losgrad

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Back home and actually that's where I'm headed next month after 5 years in Thailand.

One of the things long-term expatriation here teaches you is that it isn't so bad in the West, you get a lot more perspective on things.

Spent 7 years living in Thailand, after 5 years made plans to depart. Thought I would live the rest of my life in Thailand. Bought a house in California and 2 years later left......do not miss it at all. OK...I miss the food. I breathe fresh air here, no pollution, no burning of garbage, plastics, trash, clean environment, cost of living is about 20% higher-big deal.

After retiring and living here in Thailand for 5 years I realize there's no single place that will satisfy 90%, especially since my needs and wants continue to change as I get older. During the next 5 years I plan on spending more time in my home country and possibly long 'holidays' in Thailand and other destinations. When i retired, I did not 'sell the farm' or put all my eggs in one basket so it as easy and comfortable for me to live back home as it in my Thai condo. I will again look at S. Vietnam, Baja and other parts of my country as well as other parts of Thailand; but now with the understanding it's only temporary as long as I have enough eggs to go around.

Enjoy the learning process and the journey.

Just to share my eye surgery experience, but sorry not specifically on SuperSight.

More than 20 years ago, I had lasik surgery on 'one' eye only as I am 'near-sighted.' I wanted mono vision so I could take my contact lens out and have excellent very close vision as my friends (all near-sighted) who had lasik on both eyes or another friend years earlier who had 'radial kerototomy' all have to wear reading glasses. They are happy with their surgery results for medium and far vision and never had to wear contact lens for driving or playing sports, but I wear one lens for the non-operated eye. However, my contact lens supply lasts twice as long since I only use in one eye .

Anyway, I agree with a few posters about getting "elective" surgery on one eye only.

As I approach super senior status, I'll keep up with the technological advancements for required cataract or elective surgeries to improve my vision. Thanks for the excellent thread of information specifically for SuperSight and related topics.

P.S. I had the 'halo' effect with contact lens and also have it on the lasik operated eye. I just learned to live with it especially when viewing oncoming vehicle headlights or the moon and stars at night .

P.S.S. I remember in 1980 when Stanford University Hospital was doing the lens replacements while others were perfecting the laser operations. The lens replacement was considered as one could change the lens as one's vision changed - a novel idea.

My apologies for going tangent to the OP's topic....

I am wondering how your girlfriend and her mother manage to survive before you met her?

What does the Thai farther of child ber ning contribute...??? Haha

Dump her before more money is asked. She is taking you for a ride. Never give more than she can earn.

You have a big problem on your hands. Taking her to your home country may just make it bigger. Take control. As the provider, you determine how money is spent. You determine how much you can afford for your child and how much for her (she can then give to her family out of her money, not yours).

It sounds like the end is near one way or another - either you go broke or her family convinces her to find a richer provider, then you negotiate to essentially "buy" your child away from these people. Does she know how much you have?

I think also her sister is encouraging her, so she has told me and I think thats partly because if she has more cash then maybe there is less pressure on the sister to provide money(for mother). Plus also I think the sister sees her has a source of income too.

It appears the mother, her sisters and brother all expect her to be the one who supports the family.

P.S. In answer to your OP, 5-10%. Plus, did you actually live with her for 5 years or did you just visit her on your holidays and talk on skype during those better part of 5 years.

In my limited experience, different amphurs seem to process the pre-nup differently: some may not accept, some as attachments and some as a core part of the documents with witnesses signing it in, etc... I visited multiple amphurs to determine their processes before registering. Those with more experience with Western/Thai marriages seem to be more accepting of pre-nuptial agreements.

As mentioned above by "SantiSuk" and according to my legal counsels, the proper signing before the registration seems to be the important legal documentation and the amphurs processes are not as important. I'd recommend consulting more than one legal counsel to ensure you are properly advised - both in Thailand and in your home country, wherever your assets lie.

Since you've done the work to date, you understand the preparations now will make any work later easier, but to me most importantly clarifying each parties understanding the contractal terms of the relationship. Love is a grand reason to get married, but it's interpreted so differently even within a single culture.

If David48's quotes are correct, then I don't think educating her on the financials of living in the West vs. SEA is the issue.  If she can't manage on 15k baht a month which is more than what most full-time factory workers make, then she has been given some high expectations of being married and possibly even higher expectations of what a Western country Visa would open to her. 

 

Be very careful.  By the way, does she also work to supplement her 15k baht monthly allowance?   Did you do a pre-nuptial contract?

