Inexpensive Retirement in Southeast Asia

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcowan Thanks for the tutorial Pete!

This board is full of experts with all sorts of life experience!

[growing_older]

Quote:

When a woman holds out her arm palm up, she can twist her palm sometimes another 45 degrees from parallel to the ground. A man can't do that. When I hold my arm out that's all I can turn my palm. Woman's arms are different.

I knew a pitcher friend in college could rotate all the way to 90 degrees perpendicular to ground and I'm able to get 45 myself (male). Either I'm misunderstanding your directions or this test may not be as reliable as you hope.

[Webzter]

As a wise man once said, this thread is useless without pics.

Specifically, I want to see some palm-turning action.

[nun]

This whole thread is sad!

[KingB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by growing_older I knew a pitcher friend in college could rotate all the way to 90 degrees perpendicular to ground and I'm able to get 45 myself (male). Either I'm misunderstanding your directions or this test may not be as reliable as you hope.

Male here too. I can also do the 45 degrees test. I tested both arms. Tested with the help of DW. I can twist my palms as much as she does.

[Pete44]

You can take your right arm, hold your arm out straight palm up and twist clockwise another 45 degrees?

"You're a better man than I am Gunga Din".

I can't rotate my palm clockwise at all.

Then, disregard my above post and look for an adams apple.

[ItDontMeanAThing]

There is no shortage of positive press about Thailand, which means some things do not become apparent until one has been here a while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete44 Pattaya is anything but a world class beach. A couple of hours from Bangkok, I was there once for a couple of days and couldn't wait to leave. Lot's of people like it. They can have it.

+1

Pattaya is 40 miles from Rayong, home to heavy industry and foul air. Google 'pattaya cough' to see how it affects the seaside town. Went there in April with a friend from America and was ready to leave after 3 days because of what the air did to my throat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete44 Chang Mai is at the other end of Thailand from Phuket. No beaches but a lot of nice scenic areas around there. ... CM is also overcast for a couple of months a year because they burn rice fields.

+1 except I'd use a different word than 'overcast'.

EU standard for 10 micron particulate matter is 50 particles per cubic meter, Thailand's is 120, USA is 150. Last year between March 9 and April 14 there was 18 days with PM > 120. All time high in Chiang Mai is 303.

Unknown PM level in Chiang Mai shown below.

[nun]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandhog You'll be a catch in any country where average monthly salary is about $500.00/month. That include most of southeast Asia and South America. My friend retired in Thailand, Pattaya two years ago and when I visited him, bar girls in their early 20's called him handsome man, sexy man, darling.... And I tell you when he was in the states, a woman in her late 60's won't date him. He was in his late 50's. I don't know what he gets for teacher's pension but he only spends half of his money and still able to live like a king according to him in $600/month water view condo. That's at 34 baht to $1 exchange rate. It should be slightly more since dollar has been continually declining against other currencies. I wished that I had a pension so I could retire in Thai like my friend where young girls call me handsome man. But I like South America lot better. I don't like Thai food unless it's in NY. Somehow, in Thailand, Thai food don't taste the same as in NY. But Mexican food, I like in Mexico much better. Go figured.

Does anyone else find the topic of single middle aged American men retiring to South America or SE Asian and living like "kings" while women young enough to be their daughters call them "handsome" a little disconcerting?

[Nemo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun Does anyone else find the topic of single middle aged American men retiring to South America or SE Asian and living like "kings" while women young enough to be their daughters call them "handsome" a little disconcerting?

Perhaps they should become rich actors/directors/musicians/sports stars, etc, and get the same thing locally.......but at a much higher price.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun Does anyone else find the topic of single middle aged American men retiring to South America or SE Asian and living like "kings" while women young enough to be their daughters call them "handsome" a little disconcerting?

It wouldn't appeal to me, but in a free market which this is if anything ever was, one has to assume that both sides of the deal are satisfied with the trade.

