My online income has made me more critical of Thailand

[simon43]

This isn't specifically about visas, so I've posted it under General.  But the visa regulations are definitely affecting my decisions.

 

I used to teach in brick and mortar schools in Thailand, Laos and Burma.  Prior to that, I lived in Phuket and built/managed small hotels.  In total, I've been here for 17 years, leaving the UK when I was 43 years old, (hence the '43' in my forum name).

 

Now I teach online ==> English, Science, Thai language, French language, Maths and History.  (The legality of teaching online from Thailand is still a grey area - this thread is not about whether it's legal or not).

 

Working online means that one can work from almost any geographical location that has internet connectivity, and that is the cause of my current thoughts!

 

I'm not tied to live in Thailand now, wives have 'flown' and I happily live alone.  Each year the hot season seems to get hotter and I'm beginning to wonder why I am still here ????  

 

Before living in Thailand, I lived in the French Pyrenees, very close to the Spanish border.  The summers were warm to hot, the winters were cold and great for both cross-country and downhill skiing.  I used to walk in the mountains, or pop through a little tunnel on Sundays to Navarra region in Spain for a paella lunch.... Perhaps drive to the Med or Atlantic beaches (both only 2 hours away).

 

It is my choice alone to choose where I live and from where I teach online.  As I get older and need to consider potential health, my own elder care issues and state benefits for EU citizens, the attraction of moving back to France is growing. (I can get an EU Irish passport through my family ancestry if Brexit makes it an issue for Brits to live in France.)

 

Forum members might cite the higher cost of living in France. I've done a Numeo comparison and the items that cost more in France are things that I don't really use anyway.  In any case, many items in the Pyrenees are much cheaper than the cities.

 

In the Haute Pyrenees province, old village houses can be rented for a song, because there are few jobs in the region and younger people all move to cities like Toulouse for work.

 

I have 15 months before my Elite via expires.  Methinks I need to take a trip to the Pyrenees to see if it still lives up to my memories.

 

Is anyone else in the same boat as me?  No longer 'tied' to living in Thailand, and living here purely out of choice?

[Denim]

Maybe . I'll ask around for you.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 3, 2019 by Denim

[ThaiPauly]

I would leave CM in a heartbeat now if I was in a position to.

 

I'm of a mind to return to the UK, I still have property there, the shine has now gone from Thailand. I was one of those that always said I would never leave, but times are changing and not for the better.

 

Pollution here is just so bad and for so long now

New Immigration Rules

Value of the pound so low

 

 

The problem is that my wife is the only daughter of an ailing 84 year old dad who she does not want to leave right now, if it wasn't for him she would go so I will just have to put up with it , for how long is anybody's guess.

 

The thing is I did not retire in Thailand to "Put up with it" or anything for that matter. I retired here because it was a fun place to be, immigration was a breeze, 15 years ago there was hardly anyone at immigration when I went there, the pound was at 72-74, now it's under 40, the pollution was nowhere near as bad (or I don't remember it being bad) plus as I age I find I am not much interested in "fun" anymore, rather taking more care about what I eat and drink. I go to bed at 9pm. (Sad)

 

Many of my friends from the old days have packed up and moved on or died.

 

I can "get by" with the pound being so low, but we all have to make sacrifices because of it. So we don't travel anywhere near as extensively as we used to, don't have a maid anymore, I quit smoking, so we have saved a lot by doing these things.

 

I'm certainly not as happy to be here as I was, if I was you Simon I would go for sure if you don't have anything to hold you back.

 

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Edited June 3, 2019 by ThaiPauly

[rott]

The hot months are certainly getting less pleasant and becoming a problem. I have been looking around for an alternative in the region, the coolest part of Thailand in those months looks like Phuket. Possibly you would differ.?

 

Your comments on living costs in rural France are interesting, not really keen on three punishing hot months again next year.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, ThaiPauly said:

the shine has now gone from Thailand.

Indeed, but in my situation- no ties at "home", cost of living unaffordable, rent-barking ( loads of people living in vans and cars ), Drs cost large ( no recognition that pensioners need Drs more and don't have the money to go several times as they kick one out after 10 or 15 minutes regardless ).etc etc etc-I had a hugely better life style in Chiang Mai.

