swissie

I too had my "Bucked List". Gladly, I went thru my Bucket- List between the age of 20 to 45. Fearing that I could not "work-off" my Bucket-List in old age. This is exactly what has happened. Today, I could only experiance 10% of my original Bucket list. Once ones health is failing, it's hard to "work-off" any Bucket-List. One point of my Bucket-List was always to keep in very close contact with the females of this world until old. Nope. I am now looking at the females of this world from a distance. Salivating profusely while doing so. The curse of old age: The desire is still there, but the capability may not. For me, proof enough, that God dosn't like old males.

"Timing" is everything. Hard to do concerning the Stock Market. Impossible as far as life expectancy is concerned. = "You don't know the day, nor the hour". PS: Bought a livelong member<deleted> in "EXIT" (Switzerland) for CHF 1000 fife years ago. To be able to determine the point in my live, when I wanted to "Exit", according to my free will. Rats! 6 months later it was conveyed that it takes 2 independent Doctors, agreeing that one must be terminally ill before any "Exit" wishes would be considered. As opposed to before. Nedless to say, "Exit" gives no refunds. Worst investement I ever made.

Can't supply any statistics. But it worked ONCE.

Great, thanks. Can you give a source that shows Donald in a bathing suit? With the help of "photo shop" I will prove positive that Donald had something to do with Stormy. Remarking that this is all "authentic" and genuine. Certfied by Mark Zimmermen and Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman). AI knocking at the door.

I left Thailand for the same reasons you did. Just in time. Shortly after I got "home", I accumulated massive medical bills. My Thai health insurance (covering 3 million Bht) would not have covered my hospital bills. I would have gone bankrupt in Thailand. Remarkably, when I left Thailand I wasn't ill in any way. I will never know if it was destiny, a gut feeling or just pure luck that made me leave Thailand "just in time". Other than that, in spite of it all, you seem to be "holding up" quite well. I too have found out that accepting "it is what it is" is helpful. Leaving the door open for potential new adventures (great or small).

Where can I get a "Stormy Daniels" T-shirt?

Ahhhh the old Greek Philosophers. The pillars of civilisation and democracy. Most of them had "Toy Boys". All perfectly normal. Today they would be in prison, classified as paedophiles.

A few footnotes. Sexual temporary relationships were mentioned. Easyly possible in Thailand. It's just that those temporary "female companions" disappear as soon as the Farang truly needs them (health or otherwise). To end up alone and sick in old age is probably the sadest ending for any Farang in Thailand. ---------- The benefits of old age were mentioned. Only if ones physical and mental health remains intact. I visit my older brother regularily at a rest home. Every time I leave, I suffer a mild trauma. All I see there are old folks sitting in the day room, staring into space. Nobody talks, nobody reads a newspaper, TV is running, nobody watching it. = The other side of "The golden years" I am afraid. ----------More: Old ghosts that haunt us: There is a frequent poster here (the one that loves Thai Beaches). Most of us know his story. He has "Loved and Lost" in old age plus having lost a good part of his earthly assets. Clearly, a "double whammy". The old wisdom "Time heals all wounds" may work for most of us, but clearly not for the poster I am referring to. I wish it wasn's so because I can relate. In my younger years I have also "Loved and Lost". For many years "Time refused to heal my wounds" until I met my current wife. I experianced "instant healing". Very much according to a Rolling Stones text "an other girl will take my pain away". It worked instantly. Never looking back. Might this work for said poster as well?

None in Thailand,

Good heavens, we have gotten old. In November 2002 I met my future wife in Pattaya (yes, no kidding). Married her in March 2003 with conviction. Pretty and slim she was, as I was. Some 20 years later she has accumulated several rings around her belly, rivalling my Beer-Belly. No, we don't have sex anymore, as far as "bondage" is concerned. We have expirenced all the "up's" and "downs" as a mixed couple can experiance over 20 years on European soil. Having gone thru it all. That's what true "bondage "is made of. Having nothing to do with "original sexual attraction", some 20 years ago We do not enjoy the fact that both of us are getting older by the day. We should have done "more" together when we were younger. When the clock was ticking a bit slower than now for the both of us. Sounds familiar in some sort of way?

Having been cut off from international trade, "online " work must have been reduced to "domestic-russian" commerce. Involving a "shinkage" of online work. - Given the fact that 50% of russian refugees can pay their way by "online-work" (optimistic assumption), how will the other 50% or russians earn their living in Thailand? PS: Granted, there are some "computer wizards" originating from russia. Not advancing computing capabilities for the benefit of the world, but rather focusing on the Art of "hacking". - Not sure if the stern Thai Government would welome a bunch of talented "hackers", especially not if they expand their "hacking" activities to (Thai) domestic issues.

Russians not welcome in Europe. Ukranians can receive "wellfare-benefits" in Europe. Russians in Thailand have to "self-finance" themselves. For how long can they "self-finance" themselves? Once their financial reserves are exhausted, how are they going to support temselves in Thailand? a) falling back on the non existent "Thai Social Security Network" or b) engage in criminal activities as the only remaining option? Likely.

Yep. Soon Thai Immigration will have to deal with a lot of "overstayers". "Refugees" = First class overstayers (can stay), or Second Class overstayers (get the h*ll out of here).

Thai Banks are not major players in international "Investment Banking" (that's where the major risks lurk). Their Domestic Risks are manageable. If in doubt, not deposit more than 1 million Bht in a single Thai Bank. The magic word: "diversification". At any rate, the situation is not comparable to 1997.

Like Italy? Italy: No economic growth. Thailand: Have nice economic growth. That's the difference. It's all "relative".

