96tehtarp

My country of birth gives me a life expectation of 78 years. - 15 years = 63. I'm ok with that.

Yes, my life expectancy is also 78; I am 70, so I've managed to outlive that estimate by 7 years, and I have lived in Southeast Asia about 30 years. I have several buddies here older than I, well one-less now, the 83 year old died last year from stoke after having dinner and a wine with his 45 year old squeeze. The next oldest, is 80 and he and I just finished a bottle of Gentleman Jack, with a third friend, who is 75 years old. The 80 year old still plays the field, and he subsists on Social Security, so he cannot be spending much money of the ladies; the other has a 40 year old gf, been together 15 years, he too is not wealthy. I still maintain an active lifestyle--I party almost nightly, ride motorcycles everyday, frequently travel all over SEA, and most of my friends are 30-50 year olds.

So, there is life after 60, but you have to actively participate. If you become sedentary, and while away your life at home drinking beer and watching TV, you are not participating.

smotherb congrats on your longevity. I hope you hit 90 kicking and dancing.

I've always taken a different tack on living in Thailand. Although I live here now, I don't plan to retire/die here. I'll retire (die) instead to one of the other counties I've lived in which has infinitely better infrastructure, a relatively corruption free system of government, breathable smog free air and a heath system (which I have already funded amply.)

The most important thing to consider in retirement and death is how to handle the end. I wear a "NO CODE" dog-tag. Most MD's do as well, well at least many of them do.

A living Will is also incredibly important. If one is stricken by a stroke and paralyzed one could spend a decade lying in agony without the ability to scream in 38C temperatures.

I choose my friends wisely, have a living will, and I plan to stop residing in Thailand full time before too long. Don't get me wrong, I love it here. There is simply a lot more out there, and I can afford it.

Game

Saw a news expose on Thai TV About rip tides. One place near Bkk Has a nice beach. The govt puts up signs warning about the dangers and locations of the rips.....the local food sellers tear them down on a regular basis!!!! Like I said this was a Thai tv expose....I watched it with my wife and she could not believe it either.

First I'll say RIP to the unfortunate dead farang, and offer condolences to his family and loved ones.

On riptides: The most beautiful beaches I've ever seen in Thailand have been those near Prachuap Khiri Khan (ประจวบคีรีขันธ). Beautiful beaches and almost no swimmers. This place is renowned for fierce riptides. The scenery can't be beat and there are I've never met a beach vendor when I've been there.

My Thai lady is from there and we visit her family on a regular basis. This is the absolute most beautiful place I ever laid my eyes on.

Agreed. It's stunning.

Again... RIP to the unfortunate Pattaya bloke.

braising

Don't jump today or tonight. That can be done tomorrow.

Otherwise, I know several farangs who have lived out here in my environs who've died of heart attacks because they were physically located more than 45 minutes from any first rate hospital be it government or ekhachon. When faced with a serious heart attack one has a window of about 45 minutes.

Retire near a hospital.

Don't jump.

I had to call an ambulance recently, it took about 20 minutes for them to arrive at my apartment, it took another 10-15 minutes to deliver me into the ICU at the Samitivej. During this time they shocked me once with the defibrillator. A day later I was released and I live to tell the tale.

Stan42 are you only 42?

I'm glad to hear you made it. Keep it up dude.

Don't jump today or tonight. That can be done tomorrow.

Otherwise, I know several farangs who have lived out here in my environs who've died of heart attacks because they were physically located more than 45 minutes from any first rate hospital be it government or ekhachon. When faced with a serious heart attack one has a window of about 45 minutes.

Retire near a hospital.

Don't jump.

Confit

Politics? Is there any politics at the national level in Thailand now? I would say the Junta has pretty much suppressed it.

Let there be no doubt about it, political rallies are banned by martial law and this is ferociously enforced by the junta's army. Look at what happened to the troublemakers eating sandwiches, reading 1984, or making some silly three finger salute. This is banned.

My partners daughter applied for a ground crew job with Thai Airlines not long ago. She was told that she would have to PAY THEM ( thai Airlines)..........I think it was 35000B.

She was told it was for uniform, training costs etc..................I asked her to find out if this money would be refunded after ( lets say ) 12mths service with the company. She got no answer.

If it were a bond to prevent her being trained up and then leaving for another airline I could understand it....................so long as it was refundable after a set time period.

Besides, by this time it was obvious that Thai was in major financial difficulty...........................I told her to forget about any job with Thai Airlines.

Many people here pay for jobs because they are not after the salary, it's often low and irrelevant. Many people are looking for both the legal and illegal benefits the job brings with it. An airline job would entail reduced rate legal travel benefits for family, etc. Other jobs offer illegal benefits. It's very common here and elsewhere in Asia.

Scallops

Canter

Of course Thai people find in more peaceful now post coup, even I do.

Forming a political mob is illegal. That's enforced peace under martial law. Duhhh.

