atpeace

The OP seems to have no savings and is not making much money. Not an insult - just stating my thoughts without really knowing him. His options are limited and don't bolt with the kid unless you are sincerely worried she may harm him physically. Living on the edge financially with a wife that is mentally unstable has to be terrible. I would leave and get your head back together and start over. Have a plan about the kid that works for you but in the end "get out". My gut is also telling me that there is much more to this story...

I think many meet them outside of bars or online sites doing normal things like shopping and then create a story that works. I did that once and it ended poorly.

Really good question and while married for many years wondered WTFF I was doing at times. Told myself if I ever escaped, I would be a lion and Thailand my pride. 4 years after escaping I'm living with a beautiful woman that is older than me and loving life. I guess I'm not built to roar. Many of my single friends that I was jealous of while married are also in serious relationships. They all were religiously promoting the single life until they fell in love. I think most of us don't live that perfectly free existence we dreamed about. Being free enables you to meet countless women which magnifies the "ONE" that standouts from the others. Then what do you do?

Bar girls are evolving and becoming closer to some of the women in the west looking for someone to support them. Too may better options compared to sitting on a bar stool. Over the years I've met some wonderful bar girls but can't remember a single one of these women that remained a bar girl for long. There are a couple I would have considered taking to the next level if I had been single. It's a hellish job for someone that has high self esteem and they quit or find alternatives. Not all customers are jerks but many are.

Global tourism is up 25% YOY and this happened with high inflation. Expected to surpass pre-pandemic numbers next year. Wish people would just stay home... Thailand fumbled along early in the recovery but the numbers in the next few years will surpass 2019 which is sad IMO.

"The number of people suffering from diabetes worldwide will more than double to 1.3 billion by 2050 driven by structural racism and gaping inequality between countries, new research predicted on Friday" The title is ridiculous. How about the people suffering from diabetes will double driven by peoples insatiable appetite. What a waste of money and energy on this research. Obese people are 80x more likely to have type 2 diabetes. It isn't a poverty issue or racism that is the issue. Donuts are more expensive than vegetables but more of the world is opting for donuts.

Two months is optimistic and it is bad throughout the year if you live within 2 kilometers of the moat Think you live outside the city center so probably not an issue. I would rather shave a couple years off my life breathing bad air than living in the UK.

Go to the amphur and get a copy of all the divorce papers. Get them translated and fill them out so you know what you want. Take them to a lawyer then and get a second opinion if you want. I didn't have a lawyer and it ended well. Might want to have a lawyer explain the options pertaining to your child. Use the lawyer as an adviser and you don't need their assistance in filing IMO. Here is the tricky part. Tell her you are OK with the amphur without a lawyer and throw in an incentive(200k,300k, 500k, 1 mil... baht) at signing. You know her and how much money will motivate her. I gave the money after the signing outside the office. My ex trusted me and new I would give her the money. You could include it in the divorce paper. BTW, the divorce was simple and I think a lawyer would have complicated the process. Literally took 1 visit that lasted 1 hour if I remember correctly. The divorce paper was completed by a lady at the office that just asked about property and who gets what. The above seems easy but if her mental states are anything like my ex, there will be challenges. I simply told her the details and let her decide when. When she told me she was ready, I was in the car and at the office 30 minutes later.

Interesting and thinking about expanding my solar system at the house. It isn't too complicated but at the same time I do run into a few challenges while installing. Thinking I should get someone with more experience to help. I can barely use a hammer but easily setup 3x160(6000 bht) watt on the roof with 200 AH lifePo4 battery(12,000 bht) and inverter. Figure for the 450,000 you spent I could power the village.

Well said and most importantly if you are satisfied with the quality of your life, others' lifestyles aren't important. If I have someone that makes me laugh throughout the day and I'm healthy, I'm living well. I guess I could still afford all the splashy extras but I found I'm happier without them at the moment.

Ten years ago I was spending much more than that and loving life. Now I'm in a nowhere Thailand with a house on the Mekong river with a woman that has her own money. I'm even happier now and spending under 40k ( house and car paid for) and am comfortable. As you stated, everybody has different needs in regards to being content. Others on this thread have dismissed people living on 20K as losers and wonder what type of person would do that? Unhappy banal Losers?

