This essay as told is based on a conversation with Michael Kane, 54, who moved to Koh Samui, Thailand, to retire. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I grew up in Orange County, Southern California, and began my career in the restaurant business before moving into software. Over the years, I have worked in many different fields, from construction and real estate to sales and marketing.
I moved to Atlanta in 1990 and lived there for most of the next 30 years.
About ten years ago, a friend invited me to Thailand for a few weeks. I liked the place so much that I stayed there for three months. After that, I started splitting my time between Thailand and the United States.
My last business before leaving the United States was a doggy daycare outside of Atlanta, which I started after having difficulty finding one nearby for my own dog. The pandemic hit just before it opened, but luckily I was able to sell it. After that, I decided I was done running businesses in the United States.
For a long time, I knew I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in the United States. I had traveled abroad for much of my career and felt that spending the rest of my life appreciating other cultures, particularly Thai culture, seemed more appealing to me.
So, in 2020, I moved to Koh Samui, an island in Thailand, to retire. I bought a two-bedroom apartment in Mae Nam, in the northern part of the island, for $186,100.
I initially arrived on a five-year Thailand Elite visa, which has since been restructured into a Thailand Privilege visa.
When the Thai government announced the long-term resident visa for wealthy retirees in 2022, I decided to go for it, as it was valid for 10 years.
But I was bored doing nothing
When I moved to Koh Samui, I was looking for a slower life.
I spent my first year and a half there doing what people imagine a Thai island retreat to be like: going to the beach, getting massages, and enjoying the freedom of not having to work.
To keep himself busy, he opened a cafe named after his dog. Provided by Michael Kane.
But there are only so many days you can spend at the beach and only so many massages you can get. I started to get bored.
I don’t play golf, I don’t fish, I don’t paint or write poetry.
My ex-girlfriend, a personal trainer, used to make banana cakes in our kitchen and sell them all over the island. I suggested renting a small space to set up ovens and turn it into a small business.
I also couldn’t find any good coffee on the island, and we thought it would go well with the cakes. I started doing research and really immersed myself, which ultimately led us to opening Izzy’s Coffee. We named it after my dog.
It started as a small outdoor kiosk that cost around 100,000 Thai baht to build. We then spent another 400,000 Thai Baht on equipment and furniture.
Having the long-term resident visa allowed me to obtain a work permit. My current partner, Yam, and I now run the café together. I developed all of our drinks.
Kane says the cafe allows him to meet and interact with all kinds of people. Provided by Michael Kane.
About six months ago we wondered why we were standing outside in the heat, rain and noise. We decided to fence off the kiosk and turn it into a café.
I’m there every day, talking to people and making sure every customer has a perfect experience.
Thailand is like home
Thailand is not the panacea we think. It can be expensive and difficult to live here legally. But I built my life here and I’m pretty happy.
I have only been back to the United States once in the six years I have lived here – it was for a funeral.
But moving to Thailand doesn’t mean losing contact with the people I care about. Even after our divorce, my ex-wife and I remained close. She and her new husband visited me in Thailand and her father, who is like a father to me, came here twice.
Kane says he’s starting to think about what he could build next. Provided by Michael Kane.
Even though my life here is slower, I’m not one to sit still. Coffee gives me purpose, but I don’t know if I’ll ever be fully satisfied in retirement.
I took what was basically a box on the side of the road and turned it into something people are looking for. I don’t want 20 branches or a franchise, but now that coffee is on autopilot, I’m still bored.
I don’t think I’ll ever stop looking for the next thing to build. I just don’t know what it will be yet.
Gn bussni
