Do you flaunt your wealth in Thailand?

[Prubangboy]

My one deluxe move will be paying the extra 10K in rent to be very close to the BTS when I book an apartment next week.

 

Like, $10 a day more. 8 minutes distance max. 4 minutes would be better. 

 

Might have to go for a two bedroom unit to be in the right building. So in that case, $15 a day more. 

 

Man, I am really rolling in it. 

[Negita43]

I try to flaunt my poverty - less likely to have problems that way

[Negita43]

On 12/21/2024 at 12:42 AM, Crossy said:

Noooooooooo!!

Has electrical shorted out?

[newnative]

2 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

My one deluxe move will be paying the extra 10K in rent to be very close to the BTS when I book an apartment next week.

 

Like, $10 a day more. 8 minutes distance max. 4 minutes would be better. 

 

Might have to go for a two bedroom unit to be in the right building. So in that case, $15 a day more. 

 

Man, I am really rolling in it. 

     Worth every penny.  The first condo we bought in Bangkok was about 800 meters from the Phetchaburi MRT stop.  We thought, '800 meters, well I guess it's not that far.  And, the condo does have a shuttle bus to take you to the station.'

     After riding the subway and walking around all day, yes, it was way too far--and the shuttle bus never seemed to be running when we needed it.  Sold that condo and bought another one that's just a 2-minute walk to the same station.   Much better!

[Surasak]

I started out with nothing, and still have most of it left. No point flaunting wealth I don't have, I might get robbed!

[Prubangboy]

45 minutes ago, newnative said:

     Worth every penny.  We thought, '800 meters, well I guess it's not that far.  And, the condo does have a shuttle bus to take you to the station.'

     

And this will be my first rainy season spent in Bangkok. I figure April through September will be worth it alone.

 

There's a Japanese Hotel at Thonglor BTS that you can enter directly from the train station that has a monthly rate. Not cheap, but what am I saving for at age 72?

 

Yeah, I am def considering it. That would def catapult me into wealth-flaunting status, tho, and I live for Gamma Globule's approval.

 

But Asoke is really yoga-central and that's a new interest and woman-meeting plan for me so.....

[Walker88]

Interesting thread in terms of the consistency of opinion and the fairly transparent virtue signaling. I wonder if this was GG's intent....to see if everyone would jump on the same page, suggest their own wealth, but then state why they have no need to show it.

 

Let me join in.....

 

I live in Bangkok. Having also lived in a host of countries, I find Bangkok almost on a par with Tokyo in terms of safety from bad guys. Perhaps others have not noticed, but there are tons of Mercs, Ferraris, Porsches, Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Lambos, McLarens, etc. on the road. Not sure if those folks are flaunting, but they do seem unconcerned with anything untoward, save for dents or scratches made by Grab or Food Panda delivery guys. Certainly if there are bad guys out there, their universe of potential targets is quite high. The odds favor being overlooked.

 

Maybe if one strolls through a bad part of town, wherever that might be, wearing a Piaget or Richard Mille at 3am, that might lead to trouble, but I'm guessing most bad guys wouldn't know real from a copy watch. they're likely more interested in gold chains or a couple thousand baht.

 

I'm also going to guess the bad guys could be fooled by someone wearing a street market bought shirt with the word "Armani" or "Chanel" plastered across the front, and not notice the guy wearing a non-logo'd Brioni or Stefano Ricci shirt or suit.

 

Maybe....just maybe...bad guys might suspect a fit guy with clean clothes, shirt tucked in, neatly groomed, un-tatted, acting quietly and reserved, might be that expat multi-bazillionaire, and if so, I guess that's justification for being fat and tatted, unshaven, garbed in baggy cargo pants and a Chang wife-beater. Do the latter and EVERYONE, bad guys and normal Thais, look down on you and avoid you. You'd be perfectly safe, save from scorn. Perch your bulbous backside on a barstool and try to share stories of your SAS secret missions, and you'll be as safe as a man can be, nobody coming near you.

 

Simply having wealth might be mentally comforting, but there's little point in having it, if one is afraid to buy things that might give one pleasure, whether that is a Lambo, a fancy house or condo, or anything else that is dearly priced. Might as well just give away all the dosh and do away with any unfounded fear of becoming a target. Maybe if one lives in rural Isaan, it might be wise not to park a Bugatti Chiron in the yard, but most of Thailand is quite safe.

 

Showing off for the sake of showing off might not be as dangerous as many posters imply, though it is rather gauche. Enjoying the spoils of what one has earned, however, is kind of nice. I have things I enjoy owning---though I couldn't care less about watches or jewelry---and I do not have any desire to make anyone jealous, but I live, act and purchase how I want, without fear anyone cares one way or the other. It's for my comfort or pleasure. Besides, in a society where one pillar of the culture is saving or promoting "face", there are a myriad of other visible targets, should a bad guy be on the hunt. Odds favor one's safety.