2026 has been a good year.

I've taken 2 trips to Malaysia and 2 to Japan.

I haven't been to Thailand so far- and I might still go- but I've been dabbling in real estate with the son of a friend - I've just mainly been doing home opens - so that has restricted my travel.

Since I'm retired and have a lot of free time, I don't usually plan ahead - I just do things when I feel like if.

The first trip to Malaysia this year happened because one morning I woke up and decided I wanted to go. The second trip was for some urgent dental work.

Next year will be more travel - always to Japan, plus some other destinations that I haven't chosen yet.

Maybe the Philippines.

And I think I might join a gym. Although I'm quite fit and have no trouble walking all day when I'm on holiday somewhere, as you get older I've been told you need to do certain exercises for muscle strength. So I might give it a go.

8 hours ago, Travelingguy said:

Also, take a look at the Philippines expat subreddit on Reddit. Most of what is posted is about Filipinas, but I think that the issues are going to be same for you as a gay person as most of the straight people on that sub. The stories sound very much like what you hear in Thailand.

I think that there are universal challenges in relationships between two people of very different financial backgrounds, with marked age differences, who are also dealing with significant cultural differences as well.

Yes and somebody should pin this up. True happiness (or in my case, contentment) comes from within. It may be a cliche but cliches often have some basis in truth. I've seen people frequently change partners, change jobs, move house - they're always running away from something - but still remain unhappy. In effect, they're running away from themselves, which, short of flying off a Pattaya balcony, one can't really do. Now, I'm not at all suggesting that anyone jump off a building, but to at least take steps to heal those old wounds or learn to manage them and move on. Otherwise they'll always be running and chasing.

9 hours ago, Travelingguy said:

Just because you both speak English doesn’t mean that you will always be speaking the same language due to the issues I pointed out above.

Another good one. My friends used to tease me that I'd end up with a farang boyfriend but it never happened. Despite having lived in the UK for 10 years from the age of 17, enjoying many aspects of western culture particularly literature and film, and having had several suitors - a couple of them double-barrels - I never really connected with a farang. It's hard to pin down what it is - too much work perhaps - but if I had to I'd say it boils down to ways of thinking. With my partner, I don't have that problem and we can communicate volumes with just eye contact, and by what is unsaid as much as what's vocalised.

That said, relationships do require a lot of work, time and commitment even without the challenges @Travelingguy and I have alluded to. In @bkkmfj2648's case he's also looking for a potential caregiver, which adds another dimension to the paradigm.

8 hours ago, a-447 said:

And I think I might join a gym... as you get older I've been told you need to do certain exercises for muscle strength. So I might give it a go.

Great idea! Working your glutes by having your legs over your deltoids all the time isn't enough.

Please hire a trainer for safety reasons, at least in the beginning. I do resistance training with a trainer three days a week and cardio on my own. Lately all my workouts have been in the gym because of the haze. 😔 You might also want to look into calisthenics.

They're so big on health and fitness in Australia and, barring legitimate health and mobility issues, there's really no excuse not to get on it.

15 hours ago, a-447 said:

2026 has been a good year.

I've taken 2 trips to Malaysia and 2 to Japan.

I haven't been to Thailand so far- and I might still go- but I've been dabbling in real estate with the son of a friend - I've just mainly been doing home opens - so that has restricted my travel.

Since I'm retired and have a lot of free time, I don't usually plan ahead - I just do things when I feel like if.

The first trip to Malaysia this year happened because one morning I woke up and decided I wanted to go. The second trip was for some urgent dental work.

Next year will be more travel - always to Japan, plus some other destinations that I haven't chosen yet.

Maybe the Philippines.

And I think I might join a gym. Although I'm quite fit and have no trouble walking all day when I'm on holiday somewhere, as you get older I've been told you need to do certain exercises for muscle strength. So I might give it a go.

Core strength is key! Pirates is also good for that.

5 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

Core strength is key! Pirates is also good for that.

Captain Jack Sparrow? Oooh a-447 would love him. 😏

Just now, mauRICE said:

Captain Jack Sparrow? Oooh a-447 would love him. 😏

Bloody predictive txt!!.

Sorry

Pilates

4 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

Bloody predictive txt!!.

Turn it off. You, of all people, don't need it!

How are things at the orphanage?

12 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

Bloody predictive txt!!.

Sorry

Pilates

Thank God!

I thought I'd need to exercise with a parrot on my shoulder!

1 hour ago, a-447 said:

Thank God!

I thought I'd need to exercise with a parrot on my shoulder!

Might improve your balance!

1 hour ago, mauRICE said:

Turn it off. You, of all people, don't need it!

How are things at the orphanage?

I know i should turn it off! Its useful sometimes.

Things at Children's home ok, was there yesterday. Its not an orphanage, Lydia, who runs it made clear. The children have parents, it's just that they are abandoned, or sold!

2 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

Bloody predictive txt!!.

Sorry

Pilates

Less emphasis walking the plank. More emphasis holding the plank. Retaining the “Aaaaaaarrh!” optional.

