- A month after retiring from his 26-year profession in legislation enforcement, Fred Jones moved from Florida to Thailand.
- He now lives in a $540-a-month two-bedroom home in Chiang Mai together with his spouse and their canine.
- He says life is cheaper, safer, and fewer tense than it was again within the US.
A go to to the physician in 2007 planted the concept of residing abroad in Fred Jones‘ head.
He had picked up a replica of Worldwide Dwelling journal whereas sitting within the ready room, and it launched him to the world of people who retired abroad.
“I had no thought that individuals have been doing that. I simply thought folks vacationed, then got here again to their 9-to-5s and stored on with their lives,” Jones, 56, advised Enterprise Insider. “It actually opened my eyes to the opportunity of residing abroad, particularly at the moment once I was targeted on the price of residing.”
The unique plan was to maneuver to Ecuador after he retired, however with the escalating violence within the nation, Jones and his spouse determined to look elsewhere. That is when he remembered his first journey to Vietnam again in 2018.
“It was solely 9 days, however I fell in love with Southeast Asia,” he stated.
On August 19, 2023, Jones retired from legislation enforcement after 26 years of service.
A few month later, he and his spouse packed up their lives, bought their home, and left Lake County, Florida, to embark on their subsequent journey.
They have been transferring to Chiang Mai, a province in northern Thailand, sight unseen.
Shifting midway across the globe
Chiang Mai is about 450 miles north of Bangkok. It has lengthy been a well-liked vacation spot for vacationers and expats alike, due to its beautiful historic temples, bustling markets, and relatively low cost of living.
Jones says he determined to maneuver there after doing his analysis and chatting with folks he met on expat Fb teams who had been residing in Chiang Mai for years.
“When you look laborious sufficient, there is a street map on the market so that you can comply with and regulate accordingly to what you want,” he stated, including that being a cop has ready him “for the unknown.”
One of many major causes he selected Chiang Mai was as a result of he loved northern Thai delicacies and needed to stay in a spot that was quiet however nonetheless simply accessible.
“I needed to go someplace the place I did not have all of the noise of a metropolis, however I had the conveniences proper up the street, too,” he stated.
Jones determined to lease as an alternative of shopping for a home. To him, it did not make sense to buy property in a brand new nation with out familiarizing himself with the completely different areas the place he might stay.
“To be sincere with you, we’ll in all probability lease for the remainder of our lives until we discover a particular place that we wish to name our dwelling without end,” he stated.
Since Jones and his spouse flew their dog to Thailand, they have been in search of a contemporary home with a yard. They put an advert on Fb and ended up discovering a spot to stay simply.
The 2-bedroom home is just below 1,200 sq. ft and is positioned in Doi Saket, about 20 minutes east of Chiang Mai metropolis, the capital of Chiang Mai province. It had all the things they wanted, together with air-con and even an oven.
Their home in Chiang Mai is not that completely different from their home again in Florida. Each had two bedrooms, besides the couple had an even bigger kitchen and a storage again within the US.
“It was comfy. It felt prefer it was well-built, and he stated it might maintain any sort of upkeep that was required. He even takes care of the garden, in order that’s a bonus,” Jones stated, referring to their landlord.
Lease is eighteen,000 Thai baht, or about $540, every month.
The home sits on an acre of land, and whereas the couple has neighbors about 25 yards to their left, they “by no means hear something,” Jones stated.
He stated the native market is a five-minute stroll away, with greater grocery shops close by that inventory Western manufacturers as properly. Espresso retailers are aplenty of their neighborhood, and there is even an Italian restaurant for when their pasta craving hits.
Discovering their group
Regardless of Jones and his spouse not understanding anybody in Chiang Mai earlier than their transfer, they discovered a group fairly simply.
A big a part of it’s due to their new neighbors — additionally expats — who confirmed them round.
Their neighbors additionally introduced them to “Sunday Espresso,” a weekly, casual gathering of expats at a neighborhood café.
“There are in all probability between 12 and 15 expats that meet there each Sunday, from France, New Zealand, America, simply so many alternative nations, and so they’re all English audio system,” Jones stated. “I sat there, and I absorbed info from individuals who have been right here for 20, 30 years.”
