swissie

I think that "spark" is initially interested in "Thailand Overall". If that werent's so, he would have strictly focused on "girls". Therefore not needing to travel much, just taking residence in Pattaya.

I assume you are not a member of any EU country. Regardless, within the EU everybody will receive "emrgency medical treatement". Of course, after that, the question arises "who is going to pay for it"? Not being part of the EU, you will pay for it. Recomendation: If your heart condition is not acute, you will be able to secure some travel-insurance. At a premium, well understood. Covering a 3 week holiday but not a 5 year stay. (Expensive, but affordable). Without any health coverage at all you will be held responible for outstanding medical bills, as long as you live in the "western world". To avoid "medical-bills" you would have to relocate to Zimbabwe.

Linear is relatively harmless. When it turns "exponential" on the downside, we will be in deep trouble.

Hi Spark. Do as others have done. Cruise around by bus. (very economical). Visit all the places you have in mind. After that, you may have found a home in Thailand. Or: Others that have done the same thing having found out that "Thailand is not for me". Only way to go. Instead of of investing money and emotions in Thailand beforehand.

Multiple "Crisises" on the horizon. Too numerous to mention (especially if you live in Europe). But the global "share markets" are currently sending a clear signal: "It won't be that bad". Possibly taking the clue from "all the crisises over the last 75 years we have always mastered". And: "There is still so much liquidity sloshing around, that TINA (There Is No Alternative) to stocks is reason to buy stocks at the flimsiest positive news. Thus making a true "bear-market" a thing of the past. I am not so sure, this time around.

A female polit dinosaur has realised that outside of the US nobody knows her. Wanting to change that, she discovered that by going to a "hotspot" and pouring oil into the fire would surely make her (finally) world famous. It worked. The President allowed her to go on a old woman "ego-trip". Unbeliveable, as there will not result any positive effects whatsoever, only the opposite. I don't think that the world cares much what clothes Nancy/Tina wear. But personally, I would rather see Tina without clothes. Also, Tina not needing to go on an old age "ego-trip", as opposed to Nancy, a person that until a couple of days ago, nobody knew outside of the US. Now (finally) everybody knows her. "Mission accomplished" she will write in her diary. US and the rest of the "free world": Cry me a river.

As far as cities are concerned, it's still Pattaya (including possible "fringe benefits", if desired). Still best value for money. Amazingly: I am still in contact with Farangs in "the Sticks", living comfortably on less than 16K Bht/month. "Fringe benefits" cost extra, and cost more than in Pattaya. It's a matter of "priorities".

Possibly of interest to guys aiming for the "until death do us part" concept. Look at old foto albums, displaying 23 year old girls and see how they look today at the age of 65. Also, these days, software is available that projects a young face how it will look at 65 years old. Especially for woman, the result is (mostly) nothing short of frightening. At this age, everything that included former "womanhood" is just gone. The revenge of the pink panther (evolution)? Young women have magic powers over young men. With increasing age, a shift in favor of men seems to take place. Especially if the man's second sexual organ (his wallet) is still intact. There must be a reason, that "intact" elderly men are tempted to exchange their old woman for a newer "model", her still displaying the entire range of "womanhood" as opposed to the old woman at home. Time is not on the side of young women. Time is a great "equaliser". - Only some food for thaught for males (still) envisioning a long term concept based on something like "until death do us part". For all others, this is (was) never an issue.

A Margareth Thatcher quote, I assume. A re-incarnation of her waiting in the wings. PS: Sorry, my post, adressing the "King of Isaan" came in later than yours.

This may have escaped you: In the West, we have a growing army of young folks that have to work 3 jobs for a pittance. (No University degree and no inheritance coming), Never erarning enough to save for old age or accumulate enough capital to start a business. That's the future of a large part of young folks in the West. They will never spend any "golden years" when they get old. Not in their home country and not in Thailand. As I said here many times before: WE are the "Golden Generation". The "commoners" before us didn't have it good, and the ones coming after us will not have it good. ------------------------------ Your handle "kingsofisaan" is probably a printing error. Describing your lavish and affluent livestyle in the Isaan, I am sure you meant to read your handle as "kingofisaan". (singular). Thailand accomodates many Farang lifestyles. Many wealthy Brits never had to regret the loss of their colonies, they just moved to the Isaan. (Rinse and repeat). Does your Thai entourage adress you with "Sahib"', as would be appropriate? - Now you mad at me. Better you mad at me than me mad at you.????

