In late 2021, Bree and Wes Moss started mapping out a year of travel with their 8-year-old daughter, Sailor.
Times hadn’t been easy for the family. Wes’ father had died suddenly, and as they tried to process their grief, they were ready to take a break from their hometown of Punta Gorda, Florida.
They spent a few months traveling around Thailand, visiting places like Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok. But eventually, they began looking for somewhere they could stay longer.
“I’d read something about Koh Samui being like a little Hawaii, and I thought we should go and try it,” Wes, 44, told Business Insider.
Goodbye hurricanes, hello Samui
The decision to move to Samui wasn’t immediate.
In May 2022, the family returned to Florida after Wes’ mother fell ill, only to be met with another difficult chapter. In the months that followed, Wes’ mother died and Hurricane Ian pummelled their hometown.
“It was the second major hurricane, after Irma, that damaged our Florida home and required extensive repairs,” Bree, 42, told BI.
With so much upheaval in their lives, the family found themselves reminiscing about the months they had spent in Samui.
“We thought, why not, let’s just go back and see?” she said. By November, they had returned to Asia, and they realized Samui was where they wanted to stay. “It really felt like home,” Bree said.
I’d read something about Koh Samui being like a little Hawaii, and I thought we should go and try it.
Back in the US, forecasts hinted at a rough hurricane season ahead. Selling their two-bedroom Florida house seemed like the obvious choice, and they managed to pull it off remotely in a matter of weeks.
“I would never want to have to live in a hurricane zone again,” Wes said.
As the family prepared to put down roots in Samui, they knew what they wanted.
“We wanted privacy. We wanted a pool and we wanted either to be close to the beach or have a view, and be surrounded by nature,” Bree said.
Finding a spot that fit the vision was easier than expected.
The house was a traditional-style villa perched on a hill in Maenam, in the island’s northwestern region. The two-story property had four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a pool, and a koi pond.
When they arrived at the property, they were met with the view of their dreams.
Clouds drifted past hilly, tropical stretches of greenery. The broad expanse of the ocean lay just behind. And in the garden, they found desert roses — Wes’ mother’s favorite flowers.
“It felt like a sign,” Bree said.
Settling into island life
The family preferred to keep financial details private, but said they were able to pay for the Samui villa in cash after selling their Florida property.
As they settled into their life, they opened a beachfront taco restaurant.
“We didn’t come to Thailand planning to start a business, but to stay long-term as US citizens, business visas and work permits were the most viable path, so we adapted,” Bree said.
The catch: They had almost no experience in the F&B industry. In the US, Bree had worked in marketing, while Wes worked in construction and property management.
Despite having staff, the couple found themselves at the restaurant every day. Their daughter helped out.
“I learned how to roll tortillas, take orders for people,” Sailor told BI.
A year later, they found out Bree was pregnant. They decided to shut the business and convert the space into a rental property.
With more time on their hands, they were able to start spending more time with their daughter, who is homeschooled.
“There’s no schedule. There’s no alarm clock. It’s so relaxed. There’s no pressure,” Bree said. “We all wake up, have coffee, and eat breakfast together. We have every meal together.”
They spend the rest of the day at the gym, shuttling their daughter to drama class and other activities, and meeting up with friends.
“We joined a fitness and Muay Thai gym called FitKoh, and it became a core part of our community,” Bree said. “Even the locals living in the area where the gym is took care of us, accepted us, and even invited us to their birthday parties.”
They say they feel more confident letting their daughter go out alone than they did in the US.
“Even though we had the playground across the street from our house in Florida, I wouldn’t let her just walk over by herself. No way,” Wes said. “But here she’s walking to 7-11, leaving the house by herself.”
The cost of living on Samui is rising, but it’s still much more affordable than in the US. “If you go to local spots, it’s unbelievable. All three of us can eat and have drinks for $15,” Bree said of the dining scene.
On the other hand, it can be difficult to find the international products they were used to back home.
“I definitely miss the convenience of certain shops, like bookstores. I have a series that I read, and usually I’ll get the books one month later. Sometimes movies as well,” Sailor said.
Bree says they often have to visit multiple grocery stores to find what they want.
“You can’t go to one store and get everything you need. Grocery shopping is a whole day event,” she said.
Thankfully, Lazada — a popular Southeast Asian ecommerce platform similar to Amazon — is available on the island.
“Otherwise, we would be struggling,” Bree said. Buying clothes for her daughter on the island is a challenge, since there are barely any places to shop.
“So you’re either shopping at the market or, thank goodness, they have an H&M and an American Eagle now, but none of those were here when we first got here,” Bree said.
New adventures
After a year and a half in their hilltop villa, the family is looking to downsize. They recently listed the property for $550,000.
“We’re a little bit sad, but also pregnant — and babyproofing this house sounds like a nightmare,” Bree said. “We also miss traveling, and with a house this big, it’s been impossible.”
Once they sell the villa, they hope to move into their rental property. It’s smaller, with two bedrooms, but it has direct beach access.
We’re a little bit sad, but also pregnant — and babyproofing this house sounds like a nightmare.
“We’re used to living in small spaces. Before our house in Florida, we lived in an Airstream. And we love the beach, so we’ll move there with the baby and then still be able to travel,” Bree said.
Looking back on their journey moving to Samui, the couple has advice for others who want to do the same: Be disciplined and establish a daily routine.
“We have met many people who have come here, and their relationship falls apart, or they don’t make it. I think it’s harder than people expect,” Bree said.
For many newcomers, arriving in Samui initially feels like a vacation. But once reality sets in, even little things can become a source of frustration, she said.
“You feel like you’re on a vacation island, so you get stuck in that vacation kind of mindset. So you have to have a routine, a schedule, something that you have to wake up for and go do. And not just go to the beach and drink beer at night,” Wes added.
Do you have a story to share about relocating to a new country? Contact this reporter at agoh@businessinsider.com.
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