Fat is a type of crazy

I don't want to get into this too much but in the post I responded to you said 'After the proposed changes are passed, basically, 183 days inside Australia, resident, 183 days outside Australia, non resident.' That is totally different to the more nuanced view you are expressing in this post which notes the 45 days and tests. In this post too you say over 183 days outside makes you a non resident but then talk about that between 45 and 183 days inside Australia depends on the tests. Maybe you made an error. See what happens.

Don't know what to make of you sometimes. One post it's like a fun guy. Life of the party. Bit irresponsible. Next post like an old lady scared of her shadow.

Has anything changed or got worse in your actual life except the odd surly waiter or something. Maybe don't read the news.

Those countries obviously much more repressive and likely restrictive and have to be more careful of your behaviour. Corruption rife. Same pollution and rubbish in cities. Western pleasures much better catered for in Thailand . If you wanted to live the quiet life with a lady in a nice country area you could find somewhere nice - some lovely nature and waterfalls and coffee plantations etc near Pakse in Laos but I sense that's not your thing.

Laos or Cambodia would be much worse.

Where I live surrounded by gum trees on hot windy summer days best to have a bag with documents and photos. Big risk of bushfire.

I am not convinced still about staying long term here but as a potential place to spend a few months over winter I give it a 6 or 7.

I have been having a trial retirement and one thing that made me give Jomtiem a go rather than say Patong or Phuket town was it seemed like - unless you get a car - everything you need is close by. Jomtiem isn't too busy, nice outlook to the sea, affordable condos with gym and swimming pool, excellent food, massages etc nearby - and Pattaya minutes away if you want better shopping entertainment or other stuff. I have spent a lot of time in Phuket and the beaches are of course much better but there isn't one town or area that ticked the boxes though I may have a month or two in Phuket too - maybe Phuket town or in the west with a car - a bit later.

The point I was making was not about being Republican or Democrat. I have no issue with low government low taxes and other traditional Republican policies. Or with noting failings of Democrats on issues like immigration and on some far left issues that normally don't represent mainstream democrat beliefs in any case. The issue was that Fox News presented things in such an embarrassingly spoon fed manipulative manner. I wonder why the audience is willing to be communicated to in such a condescending and patronising and embarrassingly manipulative way. Same with Trump. I watch his speeches for 5 minutes and you ask yourself who can sit there and listen to this bull<deleted> - the tedious lies - the greatest hits of nonsense. I am not saying there are any media or politicians who don't have a bias or aren't manipulative in some way but it comes down to picking those that at least treat you as though you have some intelligence.

It's the melodramatic music and graphics too that go with it. I can only say how I perceive it. I mean Fox were looking to drop Trump like a hot spud after the last election but their ratings plummeted. I don't say Fox watchers or Trump supporters are dumb. Most of 'em can probably do stuff I can't do in other areas. I think a lot of them see the world differently to me and maybe are lacking in experience or maybe a certain aspect or type of intelligence that might make them realise Fox and Trump are a fraud and don't have their best interests at heart. But I get that Biden ain't seeming like a viable candidate too as we speak.

Staying at a place that has Fox News in Jomtiem at the moment. It's not just that there biased as hell it's the chidish and childlike way they present it as though there audience are children with headings like 'Biden's border crisis' and others that indicate they have to spell out to their audience what they should be thinking. Five minutes and your brain starts to turn to mush so best not to stick around.

He didn't get you were making a comment bout Biden and thought you were being mean to people with dementia.

But you said you DON'T drink the cheap stuff

Being from the southern hemisphere it's a nice break from the cold that coincides with low season. Basically I like Koh Chang and Khao Lak's not bad and Jomtiem I now consider a fun place to stay and I like the Thai way so that's why I like it. You can get amazing hotels in low season and I like the bigger waves and less sun in low season. If not for those things I might not bother.

Nothing wrong with living frugal. It can feel good to keep saving. But you've worked hard to get your super and if you wake up one morning and say Hey I'd rather that 50000 a month condo in Wongamat and nicer clothes and better healthier food then don't bull <deleted> yourself you don't want it and start spending.

One subset of people where 100,000 is not enough are those that would keep a presence in their home country, added travel costs, maintain first rate health insurance, and when in Thailand have additional expenses as they live more like a long term tourist who wants to enjoy retirement on those terms rather than someone who considers Thailand their home and settles down as such.

So all relationships involve a bought relationship unless it's 50 50? Or is there a range of motivations based on a need for love, trust, and security to build a family and that is a normal relationship as compared to paying a lady for a half hour or a few days to hang out with you and have someone to eat with in Pattaya. I notice Trump supporters tend to see things in black and white rather than grey and that's how he tricks you. I mentioned Trump.

Nancy Pelosi's words today are further indication this isn't going away and Jill and Joe have to wake up and cop it. He has had a successful presidency on many levels and far superior to the previous guy but the horse has bolted.

Good tip. I always say no added anything.

I like my nuts. Always seemed expensive in Thailand but reasonably priced at Macro e.g. big packs of almonds and cashews.

What's wrong George. Thailand holiday was a dud and being back at work sucks. Feel good to go around trying to get revenge for some perceived slight with 10 different posters. Lets talk about it. Are you ok?

No offence but your budget sounds like a justification rather than something you'd like. Food budget low and likely not too healthy given you aren't cooking and living in hotels. Not much pleasure in it. Somehow finding free bikes and gyms and 120 baht massages with presumably no tip. I had an 80 baht coconut shake today because the 30 baht ones are mainly water with added sugar and watermelon gets old fast.

Over time one builds a picture. Biden does lie, gets confused, but it's not ongoing and consistent and often about silly or side issues - with important exceptions such as his lie about no troops dying under his watch which was bizarre. But you would have to admit Trump's lies are much more significant, consistent and really often totally embarrassing as his fans lap it up in a way Biden's supporters don't. Weird. Continuing to question the 2020 election for example is dangerous and important. So in a black and white world every politician is a liar but in the actual world Trump is way way ahead of others in my opinion and those of most objective observers. With the current US political outlook I am happy I'm Australian where it's boring and mundane but somewhat respectful and sensible and with a belief in responsibility for actions and a belief in normal democratic principles.

I don't want to get into what rules may or may not be passed except to note there appears to be nothing new to say. But myself - and Pattaya57 in his post of 25 June in the topic Australian OAP Taxation Issues - has told you that there are other factors that count and even under the proposed rules it is not simply 184 days non resident and 183 days resident so not sure why you say it is. Maybe if you stay years in Thailand it becomes a bit simpler but that is probably the case now. So long cut short it is not a simple thing - even under the new rules - for the decision maker to simply look at immigration dates and decide.

I don't think it's a system. Trumps people defend Trump's stupid stuff. Biden's people defend his. I watched a fair bit of CNN and CNBC on my lunch break over the last year or two and I can tell you Biden's age and whether he should run was discussed in detail. Not as much as on Fox I am guessing. Yes those stations don't like Trump and have a democratic and a democracy bias but I say the narrative of some conspiracy wide system of protecting someone with a serious cognitive illness over a number of years is simply not true.