Abstract
This thesis explores the diverse mobilities of Thai-American retirees in both Thailand and the United States, adopting a life-course approach to examining constellations of later-life mobilities, meanings, and experiences. It seeks to make the following original contributions: situating later-life mobilities research at the intersection of ageing, migration, mobilities and tourism; presenting a novel and comprehensive comparison of the fluid later-life mobilities of retired migrants; combining and contrasting the narratives of the retired migrants and their family members in both the countries of origin and settlement; and delving into the lesser known contexts of Thailand and the Thai transnational community. The thesis is empirically grounded on in-depth semi-structured interviews, guided by the epistemological position of constructivism and interpretivism, and accompanied by photographic accounts from the field.
Results from 52 interviews conducted in California and across seven provinces in Thailand offer a number of key findings: later-life mobility is fluid, interlinking, and often overlapping, extending beyond the simple binaries of ‘staying’ or ‘returning’; meanings behind later-life mobility revolve around the ties that bind individuals to place and people, particularly their families; and continued every practices and cultural nuances with regards to religion and values contribute to retirees’ transition to the frail elderly stage of ageing and ultimately the end of life. Through compiling the findings, four themes emerge from the mobilities of Thai-American retirees: place attachments and geographies of home and belonging; social meanings and ties that bind; effects of ageing in a transnational social field; and the future trajectories of retired Thai-Americans. These demonstrate the importance of acknowledging the diversity of later-life mobilities and the specific cultural contexts they are embedded in.