I lived in a wonderful hotel, Drs are cheap, don't need a car, movies way cheaper than at home, DVDs from the market at 60 baht compared to over 400 baht here. Food is really cheap if not eating at restaurants. I no longer went, or wanted to visit bars- that part of my life was in the past, so not forking out thousands of baht for "fun".

Comparing the two places, Thailand was far, far better for me.

[brokenbone]

i am tempted to tag on and follow you to south france !

never saw so beautiful nature, pity they speak french

and if its as usual in europe, a scooter wont cut it,

and im unable to walk the distances europe requires

[thaibeachlovers]

10 minutes ago, rott said:

The hot months are certainly getting less pleasant and becoming a problem. I have been looking around for an alternative in the region, the coolest part of Thailand in those months looks like Phuket. Possibly you would differ.?

 

Your comments on living costs in rural France are interesting, not really keen on three punishing hot months again next year.

Have you stayed in Phuket before? I used to visit back in the early 90s, but wouldn't stay there ever again. Completely ruined, IMO.

Krabi is nice though, and would have the same weather.

[KittenKong]

58 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Is anyone else in the same boat as me?  No longer 'tied' to living in Thailand, and living here purely out of choice?

I have never been tied to Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter.

 

I moved here in my early fifties a few years after I retired. I chose Thailand because it seemed like the best of a pretty bad lot for retirement. It offers an easy and cheap (for me) retirement visa solution, excellent income tax treatment, fairly good value accommodation, reasonable infrastructure, decent food from many nationalities, reasonable shopping.

I never liked the heat/humidity and I like it less and less as the years go by. Aircon solves that one.

I dont like the noise and the pollution and the traffic either, though I manage to avoid most of them.

I dont like the high prices for imports and wine/beer, but I'm not an alcoholic so it doesnt worry me much.

I'm not the slightest bit interested in bars and hookers, or in forming any sort of personal relationship with any Thai or indeed anyone else. So no worries there.

Where I am in Jomtien also offers very easy access to a major international airport which is of interest to me as one of the things I do in retirement is travel. For this reason other places in Thailand would interest me much less to live in.

 

Other nearby countries are fairly attractive in some ways - notably Vietnam for the climate - but they all have their own downsides of one sort or another.

 

I think that if I did go to live somewhere else it would probably be Portugal (not the Algarve), and not one day goes by without me wondering whether I should make the move soon. When Brexit subsides I will see more clearly.

Edited June 3, 2019 by KittenKong

[Gecko123]

It's interesting that an earlier poster cited uncertainty about Brexit. There really is an unprecedented amount of socioeconomic uncertainty about what awaits one back home in the West.

 

As an American, housing costs (both purchase and rental prices) in much of the US have become grossly overinflated because of quantitative easing. Housing affordability is at an all-time historical low. But then there are signs that both the stock market and real estate markets are starting to cool off.

 

For many Americans the thought is always there that if things ever got rough stateside you could always head south across the Mexican border. But with trade and immigration tensions heating up between the US and Mexico, and many countries in central and south America facing economic hardships, political instability, or migration due to climate change, the Latin American 'Plan B' golden years option starts looking a little iffy too, which means if you repatriate to the US, you may need to stay put so you need to be extra sure that that'll work out for you.

 

If anyone thinks this sounds like procrastination and foot dragging, maybe it is, but I can't emphasize enough how struck I've been about the level of future uncertainty there is these days. Is the global economy about to tip into recession? Is there going to be large-scale migration within the US due to climate change? What effect will all the tariffs and midwest floods and extreme weather have on consumer and food prices in the months and years ahead? How dependable are promised entitlement programs 20 years down the road? What return will you get on your investments, esp. fixed income. Will Trump be re-elected?

 

I too am planning to repatriate, but am waiting for a little bit more visibility before doing so. While I bide my time, I am focused on saving money, physical conditioning, eating healthy, and reading more.

