cnkbud

To: mrstein Unless am mistaken the current coversion rate of about 33-1 is more like $3000, not $2500. Just an observation. Have a good day. Old Bud

Hi Guys, Have read several postings here about cost-of-living(COL) budgets and if you want to live like a Thai you can do so on X amount of money. Now, I would submit that requires some definition and qualification as it infers that the average Thai doesn't have a very high standard of living. Don't know how the Thai middle class is defined and what their average income is for maintaining a decent standard of living in rasing a family, buying a home, educating their kids, etc. Anyone care to chime in here. Thanks in advance and enjoy. Bud

Hi and belated Happy New Year "07" to all there. I did contact USAA and found that I do not qualify for their banking as am not an ex-officer; as for granting membership to ex-senior enlisted I believe it varies state-to-state but not here in my home state, so looks like that leaves them out, at least for me. I did call Capitol One and learned that they do not use an Visa or Master Card ATM card(they claim they issue their own card) so one should not be subject to the rediculous sur-charge for currency conversion withdrawals; they did state that you would be subject to the ATM use charge impos

Hi bob2005, That's great man, just f...... great, a good candidate for post of the year, you just made my day and then some. Have a great one and "07". Regards, Old Bud

Hi RodgerCW, thanks for the great input from one who is actually living the experience, exactly what am looking for here. Hope there are many others of you who may be in the same category age wise as me so please chime in here. Regardless, sure glad to find I wouldn't be all by myself over there and and even if I were would still give it a try. I don't drink anymore(never abused it when I did drink and had no problems with it, my system can't seem to tolerate alcohol and would be flat on my ass after just 1 beer so just gave it up) , but will sure buy you guys a round or so once I get over th

Hi Rick, thanks for that info and the best of luck to you in getting settled in over there, it will take awhile longer for me but am still marching down that path and hope to take up on that drink offer in the near future. Am sure with all the homework you did there will be smooth sailing for you ahead, and the BM's here will give you a hand as needed. Will PM you at some future date to learn more about the move. Thanks again and have a great one. Later, Old Bud

Merry Xmas to you all there, and many thanks to those who provided input to this matter. It seems like age should not be a negative to getting on over there to enjoy my old age. Quess it's time to close out this chapter although still would like to get a take from some you guys over there who are in my age bracket(if there are any). Thanks again guys and you all have a great "07". Regards, Old Bud

Hi Guys, Just curious here how many of you ex-pats of an older age packed it in at their home country and made the permanent move to Pattaya. Am 74 and fed up with things here in "Swampland" for many reasons, mainly the lack of decent lifestyle that allows up older guys to have some reasonable amount of fun without the bullshit that goes along with it here. Just curious here as how many of you at around my age felt the same way and made the move, and how it worked out for you. I know many of the old farts like me here who are very happy doing not much of anything except sitting around and ta

Hi, stayed there about 3 yrs ago and found it great, nice room, tv, pool, and a made to order breakfast included in the price. Plus, free transport from their facility in BKK by minibus. Agree with others here about not that convenient transport to downtown and back but adequate enough. Idea for an old fart like me as very quiet, just took their free shuttle in the early evening to downtown to eat, look around a little, pull one of those great gals out from their "worksite", and head back to the hotel for a relaxing and enjoyable night. What more can one ask for. Regards to all and have fun. O

Owen, I hear where you're coming from guy but that ain't going to happen, remember, all those politicians probably also have the gov insurance plan and are going to protect their interests. It is one hell of a problem though and who knows how it will be sorted out for the future generations. I quess the US based health insurance providers just don't give a shit about US citizens traveling or living overseas, do so at your own risk and expense. BTW, sure hope someone here can answer my original question about use of their gov BC/BS ins while in the LOS but it looks like that ain't going to happ

Owen, thanks for your input. Yes! BC/BS Federal Program absolutely does cover one overseas, and that is only logical with the large number of US civil servants working overseas, the only thing is they become primary and one is subj to all their standard deductions in so far as Medicare is not good overseas, simple as that. When used in the US they are secondary to Medicare. Don't know about the non-government private plans but believe that is what you are referring to. You are exactly right about it being a 2 way street but and the ease and timeliness of the matter of reimbursement is subj to

Hi Guys, no flaming intended here but although the feedback so far is interesting and somewhat informative, can someone answer my original question. What experience has anyone had there using their Federal Program Blue Cross/Shield insurance. Thanks guys, have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi Guys, I am retired US gov and have subj insurance(Federal Program) as supplemental to medicare. In so much as medicare is not good overseas subj insurance becomes primary in the LOS and subj to the standard deductibles. I understand that several of the major hospitals there are accredited by BlueCross/Shield and will fill out the paperwork necessary for reimbursement. Just wonder what experiences anyone in the same situation as me, while either visiting or living there permanently, have with use of this insurance. Thanks and a great day. Old Bud

