GammaGlobulin

45 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

As I reach 65, I yearned for semi retirement in Thailand.  That was my Saturn.  That was always my goal after my first trip in 2004.  I have worked with the US Government, Department of Defense, and many big companies and I was looking forward to simplicity, minimal paperwork, etc..  Man, it gets harder every year to keep things simple.

Did you finally achieve what you were yearning for?

 

I hope that you did...because......

 

Something as simple to achieve as was your greatest yearning....seems something that you can easily achieve.

 

Hope you get what you are seeking.

 

And, of course, what you are seeking and wishing for, is, truly, so worth it.

 

((You spoke in the PAST TENSE, and I just hope you reached your dream.))

 

Young people do not realize that, even though life is extremely tough for them at an early age, still, life gets even tougher.

 

This is why the quality of resilience is so important to teach to young people, today.

 

And, there is no doubt that our children, when they reach our age, will require even more resilience than we need today, at this time when the Keeling Curve is only at 415, and headed through the roof.

 

So, we need to teach our children well.

 

And, maybe, no matter what we teach them, will not be enough to protect them.

 

There is really no way for a single individual to shift or alter the world.

And, more is the pity, I think.

 

===========

 

No matter what we might think about our present circumstances, there is no doubt that we are now living in an almost perfect time in which almost everything is almost perfect.

 

I just worry about our grandchildren who may live in a far less beautiful time, when flora and fauna are diminished, and in a time when southern climes become less habitable. 

 

 

 

I guess that the Keeling Curve is just one more thing, among many, which makes some of us wish we could be up there with Vonnegut.

 

However, rather than departing for life on a moon of Saturn, like Vonnegut, we should stick around and just do what we can, while we still are able to breathe.

 

Getting vaccinated, might keep us breathing longer.

 

Although, so far, there is no vaccination for the Keeling Curve.  And, as you can see, the intensity of the slope of this curve is ever increasing.  This is not a joke, of course.  This is data collected by REAL scientists.

Actually...  the JINGTHING (the True Thing)...  is that you do not need to help MANY people.

 

You just need to help ONE person, or maybe two.

 

That is all you need to do, in order make a positive difference, these days.

12 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

My plan - and the wife's - is to go back to the UK when we can, sell the old 2 bed council house down  south, buy a nice 4 bed place up north with a nice garden, and order food in. Be honest we're both happy with each others company and that's enough now. She loves gardening and house proud, and I'm happy just watching old tv and a quiet life. I just don't like the world anymore. It's a crazy, mad world now, and so unlike what I grew up with. Shant miss it in the end. 

Never mind.

 

You are very fortunate to have a wife whom you love, rather than a shrew, one who needs taming.

42 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You're making a lot of assumptions. 

I agree of course giving service to others is a way to find meaning in life. I don't think the only way though. 

Whether or not there is any "hidden" meaning to the Universe, or maybe Multiverse, other than it just exists, I think not.

 

But, is this not just a bit off-topic?

 

The point of this topic is:  Really, ....  No doubt there are many old guys here who have a lot to offer. And, since, due to the lockdowns, these guys might be getting bored, and so...why not just try to reach out and help someone with one's time, and I am not talking about money.

 

Some people might think that there are not many farang here who have extremely valuable skills.  And so, since everybody is getting rather bored these days, then why not do one's best to just reach out and help someone.

 

I just meant, there is nothing worse than sitting in one's house, day after day, with no real purpose.  And so, if one were to reach out and help someone here, then this would become a WIN-WIN situation.

 

Such a thing can happen.

 

But, even donating one's time and expertise is really NOT so easy.

 

In fact...you must actively SEARCH and convince someone that they might benefit from your help...IF you have some expertise.

 

No One will come looking for you to help.

You must be very proactive.

 

And, if you are successful, and you are able to help in some way, then you will reap the rewards.

And, this just might make you feel happier, these days.

 

This is all that I am saying.

 

 

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You're making a lot of assumptions. 

I agree of course giving service to others is a way to find meaning in life. I don't think the only way though. 

I was not speaking of finding meaning in life, of course.

Perhaps there is no meaning in life.

 

I was only speaking of paying back, in later life, for what has been given to one, when one was younger.

