Indeed humans, many of us at least, thrive on novelty: new things, new experiences. Meditation, thankfulness, and other forms of inward focus may bring some respite from the desire for novelty, but...
What is the point of life if not to enjoy it? What defines enjoyment varies from person to person, but for some of us it is ABSOLUTELY certain that some environments are more pleasant than others. Some people/friends/lovers are more pleasant than others. Some foods are more pleasant than others. Our tastes and interests change over time.
We could live on one place, tend our little garden, eat the same meals each week, talk to the same people, and meditate. For those who want that life, great for them. It's not for me.
The world is vast, and there are so many experiences discover and enjoy. And actually, a Thai beach suits me VERY well. It is my next long stay, and after it there will probably be other long stays. Maybe when I get too old to move about, I'll pick a spot to die.
I think this "stay put and be zen" mentality is less common for tech people (especially developers). If we were satisfied with status quo, we wouldn't be constantly trying to develop solutions to "problems". If we were more able to be satisfied, we would still be using Fortran and COBOL (or pick any old language). There would be no smartphones (for better or worse). Heck, you could unwind all human advancement back to pre-agriculture days... which might actually be an improvement... but that cat is too far out of the bag.
Have fun in Thailand! I lived there two years, from 2019-2021. Not exactly the best time frame to experience the country, but it was awesome nonetheless. There is so much to do and see there, and the energy is intoxicating.
>"And actually, a Thai beach suits me VERY well. It is my next long stay, and after it there will probably be other long stays."
I was curious if you've looked at the state of this recently? Is this doable for a foreigner/digital nomad again? Any insights? What are the long stay options there? I know visas used to be very generous, I've no idea now. It does sound nice though.
TLDR: it's very doable, and I will be spending many months there again this year.
I spent several weeks of Nov/Dec 2021 in Phuket while I was between contracts. Things were just starting to open up and come back to life as restrictions were being lifted. Many places were still closed or had gone out of business, but there was no lack of dining, massage, bar, or outdoor activities.
Internet was reliable and fast with my 30 EUR 30-day unlimited data Thai SIM card (AIS brand if I remember correctly). Most hotels had decent wifi as well, but I often didn't even bother using it.
There are multiple visa options (which you can do a search for), and there's a subreddit just on this topic if you don't mind digging a bit. All options involve some expense and/or extra effort, but it's still a small cost considering the benefits of being there.
Lodging is easy and cheap (particularly with COVID 50% discounts which may be vanishing slowly). My advice if you're going to stay for more than 30 days is to get a hotel for 5 days, and then start asking around and just walking/driving around looking for flats or rooms to rent. Not everything is listed online. There are also a lot of Youtube bloggers who like to show off places they encounter.
One can live comfortably for $1500/mo or less, or frugally for $1000 or less. It's also possible to spend $5000+/mo if you want to live in luxury. Speaking fankly, luxury villas and "human entertainment" tend to be the big costs for some people. I can't speak to specifics since that's not my kind of scene (and honestly I didn't really see many other visitors who were acting like high roller party boys in Vegas).
Be aware that officially, working while in Thailand is not approved without the proper visa (which probably 99% of DNs don't have). Practically though, sitting on the balcony behind a computer (and getting paid to do so) for several hours a day is not high risk. Just don't flaunt it.
What is the point of life if not to enjoy it? What defines enjoyment varies from person to person, but for some of us it is ABSOLUTELY certain that some environments are more pleasant than others. Some people/friends/lovers are more pleasant than others. Some foods are more pleasant than others. Our tastes and interests change over time.
We could live on one place, tend our little garden, eat the same meals each week, talk to the same people, and meditate. For those who want that life, great for them. It's not for me.
The world is vast, and there are so many experiences discover and enjoy. And actually, a Thai beach suits me VERY well. It is my next long stay, and after it there will probably be other long stays. Maybe when I get too old to move about, I'll pick a spot to die.
I think this "stay put and be zen" mentality is less common for tech people (especially developers). If we were satisfied with status quo, we wouldn't be constantly trying to develop solutions to "problems". If we were more able to be satisfied, we would still be using Fortran and COBOL (or pick any old language). There would be no smartphones (for better or worse). Heck, you could unwind all human advancement back to pre-agriculture days... which might actually be an improvement... but that cat is too far out of the bag.