Wrwest

Hmm, have to admit, not pertinent to me. I have quit breathing due to anesthesia one time 1970s (told them I was a “soft touch). Then heart attack during open heart surgery in 2005. Additional heart attack here in Chiang Mai in 2015. “Borrowed time”? … I am just living in the moment and enjoying my live. I did decide to retire in 2011 at age 64 1/2 (academic year calendar played a part).

Sad but not to be unexpected. I am saddened for my Brit Cousins, their government already penalizing them for seeking a working middle class retirement in a lower cost country by not giving them the same pension cost adjustment as those who have stayed in the UK. Fortunately, my SS adjustment goes up along with all other retirees who have paid into the system their entire working life … but I am a Yank (don’t tell the Republicans or they will try to follow the Brit model). Bottom line for both countries (and other western nations) is that they have outpriced their own citizens from retirement in their own countries. When judging the western “capitalist” model versus the Scandinavian more balanced model … well it does give one pause to reflect. Yet another subject for “outsourcing”, send your elderly to lower cost countries. It is working for me her in Thailand.

Not my reading of Thailand in WW II. Thailand did declare war, for example, on Britain. That is why the Brits wanted to treat Thailand as an enemy combatant after the war. The failure to deliver the declaration dealt with the USA. That is why the USA did not want Thailand treated as an enemy combatant after the war. other interests played into this. The "Free Thai" forces worked with the Allies during the war. Thailand played off western powers during the colonial era to maintain its independence. France in Indochina and England in Burma. And now? China versus the USA, trying to maintain balance will not be easy as we see the struggle coming out in authoritarian model versus a more democratic model.

I think the retirement extension requires health insurance if on “O-A” Visa. That is why I switched to marriage while remaining in Thailand (did no have to exit and apply for a new “O” Visa to avoid health insurance requirement).

Wonder if my old USA “Forever” stamps are worth? Ha!

Only with the MAGA crowd. 2020 the electorate rejected. Now add in abortion, Obamacare, Social Security, etc. Go fo it Republicans! Frankly if you can win with Trump as your nominee (which I hope for) then I have no country.

My advice … not to worry if you are in the same boat as me. Not indigent (at least in my modest thinking. Retired to a Thailand in large measure to be able to afford a working middle class retirement unavailable to me in the USA. About half from SS (sadly rather low considering my teaching 41 years), a little less than half from long term retirement (no, not a pension as such, just fully vested funds). My thinking is that there will be: 1. court challenges here in Thailand, 2. court cases by those with far greater financial means than I fighting tooth and nail not to be double taxed, 3. several countries with Tax Treaties making sure those international agreements are honored. Sooo, currently? Jai yen, yen … The sky is not falling …

One the one hand, I am sorely disappointed with the Dutch. Historically, they have documented their toleration of those with differing beliefs. They certainly welcomed my Quaker forbears and the English dissidents who came to the British colonies (I acknowledge their own interests were involved). On the other hand, I understand, as a student of history, the reaction across Europe (and the continuing anti-immigrate reaction in the USA), to the influx of those not holding European nations national outlooks. There is the current issue … of course no one wants to deal with the underlying cause of the immigration influx … it takes far too much effort (thought and action).

Nor the aircraft maker, model and investigative reporting on the maintenance schedule ….

I would think that, if so, the port of call would be Phuket or Samui. Still thinking that Putin & Co. could declare a need to protect Russian speakers in those locations …