First time poster--I would like to introduce myself.My user name Bronco,real name Bill.I'm an American,55,just retired last June from the post office.I've been married to a Thai lady from Bangkok for 34 years--2 kids,28-son,22-daughter in Colorado.We came to Thailand in July,right after I retired--came to Bangkok,renting a 2 bedroom my sister-in-law found that accepts cats(we have a declawed,spayed Siamese,2 year old cat)in Huay Kwang for 27,000 baht a month(crazy).That was the first thing that was killing me--The price,they were building a new condominium next door with constant noise and lights,the apartment had a sink but no cooking facilities and I determined driving in Bangkok was not what I wanted in retirement.We had some family issues back home and came back to America.We've been here since Oct.and it's miserable.we are trying to liquidate now to come back to Thailand(hopefully not Bangkok) but no-ones buying.The Mrs says maybe we should stay--yea right --I tell her if we stay here and want to make it we'll both end up having to work.What the----?If it's going to be like that why did we retire?It's cold,boring and I don't want to live like this.Better to sell for whatever we can get and get back to Thailand and start living.Are we going to stay here waiting for phone calls and visits that may or may not happen?The Mrs. says,What if something happens to them(the kids)?--OK so lets sit here watching T.V. or go back to work and wait for something bad to happen?What the ----?We raised them they're adults,have their own lives to live.We have to start thinking about ourselves and the remainder of our lives.I don't like what is available in Bangkok--live in a condo?Take taxis?Pollution?can't drive?Come on I see Pattaya websites advertising houses for 7,000-10,000Baht/mo.2-3 bedrooms but they're townhomes/duplexes connected to another house.The wife thinks there are tooo many distractions for me in Pattaya? and she'll get tooo dark by the ocean.I have a friend who lives in Nong Khai--He espouses it's benefits,finds a brand new house,fully furnished for 6,500Baht for me to rent long term,3km out of town--it's his friend and he talked him into giving me a deal so we can live close by each other.I like it but it looks like we may not get this place sold and back by then.I'm looking at your excellent new website and see all the places for rent from 7,000-10,000 Baht/mo,bigger city in Udon,more things to do,new expat club(yes,drink beer but have a sergant-at-arms,I was in a union and went to meetings and this worked best).I really like your forum it seems like there are genuine people here that really want to help newbies succeed instead of flaming them.I'm not rich so I know Issan is a better option than Bangkok and I could drive(which is a requirement).Yes I like my beers(how come beer monkey doesn't have that great avitar here that he does on Thai visa--classic).I'm going to miss my kids but that's it.I will not miss anything else about USA.I am pretty much computer illiterate and would be willing to pay for basic computer training once we got there,as everything is computers now.When I first thought about coming to retire in Thailand I thought I'd pick up my civil service check at the embassy--this was in the 70's--I know there are still people who do this but with all the technology now I feel like a dinosaur--extinct--All the banking to get money to Thailand to survive is computer.I'm visualizing here.---We come to Bangkok,with a cat and stay 2 weeks--sister-in-law finds somewhere(wife says trust her,she will)for a more reasonable price.Either hop an overnight train or plane to Udon(contacted udonthai.com(anyone know somewher else that will accept my cat short-term while we house hunt?) and they will accept cat,tried to contact Tony's guest house in Nong Khai but no response.My friend wants us to stay with him but wife doesn't want to stay with his girlfriend until she knows her--TOO AMERICANIZED EH?So here we are in either Udon or Nong Khai with all of our possesions in 4 suitcase and a cat.Now what?We have to get a vehicle rental for most likely a month so we can look for a suitable place to rent and a decent vehicle to buy--What do you think?car or truck?What model is easiest to maintain in Thailand?)I think a second hand vehicle,automatic,so the Mrs can drive it also(designated driver all these years)I told her the hard part and most expensive part is getting set up somewhere--a place to live,vehicle to drive,furniture,putting bills in our name,bank account(what bank does the best for foreigners?)washing machine etc..Once we get that done then it's all about living and meeting people(you guys)and enjoying our remaining time on this planet.I like this site and all the new classifed ads but would really suggest that you date them(that really is upsetting on the other sites that you see someting 9 months old that's long gone)and when they've rented pull them.I really hope to end up in Udon or even Nong Khai as it's not far.I like the quieter,cheaper exsistence.I see many members go out of there way for people coming to your area.It reminds me of this story I read years ago http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/45/Thailand_Vets.html about retired American serviceman donating thier time and making a go of it in Udon.Anyway thanks for reading some of my trials and tribulations and if anyone has answers to any of my questions or any advice or knowledge they'd be comfortable in sharing I hope you can feel it from my letter that I would very much appreciate any and all input from those that have been there--done that.If you want to send anything directly my email is shig18850@aol.com I sure hope to get there soon and hoist a cold one with my new friends.Thanks All. Bronco(Bill)

Well that 27k for the Bangkok unit does sound insane. Don't know how much the sister-in-law
was helping, maybe helping herself or one of her friends most likely. Outside of the big city,I
also would thing you could rent a spacious home for the 7-10k figure you mentioned. All the
tourism centers (Phuket, Pattaya etc.) have their conveniences, but they also seem to be
attracting their fair share of trouble as well. Hardly relaxing and often the majority of the
foreigners are of a transitory nature. Married 34 years? You should be giving US advice.

cali4995 wrote:Well that 27k for the Bangkok unit does sound insane.

Quite reasonable for Bangkok. You'll be lucky to get anything decent for less than that unless you like living in a shoe-box.

To each his own. Yes, you can pay 50k a month in BKK if you want to, and I've also known
folks who rented houses (out of the central business district) for around 15k. It's all how
much you're willing to spend. I currently spend 6k/month for accomodation and am happy.

Bronco Bill, As you say YOU Dont want to live & settle in Bangers.....Give Nong Khai a go,Quieter & Nicer IMHO than Udon,and certainly NOT as much traffic,You WILL Find somewere VERY NICE for NO More than 8 or 9,000 a Month, And even at the cheapo end of the market you can rent for as little of 4,000 baht if you come out of town by about 5 kms, Plenty of Cheapo Eateries,Thai /Laos /Vietnamese & Farang Food is Available,And we do now have ELECTRICITY MOST of the time.....Good Luck in your quest....