You are Going to Die – Are You Ready

[Jip99]

1 minute ago, orientalist said:

 

Unfortunately, most of my assets are in Thailand as I worked here for decades. I did start moving funds back to the UK a few years ago (when interest was 6%) but then the sub-prime financial crisis wiped about 40% off their value, so I learned a hard lesson. Brexit accounted for another 10%.

 

At the time I made the will, I had beneficiaries in the UK and in Thailand. My lawyer did not mention any problems paying out to overseas beneficiaries, but I have wondered about that, if only from the practical side of getting ANY money out of Thailand. Do you know of any cases where a foreign beneficiary couldn't get an inheritance out? Actually, I can well believe this might be the case and have recently been exploring other ways to handle things.

 

 

 

I have no experience of any estate funds being remitted out of Thailand - every situation that I have seen has involved expats who have created wealth in their home countries and retired here..

 

There should be no legal issues in remitting estate funds out of Thailand once Probate has been obtained - it is the practical process that may be of concern to me.

 

The general advice to have a Will for Thailand and a Will for elsewhere is sound. Having the assets relating to those Wills in those respective countries is equally sound advice. If you can't achieve that, and the assets warrant it, having the right Thai lawyer (and executor) is essential.

 

It comes down to who do you want to trust your money to...

 

For my UK Will the executor is my ex-wife...............I would trust her more than any Thai lawyer. She is also the arbiter of whether my Thai partner receives a payment from the UK - my death has to be from natural causes...

[Once Bitten]

Normally when I get on a local  songthaew and sit down if an older person gets on board and there's no free seats left I would stand up and offer my seat to them . 

The moment when it hit home the moment when I realized that I was getting   '' old ''   was the time when I had just got onto a songthaew and all the seats were occupied so I stood there holding on to the hand rail when a young woman got up from her seat and offered it to me . This had never happened before  .

 

Any one else remember when they first realized that they were now getting  '' Old ''   .

[Tarteso]

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

No humour in dementia either.

I Apologize, Ofcourse! any disease can be interpreted with humor, but, try to take my words as a Sarcasm in response to anterior post. ?

[madusa]

5 hours ago, seancbk said:

I reckon in 30 years (hopefully less) it will be possible to transition from existing in a meat sack to existing in a computer and once we achieve that then those of us that can afford it will become effectively immortal.

As for dying before then so long as it isn't slow or painful, I don't care.  If I didn't wake up one morning what would I know about it?  Nothing is what.

 

If we could do what you just said then we are living in simulation now. We are in fact in a huge computer game. So the next step is for the players to take over the games. A game within a game, it goes on forever....and ever.....

[Tarteso]

1 hour ago, watcharacters said:

 

 

I was  mildly  chiding the reference to a bullet.  I found it absent of humor.

 

 

I'm very familiar with the ravishes of  dementia

Apologize again. 

[bannork]

17 hours ago, giddyup said:

No humour in dementia either.

I'm sorry, I can't remember what your point was.

[bannork]

All you posters worrying about croaking and if your better halves will survive your demise, have you ever thought she might go first? Have you made any plans for that scenario?

[seancbk]

6 hours ago, bannork said:

You won't remember where the gun is if you have dementia.

I

 

 

My father died of dementia I guess about 2 years ago (I'd need to check the dates to be sure exactly when ) and my mother is alive but is in late stage dementia.

 

Mum's private live-in care costs 1000 GBP per week (++) which is a big saving as my Sister and I were able to let the chauffeurs go and sell the cars, we let the groundskeeper go and now rent out the house Mum and Dad provided him and his family.  The live-in care prepares Mum's meals so she no longer needs her chef of the kitchen staff (no more big dinner parties).

 

 

[seancbk]

6 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

I meant to give the sun rising tomorrow as an example of faith operating in our lives.  Anyone could quite easily think of many more examples.  Faith is a function of this world as surely as fact is.  Science has no doubt given faith an undeserved bum rap.  That said, I did not mean, though, to get into a discussion of, say, faith versus fact, or an in depth discussion of what faith is.