 

Regarding "meaning of life", this is not the same for any of us.  I have no doubt that your view of the meaning of life is far different from mine, or, even, you might think that there is no meaning in life.  And, this is fine, for you.

14 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Does posting about burritos count?

Yes, it might, however you would need to post in a way which is both sincere and also helpful to others.

 

For example, by posting concerning burritos, what way can you imagine that this might help you to pay back for the many rewards which you have received from others, in your youth.  This is the question.

On 7/20/2021 at 5:22 PM, Johnny Mac said:

I'm not really talking about Covid, just generally.

 

I've had a decent run, can't complain too much, maybe time to take a back seat and let others go into battle. I've got 2 youngsters and feel sorry for them and fear for their futures in this world now.

I do believe that there are many parents who feel just as do you.  You are not alone in your justifiable angst.

Sorry. But, what I meant was, the older we become, especially as we grow older away from our original roots, then the more we might question traditional justifications for being alive....unless....

 

We finally understand that our only reason and justification for living is to pay back, in some positive way, for that which we have received when we were young.

 

I have plenty to pay back for.  So many kindnesses extended to me during my life.

 

As we age, the tougher it gets, simply because we rarely engage in the things that we once loved to do, such has humping and flirting, and combing our hair, which is not so easy to comb when you might not have any hair.

 

Yet, no matter how old we might be, there is no doubt that we can pay back, and doing this is probably the only thing that makes life liveable.

 

Regarding Vonnegut, as far as I know, he lost his mind towards the end of his life, so sad, really.

 

The worst fate for a writer is to lose his mind.

And, so, no doubt this is why Hemingway used his gun.

 

Some people say, Hemingway was crazy to do this.  I do not agree.

 

=============

 

During this pandemic, I truly believe that we have much more time on our hands, and that we can use this time to do some paying back for the many rewards we have received when we were young.

 

It is not always easy to find a way to contribute.

If someone asked you to contribute, then you would.

 

But, it is not so easy to become proactive and expend energy in order to seek out ways to contribute, during these days.

 

 

 

 

I must admit that, before watching the videos that posters have submitted here of people intentionally being bitten by the Tokay gecko, I was beginning to become overly concerned with these animals as these lizards often hang on my front door at night, just below the overhead light where there are usually many insects to eat.

 

However, after watching these videos, and knowing what to expect, I am no longer concerned, and I can begin to enjoy their company, once more.  Great!

One more important note:

 

Environmental conditions in previous generations can affect gene expression in future generations.

 

So, you are not just a product of your genes and your environment...

 

But, you are also a product of environmental conditions before you were born, experienced by your forebears.

 

Nature/Nurture is less meaningful in this context.

 

Right?

WAIT, please.

 

The OP has stated this:  Looking at the Rabbit/Turtle/Churchill situation, I am tempted to conclude that the "Exercise-Thing" is overrated and the "Gene-Thing" is underrated.

 

But, I am not sure if he understands the Nature Nurture debate.

 

Please understand that the expression of genes which one inherits is INFLUENCED by many factors, such as environment.

 

So, it is false to draw the conclusion that there is a clear separation of nature and nurture.

 

Genes are turned on and off according to environmental influences..  And so, there is no clear distinction as it seems you were stating.

 

In other words, exercise can influence gene expression.

 

I hope you are not confused.

14 minutes ago, jak2002003 said:

Yes....might take years. Then a few weeks after op moves in some new neighbours come with dogs and roosters...and open an outdoor restaurant with loud TV and music ever day. 

If this should happen, then, move again, and....it might take another many years.

11 minutes ago, NancyL said:

I've found plenty to do in Guam, but it's not really that much different from what I was doing in Chiang Mai, ie. mostly hanging around the Hyatt and binge-watching streaming services, much like I've been cooped up in my condo since March 2020.  

 

I didn't feel like leaving my room for the first 14 days, waiting for the vaccine to kick in.  Then I realized I've developed some serious mental problem trying to avoid infection and I needed to get myself out and using the great network of pools at the hotel.  They're interconnected, 4 ft, 1.2 meters deep.  Amazingly, the swimsuit I'd bought just before the pandemic but never used actually fit, although my goggles and nose clip had dry rotted.  Just walking in the network of pools every day, doing laps backwards and forwards has kept me busy and built up muscles that had gone dormant.