 

Edited June 3, 2019 by Gecko123

[baansgr]

Accomodation is still cheap here and so is food...I can cook a meal for 4 at a cost of 60 Baht, no chance of doing that in Europe. Cheese and other Foreign goods can be expensive of course. Your 100,000 Baht a month wont go anywhere near as far as it does here. Lets not forget all the taxes n Europe, property/council tax, petrol is expensive, utilities etc. Im stuck here but certainly PI or even Portugal when Im older

[madmen]

I retired here 12 years ago when I was 45 and bought a large Condo lower Sukhumvit straight away. No way I would stay in Bangkok if I had to pay rent these days , its just to expensive in The Asoke area and forget buying anything the prices are approaching 1st world numbers

 

With rent out of the way BKK is not that expensive for a large city. T21 food court for example does 40-60 baht for most Thai meals , soups etc , Thats only $1.60c! and the same price for a smoothie...What can you buy for that money in the west? a bag of lollies perhaps

 

Happy hours in pubs around the area run up until 8pm for 100 baht a pint which is very reasonable for the location and by 8pm Im ready to go home

 

The only thing that would send me home is if the OZ dollar drops well below 20 baht in which case I would sell my condo for the exchange rate gain and head back to oz and become a tourist until the OZ $ gets back into the high 20's thb but that could take many many years

 

The girls in the pubs and bars are still smiling and having a ball and lots of laughter but thats because its an expat area and everything is still upbeat. I dont see the bleakness that many describe but that could be just my mindset

 

 

Edited June 3, 2019 by madmen

[simon43]

Lots of useful comments here.

 

Quote

 

 I did not retire in Thailand to "Put up with it" or anything for that matter

 

and

 

Many of my friends from the old days have packed up and moved on or died.
 

 

 

ThaiPauly, I'm in exactly the same boat as you.  When I moved to Thailand in 2002, everything was easygoing, everyone was friendly.  Sadly, I can't say it's the same now.  I have a decent income (for a single guy who drinks little, doesn't eat western food, doesn't waste money on women anymore).  I have a cheap car and a very cheap house (3,000 baht/month) in half a rai of garden that's 200 metres from the Mekong river. I have medical insurance and my health is good.

 

But most of my friends have died!  (many younger than me).  I could stay in Thailand for many more years.  But a concern is that the visa rules will not get any easier, and I am simply not interested in doing 90 day reports, TM30s and international money transfers etc in my old age when I might not be so mobile etc etc.

 

I used to live just outside St. Lary, a small ski village just a few km from Spain (via a small tunnel under the mountain).  My stone barn house cost 15,000 euro to buy outright (1 rai of garden).  I checked recently and similar stone barns for DIY conversation are still available at the same price.... (Note - this is a very basic barn to convert with strong DIY skills [which I have from building my little hotels in Phuket] - but being built of stone, it will outlast my lifetime).

 

 

I don't feel homesick for the UK - it's too 'grey'.  But I do miss living in the Pyrenees and I want to climb many more peaks before I leave this world ????

 

I'm under no illusions about the extra cost of living in rural France.  But based on my lifestyle and eating habits, I can't see any major expenses....  I will also be able to use the French health service etc and not worry at all about visas (I have UK and soon Irish citizenship, so Brexit doesn't cause me any headaches.).

 

Anyway, I have plenty of time to decide if this is the best decision for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 3, 2019 by simon43

[BritManToo]

16 minutes ago, simon43 said:

My stone barn house cost 15,000 euro to buy outright (1 rai of garden).  I checked recently and similar stone barns for DIY conversation are still available at the same price.... (Note - this is a very basic barn to convert with strong DIY skills [which I have from building my little hotels in Phuket] - but being built of stone, it will outlast my lifetime).

I'll go halves with you one one, money and labour, we can camp while we build.

I'm great at traditional stonework, plumbing, wiring and tiling but total shit at plastering and painting.

 

Been trying to convince a couple of pals to do this with me for the past two years, but one is dying, and the other isn't really interested. Don't fancy taking on the whole project alone.

 

Got my EHIC card somewhere, valid until next summer.

Edited June 3, 2019 by BritManToo

[Jingthing]

Speaking of Europe, Portugal looks pretty good and yes I've been there. Their financial levels for retirement residence eligibility are significantly LESS than for Thailand! 

[Enoon]

 

Snowbird in Thailand, but future (continuous) stay no longer looking as attractive as it used to.

 

Would like to do the same as you are considering, but in the Southern Appenines.

Used to be Plan A, but got....."distracted".

 

 

Edited June 3, 2019 by Enoon

[JamJar]

30 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I'll go halves with you one one, money and labour, we can camp while we build.