 

My original statements were offered merely with the intention of nudging the OP into perhaps considering the idea of reincarnation a bit further.  Any true understanding of death would automatically dissolve any fear of it.  Ultimately, though, it is up to the individual as to whether that is something they would be interested in exploring or not.

 

Faith is nonsense, clung to be people too weak to accept that they are insignificant beyond the life they've made for themselves.  

I could have faith I'll win the lottery but no amount of believing that is going to affect the odds or make it happen.   But at least the lottery is real and I *might* win it.....   gods are a complete fiction made up by ignorant cavemen before we evolved into intelligent beings.

 

[seancbk]

2 hours ago, bannork said:

All you posters worrying about croaking and if your better halves will survive your demise, have you ever thought she might go first? Have you made any plans for that scenario?

 

Yes find a new young one.

[seancbk]

2 hours ago, madusa said:

If we could do what you just said then we are living in simulation now. We are in fact in a huge computer game. So the next step is for the players to take over the games. A game within a game, it goes on forever....and ever.....

 

I am very well versed in the theory that we are already in a simulation.   But why does my assumption about future technology indicate we are already in a simulation?   As far as I see it shows the opposite.   

[giddyup]

7 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

.  Any true understanding of death would automatically dissolve any fear of it.  

You are talking mumbo jumbo rubbish. The only ones who have a true understanding of death and what may or may not follow are the dead, and they aren't talking.

Edited November 20, 2017 by giddyup

[seancbk]

4 hours ago, bazza73 said:

7 hours ago, seancbk said:

I reckon in 30 years (hopefully less) it will be possible to transition from existing in a meat sack to existing in a computer and once we achieve that then those of us that can afford it will become effectively immortal.


 

A VERY interesting proposition. And who is to say it can't happen? I think Arthur C. Clarke was postulating that possibility in several of his novels.

 

Most people doing research into the human brain would agree that it has to be a biological Quantum Computer to do what it does.

Intel released a 17 Qubit chip in October of this year.  

It is generally considered that a quantum computer deploying 49 qubits—a unit of quantum information—will be able to match the computing power of today's most powerful supercomputers.

So we are not far from developing quantum computers that could be more powerful than ALL computers in existence.

 

 

[seancbk]

3 hours ago, Once Bitten said:

Normally when I get on a local  songthaew and sit down if an older person gets on board and there's no free seats left I would stand up and offer my seat to them . 

The moment when it hit home the moment when I realized that I was getting   '' old ''   was the time when I had just got onto a songthaew and all the seats were occupied so I stood there holding on to the hand rail when a young woman got up from her seat and offered it to me . This had never happened before  .

 

Any one else remember when they first realized that they were now getting  '' Old ''   .

 

Do you look old?  

[Jaggg88]

12 hours ago, Once Bitten said:

I like the sound of floating up up and away 

 

12 hours ago, Once Bitten said:

Helium gas will get you where you want to go, along with a little handiwork, and painless and quick too by all accounts.

And you leave using a cartoon voice....what's not to like 

[Tippaporn]

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

You are talking mumbo jumbo rubbish. The only ones who have a true understanding of death and what may or may not follow are the dead, and they aren't talking.

The belief that certain knowledge is withheld from us is one that is shared by more than not.  Certain western religions are fond of saying, "It is for God to know."  What is truly mumbo jumbo rubbish is the belief that we are incapable of attaining the knowledge with which to understand our world and who we truly are.

 

While the focus of this thread is death and what experience, if any, may await us beyond that moment I would ask,  "What of birth and our existence before our emergence into this world?"  For if we are simply returning to from whence we came then we would most certainly have access to the knowledge of other realms of existence.  Unless, of course, there is a belief in guardians at that gate of knowledge or the existence of other impediments that serve to deny us any knowledge other that what we can perceive with our five senses.

