silent_diver

Part of the reason the Americans seem more educated in Pattaya is because you have to be able to read and write to get a US passport.(lst I read roughly 12% of US citizens had a passport) That weeds out a bunch, then you have the group that doesn't know the difference between Taiwan and Thailand and couldn't tell you what continent they are on. you see a lot of military types because they get more time off, have a better sense of world geography, and don't have to worry about the social stigma of being labeled a pervert for going to Thailand.

The key word here is live. To me that means your not in Thailand on holiday, but actually have your permanent home there. I've been an expat in 2 different countries in Asia already and plan to retire in Thailand. ( I visit 10+ time a year). For me to live at the same lifestyle level I do in my country of citizenship, Thailand will actually cost about 10-20% more. Yes I know I can get a place in Nakon Nowhere, eat rice and mice and what grows in my garden, make my own booze and live on 4K baht a month but that's not the same lifestyle I have now.