I'm great at traditional stonework, plumbing, wiring and tiling but total shit at plastering and painting.

 

Been trying to convince a couple of pals to do this with me for the past two years, but one is dying, and the other isn't really interested. Don't fancy taking on the whole project alone.

 

Got my EHIC card somewhere, valid until next summer.

 

Sounds like fun. Shame that I don't have an DIY skills or I'd be in too.

[mike787]

3 hours ago, ThaiPauly said:

I would leave CM in a heartbeat now if I was in a position to.

 

I'm of a mind to return to the UK, I still have property there, the shine has now gone from Thailand. I was one of those that always said I would never leave, but times are changing and not for the better.

 

Pollution here is just so bad and for so long now

New Immigration Rules

Value of the pound so low

 

 

The problem is that my wife is the only daughter of an ailing 84 year old dad who she does not want to leave right now, if it wasn't for him she would go so I will just have to put up with it , for how long is anybody's guess.

 

The thing is I did not retire in Thailand to "Put up with it" or anything for that matter. I retired here because it was a fun place to be, immigration was a breeze, 15 years ago there was hardly anyone at immigration when I went there, the pound was at 72-74, now it's under 40, the pollution was nowhere near as bad (or I don't remember it being bad) plus as I age I find I am not much interested in "fun" anymore, rather taking more care about what I eat and drink. I go to bed at 9pm. (Sad)

 

Many of my friends from the old days have packed up and moved on or died.

 

I can "get by" with the pound being so low, but we all have to make sacrifices because of it. So we don't travel anywhere near as extensively as we used to, don't have a maid anymore, I quit smoking, so we have saved a lot by doing these things.

 

I'm certainly not as happy to be here as I was, if I was you Simon I would go for sure if you don't have anything to hold you back.

 

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

In short, I applaud the honesty of you both.  I agree, there are "options" that offer a far superior quality of life depending on ones preferences.  Thailand is NOT a "kingdom" for all, or much of one today, especially now based on the many brilliant observations contributed by TVF members.

Edited June 3, 2019 by mike787

[simon43]

Many of the stone houses in that region have not been lived in for yonks, because the owners have moved to Toulouse.  I used to visit various houses like this when looking for a barn to purchase.  The stone walls would be solid and strong as ..er .. stone, and all the internal wood would have rotted away, including floors and staircase.  Basically, one just had a very strong stone 'shell' to work with, which was great fun ==> weather-tighten the roof, fill any gaps in the stone, lay down a rustic tiled floor with DPC underneath, run cables for electrics, build a huge open fireplace and chimney, build/buy a staircase, install plumbing/bathroom etc.

 

My old stone barn had a living room and kitchen downstairs and a large upstairs bedroom with vaulted ceiling and wood-burning stove in the fireplace and an outside balcony with views over the Pyrenean foothills.

 

It might not be pleasing for a wife and family, but for a single man, it was a cosy 'den'.  That's all I need nowadays ????  Flights to the UK from nearby Lourdes-Tarbes airport or Toulouse.

 

@Brokenbone, I need to organise a trip to where I used to live, to see what opportunities there are!

[totally thaied up]

29 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I am simply not interested in doing 90 day reports, TM30s and international money transfers etc in my old age when I might not be so mobile etc etc.

My grandmother lived till she was 99. I learnt a lot from this women but the most important lesson I had was upon her death. It took two years for her to die a slow and painful death. Dying sometimes is not easy. Just the pain her teeth gave her was pitiful to watch. When we get older, most of us are going to need somewhere comfortable to go live and die in. We need good medical care and maybe people to care for us.

 

I have spent three months back in Australia and I go back home to Thailand on the 10th of June. I, after this visit with my wife, do not really want to return to Thailand. Our dollar is worthless and I have a better support network here for my health. The fun I had in Thailand has gone with other concerns of Visas, health and the rising price of health insurance. The fun has gone and all I see is just issues now of growing older in a country that does not give me even the right of PR. I was even considering of applying for a bridging visa and not returning but my wife and I have property, aged parents and responsibility placed on us. The pollution problem in Chiang Mai is terrible. Just no longer fun.

