I moved to Thailand for a slower life. Over a year into retirement, I missed having a purpose.

Michael Kane moved to Thailand to retire. He got bored and started a café. Provided by Michael Kane.

This as-told-to essay 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 started my career in restaurants before getting into software. Over the years, I 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 a decade ago, a friend invited me to Thailand for a couple of weeks. I liked the place so much that I stayed for three months. After that, I began splitting my time between Thailand and the US.

My last business before leaving the US was a doggy day care outside Atlanta, which I started after struggling to find one nearby for my own dog.…