Love Interest 2026 Update

[floridarob]

10 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

He has helped them all over the years so can certainly be kept busy.  

Nice, sounds like he won't be one of the lazy ones that expects you to support him, I like that.

The downside, when he's busy, those workdays are longer than we're used to..... less time you will see him, and as you (we) get older, time is the one thing we have less of 🥺

[zoomomancs]

11 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

He will help his father on the family farm, and wants to expand that beyond rice and sesame seeds to raise goats and turtles.  He also plans to work construction with his brother.  He has done a fair amount of research about raising turtles and showed me what is involved.  Compared to other things, it isn't too expensive or complicated.  I know a little about goats and can help with that.  For years I took my students to a goat farm once a week to work as vocational training and learned a considerable amount of what is involved.  His oldest sister and her husband have a shop...small market; his middle sister has a food cart; the youngest sister is a seamstress.  He has helped them all over the years so can certainly be kept busy.  

I hope it's different for you but when I have had 'relationships' with men in Asia over the last 16 years the requests for cash help start arriving, some from them and some from their families. You have mentioned the hopes for a new house for the family and expanding the family farm to raise goats and turtles. Filial piety is strong in Cambodia. Then there are emergencies, like urgent medical reasons and crashed motorbikes. Our urge to help when we see people in need is noble - but every step we make can advertise how wealthy we seem in their eyes. I once asked a Vietnamese lad, who I sent modest amounts of cash to, if his father knew who I was. He replied: 'He knows who you are when you send Western Union'.  

[a-447]

On 5/22/2026 at 5:34 PM, jimmie50 said:

Since his parents believe the money he sends home comes from a construction or food service job, I don't believe sugar daddy or customer would even remotely enter any conversation.  There is also no directly link to me in regards to any money he has sent home.  I do understand the need to keep things on a somewhat level playing field in regards to his family.  I don't believe it is any concern initially, but that could always change.  

The parents aren't stupid.

They would soon realise that the amount of money he sends home each month couldn't possibly be from the earnings of a lowly-paid construction worker. They would be well aware of the kind of business their kids are in when they go to work in Thailand and start sending cash home. They would be well aware that  you guys didn't meet on a construction site. It's the old 'don't ask and don't tell'.

A number of Thai guys over the years have told me that everyone knows that the best house in the village has been paid for by the old farang partner of a young local. But noone cares as long as the money and gifts keep rolling in.

If you can afford it, go for it. Do whatever you want to be happy.

YOLO.

 

[PeterRS]

54 minutes ago, a-447 said:

If you can afford it, go for it. Do whatever you want to be happy.

As we approach old age, personal happiness becomes more difficult to find - as some posters here have suggested, especially those with perhaps some personal experience of a happiness they never thought possible in the early days before it started to decrease over time as reality set in.

But we are all different, thankfully. I'm with @a-447. You have shown us all a remarkable willingness to share your thoughts and feelings, most quite new to you. Bravo for that! I'll add my own "go for it". Then adapt as may eventually seem necessary. But true happiness is never easy to find and you seem as close as anyone to be in that situation.