So, where's your place - are you in the city or out in the sticks ? do you like your location? would you prefer to change it around - not for financial reasons but because it would suit you better. A friend of mine lives in a place about an hour outside udon, in the direction of absolutley nothing, and i've been there, now, he complains to me about living in such a place, so why does he do it? - i've read various other posters comments about living out in the sticks and nine times out of ten they like to report on how sh1t the village life is.... personally speaking i like the city - the villages are not very suitable for the wants of a falang, not long term anyway. IMO only

Well, to each his own. Some like to complain. Some are just happy to "be".

Like everything else in life its what you make it i'm happy with village life but always make the point of saying to people asking about it, it's not everyone's cup of tea make sure you know what your doing before you commit yourself.
As for city living its not my thing i was born in a city & raised in a village but have enjoyed my time socializing in the city, whichever that may have been then getting back to the rural side of life. I enjoy the night meeting in Udon every month always a good laugh & a bit of p*sstake with a good bunch of blokes from the forum.
IMHO guys who are not happy in the villages here did not think it out enough before they committed themselves to the way of life in Thailand.

I prefer city life. I grew up in one so it is what I'm used to. Don't think I could do the country life anywhere!

Git, I myself like it out in the sticks, I was brought up in the IOM and do love the sea, that is my only compromise but I get off the leash to go diving or sailing. other than that I'm a country boy at heart. Rivers, Lakes, shooting fishing or just trampin about . I like the city, though when I like it.
I fully understand guys that prefer the opposite it's all preferences and each to their own. For me theres more room in the country.

was in rice paddy land for 7 yrs, 2 kms out of village, 16 kms out of udon to school, 20 kmw to main shopping, NOW, live just outside city, less than 2 kms from big c, off sakhon nakhon rd. but dead center of the village, busy village. no way could i live in the ring road, too expensive, and twice the negatives. i'll take paddy land anyday, over where i an now or any closer to city.

Pros Rice paddy land:
quiet
no hassle
can do what and when i want, activities outside, naked if preferred, star gaze, relax, no worries
at house, could sit outside in couple sitting areas, depending on day/weather/bug level, screened or unscreened area, all comfy w/decent view, or not, just the privacy.

Cons:
distance and time for school run daily, just shy of an hour.
expense of daily run to school, fuel back on the rise, fast. fuel almost equals cost of house rent.

if no school run, meaning no daughter, i would of stayed in rice paddy land.

Pros for city living
see Cons above
easy, fast access to lunch venue, tho when in rice paddy land, dinner everyday in city before returning. now 4 kms to school, on motorbike, no delays of traffic, can pass and weave thru anything, takes twice as long w/car. all travel, to school and lunch runs.

Cons
noisy
dirty, both natural, and trash everywhere
smelly
no privacy for outside activies
nothing nice to look at where house is located, from the house (except comedy routine of morning drivers at intersection, so many near misses, while sipping morning coffee on balcony), must walk to lake, which isn't anything special. i've yet to go there to relax on a mat, cow piss/sh*t, no grass area, all dusty dirt. but does look relaxing, will have to find a spot.

Why stay and not move back to paddy land.................fast daily school run and lunch runs are nice on motorbike, which i wouldn't use from rice paddy land, that much time and distance on motorbike w/daughter, not safe, law of averages. also not sure if wanting to live in udon area after daughter's school graduation, 8 more years, very doubtful, as too congested and dirty already. so one less thing to sell if building a house, which with my relationship record, isn't a good idea, until i can own. but, since new shopping centers, and udon may be up and coming, if....... can solve some basic problems.........may live near city, less than hour away, close to aiport/new shopping area side, for easy access to shopping and lunch/dinner run, and still live in peace. central doesn't matter, i never shop there anyway, same as robinson as an anchor store. though other stores associated may be of interest. UD Center and night market no longer interest me, i avoid with exception of monthly meet if in town. even newer half yet built of ud center shows me nothing. all outdoor shop, no rain cover or enclosed ac. except in the shop themselves, maybe nice during cool season for browsing, but hot season, no thanks. along with the hassle of traffic/parking/trash/smell.............keep it. so if living in udon later on, doutful if i would even make it past the new shopping areas to town, w/exception of irish clock, nobi, TJ food run. if udon thani was in the usa, it would be nothing more than an econmically depressed/slum area. in 8 yrs i has lost a lot, or gained alot in a negative way, a few positives, irish clock and nobi's, but besides that, lost it's quiet non farang charm. while just out and about, the few towns i liked, very few, it was nice being special again, and watching the smiles of the children and families noticing the farang, with nice family, not smirked at as an inconvenience and condensending look to the little lady and daughter. having a hard time now of days distinquishing between LAND OF SMILES/SCAMS. luckily, on my toes, catch it, usually, and the smiles are still outnumbering the scams, but only because of experience. it seems every day i think of something i hate, but also something that keeps me here. if not for Ree and Gem, doubtful i would live in thailand full time, tho still near udon or nong khai maybe half the year, cool season.

