- A month after retiring from his 26-year profession in regulation enforcement, Fred Jones moved from Florida to Thailand.
- He now lives in a $540-a-month two-bedroom home in Chiang Mai along with his spouse and their canine.
- He says life is cheaper, safer, and fewer anxious than it was again within the US.
A go to to the physician in 2007 planted the thought of residing abroad in Fred Jones’ head.
He had picked up a replica of Worldwide Residing journal whereas sitting within the ready room, and it launched him to the world of people that retired overseas.
“I had no thought that folks had been doing that. I simply thought folks vacationed, then got here again to their 9-to-5s and saved on with their lives,” Jones, 56, instructed Enterprise Insider. “It actually opened my eyes to the potential for residing abroad, particularly at the moment once I was targeted on the price of residing.”
Fred Jones.
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 mentioned.
On August 19, 2023, Jones retired from regulation enforcement after 26 years of service.
A few month later, he and his spouse packed up their lives, offered their home, and left Lake County, Florida, to embark on their subsequent journey.
They had been transferring to Chiang Mai, a province in northern Thailand, sight unseen.
Transferring midway across the globe
Chiang Mai is about 450 miles north of Bangkok. It has lengthy been a preferred vacation spot for vacationers and expats alike, because of its gorgeous historical temples, bustling markets, and comparatively low price of residing.
Jones says he determined to maneuver there after doing his analysis and talking to folks he met on expat Fb teams who had been residing in Chiang Mai for years.
Fred Jones.
“When you look onerous sufficient, there is a highway map on the market so that you can observe and regulate accordingly to what you want,” he mentioned, 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 highway, too,” he mentioned.
Jones determined to lease as a substitute 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.
Fred Jones.
“To be trustworthy with you, we’ll most likely lease for the remainder of our lives until we discover a particular place that we need to name our house without end,” he mentioned.
Since Jones and his spouse flew their canine to Thailand, they had been searching for 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. toes and is situated in Doi Saket, about 20 minutes east of Chiang Mai metropolis, the capital of Chiang Mai province. It had every thing 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 a much bigger kitchen and a storage again within the US.
“It was snug. It felt prefer it was well-built, and he mentioned it will deal with any sort of upkeep that was required. He even takes care of the garden, in order that’s a bonus,” Jones mentioned, referring to their landlord.
Fred Jones.
Hire 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 mentioned.
He mentioned the native market is a five-minute stroll away, with greater grocery shops close by that inventory Western manufacturers as nicely. Espresso retailers are aplenty of their neighborhood, and there is even an Italian restaurant for when their pasta craving hits.
Discovering their neighborhood
Regardless of Jones and his spouse not realizing anybody in Chiang Mai earlier than their transfer, they discovered a neighborhood fairly simply.
A big a part of it’s because of their new neighbors — additionally expats — who confirmed them round.
Fred Jones.
Their neighbors additionally introduced them to “Sunday Espresso,” a weekly, casual gathering of expats at a neighborhood café.
“There are most likely between 12 and 15 expats that meet there each Sunday, from France, New Zealand, America, simply so many alternative international locations, they usually’re all English audio system,” Jones mentioned. “I sat there, and I absorbed data from individuals who have been right here for 20, 30 years.”
Jones mentioned a few of these folks have gone on to turn out to be his good mates. They meet up usually for lunch and go on hikes.
“I by no means noticed this coming. I believed it will be like me and my spouse simply doing issues collectively for a really very long time,” he mentioned.
Fred Jones.
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 actually assist. However the locals have been very accommodating with us not realizing the language,” he mentioned.
Life is less complicated and cheaper
Jones and his spouse aren’t alone of their choice to go away. The price of residing is rising, and an increasing number of People 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 9 states with out an earnings tax, issues like house insurance coverage and even healthcare could make it pricey to stay there.
Lately, Chiang Mai has turn out to be a preferred alternative for folks around the globe seeking to relocate.
In keeping with November 2023 information 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 world’s laid-back life-style and low prices had been components of their choice to maneuver there. Johnny Ward, a journey blogger, beforehand instructed 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 residence for lower than $200 a month in lease. He instructed BI that he is capable of save about 40% of his earnings whereas residing there.
Likewise, life has turn out to be rather a lot easier 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 contains 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 most likely residing on a 3rd of what we might be spending in america proper now,” Jones mentioned.
Fred Jones.
Feeling safer has lowered stress ranges
Price 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 mentioned.
Being in regulation 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 had been going to a film or someplace, we might cross by locations that I might have a look at and say, ‘That murder occurred over there’ or ‘That rape occurred over there,'” he mentioned. “You relive these issues in your head again and again while you stay in the identical place the place you’ve got seen all these things.”
Residing in Chiang Mai has given him “a brand new starting the place none of that occupies my thoughts anymore,” he mentioned.
Because of low crime charges and strict gun management legal guidelines, Jones additionally feels safer in Chiang Mai than within the US. In reality, ever since he arrived in Asia, he is been capable of sit along 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 mentioned.
Residing life on his personal phrases
Maybe the most effective half about being retired in Chiang Mai is that he has the liberty to do no matter he needs along with his time.
Fred Jones.
Now that he is not slowed down by work, he will get to take pleasure in his hobbies and spend time along with his family members. He mentioned he lately 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 yr.
“Statistically, a variety of coronary heart assaults occur on Sunday night time or Monday morning as a result of that is while you’re on the point of transition into regardless of the case could also be. However I stay up for Mondays now. I stay up for planning my week out,” Jones mentioned.
“It looks like issues have slowed down for me, and it actually feels good.”
Have you ever lately relocated to a brand new nation and located your dream house? When you’ve acquired a narrative to share, get in contact with me at agoh@businessinsider.com.
