Monogamy is highly un-natural ....

Not to all species...

The juicy gossip is also a common Thai trait...

That, dear ggt, is certainly not reserved to Thai people. Gossip is extremely common around the globe. And mind you, gossiping does have a social function.

They all do it from all walks of life in the LOS....Money Number One..

I think, just for fun, I calculated how much that old Billionaire paid per BOOM BOOM to that low-class stripper/prostitute Anna Nicole Smith. I think the number was $15KUSD per.

SUCKER.

Well, since no one here is mentioning the elephant in the room I might as well do it.

A married older thai guy having sexual congress with a voluptuous Thai maiden is unmistakably called adultery. On her part, it's called fornication.

Furthermore, there's the issue of lying, debauchery, and...

...alright!! Who threw the shoe?!?

Very common all across South East Asia. Two scenarios are common. The Mia Noi where the older lover stays with

his first family and the second (more popular with Westerners) where the younger woman lives/marries/looks after in all ways

an older man and the older man looks after her for the rest of her life when he dies. My mother who is French but born

in Vietnam in the 30's told me decades ago that this was a common arrangement. A win-win for both parties. Maybe not

so accepted in western culture but who is the west to judge. Unfortunately many ex-pats don't really understand the

unwritten contract and don't want to hold up there end of the deal later in life.

In other words....nothing has changed down through the centuries.

My Thai Wife -- 47 yr old, I am 60 - has FOUR good friends that have each been with a married man for over 20 years. Each one -- has never worked a day. We talk about this all the time. My Thai Wife always says: "They so lucky. So lucky." I disagree.

Each mia noi see man for 30 minutes -- 2 or 3 times a week.

They both know "The Deal".

They are content to live without a "full-time" man, and my wife thinks nothing of it. Yet, they seem very sad. They hardly ever go out, have few friends, and I feel life has passed them by. But like my wife says: "They've Never Ever Been Hungry!"

My Thai Wife -- 47 yr old, I am 60 - has FOUR good friends that have each been with a married man for over 20 years. Each one -- has never worked a day. We talk about this all the time. My Thai Wife always says: "They so lucky. So lucky." I disagree.

Each mia noi see man for 30 minutes -- 2 or 3 times a week.

They both know "The Deal".

They are content to live without a "full-time" man, and my wife thinks nothing of it. Yet, they seem very sad. They hardly ever go out, have few friends, and I feel life has passed them by. But like my wife says: "They've Never Ever Been Hungry!"

Hmmm...you must be lucky that your wife is 47 years old already....most likely too old thus to follow her friends.

Worrysome mindset though....

Yeah, Hubby was asking if our budget could take on an expenditure of an extra 25 - 30,000 baht/month or so for him to take up a "new hobby" of helping Thai college students. That's how his Thai friends coached him to explain to me where the money would be going. We both had a good laugh. Hubby says he has enough drama with one woman in his life, he can't image managing two.

I once casually, jokingly, said to my wife "maybe I will take Mia Noi" she equally casually replied "Maybe I"ll buy a gun"

You have to love her sense of humour.

"Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore". When I first arrived for retirement, my idea was to experiment to see what the different female relationships would bring. In the end, for me, I wanted one traditionally raised Thai girl and that is what I have. But...one relationship was with a university student in another province. She had been with a wealthy, married Thai man but he had switched partners. Unfortunately, two things got in the way. I was the first Farang so there was all that cultural differences thing and then there was the experience with being with a wealthy man. I could offer a comfortable but not spoiled level of support. After one month and half that month's budget, well.

Well..... I do not understand why so many farangs here are complaining that Thai women just are looking for money and financial support, if that kind of situation, formal or casual, is accepted casually by family, friends, and everyone else. A Thai "custom". Probably, Thai women even feels proud in to be with the most rich lover and supporter, and that may be more important than any other reason when chosing for a husband too. May be their parents and closer family feels good that their girl have a rich supporter, even if it is a lovers or married man. If that is true, farangs "in love", will suffer....sooner or later, when money runs out or when wife or girlfriend meet somebody richer.

I am a romantic dreamer....and poor, but also a follower of Vinicius de Moraes lirics..." Love....to be eternal...while last ".

Best philosophy for Thailand?

Really it's the females (overall) who are very vulnerable. My observation is security is the bottom line for many females in the third world. Needed financial support is a reality. Of course there are differences in social classes, as there are in other countries. You can read a good deal on TV about the financial intrigues but at bottom, I think, it's financial security needs. No question, a male, coming from a western culture needs to learn about the cultural and financial realities before a relationship as "pure love". I am a romantic also but due to age and experience am no longer starry eyed. Yes, miss the youthful openness to love but don't miss the heartbreaks, ha! And my financials are kept secure.

I wish I could find a woman to take care of all my financial needs and I would have told the whole world.

But for the moment........I keep dreaming...............

if she has a sister think of me

Not really specific to Thailand, but they do seem to talk about it more openly.

I wish I could find a woman to take care of all my financial needs and I would have told the whole world.

But for the moment........I keep dreaming...............

I would not have told anybody just in case someone a bit younger, more hansum, tricky that one, and much richer came along.

Then I would have cried all over TVF.

Very common.

I wish I could find a woman to take care of all my financial needs and I would have told the whole world.

But for the moment........I keep dreaming...............

Try to behave like a baby. ...