 

Enjoy the learning curve.

 

 

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next step talk to a lawyer, get a prenup, make sure when you get divorced your covered, because you will get divorced and then she will take everything

 

A minimum of two lawyers are required, but I'd recommend at least one other.  One for you and one or two for her who speaks and writes in her 'native' language.  You must also give her sufficient time to review and get professionally advised before signing (notarized).  The pre-nup process is good for both of you to understand and document what each of you have before getting married and to clarify expectations (maybe she thinks you have millions, but you actually just spend and show like you do :). 

 

It's better to argue and discuss details before than afterwards.  

 

Enjoy. 

Before boarding, your airline may ask you to sign a waiver which says the airline is not responsible if you are denied entry into your destination country.  With this, they'll allow you to board and Thailand immigration will likely just stamp you (30 day exemption) leaving it up to you to get the proper visas before your 30 days are up.

 

 

 

 

I didn't think we had a choice unless we take our own life, otherwise I believe, "Shit Happens," and then we're on our way out. That's what prompted me to early retirement as shit started happening to too many of my friends and co-workers......

Enjoy what you have left.

I think there is a large gap between being fully independent and dependent on others. A little help from trusted friends, some checks and balances amongst professionals and some monitoring by close family. You move the levels accordingly for different services and needs. Both of my parents died just short of 90, but each had very different needs 5 years before their deaths.

Physically, some of us may not need any help until palliative care is required, but others may have needed assistance getting off the plane. Mentally, some of us may readily forget important appointments and deadlines, so trusted help will forever be essential whereas some will always be as sharp and retentive as any Uni student. Social and emotional needs run the full gamut so we seek and adjust accordingly.

"Know yourself" was important when we started our careers and becomes equally important in our retirement years. Plan and prepare for yourself accordingly or as some seem to prefer to manage themselves by chaos and crises.

been told we can go either eu / non eu side and not to split the family

Yes, In all immigration checkpoints, do not split the family.

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^{This situation exists in the rest of the world for properly qualified graduates , why should it not apply in Thailand - this is a world wide issue.}

Estimated 30% of US college grads are unemployed...many are working in the fast-food industry...with average tuition of $29,000 owed to the gov't for student loans...

Sorry, to not join the Thai bashing mantra, but without commenting on the comparison of the educational systems, the employability of college graduates in the USA is not much better than what this article projects for Thai graduates. I know of many USA college graduates who after being unemployed or underemployed choose to attend graduate school to possibly open up other opportunities or give them another 2 years to wait for the economy to turnaround. Many of my friends kids graduate from top Universities, but are still not employable as although smart, have few saleable skills.

and yes, a student entering a USA University is asked to declare a major, but they also have the option of selecting, "undeclared" or general education.

Just to discuss all options:

If I am not mistaken, if you are married to a Thai and have an extension of stay based on marriage; I think you are allowed to work in Thailand.

Could another verify or dispute my understanding? Thanks.

Sleep more, invest more, spend less, risky behaviors minimized, etc...plan for an exceptionally long life vs. currently thinking my lifetime is much more limited and trying to do everything now .

you're living in denial if you think there's no impact I'm just wondering how noticeable it's been. Like are the Russians and Chinese still coming?

After one of my annual holidays abroad, two days ago I arrived at BKK airport mid-morning with -0- queue at immigration. Maybe the Thai immigration process faster than in years past or not....The taxi driver told us Chinese tourism is almost gone. I know this is about as reliable as the BG network so take it for whatever it is worth .

I can love it for a few months each year. Im retired with no dependents and a nice pension, but Im bored after a while there. Then i go back to my home country, play golf and enjoy friends and creature comforts. Then get bored and back to LOS for a different type entertainment

Since retiring, I've lived here for 5 years with regular visits to my home country to see my mature children and ex-wife, but now developing my next 5 year plan which may be similar to "danmarn's" schedule. I'd recommend my friends keep their options open with a backup plan.

Why must one disconnect from their past?

In my 20's upon completing my education, getting married and starting a new career, I moved my family to another area hundreds of miles from my hometown. In the new area, the majority of the population spoke English as their 2nd language. After 25+ years, my three children completed their education and began developing their careers with each in different time zones. Seven years ago my ex- and i decided on separate retirement plans and five years ago, i moved to Thailand where i married and have been developing the next phase of my life.

During all these years and until I am physically incapable, I shall continue to keep in contact and annually or more frequently visit family, childhood, school and former work friends (including my ex- and her family). Why terminate just from geography?