 

I really now just want a place I can relax in, not be smogged out for a quarter of a year and know when it is my time to die, I can do it in peace and not be charged like a wounded bull for the luxary. I still have many waves left to surf and I am still young but this week, I have watched a dear friend of mine get very sick in Thailand and have no one to hold his hand through a very tough time. I decided, I do not want that to happen to me. It's all about the future.

 

Go back to the mountains to have a look. You got nothing to lose.

[ThaiPauly]

6 minutes ago, totally thaied up said:

My grandmother lived till she was 99. I learnt a lot from this women but the most important lesson I had was upon her death. It took two years for her to die a slow and painful death. Dying sometimes is not easy. Just the pain her teeth gave her was pitiful to watch. When we get older, most of us are going to need somewhere comfortable to go live and die in. We need good medical care and maybe people to care for us.

 

I have spent three months back in Australia and I go back home to Thailand on the 10th of June. I, after this visit with my wife, do not really want to return to Thailand. Our dollar is worthless and I have a better support network here for my health. The fun I had in Thailand has gone with other concerns of Visas, health and the rising price of health insurance. The fun has gone and all I see is just issues now of growing older in a country that does not give me even the right of PR. I was even considering of applying for a bridging visa and not returning but my wife and I have property, aged parents and responsibility placed on us. The pollution problem in Chiang Mai is terrible. Just no longer fun.

 

I really now just want a place I can relax in, not be smogged out for a quarter of a year and know when it is my time to die, I can do it in peace and not be charged like a wounded bull for the luxary. I still have many waves left to surf and I am still young but this week, I have watched a dear friend of mine get very sick in Thailand and have no one to hold his hand through a very tough time. I decided, I do not want that to happen to me. It's all about the future.

 

Go back to the mountains to have a look. You got nothing to lose.

Seems we are in exactly the same boat

 

Sad isn't it when our dreams turn to dust......I am still happily married, that's the only reason I stay now

[mike787]

3 minutes ago, totally thaied up said:

I am simply not interested in doing 90 day reports, TM30s and international money transfers etc in my old age when I might not be so mobile etc etc.

Additionally, laundering money (800/400K) as a deposit for the coveted Thai Visa access to a country that considers itself a kingdom while I lose a potential loss of 11%-20% ROI (return on. investment) of a mutual fund or equity position is financial stupidity/suicide.  Plus, jumping through all the immigration hoops, threats, pollution of CM, road kill, etc, and BS is simply not what I signed up for.  If I were a criminal I would expect that kind of treatment. 

[Thaidream]

It is amazing that so many people, who would have never thought about leaving Thailand, are actually planning to do it.

 

I would be one of them except for marriage and family responsibilities. I first started coming to Thailand in 1971 and  after 3 Thai wives (not at the same time!)  the purchase of houses, condo,s and  so many trips to Immigration I would need a computer program to track-  the delight of Thailand has worn off.

 

It's not just the cost which has gone up with the lessening of value of major currencies- it is the combination of just so many things that have become less tolerable- traffic is bad and never getting better and the constant Kabuki dance at Immigration is so irritating.  Throw in the pollution and the bad weather (horrid heat) and  the fact that there is really not much real 'fun' in the country and one has to wonder why we still put up with it all.

 

If someone would have told  me even 10 years ago that I might consider leaving Thailand, I would have thought them  insane.

 

In my case- I will stick it out to the end as it would be impossible to take everyone I care about with me but I can dream along with the rest.

 

Southern France along the Spanish border sounds great.  I have often thought about Belize; Mongolia and even Cuba  Oh well, the next life maybe!!

 

Cheers to all.

 

 

 

 

 

[BritManToo]

16 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Many of the stone houses in that region have not been lived in for yonks, because the owners have moved to Toulouse.  I used to visit various houses like this when looking for a barn to purchase.  The stone walls would be solid and strong as ..er .. stone, and all the internal wood would have rotted away, including floors and staircase.  Basically, one just had a very strong stone 'shell' to work with, which was great fun ==> weather-tighten the roof, fill any gaps in the stone, lay down a rustic tiled floor with DPC underneath, run cables for electrics, build a huge open fireplace and chimney, build/buy a staircase, install plumbing/bathroom etc.