just my thoughts, which got a little long winded, big surprise.

do miss visiting Ree's sister at Preecha market, on at least a weekly schedule as before, nice family, good cook. and usually meeting a friend or 2 there. now that is reserved for Glen's........find a place dude, or negotiate hard. not many refreshing spots to relax anymore.

before thailand, with couple exceptions, it was metro suburbia, philly area for about 38 years, memphis suburbs for 5 years, rather enjoyed both. and the few times i live in the country.

I would say country, within a 30 min drive, or any place I coud afford two rai of land an comfortable home. I'm sure my neighbior gets tired of wiping my nose whrn I sneeze out side. We are cramped land wise. But, we are alo lucky with neighbors friendly if your friendly with them. Other wise they mind their buisness and I mind mine.

I think he other thing we have to take into consideration a we get older the distance emergency medical facilities.

First homes is OK just would be nice to have a bit more land. I think if I were where I am today if I had bad neighbors i would be a nightmare, but that is not the case. Another 15 mins to town would not make much difference as far as shopping and such is concerned. But it's not something I have to do everyday.

I really like the area where Tru Brit lives, but long ways to a hosptial, I think. At least I haven't seen any out there. I think more like a 45 min drive,

How about other areas of Thailan I was about 40 Klm past Khon Kean this weekeknd and it was still green and pretty there. I really enjoyed the North but seems like floods are common there every year. I hope to explore the Soputh of thailan next ride season. In the end I will probably just stay put. I don't cherrish the idea of trying to get another house built. My first attemp was not a pleasant experince.

If I had kids close to the school for sure.

I like a small town,not village and not large like Udon.Pace is more relaxed,traffic easy to deal with,all the daily conveniences are there,seldom need to use the car,easier to become a community member without them living on your doorstep!

im a country boy at heart . lived in the city in england and hated it for a lot of reasons that are not realy relevent to thailand !!! when i first got here i lived on a soy ban , liked it at first , but the estate was still under construction , having worked in the building trade , had no problems with the building noises going on everyday , in fact found it quite comforting in a strange way , bit like still being at work without the physical imput , sort of made me realise the p~ss easy job my boss had . anyway more houses got built , more people moved in , more my little piece of heaven got encrouched . so decided to start looking for a piece of land i could build a house that was perfect for our own individual needs . after about a year , and looking at what seemed like hundreds of sites , we were lucky to find our present plot at a sensible price . were on the edge of a very small village , maybe 20 houses or so . surrounded by trees , have a great view of a pretty lake . the locals walk their cows , buffalos , and goats past the property every morning to graze by the lake , the garden is full of wildlife , and because its surrounded by trees , theres always a shady spot to sit . it truly is paradise for us , beautiful and quiet . and if we need the bright lights , udon complex is just 10 minutes away . i consider myself lucky , but having said that , i put a lot of work into finding this spot . understand what you want , and then start searching for it . your dreams can come true , but you have to work for them .

I lived in a small quiet village in UK, and now have a place just outside a village here. Don't have the village noise of the dogs, cockerels or the morning Tannoy. We grow most of our own vegetables, but I can stroll to the market in ten minutes. The locals are very friendly, and I can sit with a beer and watch the world go by. It’s 15 minutes by car to TESCO or the airport. I like the smells of the countryside, but can’t stand the stink or exhaust fumes of the town. Each to his own I suppose.