 

There isn't a Walmart on Guam, but rather the world largest Kmart.  That took up a day.  Also, a Payless grocery store that the local military wives call Pay-more when comparing prices to the stores on the bases, but apparently Payless has better selection. 

 

According to my taxi driver, arranged by the hotel, the local tourist attractions are closed due to lack of customers.  I'm not a beach person; salt water gives me a rash.  But I did have a fun day with the taxi driver visiting professional beauty supply stores buying high end nail polish, which can't be shipped by air, so I can't order from the U.S. in Thailand.

 

Fortunately, I'm the treasurer for my Chiang Mai International Rotary club and their financial year ends on June 30, so I've had much internet/computer work to do in closing out the year, developing reports, creating graphs and charts that people will probably glance at momentarily, etc.

 

Oh and there is a stupid amount of paperwork involved in the re-entry process to Thailand.  It makes no difference if you've been vaccinated or not.  The re-entry process is the same.  And unlike the wonderful Hyatt here in Guam, the Hyatt I selected in Bangkok has staff that seems incapable of answering more than one question per email query.  So, I've been emailing them regularly carefully asking just one question per email, like "why did you send me the credit card authorization form instead of details about your Thai bank account when you advertised that as an accepted form of payment and I wrote that's the way I'd like to pay."  Then I realized that was too many words to put in an email.

 

Oh, and I discovered that the movies that are suppose to be free on Amazon Prime, but aren't in Thailand are free here in Guam, so I've been happily binge watching some Amazon series.  "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" is especially good.

 

 

Good to know.  Thank you for your reply.  I am very interested, as I mentioned.  What about reading the novel, NEMESIS, by Roth.  Have you started it yet?  Or, have you already read it?  (Sorry. I forgot.  Not Walmart.  Only one Kmart.  But, if you go in there, you will not find a decent pizza.  This I am sure about.)  Take care and get fit, and take your Vitamin D, or just soak up the rays while walking around.)  I know a lot about nail polish, and nail polish packaging. The high end stuff.  Good for you!

1 hour ago, fusion58 said:

My wife and I departed BKK for the U.S. on 6/29. We flew United/ANA (code share flight.)

Suvarnabhumi was practically a ghost town. We had the entire rear section of the business class cabin all to ourselves on the flight from BKK to Narita. Oddly enough, the only place where we were asked for PCR test results was Narita. Flight from Narita to Chicago (ORD) was about half full. Clearing immigration and customs only took about two minutes as we were the only two people in line when we arrived. We were originally planning to return on 8/4, however, in light of the <deleted> show that is Thailand, we've decided to postpone our return indefinitely.

Your trip to Chicago, with so few passengers, recalls my flight from Guam back to Taiwan, during the time that China was firing missiles into the Taiwan Strait around 1995, or 6: I forget the exact date.  Sometimes, when there is a major crisis, it is so much more comfortable to fly.  No one in Guam, at that time, wanted to head for Taipei, and we had the plane to ourselves.  Free champagne, as well.  Sometimes, you just gotta wing it.

 

How long is indefinitely?

 

In my opinion, not that it might be worth anything, Thailand is a pretty good place to weather the Covid storm. Maybe too much hype about risk, maybe.  I really have no doubt that things will improve now, rapidly.  I believe it.  Other countries are in a much more precarious position than we are here, for sure.

 

Come back.

9 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

I caught this a couple of months ago. A young Tokay probably undergoing its first skin shedding. It was hiding under the microwave.

This is amazing.  Thank you very much for posting this.  

I will show this to my landlady.

From October until the end of May, there were extremely few instances of things like lizards, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, etc, in the house.  We have had a lot of rain recently. And, this might be a factor why we have so many of these indoors at this time. Maybe this is why some people prefer to live in condos, on a high floor.

1 hour ago, Aforek said:

I know what you mean, I  like to hear when they are far away ( for instance in the house next door ????  )but when they are in the false ceilling, 2 meters above you,  it's diffferent : loud !

 

what I don't like is their big shape and frightening aspect 

but I am not affraid, just I don't like :

 

I fear much more ( like Thai people ) the centipede ( ta-kap )  ; this one is very dangerous and in houses, too 

What does that look like.  I have what look like centipedes and millipedes, as well as the scorpions, as I mentioned.  Which is the dangerous one?