Jones stated a few of these folks have gone on to change into his good buddies. They meet up repeatedly for lunch and go on hikes.
“I by no means noticed this coming. I believed it might be like me and my spouse simply doing issues collectively for a really very long time,” he stated.
Whereas the language barrier was a priority, Jones says that he and his spouse have managed to get by with assist from Google Translate.
“My spouse is studying the language as we communicate, and in order that’s going to essentially assist. However the locals have been very accommodating with us not understanding the language,” he stated.
Life is less complicated and cheaper
Jones and his spouse aren’t alone of their determination to depart. The cost of living is rising, and increasingly more Individuals are being priced out of the US.
Even Florida — the place the couple is from — is not all rainbows and sunshine: Whereas it is likely to be one of many nine states without an income tax, issues like dwelling insurance coverage and even healthcare can make it costly to live there.
Lately, Chiang Mai has change into a well-liked selection for folks around the globe trying to relocate.
In response to November 2023 data from the Bureau of Registration Administration of Thailand, there are 161,979 foreigners residing in Chiang Mai province.
A number of those that BI beforehand spoke to shared that the realm’s laid-back way of life and low prices have been elements of their determination to maneuver there. Johnny Ward, a journey blogger, beforehand advised BI that he managed to construct his dream “James Bond” villa in Chiang Mai for about $600,000. Australian retiree John Walker rents a studio condominium for lower than $200 a month in lease. He advised BI that he is capable of save about 40% of his income whereas residing there.
Likewise, life has change into loads less complicated for Jones and his spouse now that they are in Chiang Mai.
Jones says that his month-to-month price range is $2,100, though his expenditure usually comes as much as round $1,800. This consists of medical insurance for him and his spouse, in addition to miscellaneous journey bills like a trip to a close-by city.
“I’d say that my spouse and I are in all probability residing on a 3rd of what we’d be spending in america proper now,” Jones stated.
Feeling safer has lowered stress ranges
Value of residing apart, Jones says his psychological well being has vastly improved since he began residing in Chiang Mai.
“I by no means realized how hypervigilant I used to be on a regular basis, even off-duty, till I moved right here. It is identical to all of the stress, having your head on the swivel, all of that stuff simply disappeared,” he stated.
Being in legislation enforcement again in Florida meant that he had seen a variety of trauma whereas on the job. A few of these incidents stayed with him lengthy after he clocked out of his shifts.
“On the weekends, if my spouse and I have been going to a film or someplace, we’d go by locations that I might take a look at and say, ‘That murder occurred over there’ or ‘That rape occurred over there,’” he stated. “You relive these issues in your head again and again once you stay in the identical place the place you’ve got seen all these items.”
Dwelling in Chiang Mai has given him “a brand new starting the place none of that occupies my thoughts anymore,” he stated.
Due to low crime rates and strict gun control laws, Jones additionally feels safer in Chiang Mai than within the US. Actually, ever since he arrived in Asia, he is been capable of sit together with his again to the door — one thing he by no means used to do.
“That is what I imply by it being life-changing,” he stated.
Dwelling life on his personal phrases
Maybe one of the best half about being retired in Chiang Mai is that he has the liberty to do no matter he desires together with his time.
Now that he is now not slowed down by work, he will get to bask in his hobbies and spend time together with his family members. He stated he not too long ago picked up pickleball and not less than two days every week, he and his spouse will hop on a motorcycle to discover the encircling countryside.
Not solely does he have the time to learn, however he additionally completed writing a e-book, which he self-published earlier this 12 months.
“Statistically, a variety of heart attacks happen on Sunday night or Monday morning as a result of that is once you’re on the brink of transition into regardless of the case could also be. However I sit up for Mondays now. I sit up for planning my week out,” Jones stated.
“It seems like issues have slowed down for me, and it actually feels good.”
Have you ever not too long ago relocated to a brand new nation and located your dream dwelling? When you’ve acquired a narrative to share, get in contact with me at [email protected].