KhunLA

Appreciate, as long as choosing wisely. 'Infrastructure' statement gives me a bit of pause if value. Not sure what you mean. Waiting ... then land may appreciate out of your budget. Infrastructure ? ... is it far from main road, with or without electric/water service. Could add considerably to cost.

Let hotels be your guide. Actually should state that in the AC thread, as Mitsubishi seems to be the one of choice, and usually operate quick well when using. I always take note of good toilets, butt wash, shower heads/heater, ACs. Not sure if I remember half of it, but enough brands repeated to get a basic idea.

I like the ones I hear about, that want you to pay, and they'll reimburse you ... ???? For those considering ins. here, go to your local hospital, or 3, that you'd probably be taken to, if an emergency oops, and ask them, which carriers they prefer to deal with, hassle free. They will let you know, who they like, and don't like.

That's one thing you'll have no problem finding in TH, grilled, roast or rotisserie chicken. As suggested '5 star' should bring up plenty, though not all offer rotisserie chicken. These are just a few that have been listed on Gmap:

Learn & drive anywhere you want, as long as not on public street. I think (don't quote me), it's 15, for scooter, not sure about car. Quick google, and car ... 18, sounds about right if memory serves w/daughter. Same info from 2 sites:

Way more money than I'm willing to spend, without selling any assets. I'll go 1M maybe 2M, but I want guarantees I'm getting 5 more yrs of good, quality life. That's something they can't give, at soon to by 69 yrs old. Wife & kid can enjoy that money, instead of me hanging around for another year or so, full facilities or not. In a couple year, my brother & myself will be the oldest ones ever, in our family tree.

That would make a huge difference. I was approved for hearing aids, but between the time of approval, and getting fitted with them, I got fired from the job. Insurance coverage supposed to be continued for 30 day, no matter the reason to leaving company. I'm in the chair, getting fitted (not in yet) and she calls the insurance carrier to get final authorization for specific units, and they decline the claim. Talk about P'd off, she went ballistic on them. I sued & they settled for $12k ???? Strangely, they approved, to my knowledge, a Chiro visit every other day for those 30 days. Mind boggling who hand doesn't know what the other hand is dong. That was a workman's comp claim, and add that to 2 other suits, I won against them. Along with Soc Sec, and a private health insurance carrier. Even had to sue a homeowner insurance underwriter.

I actually wouldn't expect an ins co. to cover me for anything expensive, especially if possible terminal diagnosis. They'd just hedge their bet and hope I died. At worse, pay small settlement, and only if family filed lawsuit. Friend got a terminal diagnosis, (25 ish yrs old), and ins. co. dropped him like hot potato. As if his day wasn't bad enough getting the news. Turned out the diagnosis was completely wrong. Not only was it not terminal, but not even cancer. Scary they could have been that far off. And yea, he sued the sh!t out of them, for huge pay off ???? So no, I wouldn't expect any company to honor their coverage, at my age, and especially with my past experiences. 6 times, had to use courts to get compensation owed to me, from insurance underwriters, govt & private.

Can't remember, and very rare for me to buy a stranger a drink. Though have done, maybe 3 times in my lifetime. I really don't want to talk to someone (USA) who won't pay for their own drinks. Worse thing one could do is ask me to ... bye bye. Buying a working gal ... never, although I have given them money for chit chatting with me at bars here in TH. Anything is worth it, to avoid talking to a tourist or expat at a bar ????

That's money in their pocket, and no need to pay for them to take the old unit. They'll take if for free.

Sad, laws are needed to enforce common sense. They had child seats in the news a few years back, and remember shelves were empty w/price gouging. Expecting a repeat.

So 'ignorance is bliss' for you, reference to the 'love of' people/things.

Yea, the daughter was OK, but the lawyer, that's a plot line that wasn't necessary, and seemed a bit too unrealistic. Still watching though, as decent time killer, but that's it. Other options are really limited. Star Trek had another good episode (finally), ending as a cliffhanger ... till next season. I see how they are setting up to continue, after Pike dies or out of commission. Had James T already and now Scotty joining the cast. Wonder if they'll keep the title of the series, or as spin off. Wise choice on the generic show title.

That's a ridiculous statement. Check ups save lives. How do you get that great diagnosis, without a check up, or symptoms requiring a diagnosis. Not all illness have symptoms, and many, if having, well, too late now to treat. Granted, all my check ups have been money spent for piece of mind, but that's fine. 10k baht a year ain't going to break the bank, and eliminates stress. I've had polyps removed, no symptoms, even lied so they'd do the colonscopy. Had other direction/endoscope done also, since there, and found a hiatal hernia, I didn't know I had. Explains a lot, and now that I know, can manage it without surgery. X rays/mamograms, and chickie check ups saves millions of lives every year.

