Absorption abroad: Thailand retired Disney Imaginer pair

Eleven years ago, Jamely set Haia and Hilcia Peña the goal of giving up work and living life under their own conditions.

The couple even chose the date to make it real, and gave the name a plan: “2020 Vision”.

HaiaThe stage artist, was born and grew in Los Angeles. His partner Peña is an architect who grew up in California. In 2014, a couple of abroad were in Shanghai, where they both worked for Walt Disney's Imagine.

“We always tried to figure out how we could leave this company's world and be more creative,” Peña told 39, now Business Insider.

It was in China that the idea of ​​retirement was introduced abroad.

“We had the opportunity to travel throughout the Southeast Aasia and we loved Thailand because it had a good infrastructure, good health care and it was really affordable,” Peña said. “We saw how our money could go much further.”

They decided that the vision of 2020 would enter into force on 20 February 2020.

“We said that day, no matter where we are in the world, and no matter what we do, we send an email message that says,” We are sorry for your loss. “And then we gave up,” now 59 -year -old Haia told BI.

Moving abroad

By the time their February 2020, they were both in the US. But seeing the 2020 year did not go as planned.

“We never sent E -letters because everything came to fruition, as we were hoping,” Haia said.

Peña was offered a new opportunity with Disney – this time in Hong Kong.

The opportunity to move to Hong Kong seemed a step towards their goal to retire abroad. This contributed to the company paid for their move so that it accepted the job. Haia, who was redundant when her project was wrapped, joined the chase spouse.

In 2023, after Peepa packed its final project, a couple of Hong Kong moved to Chiang Mais, about 450 miles north of Bangkok.

Chapter of the boutique hotel

In recent years, Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for emigrants, such as Haia and Peña, who want to move around.

The data of the NIHD registration management office show that 163,036 foreigners lived in Chiang Mai province 2024Over 131 761 in 2017To.

Many Chiang Mai emigrants earlier said to BA that they were drawn under the security of the area, lower cost of living and a modest lifestyle.

For the couple, life gave them the freedom to their creative passions – to read, write poetry and make art.

It also opened an unexpected opportunity to make another career as hotelers at a pension.

“One day on Facebook I saw this hotel. I was like:” Oh wow. Let's just go see it. “Because architecturally it looked really beautiful,” Haia said.

The hotels belonging to the Tai-Dutch pair had a main building and five separate wool surrounded by lush rice fields.

They did not intend to take over the property until they were back home.

“We started to say,” Wow, what if? “And that was that.

The couple decided to rent a hotel with the opportunity to buy it. The monthly rent was 110,000 Thai baht.

The property needed a lot of work. Tapping their background in design and architecture, they changed the hotel.

A couple of moved to the property with three bedroom apartments on the property.

But eight months after the hotel was operating, the couple decided to close it.

The week when they decided to rent a hotel, Haia learned that she had throat cancer. Despite the diagnosis, they decided to move on with the hotel project.

“We didn't know what would happen, so we got stuck,” Haia said.

However, taking care of his guests became a 24 -hour thing, keeping him from focusing on recovery.

“Finally, we decided that it was just too heavy on my body and I would never recover until we just stop doing it,” Haia said.

Haia is in remission but He still has the side effects of radiation therapy, including a daily challenge for nutrition through the stomach pipe.

“It's probably all life,” he said.

Cheap living, great health care

At the end of last year, the couple broke a lease with hotel owners. They closed the hotel on the last day of December.

Now they are back with their creative aspirations and designing their house. When it is ready, the couple plans to move out of the hotel.

Chiang Mai's lower shoes have been a great relief, the couple says.

Each month, they spend 7,500 Thai Baht on health insurance, 3000 Thai baht gas and about 29,000 Thai baht food – including a special formula that Haia needs for its feeding pipe.

They also say they are grateful for the Chiang Mai health system.

“I never felt more comfortable and against nurses, staff and doctors. Everyone speaks the basic English. And when we ask questions, they explain,” Haia said.

There is a special counter that guides foreign patients through the medical system, helping in processes such as insurance confirmation, Peña said.

“This would never happen in the US,” Haia said. “They see you as a dollar symbol. Here people see you as a patient.”

“Every day is our Saturday”

Despite all the challenges they have experienced, the couple says that their lives in Chiang May go “in the direction” they dreamed of years ago.

“I think it turned out to be better when we waited for cancer,” Haia said. “I turn 60 and I've never been more creative in my life than last year.”

Now they are no longer a corporate life.

“You think at work,” What do I have to do tomorrow? Who do I have to call? What do I have to get with e -mail? What is my schedule? What is my deadline? “” Said Haia. “We don't have it here. We wake up every day and we don't even know what day it is. We say every day is our Saturday.”

Peña said that the slower pace of life has also been good for his mental health. He can no longer get a blues on Sunday.

“Now I'm sleeping and the birds wake up. I don't even wake up,” he added.

Despite the ongoing health problems, Haia feels that they are in the right place.

“This is still the best we have ever lived in our lives. Despite the fact that I have a gastric pipe and all of them, I would still not change it anywhere else, except where we are now, living the life we ​​do,” he said.

Do you have a story to share about moving to a new city? Turn to this reporter at AGOH@businessinsider.comTo.