I consider myself lucky in that I did not discover Thailand until my late 40s. By that time I had a high paying job, good investments and had traveled the world outside of SEA. Once the Thailand addiction took hold, I knew I would retire here. I made a plan. Over the years built up good friendships, learned Thai, avoided the rabbit hole of falling in love but made mistakes not without a few dents and dings. You young guys, dont squander the best money making years of your lives by making 5 trips a year to LOS to be 2 week millionaires. Show some financial discipline , invest well , save for tomorrow because it will be here a whole lot faster than you think. Thailand/Bangkok is a hell of a lot more fun with money than without it !!!!

I think money and connection are necessary in every country.

Hi Forrest! Thank you so much for all the useful advice. You vlogs make me I feel more collected and focused about becoming a better person. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I really do admire you!!!

Great message. Also the colors and clarity of this video are awesome. 👏 👏

Thanks Forrest, great advice!

Forrest, I cant tell you how much I agree with you. Connections and Thai friends are the key.

Interesting I haven't used money since I left Thailand and moved to China.

Man i love your content! I’m an Dutch guy living in Bangkok 👍🏻🙏🏻 keep doing what you do

Bang on Bro... These things are applicable in all countries. Thanks for sharing.

Really good points made, thanks for this video Lee

You totally nailed it on the two. They apply in all countries.

Hi Forest, those were wise words at the end of your blog. 👍

Whole heartedly agree! Good advice bro, thank you.

Good advice, thank you.

Absolutely right Forrest. Being authentic to yourself will pave organic relationship rather than a "fake" of Hi and Bye with an agenda attached 😊

Thank you for sharing all the good videos 💐

Great advice!

Great content sir! And thanks for your service. See you one day over there!

Well said Forrest, points well made!

I am learning English by watching your vlogs. The way you speak is clear and comprehensible enough for me.

Tom Ford is legit. As a minimalist...Im a huge proponent of less but what you do own being of the highest quality. Good purchase. And yep, I retired from the military in 2015, set myself up to be financially free and am more happy than ever because of it. Great vid!

Agreed. Great advice. It can be applied to living anywhere in the world.

You are wise beyond your years and spot on about social skills. Keep up the positive videos and doing what you do, you're truly appreciated.

Great advice, thanks

Hey man found your channel the other day and been binge watching it since then, love the videos !

Having good relationships and contacts is everything!

So true! Your a good man Forest

Hi from 🇮🇪 Forest .. that was such a great video.. Thanks for sharing ..👋

Enjoyed the video and some solid advice - enjoy the wallet, great choice 👍

One can never have too many friends so, you’re spot on .. plus the only time one stops learning is when they are 6’ under .. good advice overall Forrest 👍🙏

Hi Forrest, I just found your channel recently. It’s a great help to me, as I’m researching to move to Bangkok! I’ve been living in Hong Kong for 10 + years working for an airline. Currently in Bangkok looking at Condos (your condo videos are fantastic). I’ve got that same Fossil money clip I use when I’m travelling, and keep the nice wallet in the hotel! Thanks for all your insights and videos 🤗

Thank you. Great video

you are the reason why i wanna retire in thailand too. and u are a freaking funny and humble guy. i laughed my ass off when u said “if not for my thai friends, i will still be in jail.” keep up the good content brother, i want to achieve financial freedom and live there too.

Really spot on as I been into corporate world with big salary and undestand very well your point.

Forrest, as a new subscriber the points you mentioned are understandable and so true. Should you find yourself living overseas or even in your own country, be humble, sincere and show manners. If you are lucky to live overseas and as an expat, you have to remember you're an ambassador for your own country. As an Australian I get embarrassed when I see fellow Aussies doing stupid stuff overseas. Show some respect for the country you now live in, help out people in your new country, and connect with people. Thanks Forrest.

May you have a blessed life

enjoying your video from Canada .

You absolutely nailed it, I believe that true no matter where ever you go. I always try to be friends and polite with everyone I meet. I always try to help other's when I can

Having soft skills is important anywhere not just Thailand. In the corporate world many companies base your candidacy on cultural fit and not on what you know... On the flip side there are many introverts who are very good people and get energy from being alone vs. extravert who gains energy from others. There is perfect person and I think if your good human whether you only have soft or hard skills or both you can enjoy life anywhere. Its more about perception than reality and if you deal with people how you want to be dealt with (Golden Rule treating others as one wants to be treated) than you can survive and thrive anywhere in the world.

Very optimistic and refreshing

Forrest your so right, if more people looked at life this way, they would enjoy there time what ever country they were in, like you i have travelled lots and made many good friendships, which is the main thing in live, another awesome video mike

I enjoyed your content. More videos please

Forrest... you are a very solid guy. Somehow, I fit in-between your optimal target leader. I am a B- engineer with an MBA. I did very well but was never good a relationships. Not until I took a 13 week Dale Carnegie course at 54 years old. Then I excelled but a bit too late for the main part of my career. Your are right on with your view. Keep it up.

very nice VLOG to listen to the advice Forest respect SUPER :) ;)

Great advice about making friends!

Solid advice

Excellent point of view...real

Forest, these videos are becoming more professional!

Very sound view and good tips..

Thanks for your service

A lot of sage advice in this video.

Very true on your advice

Hi Forrest, thanks for another great video! Financial Discipline and Connections are very important throughout your life esp. when young. I would like to add that being a immigration/ex-pat in any country or city, we should be open to opportunities on how we can benefit the new communities which adopted us.

Nice Forrest .....Peace and Compassion from A Tibetan living in NYC

Hi forrest! Thanks for your videos! Just want to say thank you for your service, what did you do in the army if I may ask?

