why not try a 'staggered' or a 'trial' retirement?
Most of us who have lived long enough to have reached 'senior' status have learned an important lesson, 'Look before you leap'. Pulling up stakes, selling your house and car, giving your dog away, and moving to Thailand before you know whether this is the right place for you, may plunge you into dangerous waters. Put a toe in and test the waters first. Be conservative. Winston Churchill said, "Any man under 30 who is not a liberal has no heart, and any man over 30 who is not a conservative has no brains." So let's use our brains and think conservatively about this move first.

If you are now thinking of Thailand as a place to spend the rest of your years, you probably have fallen in love with the country on one of your visits or vacations. But how can you be sure that this is the place for a longer stay? Come to Thailand a couple of times first. Each time increase the length of your stay. One way to do this is to let your visa decide for you. The Transit Visa that you get at the airport is good for 30 days. Try living in Thailand for a month and see how that works out. If all goes well then try a Tourist Visa next. You have to apply at a Thai consulate ahead of time but it will give you 60 days to start with. Things still going well? You can extend that another 30 days and if you are over 55 you will be allowed a second extension of 21 more days.

Use this time to find a market or supermarket where you can buy the foods you like. Find a pharmacy which has the prescription medications you need. Find a doctor and a dentist you can trust and rely on. Explore housing options. Make friends. Get a better idea of what your monthly budget will be. Most of all see if you enjoy living here.

Try to experience the different seasons. Just spending the balmy winters here won't tell you if you can withstand the onslaught of the stifling Thai hot season or the drenching rainy season. Many retirees just come for the winters. And if you find it is time to try going all the way then the Retirement Visa is the next step.

To get a retirement visa you must be at least 50 years old and have one or a combination of the following: B800,000 in a Thai bank account or proof of a foreign income (pension, Social Security, etc.) of at least B65,000 per month. The amounts are calculated to show that you will be able to support yourself for one year. Thus the visa is good for one year and you can renew annually inside the country.

If you are still being conservative after all this, then you might consider using the Retirement Visa for a Trial Retirement of 6 months or a year. At the end of this term you will be better able to make the final decision to finally jump in the pool for good, or dry off.

As for me, I'm about up to my waist in the water. I live here for 4 -5 months a year. But I just bought a car and a house and I'm hoping I haven't gotten in over my head.

Next Column: Looking For a Place to Live
For information on Thai visas try:
www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/visa.htm
Send your questions on retirement to Thailand to: retire-thailand@comcast.net