I retired and moved to Thailand. It's cheap, and I feel more respected here than in the UK.

Mon, 01/22/2024 - 05:06

Old man taking a photo of sunset from a pool in Thailand. — Older people are choosing to retire in tropical destinations in cheaper care facilities.
Mystockimages/Getty

Jeffrey Ogden started looking for somewhere to retire two years ago and considered multiple places.
The 75-year-old Brit landed on Hua Hin, a beach town south of Bangkok, Thailand.
He spends his days swimming and sun bathing and said medical care is cheaper and faster.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jeffrey Ogden a 75-year-old former offshore oil and gas consultant from Watford, United Kingdom. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I've always traveled and been around people from other nations — American, German, Swiss, French, and many UK people. Two years ago, when I was 73 and living in Spain, I started exploring my long-term retirement options.