JimTripper

There are not a lot of options for places with long term visas using just the savings method without documenting income. That’s pretty much why I ended up in Thailand. If income fluctuates, even if I have plenty in savings, it becomes troublesome, or just looks so weird on paper that it may not qualify. The other options I saw (if I did not want to keep moving around every several months) were Cambodia, Mexico, Philippines or moving out into cheaper areas in the USA. Many countries open up if you’re very wealthy with golden visas, but I’m not at that level.

Me too. Will let you know when I hit the lottery.

It’s from living in a poorer country. People bunched together, rushed, scratching for income, no wherewithal or care about spreading disease. (They do the paper masks well, but it’s symbolic, hardly any have real filters. Too expensive probably).

You know this how? Did he tell you his life story! (Pun tasteless & unintended)

I lived in Cambodia for years without a bank account there. Everything is still cash. I just hit the atm with my home country debit card. If it ain’t broke why fix it?

Yeah, it would likely be double taxation. There’s no way the Usa would forfeit taxes because of some tax agreement with Thailand. Trying to do that would likely open yourself up to an audit as well with the associated difficulties of not being in the USA and getting notices, etc. Better to just pay tax and stay under the radar. It looks like Thai banks report to the IRS as well. I don’t even want a Thai account at this point.

Seems like the only way to die in peace is to not have any ????

Anything these days without 2 step verification is very risky. You need a text message sent to your phone to confirm the login.

Sickness spreads fast in Thailand. Just look at the utensils in almost every eatery. They are in those plastic receptacles mouth side up. Everyone is touching the eat side of your spoon when they grab one. They are all bunched in there together.

No, you won’t be getting any of that. That would make you equal. The whole point is you pay more.

May be the reason they want money transferred to a Thai account for the income method on the retirement visas. I used to think it was to help Thai banks, but taxation is a much better reason. New people using the 800k method would be taxed also. I wonder if people with existing deposits will be grandfathered in, or will they do some sort of retroactive taxation.

Another good reason to view a place on your own before renting. I saw my place with an agent, but always return on my own later that night to check things out when there’s no distractions.

I thought it was about controlling wheat production in Ukraine. I think they produce about 10% of the worlds wheat. Global depression may be ahead and people grab what they can before that happens. Just a guess though. ????????‍♂️

Where do you live? In a high turnover place like the base, or in a condo with long term residents?

Are you kidding? It happens in the Usa before someone even passes! A sick relative, or just an elderly parent with Alzheimer’s. Family starts jockeying for assets. Usually someone has control of the bank accounts before they even die, if they are lucky enough to have money left in it. Families distributing assets after someone dies is an ideal situation.

I think it happens everywhere. Not just Thailand. Another strange thing is people rush in when somebody dies like there is an extreme rush. They want to do the funeral the next day, call relatives that very moment, etc.

Why eliminate someone when a same or worse person just steps into their shoes? Usa would need to have a puppet govt in place for that to be worthwhile, or they would need to flame dissent within the country in the hopes that something different is setup. Strangely, the strongest form of overthrow is via the local population, not war. Once the population is divided from within, ideologically, its nearly impossible for the gov’t to not step down. It’s like a cancer that just keeps growing. Alternatively, during an invasion if the entire population is against you it’s almost impossible to win even with superior firepower or troops, without using extreme measures which tend to weaken you in other areas (like international perception/outrage) and not make it worth it. I don’t think Russia will ever really win in Ukraine. If they manage to occupy it just becomes a cat and mouse game like Vietnam. Eventually they pull out as it drains energy and resources.

What I’m talking about when I say “weak” and “edge” has nothing to do with traffic. I’m talking about spiritual stuff. Thailand seems set up to kiss arse and that’s what I mean by no edge. To give one example from today, in Thailand, I adjust a fan at a restaurant on my own, and it comes off as a big deal. The waiter rushes over and wants to do it for me, etc. That’s what I mean by I become weak. It happens all over Thailand, not just in tourist areas. That’s not me. I adjust a fan, I sit on a balcony in the sun, I walk somewhere instead of using a taxi just for the hell of it. I have edges everywhere, and I don’t mind.

I like Hanoi, Vietnam, but the visa is troublesome.

Disagree. I’m on the shady side of the building, heat is not an issue. Still nobody on the balconies day or evening. The pool is also open in the evening, nobody there. If somebody is in the gym it’s not for heavy lifting. Are people afraid of being out in the sun without a/c??? ???? Reminds me of feelings I had when I first got to Pattaya, and still do sometimes. The city made me feel “weak”. Felt like everything was catered, or there was no challenge in anything. It’s one of the reasons I started working out so often.

Just buy a one month gym membership. Not worth scouting out places with a gym for only a months stay.

Not relevant at all. Bangkok and Jomtien are separate worlds.

Take the sky train to thong lo and walk down that street. There’s plenty of places for nightlife on both sides of the street. Don’t need much more advice for two nights stay.