Financially, as long as i am able, i shall keep diversified with assets in my hometown, with my children and in Thailand.

There are legal restrictions over your "ownership" of property in all classes of property in all jurisdictions.

No one has unlimited "rights" to do what they like anywhere on the planet.

By purchasing or renting a condo you have already agreed to follow their rules.

The fact that such rules may or may not be enforced strictly according to the law may sometimes work in your favor, but usually that works against the foreigner.

You need to find a condo that accepts pets, or live in a house.

I think this response has the answers. I also live and own my condo in Thailand and want a dog, but I need to find either a house, townhouse or condo complex that permits them. In Hawaii, my daughter specifically bought her condo unit within a complex that permitted dogs and of course 50% or more of her neighbors have dogs - sometimes good/bad .

If anyone locates a condo complex that permits them, please share. Yes, the confines of even a large condo is insufficient for a dog, but regular walks/runs outside a few times a day can be adequate....hmmm, that's where having your dog on a leash encountering the local Soi dogs may result in some problems and has made me rethink again .

Just another thing for you to check to determine the cause of your infections.

In addition to personal hygiene, flu shots, vitamin supplements or dietary; check the air quality in your environment - from the street pollution to the general city air, but especially in your room. Often an AC unit not regularly cleaned can perpetuate infections or accumulate minute particle matter.

Our bodies have different sensitivities so for some people, they can smoke cigarettes, breathe in street vehicle pollution, toxic factory smoke, etc... and not even cough; but may get lung cancer years later. For some of us, we begin coughing as soon as someone smokes in the same room/bar/restaurant, walking down a street with busy vehicular traffic, or breathing the air recirculated from a dirty AC unit.

I hope you locate the cause of yours.

Original Post,

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"Without fail, every time I go to Thailand my friends/family (harder to simply ignore) like to say "Thailand is just Escapism." I say "I don't know" and head off to LOS for 6 months. lol. Posting on TV could be escapism. sleeping too much, drinking too much, walking for hours, whatever....work can be escapism. exercise, definitely. i do that a lot. watching movies, with your friends. haha.

I'm sure many here have heard that we go to Thailand to escape. Sure, most of us do, but the word should not have a negative connotation.

The best part of getting older is not caring what 99% of people think. But it is funny when a friend has 3 kids, marriage on the rocks, hates his job, and tries to tell me why I shouldn't go to Thailand. I need to pick better friends. "

(sorry, I couldn't find the quote button on the OP)

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Well, going on any "holiday" or "vacation" is escapism as attending an amusement park, visiting a tropical island, hiking a national park, etc.. is not most people's "reality."

I guess it depends on 'how' people say it to you whether it's criticism or envy.

Yes, for years I had three minor kids, a smooth marriage and loved my job; but eventually the kids grew, the ex- had different retirement plans and I hated my new CIO so early retirement in Thailand was where I went for my new reality.

"What if I told you insane was working fifty hours a week in some office for fifty years at the end of which they tell you to piss off; ending up in some retirement village hoping to die before suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time? Wouldn't you consider that to be insane?" Garland Greene (Steve Buscemi) Con-Air

Why I came to Thailand when I was 27. I'll probably have no money when I'm 70 years old as so many older friends keep telling me. On the whole, most of them don't make it much past 70 with many perishing in their 50s, especally the ones who have lived here for 20 plus years and don't look after their health.
3 of my friends have died in the last month and not one was over 60. Between them they had lived here for over 60 years.
My brother keeps asking how I stay so young looking and how he had a mini stroke last year aged 48. Then he accuses me of living the Thai way and not working enough as he is working 16 hours every day. Maybe he is worried about stress causing him to die early and me getting all his hard-earned cash!


I have dedicated nearly all my life to escapism that now there is very little left to escape from.

Before they retired, 3 of my friends died over a 5 year period, I had multiple mini-strokes and finally began benefiting from working 12+ hour days for 30+ years; which allowed me the chance to retire. I was luckier, my health now much better and living in Thailand was once my fantasy has 5 years now been my new reality. My new fantasy is visiting the USA and expecting it to be better than when I left.

Fantasy or Reality - choose your way to happiness.

Some local Pattaya taxi companies are now asking 4-5,000 baht to Korat or nearby village - door to door. This assumes only two people with normal luggage using a sedan and not requiring a larger mini-van.

