QuantumQuandry

Nah, I am just in the wrong part of town.

I get physically attacked every time I go down Soi 6.

Cool, sounds like it's not for you. I enjoy taking vacations to Thailand when it's nearby, though. Maybe some other people, do, too ????

Yes, it does cost more to bounce between two places. You are totally right. It's an option, though. Everyone's situations is different. I am budget-conscious so I would probably have a primary place in the Philippines and then just a small crash-pad in Thailand if any of this comes to pass. Which I hope it won't, of course. As for the food sucking, it depends on what you like. They have more American chain restaurants (Chili's, TGIF, etc.) there, for example. But if you like Thai food, of course, Thailand might have an edge there ????

Morena Baccarin for me! Mmmmmm...

There are countries other than Thailand and your home country. I would probably choose Philippines but I would also investigate nearby SEA countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. Can even come back and visit Thailand frequently on a 2 hour plane trip and just stay under the tax residency number of days.

...and still come out looking like someone scribbled it on a napkin, at the bar, 8 pints in.

Everyone will probably name ones I like but if I have to go a little less known, I would say: 12 Monkeys. The TV show, not the movie! One of the few shows that got increasingly better with each season. I would skip season 1. RottenTomatoes ratings were Season 1/2/3/4: 60%/92%/100%/100%. First season was based on the mediocre movie but where they went after that was way more interesting. The Magicians. At first, I thought it was some Vampire Diaries tween show but it turned out way better than I thought. Glad I gave it a second chance. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Always loved dark humor but TV wasn't really ready for it until Sunny.

Rick! Why aren't you out, searching for Toilet Paper?! ????

You must be fun at parties.

Pattaya. Time is always in short supply, here ????

You asked me my opinion, I gave it. I gave my reason for it. You questioned it, without providing a reason to question it. Now you are telling me to think about it, as if I hadn't, and not be flippant. I added some humor but it still stands that I gave you a serious answer with my reason for it. And you gave me nothing of value in return. I was happy to entertain a serious topic but you don't seem to be. You must be a friend of Bob's. So...good luck with that.

Is this a trick question or something? I thought I was pretty clear. Only downside is my wife would get in trouble for being a pedo.

It's a simple answer for me, 17. Time is the one thing I can't buy more of.

I can answer the ongoing ticket question. Note that this is different than the question of being denied entry at the arrival airport, this is being denied at departure point. When it happened to me, they just made me buy a throwaway ticket. They even searched and found me the cheapest ticket available (like $50 or so). I paid with credit card and was on my way. For the 'being denied entry' thing, I have no experience with this. I always assumed they just don't let you in and you buy a ticket out and have to wait there. Or you end up like that guy in the movie "The Terminal" lol. I mean, they never *have* to let you in. So it's not like people know, 100%, they will get in. So I am shocked they would detain you, rather than just deny entry. But seems most people are saying you get detained so I believe them...just surprised. Just to clarify, that's for any denial, right? Not just some criminal-related denial? Like if they decide you had too many ED visas or a page in your passport was eroded or those guys who have done too many tourist visas in one year? They send you back to point of departure? Edit: I found this on a Thailand legal site: https://www.legal.co.th/resources/visa-immigration-law/thailand-immigration-law/what-happens-if-i-am-denied-admission-thailand/ tldr; is they let you make arrangements to leave but you get a red flag on your passport that means you may not be able to go where you want (people often go to Cambodia or Malaysia if it's just too many tourist visas). You could be detained but that's a worst-case scenario. And that red flag may eventually lead to you returning to your country where the red flag is then reset and you are ok.

I will go one further and say that if anyone, left OR right, thinks that a president...ANY president...went to one of his events and blatantly claimed himself a pedophile and that it wasn't somehow twisted out of context by media that wants to make a buck off of your political bias...you need to stop reading social media, you need to stop watching political news and either spend some time talking to reasonable moderates or take a break from politics for a while. I don't care if you hate Biden. I don't care if you hate Trump. But whatever your views, stop feeding the broken clickbait media empire that has corrupted politics.

Yes, very true. I don't partake, myself, so that's a great example of how it's not a question of which place is better but which fits you better.

