JimTripper

Impressed that you are living in a shoe box 🤣

Communication becomes a problem when you are here long term. It's worrying me quite a bit because I'm not picking up the language. I'm not comfortable settling somewhere permanently without being able to talk. That's a big reason why I'm considering Mexico. I know guys who have learned spanish pretty quickly. I also think the Mexicans are more open to helping foreigners learn the language in dat to day interactions. In Thailand it feels more like a secret to be able to learn it. Like a pride thing that's only for Thai's.

Your hand comes in handy, nobody uses it like you do.

Work permit? 🤣

Ok, let me know how your therapy goes.

Privacy is a luxury here. In all of the placed I have lived here there are only a few areas in the house or condo that offer privacy with a view. Meaning, I can see a nice garden view, for example, with the curtains open without people being able to look in. Even in these areas there is usually the potential for a thai to be around outside for some reason (cleaning/maintenance/security, etc) spoiling the privacy. Another part of it is you may have a problem with thai's. It's much more annoying to have them around when you want privacy because they don't value it. Depending on where you are from, in your home country houses may be just as close, but you somehow know your neighbors know where the boundry is so you don't have a mental nag there not knowing if they will be around.

Wearing flip flops saves money on shoes.

Never trust a guy who kills chickens.

That's because your gettin' a bit older, experiencing various ailments & performance issues.

Is it a calendar year starting January 1, or a running year that starts when I enter?

Do many locals even do taxes? Many are too busy selling noodles. I can't see them sitting down and doing a bunch of math calculations to figure tax.

I'm guessing they were not wealthy or they could have checked themselves into a care resort somewhere. The Thai family thing is probably easier with money as well, or so I hear. Old age has a way of draining your finances.

I have known a couple guys who ended up having to leave back to their home countries due to getting old. At least one fell back on existing family, not sure about the other. It's something to consider. There are no social programs here to help you out. If you don't have solid relationships (which a lot of guys here don't) you're going to be on your own as you age. Medical problems, infirmities, etc limit your mobility and you will need to figure out how to survive. These creep up on you quickly and may prevent you re-establishing yourself in another location.

What you are smelling when it rains is usually sewer, not garbage. There seem to be a lot more rats around when it's wet as well. They seem to feel safer coming out when it's raining.

Well, you can do anything until you are caught. Ignoring risks is not a good life choice in my opinion.

They seem to have a lot of strange sexual festishes in Japan. Women dressed up in odd customes and such. A lot of situational type stuff like bathrooms, office roleplay, etc.

The Op may not want to wait for that to happen and may want to know all the risks involved. Who knows why they need to leave the country and a possible stay in the IDC may not be worth the risk of a short overstay.

Theoretically, can they see an overstay and show up at the registered address on the TM30? Seems possible. All it would take is for the computer to flag people living in the area.

I wonder if the alcohol hours and early closures have anything to do with it? Many people won't show up if they need to keep track of hours and closing times. It becomes a chore to plan when to show up and leave. Watching the clock basically.

I'm not sure how you can't find new girls in Bangkok? If you mean at the same bar, ok. Millions of people around though, while Pattaya is very limited. I was referring to customers in the red light areas, not girls. There still seem to be many girls. I just got out of Pattaya after a year! In Pattaya, I was bored out of my mind. Same few bars (all pretty much the same) and foul attitudes all around. I just stayed in central though and walked. No driving around to those "hidden gems" and great areas elsewhere everyone seems to know about.

Japanese men can get real angry when they snap. Almost like a kamikazee state. They act real calm usually, but it reverts. I think there are many suicides in japan where guys snap or go into these extreme depression episodes.

It's a rogue airline employee. Just as concerning are simpleton clerks checking visas at the airline desk. They don't know the rules and are not trained in immigration matters.

They probably want to goto those new trendy clubs like in Thonglor or whatever, or the emisphere (whatever that is). I feel like I'm too old for those.

It feels like Bangkok redlight areas like Patpong, Cowboy and Nana are devoid of customers. Especially Patpong. The night market was dead and hardly anybody there tonight. Is it just me? I think if I went into a go-go I would be the only one there. I remember the Patpong area crowded with people when I first came to Thailand, standing room only. What happened? Where is everybody? I don't think it's a low season thing, feels more like it's going out of style. There was some activity and traffic on the Japanese street, but the old school street was dead.