 

I would like to say, too, that I am more than well aware that people employ a healthy skepticism when confronted with information that is, I don't like the term much but, outside the norm.  No one enjoys being led astray or taken as a fool.  Skepticism is no doubt good but as with anything else it can be taken to an unhealthy extreme.  It is taken to an extreme when it begins to serve as a gatekeeper to the mere consideration, let alone exploration, of ideas with which one may be rather unfamiliar.

[Gruff]

2 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

The belief that certain knowledge is withheld from us is one that is shared by more than not.  Certain western religions are fond of saying, "It is for God to know."  What is truly mumbo jumbo rubbish is the belief that we are incapable of attaining the knowledge with which to understand our world and who we truly are.

 

While the focus of this thread is death and what experience, if any, may await us beyond that moment I would ask,  "What of birth and our existence before our emergence into this world?"  For if we are simply returning to from whence we came then we would most certainly have access to the knowledge of other realms of existence.  Unless, of course, there is a belief in guardians at that gate of knowledge or the existence of other impediments that serve to deny us any knowledge other that what we can perceive with our five senses.

 

I would like to say, too, that I am more than well aware that people employ a healthy skepticism when confronted with information that is, I don't like the term much but, outside the norm.  No one enjoys being led astray or taken as a fool.  Skepticism is no doubt good but as with anything else it can be taken to an unhealthy extreme.  It is taken to an extreme when it begins to serve as a gatekeeper to the mere consideration, let alone exploration, of ideas with which one may be rather unfamiliar.

What are you talking about? Please keep it simple

[Tippaporn]

6 minutes ago, Gruff said:

What are you talking about? Please keep it simple

I'll keep it very simple for you, Gruff.  There are people in this world who are receptive to new information, new knowledge, new ideas.  And there are those who are not.  Which category do you fall into, Gruff?

[sirineou]

19 hours ago, chaihot said:

Normally, I wouldn't have jumped in to this conversation but it hit close to home this week.  On Wednesday, I had a great conversation with an American Expat that I have known for many years.  It was a casual shoot-the-shit about health, and losing weight, and living life -- combined with the knowledge that we are all getting older and hope to continue enjoying life.  We had talked longer than usual because it was raining and neither of us wanted to fight the weather.  When it was over, we said goodbyes, he climbed into his car and drove off.

 

A little more than 24 hours later, he was found deceased in his bed; he had died in his sleep.  

 

The notification shook me; thinking about how happy he was now and was making plans for the "rest of his life".  And in one night, it was all over.  He was 70.

 

This brought up a conversation with my Thai wife about her life after my death.  Like you Sirineou, I make sure she became a citizen, majored in English, etc.  She worked for a few years in the US and made a good living, which would allow her to move back if necessary, or as you put it, "if things get rough in Thailand".

 

But I honestly don't know how she is going to handle the LEGAL things that need to be done.  I have a Thai will; I have an American Will; she is the beneficiary of my life insurance which should take care of her for life (provided I don't live too old).  But there is much more -- US real estate, companies, other assets, and my social security -- that I don't know how she is going to handle.

 

And the last thing I would want is for her NOT to get these things, and the STATE getting a bonus because she doesn't know what to do.

 

As to the life insurance, she must have the money to cover any medical costs of my death, or she can't get the death certificate, which she needs to collect my life insurance.  Another expat friend died a few years ago in a vehicle accident, and the hospital held the death certificate as ransom until the spouse was able to assemble and pay thousands of dollars in ER fees.  Horrible catch-22 situation.

 

And for good or for worse, my wife is Thai.  And even though I think she is educated and can hold her own, her "faith" in other Thais scares me to death.  I wonder if she will be strong enough to get what is righfully hers, without be screwed over by "people trying to help".

 

But other than creating a "death manual" instructing her on the steps to handle my death, I don't know what else to do.  My friend's death this week really shook me.  It was a reminder just how fast things can happen.

 

I know what you mean,I have similar concerns regarding my wife's ability to navigate the legal maze of pensions , social security survivors benefits, insurances etc.

The only advice I can give is to do what I wave done.

If you have a good friend you can trust back in the US, have him/her promise you that in the event of your death they will help your wife , and make a list off all the things they should look into.