Connections are critically important any where. Enjoy your video

This is fantastic. 🙏

Money can buy anything. Thailand no longer has a middle class, you're either rich or poor. Average person is struggling to make ends meet. The Thai people are in desperate need of help due to the pandemic. Tourists have not fully returned back! Money will make people do things they don't want to do.

Nice point about soft skills or people skills - if you don't have them, you may be taken advantage of

Forrest! I’m prior Army and planning on moving there in the next month or two brother. I appreciate your videos!

Well said👍

Good video good info

I understand what your video is about Thanks for all the tips on life & traveling it’s really important to understand different cultures and countries while your vacationing or moving like so many are leaving USA sadly it’s not the same Paradise anymore but I think we never knew how wonderful other countries are!!

What’s up Forest I was in the Marine Corps. Went to Thailand back in 2004 for US Armed Forces Operation Cobra Gold. I had a great Experience out there & I’d live there. Thinking about relocating there. Your Blogs are cool Bro, keep up the Good work man.

Totally agree with you. We all should do it

Well said

I believe the 2nd half of the video was filmed at River City Bangkok. My friend's wedding celebration was celebrated December 2021 on the Chao Phraya River. The docking station was at Icon Siam not too far from River City Bangkok. This video brought back beautiful memories. To use the word amazing would be an understatement. Night lights, dinner, drinks, live band, ...

Change 1 statement from financial freedom allows you to buy whatever you want, to whatever you need. That's true wherever. Glad to see you are doing well. Yes connections are really necessary here, IE tomorrow may get 2nd shot via connection

Good shit Forest

Money is so important in life in everywhere.

Yes connections are very important or as the Thais call it เส้น. Though sometimes connections are not enough you need the money to go along with the connections because many things must be bought your rank, position, and education. That's why Thai people ask what western people call personal questions with each other when they meet. To find out where each other is on the pecking order. Question like where did you go to school, age , family name and how much do you make, questions such as these. Also as a foreigner sometimes connection don't help because some Thais will always see you as a foreigner!

I completely agree and as a business owner i think softs skills allow friendships to bloom in both business and personal relationships .. i know many people including some business i deal with that have poor social skills and it really hampers them and thats not to say they are not smart its just that they are missing the bigger picture of what could be.. L.A Rob

I don't understand why so many people dislike your videos. It's real shit.

The one thing I'd need is something to do that meant I didn't go crazy. I can take my schoolteacher pension any time I like. But the fact is - and as I proved to myself in three long trip to Thailand - without something meaningful to do I go nuts.

The most important thing financial freedom can provide is freedom of time.

Man I have the same Fossil money clip LOL - I'm ready for an upgrade myself!

You hit the nail on the head, respect your financial freedom. Experiences are worth more than any possessions. Always be the grey man in life.

Money can be always important , it’s come and go , but connection will last longer maybe forever. Because in Thailand ( this from my family) money is and thing , Even if you lose your still can made it . But the connection is about filling, touch.trust and impression when you lose, it’s hard to fix .

You have spoken the truth Lee. I am thinking also to move down there

Forrest what visa are you on?

i dont mind some brand stuff if its of quality too and not just a price tag for a name, but there plenty great quality and designs that not high brand and i like to buy more those types of product because the high brands can survive without my custom

$550 Tom Ford Wallet. Doesnt get much better than that. Nice Choice!

I absolutely agree with your opinion.

Forrest, you are super rich and good luck guy krap!🙏

Great philosophy!

I started traveling to Thailand since 1999 and it is a fantastic country. I am considering applying for a retirement visa there.

You mentioned once that you are an introverted person and sick and tired of making small talks.Ironically,how do you manage to make friends with complete strangers without striking a conversation or small talks firstly? I'm positively curious about it.

I’ve been going to Thailand for twelve years. Fortunately for me I worked two full jobs most of my life and have five government pensions. So I should never run out as it gets replenished every month. Thanks. I also joined the VFW there. My Wife is also Thai.

"night life delights" LOL, love that!

Do you need to be able to speak Thai to have a really great chance of establishing yourself in Thailand? Or is English good enough?

Hahahahaha. I like the way this came together. Your point near the end about cats pulling women with money, THAT'S what a lot of the old heads are mad about. Simply put, most thai people don't care about how much money someone has anymore. It's about who you are as a person. Something they've never had to develop. A personality!!!!

Usually, with the right connections, money will follow.

Just subscribed to your channel ♥️♥️ welcome to Thailand 🙏🙏 What state are you from ?? I used to live in CA and moved back to BKK. Cheer and take care 🙏🙏

Bro, please come to Malaysia. We have many Chinese and still practice Chinese traditions

I share the view that there are things much more important than money. I don't understand that a designer wallet can make your day but to have friends sure does. I like this video therefore I subscribed today to get to know more about you. 😉

My dad always told me you have a social skills it can go along way… RIP DAD!!

I don't if I should start in Bangkok first or land in Phuket. Flights are cheaper to Bangkok though!

Money is extremely important, and yes, 99.9% of the time, it CAN AND DOES buy happiness. Only 0.1% of the time will money not be able to buy happiness. Connections do not even come anywhere close to being as important as money. I love being alone, and for me, connections are a huge disadvantage

Hi Forest, I love your value and this is clearly a reflection of your upbringing, same i my upbringing. You will do well and don't worry about what other people say, these are only sallow and small minded people. Whenever you are in Pattaya again, please look me up. Cheers Bro, P.s. Well done that you are rewarding yourself with a new High end Wallet and i am sure that this wallet will stay with you for another 20 years. 👍

IT make a lot of sense ..what you say.. appreciate that. Hopefully I'm coming to Thailand next year.. And I might stay one of those condo... And my name Shawn Stewart.