According to social scientists, what we call love in any case has a lot in common with other bargaining. You want some things, someone or some people have those things, they want some things, you negotiate, and either a deal is struck or you go home and watch your porn collection. In fact, if you strike a long term deal, often referred to as "marriage", you may sooner or later find yourself alone with your porn more than you ever anticipated anyway.

Ha

[Sandhog]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingB Male here too. I can also do the 45 degrees test. I tested both arms. Tested with the help of DW. I can twist my palms as much as she does.

Real test is actually between the legs not in the palm or adam's apple. When I visited my friend in Thailand, I couldn't tell them apart but use the measurement by saying to myself, "most beautiful girls in Thailand are men" And I was right for about 95% of times since most girls don't wear much makeup like Ladyboys do. It was good place to visit for once so I can say I've been there but nothing to brag about and wanting to live there during my golden years. There are much more to life than young girls shouting handsome man, sexy man.... On the second thought it was like being a rock star or something.

[Moemg]

I wondered how rampant sexual diseases were in these areas .
HIV and AIDS in Thailand

[Bestwifeever]

Don't forget to check their FICO scores too.

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun Does anyone else find the topic of single middle aged American men retiring to South America or SE Asian and living like "kings" while women young enough to be their daughters call them "handsome" a little disconcerting?

Yes.

But it happens in all countries where old and/or ugly guys have lots of money to support young women. A well known rich England international soccer player called Peter Crouch was once asked what he thought he would be if he hadn't made it as a soccer player. His reply, "A virgin".

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moemg I wondered how rampant sexual diseases were in these areas . HIV and AIDS in Thailand

This sounds not too good, and brings up another issue. Isn't naked sex with any woman of any age better than condom sex with a 20 year old?

As long as both partners experience arousal, I would think that age becomes not very important.

Ha

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun Does anyone else find the topic of single middle aged American men retiring to South America or SE Asian and living like "kings" while women young enough to be their daughters call them "handsome" a little disconcerting?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Yes. But it happens in all countries where old and/or ugly guys have lots of money to support young women. A well known rich England international soccer player called Peter Crouch was once asked what he thought he would be if he hadn't made it as a soccer player. His reply, "A virgin".

I'm still a little unclear on the "disconcerting" part:
Is it disconcerting because it's South America or SE Asia? Would it be OK in Bellingham, Dubuque, Atlanta, & Montpelier?

Is it disconcerting because single middle-aged American men are being called "handsome"? What if they're married? Other ages? Other nationalities? Women?

Is it disconcerting because they're living like royalty, no matter what characteristics we end up assigning to the them?

Or is it disconcerting because they're being referred to "handsome" by young women who presumably have the experience to be more discerning?

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords I'm still a little unclear on the "disconcerting" part: Is it disconcerting because it's South America or SE Asia? Would it be OK in Bellingham, Dubuque, Atlanta, & Montpelier? Is it disconcerting because single middle-aged American men are being called "handsome"? What if they're married? Other ages? Other nationalities? Women? Is it disconcerting because they're living like royalty, no matter what characteristics we end up assigning to the them? Or is it disconcerting because they're being referred to "handsome" by young women who presumably have the experience to be more discerning?

As I said in my post, it is disconcerting to me regardless of which country it is happening in.

The fact that I am uncomfortable about middle aged rich men pulling young girls is just how I am.

[GregLee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords I'm still a little unclear on the "disconcerting" part:

It's disconcerting because it's taboo in contemporary US society. But you're probably asking what rationale there is for the taboo. There might be one -- I don't know. But social taboos don't generally need rationales (though they will have histories).

[Gone4Good]

I could probably find a beggar who'd lick my boot for $20. I'm sure most folks would find that arrangement between consenting adults to be 'disconcerting.'

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan As I said in my post, it is disconcerting to me regardless of which country it is happening in. The fact that I am uncomfortable about middle aged rich men pulling young girls is just how I am.

I think it is quite disconcerting, too, especially when there is a huge economic disparity between the two and when the transaction/relationship resembles buying a ripe squash at the market. You aren't the only one. I like to think of people as, well, you know people rather than as produce, so humor me.