There are many reasons why Samui is the ideal place to enjoy your retirement.

Much of the marketing of real-estate now targets retirees. And Samui seems to have all the ingredients to make it perfect for people who want to enjoy the latter years of their life without the stresses and concerns often associated with everyday western lifestyles.

Retirees have often spent a lifetime working to provide for their family and their children without ever doing anything that’s solely for their own benefit. So it seems only fair that those with the means to do so spend some time looking after number-one.

Samui has a number of factors that attract retirees and make living here an ideal opportunity to get the most out of life. Each issue will be of a different level of importance, depending on the individual involved, but when you put them all together it does create a compelling reason for choosing Samui as a retirement destination.

Financially, the cost of living here is relatively low. Yes, things are going in up in price, but most western pensions would provide retirees with a very comfortable financial existence here on the island. Money can go a long way here. Houses, cars, petrol, groceries and general services and maintenance are all cheap in comparison to other places.

Samui’s service industry can prove attractive for those who are beginning to tire physically or who just don’t want the hassle of doing general work themselves. Gardeners, cleaners, maintenance workers and pool cleaners are all easy to find and affordable to employ. Not only will this reduce demands on your time but it also helps the local community by providing employment.

Weather on Samui is another important benefit, as it can have considerable physiological and psychological affects. The island enjoys warm and sunny weather for the majority of the year. This daily dose of sunshine makes people appear happier and more relaxed. It also gives ample opportunities for you to enjoy leisure activities and spend a lot of time outdoors in the fresh air. The warmth can also help with common ailments, such as arthritis or circulation problems.

Health is something that concerns us all and as we get older we are susceptible to more medical conditions. The most common problems faced are often stress-related. High blood pressure is another complaint experienced by many. Life on Samui will undoubtedly reduce your stress levels. As mentioned, the weather will help, diet can also be important and the ready supply of fresh food and healthy seafood options on Samui can all contribute to your overall health.

Access to the ocean is a big stress reliever. Any relaxation tape you’ve ever heard will probably have featured the sounds of the sea; waves lapping against the shore. Medical reports have even suggested that just seeing the ocean everyday can have a stress relieving affect.
Exercise is proven to be not only a stress reliever but also an important factor in maintaining our general health. Living on Samui provides endless exercise opportunities: walking on the beach, swimming in the ocean, golfing and jogging are just a few. In fact, jogging on sand is ideal as it will burn more calories and have less impact on your joints than using a treadmill or running on roads. Ocean breezes make the air cleaner than it is further inland, adding to the number of health benefits of island living.

For those with more serious medical issues, the hospital care on the island is exceptional and again it’s relatively inexpensive. And in most western countries people live their lives constantly dictated by the clock. On Samui, it’s possible to forget time all together; knowing what day it is can sometimes be a challenge.

Low crime levels on the island are a big factor in the reasons for people settling here. Older people are more vulnerable to crime and specifically targeted by criminals in other countries. Being able to travel confidently and not live in fear all the time is a big lure for many retirees. Not constantly looking over your shoulder and not being too scared to open the door is a major benefit of life on Samui.

Convenience can become increasingly important as we age. Samui’s size means that everything you need and everywhere you want to go can be easily and quickly achieved. In terms of shopping facilities, these just keep getting better and there’s not a lot that you can’t get right here on the island.

Samui’s excellent location also makes it a great base from which to explore many other parts of the world and the airport links the island with a number of prominent South East Asian destinations.

To best show the benefits, take a retired couple from the UK, for example. Their children have left home; they have an average three-bedroom semi-detached house worth about £200,000 (Bt12.5 million) and a combined monthly pension of £800 (Bt 50,000) (this is actually below the income of an average UK couple). Diesel is around £1.10 (Bt68.5) a litre, public transport, eating out and general living costs are extortionate and monthly bills for gas, electricity and water are consistently rising. All their capital is tied into their home and their pension is not enough to live on so they both do part time jobs to help supplement their lifestyle. Unfortunately, this is proving detrimental to their health.

If they sold their house in the UK and moved to Samui they could afford a reasonable detached house and still keep a good sum of money in the bank. Their pensions of Bt50,000 per month would provide them with the equivalent of two good wages here on Samui. No gas bills and considerably cheaper water and electricity rates, cheaper food, the ability to eat out more, less fear of crime, less stress and the associated health benefits could ensure that their future years are spent enjoying themselves with far less worries.

Finally, there’s the question of why not? Many of the retiring generation have not previously had the opportunity to travel or live and work in a foreign country; it’s far easier today for younger people to do this and this will undoubtedly have a bearing on the number of future retirees that settle away from their home countries. The world is now a small place with affordable travel, low internet costs and cheaper telephone calls allowing for constant contact with friends and family.

So, having spent your whole working life providing for your family, without ever taking time to see the benefits of your toils, why not use the pension you’ve earned to provide you with a better life?

 

* Samui Property offers impartial, objective news articles, stories, legal advice & information, zone maps, photos, classified adverts and features about real estate, property, villas, developments, homes, house and land for sale and other real estate related items on Koh Samui.

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