Most here will consider me as a professional " party-pooper". Fine with me. Farangs (mostly) associate rural Thailand with the Isan. Other provinces are far less accomodating for the needs and desires of viral Farangs. Example: The "corridor", starting in BKK, reaching almost to Chiang May (and everything west of it), is still considered a relatively "affluent" rural environement. Few young Ladies have ended up in Tourist Hot Spots over time, originating from this rural corner of Thailand. As I was there: A Farang had to establish his financial capabilities and deliver proof of his "solid charakter", before an established Thai Family would allow their daughter to associate with any Farang. A "debonair" short term appearance of a Farang will not suffice to "break any ice". - Of course, there are also Karaoke-Bars outside of the Isan (50 to 100 Km's apart), needing introduction of trustworthy Thais to enter. Remarkably: Most hostesses there originate from the Isan. Conclusion: If looking for "spice", concentrate on Tourist Hot Spots or the Isan. Other (more affluent) provinces are just too cumbersome. The locals not needing any "White Knight Farangs", him depending on some shaky pension money from their "home country". PS: I surely know how to make friends around here. Don't I?

Especially when it comes to share markets, real estate and the price of rice.

Sensationalism sells newspapers. Sensationalism produces clicks. Organisations, trying daily to help the poorest of the poor can not be "sensationalised". But who is supporting "sensationalism"? We are! Rupert Murdock (and others) has disovered early in his live, that the only inexhaustible Gold Mine is "human nature".

Hard to find Spark. I tried to find such Farangs in the sticks as well as in BKK. Seems to me, that most Farangs here have liquidated their european assets, to be invested in Thailand (real estate). Relying on pensions etc etc. No need to monitor share markets anymore. Or they have their portfolios managed by "professionals" in their home country.. Or they live in expensive "ivory towers" in BKK, seeing no reason to exchange opinions with any "lightweight-investors". ---------------------------------------------- - Much more successful I was, when I organised some Farang gatherings, when the subject was "Thai Women". Always packed, not enough seating. For me, it had a beneficial effect. Before engaging in a long term relationship wit a Thai Female, I knew more about Thai Women, than the Pope knew about catholizism. Don't be discouraged, keep searching. If all else fails, we can always meet on the "Jobs, economy, banking, business, investments" sub forum here.

Centrifugal forces tearing western societies apart. Increasingly, decadence and hedonism reighn. Common sence has fallen by the wayside and serves no more as a compass in western societies. The anonimity of "social media" has helped it a great deal. Every moron can recruit millions of followers on FB, spreading all kinds of "gospels", gladly picked up and duplicated by other morons. It seems, that not "the meek" will inherit the world, but a bunch of morons. The (western) world has not gone "woke", it simply has gone crazy. - In the meantime, Mister Putin decides over the near future of European Economies. Just by turning the gas valve "on" or "off". Former western leaders like Roosevelt and Churchill would turn over in their graves, if they could see what happened to "the West".

The skin is the largest organ. Visible skin is already "death tissue".(Flaking off as the only purpose left). Underneath the skin, "new skin" is being produced, to end up as "death tissue". Tell that to a fast aging woman. using "skin moisterisers".

All industrial metals down. The early indicator "Dr. "Copper" signals: Recession coming. And this with extremely low copper stocks in approved warehouses.

Rats! The Russians will win this war. Ratio 1:10. No magic, just mathematics.

