There was an episode in our village, of guys in their mid 50s who were either separated or never married, heading over to Thailand for ‘extended vacations’ seeking a ‘soulmate’!
Worked for two of them and their wives have been around for a long time, both of them are great people, charming, friendly and seemingly happy with their chaps. Their kids went to school with ours and are great, happy to have them round here rather than some of the other local horrors.
One did let on to me that she was seen as lucky to have a successful, western husband especially as he took on her son to a previous and rough husband. They are usign his earning to build a huge house back in Thailand for her extended family and they will head back there when he retires.
So, it does work for some and good luck to them. A little more disturbed by some of the antics of older, less charming Europeans I saw when we were over there.