1FinickyOne

The world of investment is inherently unstable and maybe more so than ever these days. If you are going to invest in RE here, really research the market - it can be quite difficult to sell anything in some places and prices can actually depreciate as newer buildings developemnts are constantly going up and yours become older and due to climate, things do fall apart more easily than other non-tropical places...

But I treat it as all my investments and try and diversify - the banks are yielding just over 3% for cds and other instruments yield more but you need to be a Thai citizen. I would not bring everything here if you have substantial assets. And do not buy a beer bar.

7/11 and food? - there is no rhyme here -- just does not in any way equate to favorite foods or decent dining..

Just skimming down this, what you can learn is that, if nothing else, everyone is different and different things work for different people and from my observations, at different times as the pos effects of the meds can wear out.

It is a terrible thing and truth is they don't really have a handle on this yet - again, as evidenced above.

My mom suffered terribly for many many years and then a doc put her on zoloft. It took a little while to kick in, and then it almost worked too well. She was so well that she became incredibly extroverted and near out of control, talking to everyone and anyone, and not stopping sometimes. But, it was nice to see her happy. I think that lasted abt 3-4 yrs. - - so, as to the meds, there might be osme trial and error to see what works.

I have had many friends go through this - some try psychiatry and it is dificullt to see if there was some help there, there is no control group on that to measure what the person might have been like w/o it. But, I have never seen it work too well. I do have other friends who are exp. a longer term stability w/meds at the price of erectile dysfunction. So, this is not easy ground... good luck - research and experiment and observe.

[have 3 close friends who commited suicide]

If I ordered it, I pay for it - quite simple really and no need to fuss.

Maybe they liked that someone caught it on camera and that the swordsman may get whats coming to them...

I can only gues that what you are calling unusual "Chinese" features might be hilltribe people "Chao Kao" - many of the different groups originated in China and moved down here to live in the mtns around CR and other parts - Lisu - Hmong - etc... their facial features are quite distinct.

People have different life skills in different parts of the world - When you grow up in a small village, things like reading maps are not that important. And in small town America, I have seen similar deficiencies in giving directions to strangers - - "Well, if you go abt a mile down the road to where Billy Jo Bob's barn used to be before the fire..."

But when you think about it, some of the differences that drive people crazy here can also be connected to what they like about being here - the laid back attitude of the people etc.. some of these things cause minor delays and really, are not very important in the scheme of things. If they are, surely you will find a way around it - hire and train your own McD delivery boy - pay well and he will figure it out. If you are retired here nad not rushing off to work - relax and go with the easy attitude. if everything here were exactly like your home town, you would not have moved in the first place -

I only hope you have confided your financial situation to your wife to be - - the original custom on Sin Sod is that each family appoints a negotiator to represent them. I think you are best off to confess all to your wife, if she does not already know and let her find a solution - you are already going to sell your furniture and everything you have - so, really not much to lose. Let her figure a road to do this - if she wants it done. She may not want to bother if there is going to be nothing much [ but love] coming from your side.

smiling and being polite is part of the culture - it can seem flirtatious when it is not, or it can be real - but usually Thai from a wealthy family do not want to get involved with someone below their education and earning and family wealth. They have to be presentable to bring home and if a farang, doubly and triple presentable... life in the hi-so, you know.

They got me yesterday - it even sent spam links to people not in my contacts - but from my inbox. I changed my password immediately and it seems ok now but still pondering options. Funny in that many people did click on the link which was something abt strawberries, so far no reports of anything harmful?????? Why do people do this? Is it an advertiser getting hits for their clients and they get paid by the hit?

Yes, these "co-ops" are otherwise known as "classified advs" - where you sell by owner... the reason the co-op idea does not hold water is that unlike farmers, it is not an ongoing life choice for the seller - one shot and out hopefully.

But real estate agents, back in USA, well it was pretty rare to get a good experience. When looking, I remeber my wife and I refusing to go in the car with them and listen to the same tired sales pitches [ lies ] - - and as soon as I heard the too tired, "someone else is about to make an offer" - I would reply "then I don't want it. I would hate for those other people to be disappointed" - so, maybe be happy they don't talk too much...

but sure, at 5% they could at least open the door and say "This is the bedroom"

In CM recently, near Thapae Gate, a turn in the sidewalk narrows, enough so that 2 Chinese could not get through with their motorbikes. Rather than back out, they just parked them there, so nobody could walk on the sidewalk. Everyone had to go into the street to get around the corner. They went for lunch.

When I talk about poverty to friends in the Western World - I differentiate it by saying that there are few desperately poor here. The distinction being that shelter of some sort is easily managed and food will be provided at any temple - the monks will share. And it seems to me that many middle or lower middle class people in the West, living paycheck to paycheck, have a deep rooted fear of becoming homeless.

One definition of poverty says - it is measured relative to what your neighbor has -

I have always felt that most poor Thais have a better life and are happier than most middle or lower middle class Westerners..

Since you are quoting in baht, the 17,500 would have nothing to do with exchange rate - - I am not sure how you could fit 17,500 into 2 trollies. We seem to fill 2 for abt 2,500 - but that is up from 1,500 some years ago.

Surely you have seen the cliched images of old people walking around bemoaning the times when everything cost a dime. And that packaged ham is not really good for you anyway.

ha ha!! - I have thought abt hte enormous sound system on several occasions - we do not have a regular problem, but a party can go on all night and the sound can carry... and I agree abt your lack of involvement - but the only answer I could have for you since it is a daily problem, is have your wife do something to intervene... let her get together w/the neighbors. Figure something out - you are correct, it really is not your place.

thanks for playing and we leave you with these lovely parting gifts!

and from kansas city, kansas, our next contestant...

Saw a documentary on taking a group of like a dozen or more average people and training them to run a marathon - and most completed the task though the overweight did not lose more than a couple of pounds, which surprised them - it is calories and eating habits, though exercise is still good for you...

and besides, that pizza hut pizza is awful - when I have the pizza craving, I toast an English muffin, spread some tomato sauce and melt a little cheddar on top -

but sure, losing weight is not easy stuff.

The Thai joke is that they walk behind the man so they can keep him in line with a stick - my mother in USA always walked well behind my father - he was compulsive, she relaxed.

Get with the program - feng shui, Thailand - you're not in Kansas anymore...