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I moved to Rio on an investor visa. I bought an existing business (from a retiring local) and an apartment in Ipanema — each one was over the R$ 1 million threshold needed (R$ 700,000 in NE Brazil) for the investor visa — and I used the business to qualify for the investor visa. But I most definitely could’ve used the property purchase, it just needs to be structured as a business purchase (creating an LLC like structure in Brazil for yourself and that company making the property purchase that way, same way you would with a business). It’s definitely best to use a local knowledgeable lawyer in Brazil, because there are a lot of steps. If you need a referral, feel free to send me a private message. More of my expat friends here have done either the retirement visa, the investor visa, or the marriage / family visa, and converted them later to permanent residency. There are a few others here I know who are here on digital nomad visas, but those are temporary (a year, renewable for 1 more), student visas or are here on work visas with international companies (none of these are permanent and immigration status has to be adjusted to stay after expiration). I know a couple of foreigners here on arts or sports visas, but those are rare and usually require documented lauded skills.  I will also add that being in your 40s may sound young to do this, and for a retirement or investor visa it surely is, but most of the digital nomads and student visa recipients here are younger than that. So, it’s not completely out of the ordinary. One of the foreigners I know here on a retirement pension visa did it right before 50, another on an investor visa is about 50, too.   

First of all, my compliments on your detailed daily trip report. It was so much fun to read! You write that you follow most of the massage shops you've visited on Facebook/X or that you've visited their websites to check their staff. Could you post a list with links @jimmie50 to their sites, profiles ans possibly also LINE-accounts? I'm very curious about those places! Would be highly appreciated. Is this the Prestige massage you are talking about? https://prestigemassageofficial.com/ I love it when the massage therapist takes a bit of initiative and builds tension during the massage by actually rubbing his crotch against your hands and moving his hands higher and higher on your thighs. I've experienced a "hard transition" from normal massage to "fun," and that was much less exciting than when the erotic buildup is there from the beginning. Another example of how a massage should ideally proceed, in my opinion: erotic tension from the start. Thanks for this comprehensive insight into S'Sense Massage. This shop was actually high on my list after reading some reviews and visiting their website. Their therapist, Singha (https://ssensemassage.com/therapist/), really appealed to me based on the photos. But after what you wrote about the limited options for "extra services," I think I'll pass. Unfortunately. As sexy as Singha is, I'd love to have a "full service" option. You've already had a few very good and erotic massage experiences, and then sometimes it can be disappointing, like in your case with Phetboy in the Saphan Khwai area. This is precisely why, in all the years I've been coming to Bangkok, I've never been to a massage shop that's a bit further out of the Silom area. You make the effort to travel there, to find the shop. And if you're disappointed, it's not nice. On the other hand, it could easily be your best massage experience. You never know until you try it. But with so many shops to try in Silom itself, I really need some convincing to venture further afield. What was your reason for going there instead of trying another shop in Silom that was closer to your hotel? Often it's a specific masseur who really appeals to someone. Was that the case for you as well? Besides Phetboy, I read that you also had a somewhat disappointing experience with Phoenix in the Saphan Khwai area. It seems like your experiences, which required a longer trip, are worse than those in the Silom area itself. This confirms my point that I might be better off browsing around Silom instead of looking further afield. I'd rather have a potential disappointment closer to home than one you made the effort (or travel) for. Haha! That's what Thailand does to you! And then you probably understand why most of us keep coming back. I think I can safely say that most of us on this forum have reached a certain age where we might not go to bars and clubs as often at home anymore and aren't quite as marketable to younger men in our own countries. But when you come to Thailand... You get attention, and you can "do things" with attractive guys for a reasonable price. It's great to hear that your massage at Paradise led to several encounters with a nice man named "Sam." I think you'd say Paradise was the best massage shop for you during your trip so far. Am I right? Paradise is also high on my list to try (I haven't been there before). I've read several positive things about Paradise on this forum. I'm especially impressed that the facilities are good, better than the average massage shop. See also the post below about it: I searched but couldn't find a site or account where Paradise shows the massage boys you can choose from. Does anyone have a link/line account? I don't know if this is a popular opinion here on the forum, but my first reaction is: RED FLAG! Of course, there are also examples of true love between Thai boys and (much) older Western men. But in what I've seen over the past few years, it's often dramatic. And not just because the Thai boys enter into the "relationship" solely for financial support. I would say: take it very slowly, and don't be too quick to resort to financial transactions and help. Have you read about the most common "excuses" for asking for money? There are always relatives who have to pay an expensive hospital bill, or a sick buffalo with its family in the Thai countryside that needs money. And of course, they ask their Western "boyfriend" for that money. Maybe I'm too cynical, but I've seen it go wrong too often. I think you've only met this guy once or twice, right? And then he immediately asks you to be his boyfriend? Again: Red flag for me.

If Britain is able to get "rid of a QUEEN",   WE should be able to shed our Orange King. ?   

Never, ever, under any circumstances, go to the residence of a GP that you do not know well. 

Nor yet on any other news media. Charles and Camilla are in Rome, being ecumenical.