13 minutes ago, rumak said:

It's when you try to French kiss them that the trouble begins.   They will NOT let go of your tongue !

 

i would nominate this for most silly thread of the month........ but hey,  anything is better than covid covid covid         

 

tokays do not pounce.   they always move away,  quickly if one attempts to harm them.  If cornered,

they will hiss or bite if they can.       

As you say, silly is sometimes better than serious.  Also, for some, this thread might be informative.

Which reminds me:

 

Although I have never been bitten by the Tokay,

 

Several months ago, while eating Kao Pad Gai late at night at a streetside food vendor, I was bitten on the toe by a rat.

 

Just a small bite, and only a tiny drop of blood.

 

However, I did visit Ram Hospital, just to seek medical advice.

 

I had thought that, normally, a rat bite should not be cause for concern.

 

And so, I was rather surprised when the doctor at Ram told me that I must have a series of Rabies vaccinations.  Fortunately, the hospital had a good supply.

 

Here in Thailand, the rabies jabs are not that expensive.  I think I had about 5 of them.  And, in my opinion, they were super cheap, but I forget the exact price, maybe around Bt.1200.00 per jab, or something.

 

Anyway, it turned out that the same nurse gave me the jab, each time, and we sort of struck up a nice friendship by the 5th jab.

 

===========

 

Of course, maybe with the Tokay bite, it might not be the same.

 

I have heard that reptile bites can infect one with salmonella, or something.  And, maybe I would need some other therapy for such a thing.

 

Health Care in Thailand is both GOOD and reasonably priced.

This is one of the great things about being here, bitten by a rat, rather than being in southern Florida, on the coast, soaking up the rays.

 

In Florida, if you need a series of rabies jabs, then, you will be charged an arm and a leg.

 

 

 

 

One other point:

 

I have never seen a Tokay lizard eat a dog or a cat, so far, in Thailand.

 

Where I come from, down south, in southern Florida, we lose dogs to gators, all the time.

 

Many houses in southern Florida have canals and waterways abutting back yards.  And, this is a problem for pet dogs.

 

When I was young, I often rowed a single shell on the canals in Collier County, and rarely did anyone voice fear about the alligators there.

 

In addition, we have coral snakes there which hide in the grass, like a snake in the grass, the old saying.

 

A general rule of thumb to avoid getting hurt by a snake is not to get close to one.

I am sure the same goes for the Tokay.

 

I know.

Sometimes you hear about tourists like me worrying about poisonous animals that we might encounter in Thailand.

But, in Florida, we have more.

 

Such as:

 

Pygmy Rattlesnake

Cottonmouth

Diamondback Rattlesnake

Eastern Coral Snake

Timber Rattlesnake

The Southern Copperhead,

And others.

 

We are used to these snakes, and so we are not fearful of them.

 

So, I am just curious why, since the Tokay is far less formidable than the Coral Snake, it seems that people are so fearful of this guy?

 

I think it might be because the Tokay is just about always there.  He might be attached to your front door, for example.  Or, he might be hanging above you.

 

But, as I say, the Tokay is pretty benign.  And, I really DO love the sound of him at night...sort of like a lullaby, sending me off to the land of Nod.

 

Also, each Tokay I see is more beautiful than the last.

 

==============

 

One more note regarding scorpions that I have found in my house, here, this month.

 

Did you know, and I am sure you know, that if you use a BLACKLIGHT or a UV-A light, then the scorpion will floresce?

 

So, I am just saying...with scorpions, I guess, if you turn out all the lights in your house, and then use a black light, then if there are any scorpions, then they should fluoresce brightly.

 

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Tokay lizard.  They do not fluoresce.

So.  Tokays in your house cannot be found using this same method.

Tokay geckos are generally aggressive, territorial, and can inflict a strong bite....

The above statement from Wikipedia.

Therefore, just to be clear, we should just enjoy their beauty, but not try to pet them, like a hamster, or a lab rat.

 

These lizards have a large head, and muscular jaws.

 

The strong bite of the tokay gecko makes it ill-suited for inexperienced keepers.

 

Such beautiful beasts, it is true.

 

Also, they are a threatened species in some areas...so....

 

We are VERY lucky to be able to have so many clinging to our walls, here in Thailand.

 

Some day, maybe, these guys will be rare in Thailand.

 

I hope I never see the day.