Good advice and I will do the same. Your post just made remember minor hospital visits I had forgot about (wart removal, benign small lump on neck, ingrown toenail...). What a pain in the buttt. It seems the best option is to be as healthy and honest when applying for a policy. Then just hope everything will ends well. What a minefield for the insurance provider as well as the insured.

Interesting because high cholesterol is meaningless unless the LDL to HDL ratios are not good. My cholesterol numbers are off the charts good. I get blood work often because I train hard and like to look at my numbers. Hmmm, wonder if my high total cholesterol that is a product of my HDL might be an issue. What a mess this insurance game is and no solution that makes me feel comfortable.

Never mind, I see you answered my question on page 2. What insurance company refused to pay? What was for their denial reason? Thanks -I'm looking into an insurance change and have 3 months before my current plan expires.

I think you are correct. This can get confusing. The plan covers me in Asia and Europe and that is why I stated April International. Also my Insurance docs are from "April International".

Yes and the same goes for international insurance but probably not as often. We have all read the stories of international policies denying claims. As for the pre-existing conditions you described used to deny claims, it doesn't apply if you don't have any pre-existing conditions. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. You are correct about not knowing the future but fate in part is a product of who we are today. Being healthy today reduces your odds dramatically of major medical issues compared to being not healthy. We seem to be coming at this insurance discussion from different perspectives but I respect your opinion.

With twice the deductible but still a good point.

50% as I stated above twice over the last 2 years. 33% this year. The international plans also have sub category limitations. I get what you are saying and it makes sense from a certain perspective. I think healthy individuals require less insurance than most of the current world's population. Not being righteous but trying to be honest. I really don't have much of an issue subsidizing the unhealthy ( many are unhealthy and they are not at fault) but at the same time would like to benefit from the effort I put into being healthy. That is why I utilize the high deductible that would be unwise for unhealthy individuals. Seven years ago I did spend 3 weeks in the ICU in Petchabun and another 2 weeks in a private room. It was a public hospital because my lungs were too damaged to move me but I paid less than 2k/day for the room and less than 60k for ICU and had around 5 CAT scans as well as a few surgeries. I had a Thai insurance and they paid 100% of the bill. You have made some good points and I need to give this some more thought and do some more research. I can ask my Thai friends about coverage and claims. Also, you seem to minimize the impact of good health and no pre-existing conditions. Both are extremely important IMO. Much harder to deny a legitimate claim but still not impossible.

Think the world is awash with money and everybody the last 18 months is determined to make it worthless. The amount of money people will throw at homes, cars, stocks with crazy valuations, and dining out is over the top. Why not increase insurance premiums when so many throw money about as if it worthless paper. Hmm, that was an odd rant...

Good points and I did check most the issues you brought up about coverage and liked what I read. I lack the knowledge to feel confident about my understanding of the policy but that is also the case with the international policies. As for your inquiry about 300,000 deductible on my current international plan with April, it would reduce my rate to 31, 500 from 43,500, April has increased my premium by 50% over the last 2 years. You mentioned that Thai insurers have a rep of big premium increases but 50%? Haven't had any claims with April but have nothing bad to say about them other than I'm a little upset with the 50% premium increase, Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

I understand but as an extremely healthy person and hasn't had an insurance claim in 20 years outside of a cycling accident (a runner now :)), I think I should be fine with a reputable company like AXA that provides local plans. Sure it might be harder but considering I have no pre-existing conditions and am in great health, I think a 70% saving is worth the hassle. I'm definitely open to being wrong and please share your opinion to the above. Below is an online quote from AXA. I'm interested in the 200k plan on the far right.

Thanks!

Might happen but in the end it still easily fits in my budget but I think there are better plans. For example, the local insurance vs international that was mentioned above. Stupid me didn't realize I was on an international plan.

April International and how can I contact April Thailand? I have gone to a few sites and they always ask for nationality. Then I am only offered international plans.