Many thanks to all for your replies to this inquiry, good to know that tobacco is grow locally in the LOS and is of decent quality and reasonable in cost, at least upcountry, but really doubt if any can be found in the Pattaya area. Regards to all, have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Thanks Cenn3, you are exactly right, bulk rolling tobacco is correct, but the price you quoted for 50 grams is out of sight as I only pay about 390B for around 450 grams(about 1 pound), so quess I can forget about making my own over there. By the way, even though those 2 brands you menioned are an OK tobacco, I have tried both of them and they don't even come close to the quality I get here. As you may already know, the smaller the bay size the more you pay, at least for bulk tobacco. Thanks again and best regards. Old Bud

HI Guys, I know this is an off-the-wall subj and probably not of much interest to many there, but: I am an old smoker who just can't seem to quit and I make my own cigarettes using bulk tobaccco which has no additives(pure natural), cigarette filter tubes, and a professional cigarette makng machine. I order my supplies in from internet sellers and can make a cigarette this way that is much superior to any of the leading store purchased brands at a much lower cost(about .80 cents per 20 pack). Just wonder if any place there sells these RYO(roll your own) supplies. In my previous trips to the L

Thanks SNGLIFE for that recommendation about Udon and I have seems to be a very favorite location also, but for some reason the beach areas seem to be more attractive to me although there are disadvantages of those locations also, the main one of course being the higher cost and but that's only one consideration, it's really difficult to pin it down to any one thing. I do know however that it's generally more hotter but much more reasonable in overall cost so quess it boils down to narrowing the choices down to 2-3 locations, check them out and then make an informed decision, it one place doe

Thanks NNH, exactly the kind of info am looking for here and much appreicated. That area sure sounds like it would fit my limited needs and your offer of details would be very helpful. I did try and send you an e-mail but not sure if it took on as had major computer problems and just got it back from the shop today, lost everthing on my hard drive and had to reload the OS from scratch so am starting all over again. Thanks again for the specifics and have a great day. Old Bud

Thanks Jacko, good someone here payed attention to the question and your answer gives me a good idea of the types of fish there, quess the other guys just having a little fun and not a probelm to me. Sure wish more or you will chime in here and I should have qualified the quesion to exclude shrimp and squid, just the fish guys. Thanks again, have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi Guys, in response a post I make about retirement places one of your members who was really helpful mentioned a place that had a fish market where just about every type of fish was available. Not knowing much about warm water types of fish would like to know which type is your favorite, and how do you like it prepared. As for me, I like orange ruffy fried in a cornmeal batter but know that many like it deep fried, broiled, steamed, etc. Just curious here and no big deal but a good fish meal is hard to beat if done right. Thanks guys, have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Have a retired military friend of mine who live just outside Travis AFB, he takes a hop to Japan and then on the Singapore coupla of times per year and has very seldom encountered any long delays, maybe he's just been lucky but like I say he's been doing it for years and by going Space A he saves enough to almost pay for his 10 day trips to the good old LOS, and of course, his GF there is always glad to see hime. Some of my friends are very jealous of the fact that he can travel this way as very low cost but the way I look at it, more power to him as he more than earned it. Have a good one and

Thanks guys for that feedback, and escpecially to you "c5vette", as nothing beats getting info from one who lives there and if you could give me details on the cost of living there on the budet I mentioned it sure would help. Still hopeful that someone will chime in here about the Rayong area, but hey, any info about these places for good old "laying back retirement" is more than welcome and thanks again for your time and effort in providing what you can, you guys are great. Have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi guys, Any of you expats there that can provide informed input of either of these places as candidates for future retirement as think maybe Pattaya would be an overkill for an old fart like me who doesn't need all the constant action. My retirement budget would be between 50-80,000 bhat per month tops for the little I need and am not interested in buying property as renting seems the best option for me at my age and gives the flexibility of just relocating if thing don't work out. I don't drink, will probably will eat most of meals out, do need some female companionship from time to time,

Hi Guys, this has certainly been an interesting subj, and while I'm far from being a financial expert by any means, I did post here that for all of you who have sizeable capital gains, from the little I know have read that they can be protected from a sudden downturn in the market by buying "puts"(the right for x period of time to sell a stock at a certain strike price), would like to know if anyone here has experience with this method of "insuring" their capitol gains. Have a good one and enjoy. You know the old sayng"sometimes you got to hold them and sometimes you got to fold them". Have a

Hi Gary and thanks for that info, hope it holds at 1% as 2% is highway robbery. Have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud