For something as important as setting up my SS I made a trip back to US and had a face to face meeting. Having an online account is very helpful especially at tax time you can go online for 1099R.
My ship dropped Anchor in Goa maybe 10 yrs ago. Spent a day in Goa at the beach, hoards of beggar kids galore, it was dirty. Maybe it's changed? I would never go back for a visit.
Why is it westerners are so adamant about trying to turn Thailand into the country they left behind for retirement here. I've spent alot of time in Isaan myself and came to the conclusion that my retirement years wouldn't be spent there. But, I'm against changing the Isaan way of life. Leave em be. It pretty neat to see how they survive.
I had the financial resources to leave behind the place I built in Isaan and move the family to a place that offered a better education for the kid and a wider range of activities for myself. It's good for the kid to be around richie rich kids here but still be intune with the Isaan way.
I think perhaps there's some jealousy afoot here. I'd wager there's some 75 plus guys here who try to live healthy and still have problems. Then they see Trump doing as he pleases and still healthy.
I'm not big on rules but no phones while we eat is one rule I enforce.
It is convenient for my kid to have a phone at school. School pick up time changes daily, maybe a forgotten school book and so on.
GG brings up a good point. I think many here try to validate their lives by making it sound like it's filled with activities. Some of us here have decided to start a second family which keeps me relatively busy.
I can completely see how living single in a condo in Pattaya could lead to excessive drinking. I occasionally take the big bike on a ride to Pattaya for a few beers on Soi Bukhao, sit there at a beer bar watching the other foreigners scurrying about and think to myself how lucky I am to not have that kind of life. All the time wondering why I didn't just pack my ice chest and go to my local beach.
Going to a nicely equipped gym with AC, lovely ladies all around, with steam room and sauna, a big pool with lounge chairs can't compete with your idea of adequate.
It's the same cost whether you're an expat or a Thai. If you choose to buy western products, that's on you. You don't have to buy steak, wine and cheese to live here.