As I found out last year, and that oops could have been easily diagnosed with proper check up. I was lax in that aspect, skipping a long year of. Though cost wise, would have been the same, just elective (next week is OK) vs emergency (now or you might not be around for lunch today) ????

???? ... not sure I'd spend 1M (@ 68 yrs old) unless they could guarantee me at least 5 yrs of comfy living afterward. Not sure I can get 1 or 2M baht sick here at govt hospital. If caught early enough, and elective, could always hop back to USA, use that medicare, though take a hit on plan B. Again, at my age, not even sure I'd bother. Twice I didn't think I was going to make it through the night here in TH, and I was actually OK with that. Kind of refreshing thought process, and does make one appreciate every sunrise & sunset, afterwards.

Bottom hole size is an issue, so check that. I tested them out, 'sitting on', for height/comfort level, and one I picked was expensive in comparison, to one wife picked for other bathroom.

Sell & install caps on the chimney flues. Nice money maker, 200% mark up. Every flue should have one. If a bend in the flue, then proper inspection should be done at both ends.

And people, expats wonder why Imm has the 'show me the money' mentality for long term visa/extension. Myself, self insured my whole life, so saved a bundle, being healthy or pay for oops as they happen. Had on oops last year, about 250k baht total, but way cheaper than 40+ years of ins premiums, that have premiums & deductibles, more than what I spend here for basic care & check ups.

Unless you suspect a health issue, I'd put the funds toward yearly 'full' check ups. Better spent. Know your body, eat & exercise properly. If too many unhealthy vices, get the insurance.

Heights, although, not consistent. I was a chimney sweep, wise choice, although once on a roof, nothing bothered me. Going from ladder to roof, scared the hell out of me. I bungy jumped, going up & jumping, no problem. Looked over the edge when up, and thought to myself, W T F, are you an idiot, and had to back up, as got dizzy. The jump & rubber band effect was one of the best rushes, & laughing I've ever had. Jumped out of a perfectly good plane (static line), straddled under the wing, 1 foot on the platform above the wheel, w/hand hold bar, looking 1000s of meters down, no problem, actually pretty damn cool. Balconies & rooftops, not problem, but I can't look down over the edge of a balcony, if say 5+ stories high. I actually get dizzy/vertigo feeling. Bridges. cliffs, no matter how high, even if can see through, rickety bridges, and no problem.

I successfully did my first online one while O&A, and processed in 3 days, and that, over the weekend. The hoops you have to jump through ... stressful ???? At home, I actually enjoy going to the local Imm for 90 day pulse check. Gets me out of the house, nice country ride on scooter, and I'm usually the only one there, or if Q'd up (sometimes a stack of PP/per agent) for something else, they take me as soon as I walk in. OK, low key, out of the way Imm office, just wish they did extensions there, instead of the 100 km drive to Hua Hin, though good for day out of shopping & munch. 1-2 hrs a year ain't going to stress me out.

Depending what 'dump' you're staying in, I'd be more concerned about fellow guest ripping me off, than 'working' staff. I've yet to have a problem, even when staying at Suk 11 GH/hostel, though travel with my own lock. I've upgraded my accommodations over the years, and most ma/pa GH, you need to get by the staff to get to the rooms, or bungalows down a drive. Most staff being long term employees or family. Locks are only good for honest people, if a thief wants in, they'll get in. Easier prey elsewhere with less risk (cctv) of getting caught, with higher pay offs. Even the Ibis s we use, the staff doesn't seem to change much. A good sign. Other places having key card entry into buildings. Better choices = happier travels ... just a thought.

I'm not sure about the reliable part, as I've gotten scripted glasses from 3 different chains, and didn't tell them my script on purpose, to see how accurate they are, they've all been spot on. Lenses made accordingly. I find the frames really jack up the price here. Cost wise, haven't a clue, as been 10 yrs probably since I bought a pair. Here's a thought for some folks, if a minor script, mine are/were 25/50, and last pair of scripted shades I bought, I went 1 level darker, oops, and didn't like them at all, as too dark. Haven't worn for years, as in 7+ years. Put them on a while back, and they did the opposite, make me vision blurry. Apparently, my eyes corrected themselves, from age & not wearing. So try not to wear them all the time, if you can get by without them. Shades I wore all the time, and I had a clear pair for night time driving, which I don't do much here. But while O&A recently, did try my clear glasses, only to find out they're useless now.

Must be one of the horrible Imm/visa changes that we hear would make expats vacate the country ???? What next, no 90 day pulse checks ... the horror