OP, you need to clarify for yourself what exactly is "best solution". It's been discussed on these fora Ad nauseam and Ad infinitum.

What is best? Least expensive, least hassle, etc. I imagine your answer should be; least expensive and legal options are "best". There certainly are "fixers" who can do it all for you however every once in a while a lot of people get messed up by a fixer who has crossed a red line and jeopardized everyone's legitimacy. Their services are based on corruption and that is a slippery slope when farangs are concerned.

1.) Thailand Elite Card. (Fixed Cost and legal)

2.) Work permit through a Thai company with sufficient registered capital and 4 Thai employees with paid taxes and social benefits per WP. With a work permit your are granted yearly extensions.. (Calculate the total cost of this over five years and and compare it to the Thailand Elite scheme.) If you are not really conducting business in Thailand this can be a very expensive option as it involves many people and much paperwork. If you are considering this option, ask yourself "What do I want to do in Thailand?"

3). Retirement visa, age permitting.

4.) Tourist visa. Best option for well to do nomads with wanderlust. Go to Vietnam, Paris, Bali, Rio for five months before returning to Thailand. This is completely legal if not welcomed in Thailand. For me, personally... this is the best of all best options.

5.) Marry a Thai. (This can be by far the most expensive option you may ever choose in your entire life if you select your spouse frivolously.)

6.) Education Visa; for learning and studying in Thailand. This has been publicly and widely abused. I do not recommend it for anyone other that legitimate students who are here to study.

Good luck to the OP in whatever he decides.

There are a number of posts referring to visa services as corrupt; however, it seems to me no real evidence is put forward to support this broad generalisation. Statistically, just about any human activity is bound to produce some bad apples. Just like this forum.

"There are a number of posts referring to visa services as corrupt; however, it seems to me no real evidence is put forward"

Real evidence would be anyone who offers to fix a foreigner's visa situation for a fee obtaining an extension of stay without either the required monthly income or money in the bank. This would be illegal.

In a passed time, before Thai Immigration went online there was also a booming business in passport stamps whereby a foreigner could gain all the necessary entry/exit stamps to a nearby country without leaving the Kingdom and appear to have made a border run, including TM card. This was also illegal and many foreigners were seriously inconvenienced when found out.

OP, you need to clarify for yourself what exactly is "best solution". It's been discussed on these fora Ad nauseam and Ad infinitum.

What is best? Least expensive, least hassle, etc. I imagine your answer should be; least expensive and legal options are "best". There certainly are "fixers" who can do it all for you however every once in a while a lot of people get messed up by a fixer who has crossed a red line and jeopardized everyone's legitimacy. Their services are based on corruption and that is a slippery slope when farangs are concerned.

1.) Thailand Elite Card. (Fixed Cost and legal)

2.) Work permit through a Thai company with sufficient registered capital and 4 Thai employees with paid taxes and social benefits per WP. With a work permit your are granted yearly extensions.. (Calculate the total cost of this over five years and and compare it to the Thailand Elite scheme.) If you are not really conducting business in Thailand this can be a very expensive option as it involves many people and much paperwork. If you are considering this option, ask yourself "What do I want to do in Thailand?"

3). Retirement visa, age permitting.

4.) Tourist visa. Best option for well to do nomads with wanderlust. Go to Vietnam, Paris, Bali, Rio for five months before returning to Thailand. This is completely legal if not welcomed in Thailand. For me, personally... this is the best of all best options.

5.) Marry a Thai. (This can be by far the most expensive option you may ever choose in your entire life if you select your spouse frivolously.)

6.) Education Visa; for learning and studying in Thailand. This has been publicly and widely abused. I do not recommend it for anyone other that legitimate students who are here to study.

Good luck to the OP in whatever he decides.

Herpes

The alleged victims were apparently aged 8 to 11 and male. They were prepubescent. That fits the definition of the mental illness paedophilia, in which an adult experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children, generally aged 11 years or younger. (Both DSM-5 & ICD-10)

Q: Where do paedophiles desire to be?

A: In places where there are many prepubescent children.

We all need to keep a vigilant lookout for these children. I'm glad to read in the OP that these kids did come forward and complain and that there was a system in place capable of accepting their complaints.

This is a very common scam.

Crayon

Dead-Parrot

^^^^ 2 above

That's not true.

I've won multi last 2 and last 3 numbers.

On one occasion I collected 80,00 baht on a ticket at the Government Lottery Office.

All done with only having to present the ticket and my Passport.

I'm glad to hear you won. However, this is the reality for most lottery gamblers.

Ministry

I call a spade a spade, then keep mum about it.

They don't want to know. I'd prefer not to be labeled a terrorist.

Political rallies are currently forbidden in Thailand, under martial law. I believe threatening to hold a political rally is also forbidden.

Any and all political rallies are forbidden now, under martial law.