55Jay

31 minutes ago, merlin2002 said:

Why the team of commandos, was this guy the Thai equivalent of Rambo.. 

He's already a jackass (apparently), so given the gun related charge involved, and possibility he's high on Yaba, they were right to go in heavy, secure the area, and see how it goes. 

He looks very calm, almost amused, in the photos.  Probably just smoking weed.  Arresting stoners typically not a problem.  Even the regular BiB could have handled this.  Stand outside 7-11 and wait for him to show up for Mountain Dew, Doritos and Snickers bars.  LOL!

5 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

I had no agenda, I’d made my decision and move,  but I thought it would be useful for folks to actually see some real numbers

Haven't lived in the States since '98, so I do find these "real numbers" posts interesting and useful.

Never done a detailed comparison, but in broad strokes, my sense is I "save" money living in Thailand by not paying CA state taxes, slightly lower sales tax rate and lack of an additional municipal sales tax.  No property tax, compulsory home insurance and no HOA fees - my only ref point being my Mom's HOA = $225/month! 

In my case, Thailand works out better for housing, internet, car insurance/registration/tax, and like you said, local food procurement.  Soon as you hit the imports/Villa Market, etc., alcohol, costs start balancing out.  I self-insure with cash, so not sure about med insurance.  I save (avoid) other costs in boy toys, like a boat, quads/Jeeps, etc., and related taxes, licensing, insurance and maintenance. 

These "savings" are wiped out when we fly back for annual visits, which cost me anywhere from $9,000-$13,000 a pop between air fare, rental cars and cash burn. 

So it might be a wash for me if we lived there full-time, and the money we spend on back and forth travel, and then some, would go toward housing and its related costs.   I would also need to diminish my income producing portfolio to buy housing vs. rent, then I would probably "have" to work, even part time, to fill the void.  Wife would probably have to work as well. 

And so we'll be in the work to live, live to work grind again. 

3 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

This is America, very little is actually ever required. But that being said, my HOA fee covers the ‘walls out’ insurance then I have additional insurance for internal contents, a $150K policy costs me $250/year

 

To add to another comment regarding water.

 

In Thailand my monthly water ran about ฿200-250/month.

Here I pay $40/month unlimited

Wow, ok, that's not bad.  My only reference is Krazy Kalifornia, which is why I asked.  Nice post, thanks.

18 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

Contactless card. Extremely common amongat western countries and a lot of expats pull cash out the banks they bank with abroad here. I never use my Thai bank to pull cash from. Ever. I realise that may seem odd. Rainy day.

Wow.  OK.  Take care.

How about annual home insurance premium.  Is that required in Montana?

3 hours ago, Rc2702 said:

Contactless cards are so normal now though and that is the more common term for what we are discussing. I have a wireless signal blocking passport cover. They were initially used to protect evidence from being manipulated digitally/remotely.

Yes, I know what it is we are talking about. 

I don't think contactless pay points are that widespread in Thailand.  Bangkok maybe?  Dunno, don't spend much time there.  None where I live.

Good deal on the passport cover.

Anyway, my original and only point, which we've gotten far away from, was the advice to immediately invest in an RFID protective sleeve is mostly likely irrelevant in this case, and probably Thailand in general.... unless one has an RFID enabled card.

22 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

I think your being technical in terms.

 

Skimming can happen by walking past someone and using a device to digitally steal data. An rfid wallet or card is built to protect against that.

 

The skimming term you speak of is more aligned to the card skimming practice as done at an ATM. 

 

Skimmers are not only for atms. 

 

Without the pin you can still rack up purchases onlìme.

Yes, you're right, and I was referring to ATM physical skimming, which is the most likely scenario based on what the OP said.

But if OP's card is not RFID enabled, an anti-RFID skimming sleeve isn't necessary.

My Mom got sucked in to buying one because she didn't know any better.  I inspected all her debit/credit cards, none were RFID. 