 

My old stone barn had a living room and kitchen downstairs and a large upstairs bedroom with vaulted ceiling and wood-burning stove in the fireplace and an outside balcony with views over the Pyrenean foothills.

 

@Brokenbone, I need to organise a trip to where I used to live, to see what opportunities there are!

Seems to be plenty of places advertised ..........

One partly done for E11,500

https://www.french-property.com/sale-property/1439-Xa102171

Edited June 3, 2019 by BritManToo

[totally thaied up]

5 minutes ago, ThaiPauly said:

Sad isn't it when our dreams turn to dust......I am still happily married, that's the only reason I stay now

I am very happy with my wife. The only reason I am staying is due to her family ties. I live a much richer, grander life in Australia. I am also one of the diehards saying I would never leave but just a combination of issues has made it less desirable to live somewhere you can see is taking you backwards. I have a five year plan now to do things. Will take two years for my wife to get PR in Australia, so I will just slide back into Thailands ways for the time being.

[simon43]

https://www.french-property.com/sale-property/1439-Xa102171

 

See what I mean?  Cheap as chips!!  You can own barn and land 100% in your name ????  Some may look in horror at the pictures of that barn, but to be honest, it's very easy to convert them and this particular property will no doubt already have planning conversion permission (to change from agricultural to residential use).  Nice little garden too.

 

 

[tebee]

I live half and half France and Thailand but up north, in central Brittany.

 

There are things I like about both.

Thai - cheap meals out, interesting vegetables, fun to grow things I can't in Europe, but too hot to use garden.

France nice wine, good healthcare  relaxing lifestyle.

 

Bad points in France - you pay about 33% of your freelance income in social charges - but that's what gives you that great health care. Anything that involves labour  is expensive. Bureaucratic but no more than Thailand.

 

Housing is cheap, but repairs expensive local rents are €400 for a 2 bed house   

[GinBoy2]

47 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

Snowbird in Thailand, but future (continuous) stay no longer looking as attractive as it used to.

 

Would like to do the same as you are considering, but in the Southern Appenines.

Used to be Plan A, but got....."distracted".

 

 

I'm totally with you on that.

 

I was already at the 'the shine has worn off' point when our son (US citizen) declared he was staying in the US after graduating college, that was the straw that broke the camels back.

 

Now we can all argue till the cows come home about relative costs, and God knows there have been plenty of acrimonious threads on that topic!

 

For us, we now do the 3/9 month snowbird deal. I don't need to worry about visa crap since I'm just a tourist, and since we live pretty much the same lifestyle in both locations, costs (usual disclosure, excludes housing, we own both places outright) is pretty much a toss up.

 

Would I ever want us to live full time in Thailand again? 

 

Can't see it. I like our 12 weeks a year, but thats enough

[JAFO]

As with everything one has to consider where they are in their life, what they want and need. One thing for sure for me is I am not caught up in all the hype and nonsense that so many people endlessly dwell on.  As we know, the saying is "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence", I mean isn't that how many of you ended up here?

 

I have always felt if its time to go, its time to go. I never think about leaving here but then I have no reason to really. Its not that Thailand is a paradise, no place is and I arrived here with that belief but its far easier to navigate and remains an enjoyable place to live. I think many have gotten bored, let the constant barrage of negativity posted on this site taint their view of it all. Most would be well served taking a break from website browsing and go do something constructive and different. Change it up. I do not live on the internet. I am always off doing something like I did back in the states. In the end, you will make it what it is no matter where you decide to call home.

 

Best of luck to the OP if you decided to move on and change it up.

 

 

 

 

[tlandtday]

4 hours ago, rott said:

The hot months are certainly getting less pleasant and becoming a problem. I have been looking around for an alternative in the region, the coolest part of Thailand in those months looks like Phuket. Possibly you would differ.?

 

Your comments on living costs in rural France are interesting, not really keen on three punishing hot months again next year.

Yes if one studies the weather including cloud cover and dew point one can see that Phuket is cooler than northern thailand and certainly has cleaner air.

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, JAFO said:

As we know, the saying is "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence", I mean isn't that how many of you ended up here?

I thought everyone, like me, was looking for cheap pussy, and that's pretty sparse anywhere in the western world.

Now I've filled my boots and have reached an age where it isn't so important.

So looking around to see what I can see.