Hey, that's a great question! Unfortunately, I haven't lived in enough places to provide a very comprehensive answer. But I am happy to share the little I know or have heard. I lived primarily in Angeles City. It's a small/medium sized area that is all about the girly bars. Think Pattaya without the beach and like a third the size. What I like about it is that it's very foreigner friendly, with many western restaurants and groceries, as well as an airport (that recently resumed flying straight to BKK). Personally, I would go back there because I like the westernized aspects and I don't mind the red light district atmosphere. There are some nicer areas of Angeles City, like Pulu Amsic, but I personally like to be near the craziness because I love to people watch. If you want to go a bit farther out, there is San Fernando which is quite nice but not quite as westernized. They do have an S&R, though (as does Angeles), which is a re-branded CostCo and has imported groceries at reasonable prices. There is also Subic Bay, close to Angeles. This used to be kind of what Ban Chang is to Pattaya, except AC doesn't have a beach and Subic does. But it's smaller, slower paced and used to be cheaper. Not sure if it still is cheaper or not. I am not a beach guy and Subic is too small for me, personally, but everyone has different priorities/preferences. I have known a lot of people (more the young, professional types) who lived in Makati/BGC, which are like relatively rich, western bubbles in Manila. I wouldn't live in the rest of Manila as the traffic and pollution are pretty bad. But if you stay within the Makati/BGC bubble, things are quite upscale there. It would be significantly more expensive than the rest of the Philippines, though. Another attractive option might be Cebu or the suburbs of Cebu. It's another large city and while it has a few bars, it's not built around them, the way Angeles is (well, the foreigner parts of Angeles, anyway). And it has suburbs where you can pick your own price and comfort level, as far as city living goes. There are also relatively developed provinces, or areas within provinces, that are cheaper without being poverty zones. I am not as familiar with these but places like Cagayan De Oro, Tagaytay or Pangasinan, for example. For me, and just knowing what I like (medium/large cities with expat restos/groceries), I would visit Cebu if I didn't want to live in Angeles, anymore, and see how it fit me. After that, maybe San Fernando.

I am sure it can be done most places for 60k, depending on his lifestyle. That said, having been an expat in the Philippines for a long time, I would possibly consider that a better option, at that income level. I spent about 70%, there, compared to what I do in Pattaya, and you can literally stay there for 3 years with no visa at all, leave for a day and come back for another 3, ad infinitum. It does depend on your lifestyle, though. If you love Thai food and hate Filipino food (not uncommon), obviously that wouldn't work for you. But it's extra attractive for Americans as the culture (and food imports) are kind of geared towards them, where Pattaya, at least, is much more brit-centric. Don't get me wrong, I love Thailand, too. I am living in Thailand now, with my Filipina girl. But if I was concerned about my income (or they change the visa rules too much), I wouldn't hesitate to move back to the Philippines.

All good, brother. We are on the same page, now.

Just a note...they don't need to get my transfer info from the banks, they could also get it from immigration. I have to bring my bank info to immigration every year in order to have a retirement visa.

And what would happen to money that is earned in another country but is tax exempt due to the laws of that country? In America, Government Bonds and Disability compensation, for example. What about Roth IRAs, which are taxed on the original amount but not on the gains? Somehow the OP makes me more concerned, not less lol

Absent reasoning for your aggressive comment, I think that honor belongs to you, sir!

I am no expert on Thai immigration but I don't think any foreign country in the world has to let you in their country, no matter what Visa you have, even if it was legit.

What you will think on your deathbed is an even smaller and more insignificant amount of time. Perhaps not more than an instant in some cases. I would suggest that the only reason to give consideration to what you will think on your deathbed is if it gives you meaning to do so, right now, in the here and now. The meaning that you attach to your memories of them is personal. In my case, I didn't know them. For others, they may have great meaning. But that meaning is in your brain. It is not objective. It is not eternal. It is not even unchanging. Rather than imagine that it is something that exists beyond myself, I find it more comfortable to think of it as a desire for meaning, much like any other emotional desire. If it's been neglected too long, it becomes more pressing. Take care of it when you need to. Accept that it will come again and have a plan for that.