I'm not arguing with you, RFID card protectors have their place if you have RFID enabled cards.   I don't like the guy's "never happens" attitude in the linked article below.  If a person has RFID cards, then protecting them is prudent.  Me personally, would never have an RFID card.

29 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

You should immediately invest in a RFID wallet/card to prevent skimming but by sounds of it you were subjected to a skimming machine in an ATM with as mentioned; pinhole camera to mo it or your pin code data. The only other thing that i think it could be is a closer to home type theft.

All good, except the part about RFID wallet/card sleeves, which would provide no protection against skimming. 

20 minutes ago, i claudius said:

Living here in Pattaya i have no problem with ladyboys or girls who want to be boys. Couldnt care less .up to them . But as for letting them join the military well there is a saying " those whom the Gods wish to destroy they first send mad"

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

I feel the same way, without the god ref though.   

Just now, Jingthing said:

It doesn't sound harsh. It sounds ignorant. It sounds like a lame excuse to rationalize bigotry. It's no secret that most of the straight white resentment "maga" types that support banning all transgender people want to ban all gays and lesbians as well. 

You ever serve in the military?

On 12/28/2017 at 8:39 AM, torrzent said:

Go full commando expat, shave your head, but let the stubble grow to give that added street cred and toughness

You forgot the tattoos.  The more the better. 

The "me" attitude has permeated the US Military.  This focus on individual feelings, thoughts, desires and distractions, is counter to what makes a military unit function effectively.   Families and kids too, they are a pain in the neck.   I know that sounds harsh, but it's the truth. 

Also don't understand why he started a new thread, this time taking the question a bit deeper.  Maybe the first one wasn't specific enough.  Been there done that.   You guys have fun.  C YA.

Wasn't noisy all the time, but when them thar country folk do a dead ceremony, wedding or any other reason for a party, they close the soi and do it loud and long. 

We were only 37 kilometers out from where we are now.  Except for a few bad times, I do miss the openness of the other house, set on 1.5 rai, fish ponds, dogs, cats, chickens, various, mature fruit bearing trees, big sky at night, lots of stars.  But cleaning up all that space was a daily chore, usually 1-2 hours, then a bigger effort a few times a year.

Here in the moo baan, can't see much, houses are chock a block, but it's quiet and very convenient to all the various options available in and around the city.   Doing the garden/clean up takes 10 minutes every few days.  Maybe an hour or two once a month for bigger jobs.  Big difference!

OP sleeps where he drinks.  A real hero. 

We moved from the countryside to the city/suburbs for some peace and quiet. 

12 hours ago, ukrules said:

Voting has closed, who are these people anyway and how were they selected for being 'poster of the year' ?

JT solicited them randomly, on the side of a busy highway in Pattaya.

I've read this guy's posts before, maybe 2 or so years ago, and found them insightful in that I was considering a move back, and Florida was/is a state under consideration.  Mrs and I flew there last year just to have a look around for a month.

Otherwise, and similar to his War and Peace missives 2-odd years ago, he does come off as a narcissistic A-hole with these unsolicited streams of consciousness, dripping with smarmy, false humility, self-promotion and boasting. 

If you did this face to face in Thailand, you wouldn't have many friends and eventually, one of the old blue collar ex-plumbers from East London is gunna smash you in the face for being a dikc.  Safer to troll them on ThaiVisa from thousands of miles away.  LOL.

The Man of the Hour!

Still 20 votes ahead for Tranasam despite the obvious skullduggery going on behind the scenes.  Where's JT when you need him!

1 minute left....

Now down to 35.87% from 37+%

Transam's vote tally has DROPPED in the past moments. Now down to 36.xx from 37+%. 

This includes all you Lurkers and Wannabes out here.  0835 on the West Coast of USA, 11:35 on the East Coast.   And all you Englishmen in the Uk, you already know what time it is....! 

Vote for Transam now.  24 minutes to go, ya'all!