 

PS: Sorry about your friend , I had something similar happen to me and it was not easy on me I am sure it is not easy on you.

Over a year later, I still have my friends telephone number in my phone and I can't bring myself to erase it.

Edited November 20, 2017 by sirineou

[giddyup]

5 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

I'll keep it very simple for you, Gruff.  There are people in this world who are receptive to new information, new knowledge, new ideas.  And there are those who are not.  Which category do you fall into, Gruff?

There are also those who will follow whatever is the flavour of the month to try and fill the emptiness in their lives. Religions and cults are full of such people. They all think that they have the real/true answers. Gullible people.

[Tippaporn]

36 minutes ago, giddyup said:

There are also those who will follow whatever is the flavour of the month to try and fill the emptiness in their lives. Religions and cults are full of such people. They all think that they have the real/true answers. Gullible people.

If you don't believe that real/true answers are available then that's fine by me, giddyup.  If anyone is interested in discussing the death experience intelligently and seriously then I'm more than willing to offer what I know in contribution.  I have zero interest in changing anyone's beliefs about anything.  I simply enjoy exchanging ideas and talking about them.  There's real value in that.  I have less than zero interest in talking trash with anyone, though.

[giddyup]

29 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

If you don't believe that real/true answers are available then that's fine by me, giddyup.  If anyone is interested in discussing the death experience intelligently and seriously then I'm more than willing to offer what I know in contribution.  I have zero interest in changing anyone's beliefs about anything.  I simply enjoy exchanging ideas and talking about them.  There's real value in that.  I have less than zero interest in talking trash with anyone, though.

Are you saying you have the real answers? So do Christians, Muslims, Scientologists, etc, etc. Do I believe that anyone has the real answer as to what happens after we are dead? Then the answer is no. I'll leave the "talking trash" to those who believe they do.

Edited November 21, 2017 by giddyup

[Tippaporn]

7 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Are you saying you have the real answers? So do Christians, Muslims, Scientologists, etc, etc.

I don't fault you at all for being skeptical, giddyup.  I've said it before . . . skepticism is good . . . as long as it's not overdone.  For Krist's sake, I implore people to use their God-given brain and not leave it at home while out exploring.  Yeah, there are a lot of people, religions, organizations, cults, so-called venerable institutions, governments (especially), sciences, that will try and convince you of what reality truly is.  Usually at least what their reality is.  Don't fall for it and it sounds like you're not, giddyup.  Good.  But reality does function a certain way.  And I might add it's quite reliable and consistent, too.  You don't need anyone other than yourself to delve into it.  If you look enough, and if you're serious enough, answers are available.  They're not hidden.  They're not denied us.  There are no gatekeepers.

 

But we've been taught since the cradle rubbish such as original sin, that the human species is innately flawed, that there are things we're not supposed to know, that we can't trust ourselves (at least we shouldn't), that we are in essence powerless.  That's a lot to overcome for anyone who has a truly inquisitive mind.  And Jeezus, the backlash you can expect from your fellows for even daring to step outside the quaint little box we've all been groomed to fit our entire lives.

 

Let me give you a bit of advice if you or anyone decides to embark on a journey of this nature.  When you do glimpse something while pushing away the veil of illusion surrounding this reality it will be wise to keep your mouth shut.  And when you do speak be very measured in what you say.

 

Me?  I don't care.  I've been on this path for too long and been through too much to be rankled by petty derision.  Humor gives me excellent company as well.

 

Jeez, don't know what happened but I think that turned into a bit of rant.  LOL.  Jai yen yen.  I ain't that serious about this.

[Tippaporn]

54 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Do I believe that anyone has the real answer as to what happens after we are dead? Then the answer is no. I'll leave the "talking trash" to those who believe they do.

I posted before you edited your post that I had quoted.

 

You just admitted that you do not believe that anyone has a real answer to the afterlife experience.  

 

Of course, that's your belief, no?  Or do you claim to know with absolute certainty that no one possesses that information?