6 Months after REZUM operation. After every urination a few drops follow, causing a burning sensation. After 5 Minutes this burning sensation goes away, without me doing something about it. My "ejaculate" consists of a few drops. Not knowing where the rest goes (probably back into the bladder, where else?) Felt bad before REZUM, but worse after REZUM. Conclusion: A REZUM Operation will not re-juvenate elderly farangs as far as sexual capabilities are concerned. Although highly recommended and promissed by the medical community (=follow the money). Missing the main aim as promissed before (sexual normality), my health insurance has been charged with US$ 7000 for an aim not fullfilled, leaving me with pain and anger for the last 6 months. Not knowing how I would explain to a "willing-woman" my deficiancies below "the belt". Conclusion: Currently the REZUM operation resembles a sitting at a Las Vegas Roullette Table. As the "surgical operators" dont't really know what they are doing. Sometimes it works, sometime it doesn't work. But as long as they can charge US$ 7000 for an experimental "procedure" they will gladly accept the usual US$ 7000 per case. Clearly, for me it diden't work and my health insurance is US$ 7000 poorer than before.

ONE DAY LATE, ONE DOLLAR SHORT. All those "counter measures" should have been implemented 30 years ago. Too late now, as certain "pivot-points" have been surpassed already. Ramarkably, the thawing of the permafrost (releasing incredible amounts of Methane), have not found entry into climate forecasts. (!!!???!!!) To implement "counter measures" is expensive. Forced to make a choice, the "voters" will vote for defending their live-style instead of accepting a necessary reduction of their life-style. We have jumped off the 15th floor of a high rise, by reaching the 10th floor on the way down, exclaiming "so far so good, why worry"? - The 68 generation protested against everything, outside of any "main-stream" constellations. Compared to this, young folks of today are amazingly "docile". Considering the fact, that their (bleak) future is at stake and is made TODAY. Or is it so, that todays young folks are perfectly content as long as they can exchange text and pictures with the help of their 2 thumbs with their 200 "global-friends"? Due to the lack of true and meaningful protest, I must assume that this is the case.

Silver has always been "more volatile" than Gold. Mostly a "Industrial-Metal" these days. With a global recession a possibility, Silver may underperform versus Gold. The old story: The "fear-factor" has always supported Gold/Silver. Until the "Fear-Factor" subsides. Better: When stocks drop because of "fear", a good time to buy "beaten down" stocks instead of Gold. Just financially more rewarding in the long run. Worked fine over the last 150 years.

It is always possible to "talk a Bank down". Credit-Suisse has problems, but not because of a lack of "liquidity". Besides, the Swiss National Bank has alredy assurd to provide liquidity if necessary (too big to fail). More to worry about smaller US Local Banks, as far as "snowball-effect" is concerned. Food for thought: Interest rates have gone up, meaning that Bond prices have gone down. Banks have those Bonds at 100% in their books. (Upon repayement). Should someone/something force them to sell their Bonds at current market value, half of the Banks (globally) would have to be declared "insolvent".

A re- ocurring theme. After a lot of scuabble, they will raise the budget once more. It could turn the world economy in great turmoil. But it will not happen. Why not? a) Congressmen don't want to be held responsible for a global financial meltdown. b) They want to be re-elected. Strong recommendation: If the "squabble" heats up some more, and T-Bill yield jumps to 6% as a result of it (knee jerk reaction), buy some more T-Bills. You will thank me for this advice, should this scenario unfold.

That sums it up nicely. In a nutshell. Plus some inflation took place over the years. Unfortunately the inflation rate concerning "Nightlife/Party/Ladies" has doubled or tripelt. Something like this I call "hyper inflation". Sad, as Pattaya visitors can not live "from bread alone".

I use the streaming service of 4 Media Librarys, all TV stations. 2 of them still work fine. The other 2 constantly try to start streaming (re-trying every 3 to 4 seconds). But the stream just won't start. What could be the problem?

Cutting down Social Security benefits is a trend that has started. Not only in France. But sending money to the ever growing community to "failed states" is on the upswing. - The most FINANCIAL help for the Ukraine has come from 3 countries. The US, Germany and FRANCE. Under these condidions, I wonder how long it will be before the French will put their "Guillotines" back into action.

Yep. No matter what the Ukraine or we do, it will always be 10:1 in favor of the Russians. The Donbas and the Crimea will remain Russian. In the Donbas most people speak Russian and feel Russian. The Crimea was Russian Territory since Katharina the great. Given as a gift to the Ukraine by Nikita Chrustschow in 1954. That is the best the Ukraine can hope for. To regain all "the lost" terrain is an Ukrainian illusion. Only bringing us nearer to the 3rd WW.

a) The Hungarians of 1956 and the Hungarians of 2023 is a different crowd. Them having re-elected their favorite despot (Mr. Orban) time and time again. Gladly supporting Mr. Orbans strict anty EU stance. Mr. Orban has successfully managed to steer Hungary away from "Western Values", nudging Hungary closer and closer to "Russian Ways". They will still gladly accept the annual EU transfer payments, but they will shoot at Russians only hesitantly, if at all. b) Old clichees die hard: "Every Swiss makes watches in his spare time, All Swiss cheeses have holes, Switzerland is perfect for money laundering". Since the mid 90ties, legislation makes money laundering difficult. For example: Every account movement exceeding CHF 10'000 must be reported to authorities. Even for Swiss citizens. "The Bank Secrecy Law" has long been abolished for foreighners. Instead, for money laundering purposes, I rather recommend places like some Caribbean Islands, the British Channel Islands or the State of Delaware in the US.