Millions of tourists visit Thailand and are immediately sold on the idea that this is where they want to live and many do make the move.
That is usually the time they learn that resort life is not real life.
Coming as a tourist with a fist full of money, having all the time in the world to travel and see the sights, living in hotels where everything is taking care of and eating out all meals.
What a dream life!
However, that dream is very short lived once you find yourself moving to Thailand.
The 3 biggest issues are money, a long term VISA and time.
If you are not retired with a pension or guaranteed income, you are going to find working in Thailand is horrible at best. Extremely long hours for little pay (if you manage to even find a job at all).
Working takes up all your time, tires you out to the point it is off to work in the morning and back home to sleep. No different than any other country. Having no time in Thailand can be very stressful and depressing.
Young people searching for a long term visa, usually have extremely limited legal options to stay in Thailand.
Once you live in Thailand, you have to deal with the same bucket of things as in your own country except worse.
Air pollution is getting worse and worse.
Traffic nightmares.
Monsoon season (Rain and flooding), searing heat and humidity.
Electricity going out for no reason at all.
Expensive insurance.
Transportation.
When things break, you need to get them fixed.
Tons of language issues trying to get anything done if you cannot speak the language.
Living week to week, month to month or even year to year wears on a person.
Stuck in the daily grind just like anywhere else in the world.
Not enough money or time to live the way you want to live.
After a couple years, many come to their senses and go home.
That is just the way it is.
Thailand may be your dream, but without the financial means to pay for it, it can up a serious nightmare when you have a go home a few years later and find a job and start over.
Life is a long, long, long time.
Paying for life, no matter which country you are in, is always the most serious challenge.
Thailand does NOT afford the opportunity to work in many fields.
Teaching English for $1,000 a month seems to be the most common.
With that little amount of money, you will find out very quickly that real life is not the resort life!