Time has really flown by, it seems like it was just yesterday that I landed in Thailand with way too many bags and no real clue as to what the move would have in store for me. I’ve thought a lot about my first few weeks here in Thailand as an expat over the past week as I moved into my new apartment. Before I moved to Thailand I had to downsize my life, or at least my baggage in order to simplify the move and that simplification of my life has carried forward throughout the last year.

De cluttering my life and removing all the extraneous bits that weren’t really needed was hard to do at first but once you realize that the material things are just that it brings into focus the important things in life, sure, having a 5 speed mustache trimmer is nice but when you no longer have a mustache whats the point. It’s amazing the things we human beings hold on to. 2 years ago I had all brand new furniture in my big ass expensive apartment, living room set, dining room set, a beautiful armoir to hold my big ass TV set and yet that stuff didn’t really make me happy and it never got used much, but that’s what I thought would make me happy…it didn’t.

In comparison I am now down to one room 10,000 or so miles away from my past life and I am as happy as clam pig in sh*t Me, and thats really damn happy. I just downsized again and I couldn’t be happier, I went from a 44 sqm condo to a 30 sqm apartment, and yes, that includes the balcony and bathroom The best part is I also downsized the living expences quite a bit going from 15000 baht a month rent down to 6000 baht. Of course I had to make a few purchases to make the new diggs more comfortable and I was able to do that cheaply as well. A few lamps, fan, sofa & Coffee table for the lounge, bedside tables and of course a new dining room set for the veranda all for 7000 baht delivered.

Some of you may look at the pictures above and think ” Wow, how sad, I couldn’t live like that” or ” he’s hit rock bottom” or ” that’s pathetic” …I think it’s lovely and every bit as nice as the Grand Palace itself. The place even comes with a self cleaning bathroom, because every time you take a shower you clean the bathroom, very efficient. It’s all about what makes you happy and if a beautiful expensive 3 room condo with lavish furnishings is your thing then by all means have at it. I realized 2 years ago living alone in a huge 3 bedroom apartment surrounded by expensive furniture that I was miserable, Today as I write this on my Veranda I have a huge smile on my face. I have everything I need, it’s all within arms reach and I plan on staying here for quite a while

Another nice thing about the new apartment is that it’s located on a very quiet soi with a great breeze that funnels right to my 5th floor abode negating the use of the ac…just a fan will do and I’m not sure if it’s my 5th floor height or huge smile but I haven’t seen a mosquito yet which means sleeping with the balcony door wide open

I chide you not, I felt like I was a kid again moving into my first apartment. My friend Mo helped with the move ( she flagged down a baht bus to move me ) and as we got the last of my stuff into the new room we decided the bed looked quite bouncy, so, we did what every adult dreams of but never does, we jumped up and down on the bed for a bit and laughed our asses off.

Anyway, a year ago I had plans, designs, and ideas because I knew what direction my life was heading and most of those things have changed as well. Funny how things always seem to change.

My first round of Thai courses are over now and the next round starts in January. I think it’s been the best money I have spent in Thailand. My Thai, while not great, is significantly better and I can usually understand whats going on around me and let people know what I want, need or just what I’m thinking.

I don’t want to get too long here but I thought it worthwhile to let you know that I’m still here and so much happier than I ever thought I would be one year on…I’ll update on all the other bits in time but for now a little piece of advice as I close this one out.

The old saying goes ” You’ve made your bed now go lie in it” I never cared much for that sentiment so I’m going to change it to… Go find your bed and make sure it’s a bouncy one then jump up and down on it with a friend…and laugh…and smile…and live.

Time has really flown by, it seems like it was just yesterday that I landed in Thailand with way too many bags and no real clue as to what the move would have in store for me. I’ve thought a lot about my first few weeks here in Thailand as an expat over the past week as I moved into my new apartment. Before I moved to Thailand I had to downsize my life, or at least my baggage in order to simplify the move and that simplification of my life has carried forward throughout the last year.

De cluttering my life and removing all the extraneous bits that weren’t really needed was hard to do at first but once you realize that the material things are just that it brings into focus the important things in life, sure, having a 5 speed mustache trimmer is nice but when you no longer have a mustache whats the point. It’s amazing the things we human beings hold on to. 2 years ago I had all brand new furniture in my big ass expensive apartment, living room set, dining room set, a beautiful armoir to hold my big ass TV set and yet that stuff didn’t really make me happy and it never got used much, but that’s what I thought would make me happy…it didn’t.

In comparison I am now down to one room 10,000 or so miles away from my past life and I am as happy as clam pig in sh*t Me, and thats really damn happy. I just downsized again and I couldn’t be happier, I went from a 44 sqm condo to a 30 sqm apartment, and yes, that includes the balcony and bathroom The best part is I also downsized the living expences quite a bit going from 15000 baht a month rent down to 6000 baht. Of course I had to make a few purchases to make the new diggs more comfortable and I was able to do that cheaply as well. A few lamps, fan, sofa & Coffee table for the lounge, bedside tables and of course a new dining room set for the veranda all for 7000 baht delivered.

Some of you may look at the pictures above and think ” Wow, how sad, I couldn’t live like that” or ” he’s hit rock bottom” or ” that’s pathetic” …I think it’s lovely and every bit as nice as the Grand Palace itself. The place even comes with a self cleaning bathroom, because every time you take a shower you clean the bathroom, very efficient. It’s all about what makes you happy and if a beautiful expensive 3 room condo with lavish furnishings is your thing then by all means have at it. I realized 2 years ago living alone in a huge 3 bedroom apartment surrounded by expensive furniture that I was miserable, Today as I write this on my Veranda I have a huge smile on my face. I have everything I need, it’s all within arms reach and I plan on staying here for quite a while

Another nice thing about the new apartment is that it’s located on a very quiet soi with a great breeze that funnels right to my 5th floor abode negating the use of the ac…just a fan will do and I’m not sure if it’s my 5th floor height or huge smile but I haven’t seen a mosquito yet which means sleeping with the balcony door wide open

I chide you not, I felt like I was a kid again moving into my first apartment. My friend Mo helped with the move ( she flagged down a baht bus to move me ) and as we got the last of my stuff into the new room we decided the bed looked quite bouncy, so, we did what every adult dreams of but never does, we jumped up and down on the bed for a bit and laughed our asses off.

Anyway, a year ago I had plans, designs, and ideas because I knew what direction my life was heading and most of those things have changed as well. Funny how things always seem to change.

My first round of Thai courses are over now and the next round starts in January. I think it’s been the best money I have spent in Thailand. My Thai, while not great, is significantly better and I can usually understand whats going on around me and let people know what I want, need or just what I’m thinking.

I don’t want to get too long here but I thought it worthwhile to let you know that I’m still here and so much happier than I ever thought I would be one year on…I’ll update on all the other bits in time but for now a little piece of advice as I close this one out.

The old saying goes ” You’ve made your bed now go lie in it” I never cared much for that sentiment so I’m going to change it to… Go find your bed and make sure it’s a bouncy one then jump up and down on it with a friend…and laugh…and smile…and live.