I think worth replying. Quote: "You do seem to be obsessed with hedonistic and effete Westerners, Fact: The military arms of Western countries are professional soldiers, not the poorly-trained conscripts Russia is putting into the battlefield to be slaughtered". Reply: They are short of military hardware as well as ammo and "fighting spirit". ----------- Quote: "What makes them want to be part of "the west"?."Are you serious? When Stalin orchestrated a famine in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions which killed about 6 million Ukrainians, you think they will just say let bygones be bygones? Ukraine, Poland, Hungary etc. have had their taste of living under the Russian jackboot, no desire to repeat the experience. Reply: In Poland, Hungary etc "democratic values" are being de-based with the approval of the electorate. "Strong Leaders" in demand. Home grown "Stalins" acceptable, them syphonig as much EU funds into their countries as possible. Corruption accepted as a way of life. ------------ Quote: "Fact again: The linguistic links with Russia are enforced teaching of Russian in Ukrainian schools. Ukrainian itself is a separate language, with a different alphabet". Reply: Since the 9th century, both languages have evolved seperately. Russians can understand Ukrainian and vica-versa. Very similar to German/Dutch. ================== And today? The new Tsar can decide over the economical faith of Europe. Currently resuming limited amounts of gas to arrive in Europe again. Not enough to fill our gas storage facilities for winter. Should the West not "behave", come winter, he will turn off the gas. This will give us more opportunities in the west to have "candlelight-dinners". Wrapped up in furs, imported from Russia.????

In the beginning we were hunters and gatherers. Plenty of space to avoid confrontation, just by moving on. Then we turned into farmers. Involving "property". Property must be defended, or can be aqired by "warfare". Nothing has changed since then. -------------------- I never liked this system. So, in my younger years, I applied for permanent residency in the very peaceful Republic of Bonobos, south of the Kongo river. As I found out, the immigration requirements for permanent residency in the Republic of the Bonobos, I could not fulfill (having to have sex every 15 minutes, as a minimum requirement). So I ended up in Thailand, offering slightly less stringent requirements for permanent residence. And (lo and behold), between 1995 and 2005 Pattaya resembled very much the Bonobo society. Much to my delight. Newsflash: The Republic of Bonobos has just lowered the requirements for permanent residency: 250 Kilos of bananas will automatically give you a 1 year "non-immigrant visa". Compared to Thailand's "non immigrant visa", quite simple I find. But how does one pack 250 Kilos of bananas in a suitcase? PS: I mentoned before in a thread of mine, that the I find that the "humor" of Farangs in Thailand is on the decline. This is a humorous comment. I underline this by ????????

I rather look at the stock market prices, within a bear market rally.

Gentlemen please, back to the present. Optimistic long term projections come cheap. 10 years from now, we will have reduced Russian energy dependancy by 90% The question remains: HOW ARE WE GETTING THROUGH THE NEXT WINTER WITHOUT RUSSIAN GAS, without crippeling large parts of the European Industry? In other words: The future is far away, but the present is knocking on our doors. And we are ill eqipped to handle the present. Short term remedies/solutions very welome. Remedies by US TV Evangelist not welcome.

Always love a good discussion. Appearantly we assess the situation differently. But I am sure we can agree on 1 point: - Without Russian Gas, Europe will find itself in economical dire straits soon. Sooner than the sanctions will put Russia in dire straits. So, who has the better set of cards in this game? With 30% of the European economy in a forced shutdown, I would not be surprised if the western Polit Pilgrims will re-direct the destination of their pilgrimage from Kiev to Moscow. Under the motto: "Dear comrade Vladimir, would you please open the gas valve again". With 30% of the economy in a forced shutdown, and the hedonistic westernes freezing their ass off, the solidarity with the Ukraine will fade quickly. --------------------------------------------------- PS: The Ukraine was strongly linked to Russia since the 9th century. (politically, linguistically, culturally). What makes them want to be part of "the west"? It's the EU's financial "fodder through". Nothing else. Poland and Hungary are perfect examples. They share little "western values". The EU's financial "fodder trough" is of interest, nothing else. Do we want and need more semi-failed states at the financial EU fodder trough?

I make every effort to clutch the ramaining pearls on my behalf, before they end up as "pearls before swine".

Everything that is above an annual income of 20k. But only if Boris Johnson is coronated as queen. The rest of the world has no idea.