 

If you claim to know then can you prove that no one knows?

 

Of course not.

 

So on the one hand you deride anyone who claims to know what you believe, or rather claim to know, is unknowable

 

while

 

you yourself claim to know something that you cannot possibly know.

 

But that's very upstanding on your part, correct?

 

Do you see the hypocrisy?

 

That's enough for me.

[bazza73]

1 hour ago, Tippaporn said:

  If anyone is interested in discussing the death experience intelligently and seriously then I'm more than willing to offer what I know in contribution.  I have zero interest in changing anyone's beliefs about anything.  I simply enjoy exchanging ideas and talking about them.  There's real value in that.  I have less than zero interest in talking trash with anyone, though.

If you can explain to me how someone discusses the death experience intelligently and seriously without actually experiencing death and coming back to tell us about it, I'm all ears.

The closest I've come to death is regular checkups employing anaesthesia. There's nothing there when I'm under, so I suspect there will be nothing there when I die.

Perhaps the Buddhist concept of nirvana - a state of nothingness - is the closest to the truth. And perhaps mankind is in denial with its various religions. The stark thought of becoming nothing when you die is too much for many people, so the promises of eternal life are more attractive.

Edited November 21, 2017 by bazza73

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, Tippaporn said:

I posted before you edited your post that I had quoted.

 

You just admitted that you do not believe that anyone has a real answer to the afterlife experience.  

 

Of course, that's your belief, no?  Or do you claim to know with absolute certainty that no one possesses that information?

 

If you claim to know then can you prove that no one knows?

 

Of course not.

 

So on the one hand you deride anyone who claims to know what you believe, or rather claim to know, is unknowable

 

while

 

you yourself claim to know something that you cannot possibly know.

 

But that's very upstanding on your part, correct?

 

Do you see the hypocrisy?

 

That's enough for me.

 It's impossible to know without actually dying, and "near death" experiences don't count, because if you can be revived you aren't clinically dead. But hey, whatever gives you comfort, the fear of death is the reason all the major religions exist. They promise paradise to all believers, one of the greatest con jobs in human history, but you seem to have found "real" answer, so credit to you.

[Tippaporn]

2 minutes ago, giddyup said:

 It's impossible to know without actually dying, and "near death" experiences don't count, because if you can be revived you aren't clinically dead. But hey, whatever gives you comfort, the fear of death is the reason all the major religions exist. They promise paradise to all believers, one of the greatest con jobs in human history, but you seem to have found "real" answer, so credit to you.

You failed to address the hypocrisy.

[giddyup]

Just now, Tippaporn said:

You failed to address the hypocrisy.

What, you professing to know something that you can't possibly know? Look, if you feel you have discovered the meaning to life, and death, and it gives you comfort, fine, but just don't be preaching to me, because you are sounding just like another snake oil salesman. Goodbye.

[balo]

I am not ready to die and my goal is to do daily exercises when I'm 100 years old. 

Just live a healthy lifestyle and carry on with activities as long as you do not get any nasty diseases,  

 

This man is 95.   

 

   

 

 

 

[Enigmatist]

I'm an atheist. In my mind, there is no afterlife. I'm a fatalist in a sense too. It will happen when it happens. Having survived 3 of what I call near-death experiences, I count myself lucky to still be here. My children are grown up and healthy. After a divorce, decided to move Thailand, live off my pension and just appreciate whatever time I have left with a soul-satisfying life. Meditation on appreciation of nature, swimming in the ocean, ridibg my motorbike and enjoying the wind in my hair, good-tasting food (mostly healthy) moderate drinking, occasional travel, good friendships, tantric sex therapy with like-minded Thai kiks, plentiful sleep and moderate exercise. Retirement has been pretty much a relaxation spa experience with a bit if sex and booze included. Loving it, life is too short, get affairs in order, sure, but don't waste too much if that time dwelling on the inevitable. Try something new occasionally. Life is a terminal sexually-transmitted disease and no-one gets out alive 555 It's still better than the alternative, so enjoy it while it lasts [emoji16]

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