1 - is you can pretty much do whatever you want

especially if done within reason

2 - ...

Does there need to be a point 2? Point 1 already makes it well worth a visit.

Though some people seem to lose track of the 'within reason' part.

Big, small city by the sea. Got everything I need on a daily basis. Tropical climate. Great golf. Good food at reasonable prices. Close to an international airport.

The goils .

OP's No 1. sums it up for me. I actually do very little here but am extremely comfortable knowing that whatever I want is pretty much available if I do want it.

What if I wanted 'peace, quiet and sanity', though? How much of a drive would that be?

What if I wanted 'peace, quiet and sanity', though? How much of a drive would that be?

About 15 minutes to Jomtien...

another 15 minutes and you are in Bang Saray...zzzzzz

What if I wanted 'peace, quiet and sanity', though? How much of a drive would that be?

About 15 minutes to Jomtien...

another 15 minutes and you are in Bang Saray...zzzzzz

or 15 minutes east to Maprachan lake

Actually Patters has everything I need, and living on the darkside/ East is very good. I would suggest that it might be easier to name things that are legal that you cannot do in Patters. I dont see anybody doing any rock climbing for instance (not that I would want to!)

Not many rocks in Pattaya but you can do some artificial rock climbing at (would you believe) The Hard Rock.

I kid you not.

What if I wanted 'peace, quiet and sanity', though? How much of a drive would that be?

If Pattaya had safe accessible pavements and crossing lights that actually worked ( and the cars/ bikes actually stopped ), Pattaya would be perfect.

Thing I like best of all- NO PC BS!

Actually Patters has everything I need, and living on the darkside/ East is very good. I would suggest that it might be easier to name things that are legal that you cannot do in Patters. I dont see anybody doing any rock climbing for instance (not that I would want to!)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rock climbing at Fairtex Fitness Complex - North Pattaya

The 80 Baht an hour massage places quite close to where you live.

( I could bring up a lot of negative things about Pattaya that in my Westen eyes could be easily fixed/ improved - but that is not the question on this post) Pattaya has a mix of Western restaurants, department stores, and cinemas along with the Thai way of life. It is a real mix of West and East which makes it funky and interesting. Fortunately there are decent hospitals near by and everyone understands English. The Pattaya beach is nice to look at (don't care to swim in it) and another great aspect o Pattaya is that things are cheaper here than at Phuket.

easy to get around

easy to get around

Unless you are in a car!

I like the changing seasons in Pattaya -- warm, hot, wet and dry. And the nice thing is that there is no need to vary clothing as the seasons change -- shorts and a t-shirt covers them all. I do miss the snow, though. But if global warming continues its current trend, we may be ice skating on Lake Maprachan by 2020.

The freedom is great, and waking up 365 days a year to warmth and sunshine is Greaaatttttt

I agree with the Original Poster. On a long holiday. Not trying to squeeze in every possible adventure in a week! Biggest decision each day is whether to turn to the left or the right. Go to the pool or sleep in. Go to the beach and take a nap. Get an affordable massage is pretty much a given every day. Catch a movie to beat the afternoon heat. Play some pool with the fellows at night. Enjoy hiking up the top of the hill in the park there. Eat lots of german food and schnitzel and potatoes and salat. Hop on a baht bus anytime and go about anywhere in the city. Pattaya is a good size for that. Take a bus up to Bangkok for a few days and take the BTS around. No driving hassles (unless you have a car!). I kind of like it when I don't drive for 50 days.

The 80 Baht an hour massage places quite close to where you live.

What sort of massage are you going to get for 80 Baht an hour? Last time I was in Pattaya a few years ago, it was 200 Baht an hour for really hard Thai (no oil or happy ending for that matter). It costs a lot more in Australia even without the happy ending.

Its completely the opposite to the UK, no PC Bull shxt, its hot, it doesn't snow, you don't pay 20% VAT etc etc If I were to list everything I'd be here all day.

I love the mai pen rai attitude!

The fact that I don't live there anymore!

I live outside of Pattaya and I go shopping there at the weekends, so being able to get some variety (of western food) is nice, but what I enjoy most is when I'm leaving Pattaya and heading back to the quieter and more reasonable area where I live. I can understand that many people like the place, but to me it's just a bunch of sprawling madness.

24 hour beer

24 hour life

fresh air close by

I live outside of Pattaya and I go shopping there at the weekends, so being able to get some variety (of western food) is nice, but what I enjoy most is when I'm leaving Pattaya and heading back to the quieter and more reasonable area where I live. I can understand that many people like the place, but to me it's just a bunch of sprawling madness.

Its a fair point, but wasn't it the "sprawling madness" that bought most people here in the first place.

Daily routine on holidays;

Early morning walk before it gets too hot. 90 minutes bowling with lady friend before lunch. Read/Snooze/people watch on the beach in the afternoon. Somehow manage to entertain myself in the evening when friend goes to her room for a few hours to eat with her daughter and do some shopping.

The 80 Baht an hour massage places quite close to where you live.

I presume you didn't tip did you?

big spender.