My 80 sq meter condo has two AC units (one old, one really old), two refrigerators (one 7 and one 9 cu ft), one washing machine, two large screen TVs, two small screen TVs, two laptops, four celing fans and 4 floor fans, etc..

We use the AC units 0-8 hours a day, 1-2 ceiling and two floor fans are on most of the time, the TVs are on most of the time (alternate between the small kitchen table one to one of the large screens) and washing machine is used regularly. Our electric bill is 1300-2400 baht a month (gov rate) with variance from AC usage depending on the time of year (currently cool). We are on the eastern side of the condo complex so we do not get the hot afternoon sun whereas condo units half the size of ours with the western exposure seem to have higher electric bills and without washing machines or large screen TVs.

Our water bill is about 220 baht a month using the washing machine for two people and we each shower a minimum of 2-3 times a day (gym, nights out, etc...).

We have two internet service providers - 3BB and Sophon cable internet - for about 630 (590 plus tax) and 750 baht a month each, respectively. One service is very consistent and dependable and the other is very fast, but after multiple downloads will hit my maximum allowed before I have to reset.

TV Cable service (Sophon) is included in our condo common fees which total 1000 baht a month for the two units.

We don't have a western style electic kitchen, but my Thai wife uses hot plates, hot water makers, microwave, toaster, juicer and an electric wok.

Summary:

Electric: 1300-2400 baht

Water: 220 baht

ISP: 1380 baht

Condo Fees: 1000

Sub-total: 3,900-5,000 baht a month

Queensland Gold coast beaches are cleaned every morning early before the tourist wake, but the down side is the enormous council rates we paid, every year more expensive that the last.

we have also been trained to use rubbish bins if none available we take our rubbish home, Thais seem to take no pride in their environment, we should teach them it is losing face if you rubbish your area that might work

Very early every morning on Patraya Beach I see older Thai ladies sweeping and picking up the garbage, empty beer bottles, etc. left by those too lazy to find a trash bin or carry with them. Whether the garbage is left by Thais or Farangs, I do not know, but perhaps there aren't enough trash bins for everyone's convenience. After some very large night celebrations, I am often surprised how clean these ladies make the streets and walkways very early in the morning before the public arises to start their day and evening of rubbish disbursements.

That which washes ashore is also picked up during their morning shift, but if it comes aground during the day/evening, it will be there for your viewing disgust to bash the insolent who either left it on the beach or let it be carried through the waterways.

In my tourist and beach hometown in the USA, we had regular monthly beach cleanups, but with the heavy fines for those leaving garbage, the beaches looked clean most of the time. FYI, we also had many days and weeks where we could not enter the ocean water due to high bacterial levels.

I know complaining may be therapeutic and perhaps I haven't lived here long enough (4-5 years), so maybe I'll learn.

Enjoy.

In the OP, i would replace the concept of 'racism' with 'prejudice.' I believe we are born prejudiced from our environment (mother's womb onward) and then it develops from there as we look in the mirror and experience people around us - experiences irregardless of formal education, but literally on 'second thoughts' one can rationalize before sharing our perspective.

One's nationality (Thai, Aussie, Canadian, USA, English, Chinese, etc..) is but one characteristic in describing a person. Oftentimes, this 'nationality' characteristic gets more attention, but sometimes it's just lazy reporting rather than a conscious attack and sometimes not

Whichever ISP you use, do the speed test to make sure it meets the ip phone minimum requirements. You may have the router tweaked to ensure you are getting the max as advertised by the ISP.

I use a NetTalk Duo (NTD) which is similar to the MJ product on a standard 3BB 6 mb download connection. Your upload speed is usually the more important factor. I use a wired connection from my router to the NTD and then a wireless phone. It works great most of the time, but sometimes there is a significant delay and I will ask to call back immediately which usually resolves the problem.

I have also found it better to close my other WiFi devices while using the ip phone as I have multiple laptops, an iPad and wife has her phone and tab devices using the WiFi connections too.

Otherwise, I am very happy with this ip phone vs. using Skype on my cellphone or laptops. The ip phone uses a regular wireless phone, rings like a regular phone and takes messages using the wireless phone hardware. Maybe I am just too old school, but this is comfortable for me and much better sound than using the cellphone service or Skype on either the cellphone or laptop.

The annual fee of $20 provides 3000 minutes a month (MJ is different) to anywhere in the USA. I have kids and ex-wife in three time zones so it's been terrific to where I will cancel my USA cellphone when the contract expires.

A few years ago in the West, I saw ads and articles for anal whitening....

Probably an "ass-et" for strippers