41 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

I love Thailand. Love the freedom. Love the people. Only dislike is pollution.

Oh don't be prejudice against the Philippines lol

13 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

72 is young?

13 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

72 is young?

We married in 1990 when my wife was 28 and I was 40. To me she is still young, relatively speaking, and still a lot of fun.

19 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

We married in 1990 when my wife was 28 and I was 40. To me she is still young, relatively speaking, and still a lot of fun.

That makes her 64 this year not 72.

4 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Brasil is dangerous.

Indeed, dangerous but fun. Perhaps better for guys under 60 or so.

12 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Indeed, dangerous but fun. Perhaps better for guys under 60 or so.

Very nice polite good girls there with education and who also worked.

5 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Very nice polite good girls there with education and who also worked.

I entirely agree. I would be far more concerned about street crime than by the female company.

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

That makes her 64 this year not 72.

Well spotted. Full, details as follows

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

That makes her 64 this year not 72.

Well spotted. Our correct birthdates are wife Wanthanee 13 April 1956, self 23 November 1941. That makes her 70 and me 84 by my calculation.

Came across this BBC short clip

https://fb.watch/EZA-NJIrei/?

Be free from the past? Can be liberating in so many ways. I like the way AI sums it up for me. To many is stuck in the past, and cant get by,, and forget we are living now, right here, and right now.

Yeah. That line hits because it’s uncomfortable and true.

Nostalgia can be sweet, but it’s also a thief. When you’re replaying a version of the past—especially a polished one—you’re half-absent from what’s actually happening. You’re here, but your attention is somewhere else, measuring the present against a memory that doesn’t even exist the way you remember it.

The quiet irony is that the moment you’re in right now is someone else’s future nostalgia. And if you’re not careful, you miss it twice: once by not being fully present, and later by wishing you had been.

That said, nostalgia isn’t evil. It only starts robbing you when it becomes a refuge instead of a reference—when it comforts you instead of grounding you.

It’s okay to remember. Just don’t live there.

Nostalgia is described as

a bittersweet, sometimes overwhelming, emotion that can take something away from the present by causing individuals to dwell on the past. While it can bring comfort, this longing for previous, often idealized moments can prevent one from fully experiencing or appreciating the current, unfolding moment. 

Key insights regarding this view of nostalgia:

• Robs the Present: The phrase suggests that by constantly looking back, one loses focus on the "now".

• Bittersweet Nature: While nostalgia often feels warm, it has a painful side, as the desire for the past can lead to a sense of loss or longing for what is gone.

• Impact on Well-being: For individuals who are highly anxious or neurotic, dwelling on the past can become an adverse experience.

• Focus on the Journey: Instead of being trapped in the past, a healthier approach is to embrace the present "story" and "journey,"

• The Paradox: The more one deeply appreciates a past memory, the more painful the realization of its absence can be. 

This perspective emphasizes embracing the present rather than becoming lost in the past. 

On 1/23/2026 at 4:17 PM, cobra said:

Basically agree,

Would add that many may retire too early without a plan,

consigning them to isolation, as a lonely bar stool welcomes them to retirement.

Why would they have to be at a bar stool alone? Why cant they meet a woman (i don't mean bar girl or freelancer) If they can afford beers at a bar, I'd think they'd have enough retirement income to meet a woman?

On 1/29/2026 at 5:06 PM, Harrisfan said:

Money has nothing to do with a good relationship. That just buys a fake one. A good relationship is based on love, common interests and fun.

I agree with that.