Yo ho ho, and a bottle of rub.

39 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

Might improve your balance!

I know i should turn it off! Its useful sometimes.

Things at Children's home ok, was there yesterday. Its not an orphanage, Lydia, who runs it made clear. The children have parents, it's just that they are abandoned, or sold!

I recall an episode of Four Corners ABC a few years ago accusing these "orphanages " of taking the children from the parents for the sake of funding .

No doubt they are looking for donations

I stopped giving to charity a few years ago when my older sister got a job part time as a accountant in Australia working for a major children's charity only to see Directors of the charity stay in 5 star hotels during their "study trips "

2 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

I stopped giving to charity a few years ago when my older sister got a job part time as a accountant in Australia working for a major children's charity only to see Directors of the charity stay in 5 star hotels during their "study trips "

I arranged for six charities to take monthly donations from my Visa account.

I put a stop to it when I discovered that most of my donations were going to 'fees'. The charities were getting less than 10%.

Even though I contacted them and told them i was cancelling my donation, 2 of the 'charities' kept taking money out.

I had to cancel the card and get a new one. It was a pain in the arse.

I also used to give to those women in Cambodia who walk around at night carrying a baby and begging for money. I stopped that too when an NGO told me a Vietnamese criminal organisation hires the women for a pittance and borrows the baby from the local orphanage.

I looked into it and it seems to be true, so I stopped. I hope I'm doing the right thing.

I was told the best thing is to go to the orphanage and make your donation in person.

In Kuala Lumpur you see a lot of women holding babies and sitting on the street begging, claiming to be Palestinian. The giveaway is the sign they have - they are all the same!

These days I make one donation to Telethon and leave it at that.

2 hours ago, a-447 said:

I arranged for six charities to take monthly donations from my Visa account.

I put a stop to it when I discovered that most of my donations were going to 'fees'. The charities were getting less than 10%.

Even though I contacted them and told them i was cancelling my donation, 2 of the 'charities' kept taking money out.

I had to cancel the card and get a new one. It was a pain in the arse.

I also used to give to those women in Cambodia who walk around at night carrying a baby and begging for money. I stopped that too when an NGO told me a Vietnamese criminal organisation hires the women for a pittance and borrows the baby from the local orphanage.

I looked into it and it seems to be true, so I stopped. I hope I'm doing the right thing.

I was told the best thing is to go to the orphanage and make your donation in person.

In Kuala Lumpur you see a lot of women holding babies and sitting on the street begging, claiming to be Palestinian. The giveaway is the sign they have - they are all the same!

These days I make one donation to Telethon and leave it at that.

We checked this place, Together for Cambodia, very carefully. It's all legit, no fees, all the money goes to the home. Regular accounts provided, monthly newsletters, etc. We were concerned, clearly, to make sure all was above board. It's regulated, etc, and you sponsor an individual child, and get monthly reports. Run by a Spanish lady, ex Air hostess who decided to run a home. She's very tough, but she has to be.

59 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

We checked this place, Together for Cambodia, very carefully. It's all legit, no fees, all the money goes to the home. Regular accounts provided, monthly newsletters, etc. We were concerned, clearly, to make sure all was above board. It's regulated, etc, and you sponsor an individual child, and get monthly reports. Run by a Spanish lady, ex Air hostess who decided to run a home. She's very tough, but she has to be.

Keep up the good work, Keith.

3 minutes ago, a-447 said:

Keep up the good work, Keith.

Thanks, I would send a pic, from WhatsApp, if I knew how! IT dinosaur here!

8 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

Core strength is key! Pirates is also good for that.

Expulsis piratis restitutia commercio

( I knew it was spell checker, hate when it constantly changes ' boys ' to ' buys" , like it knows what's going on )

3 hours ago, a-447 said:

I was told the best thing is to go to the orphanage and make your donation in person.

and it looks that this exactly is what Keithambrose is commendably doing

21 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

IT dinosaur here!

is that you ?

2026 started strong (in Bangkok) its had some rough spots but earlier this month I became a great uncle! To a healthy baby girl!

3 hours ago, kram987 said:

2026 started strong (in Bangkok) its had some rough spots but earlier this month I became a great uncle! To a healthy baby girl!

congratulations !

11 hours ago, vinapu said:

and it looks that this exactly is what Keithambrose is commendably doing

Yes, indeed, in effect, it is.

11 hours ago, vinapu said:

Expulsis piratis restitutia commercio

( I knew it was spell checker, hate when it constantly changes ' boys ' to ' buys" , like it knows what's going on )

Mine always changes guys to guts!

On 9/23/2026 at 8:41 PM, macaroni21 said:

I have been admiring your very careful and patient research and planning. Glad to see that you have very comfortably and confidently made these big decisions. Does that mean that you will be splitting your time 50/50 between Cebu and Pattaya? Does Thailand allow you an aggregate of 180 days per year?

To be honest - my preference is to remain here in Jomtien - which is very easy as I would not need to do anything = status quo (lazy way out). But, after 4 years of living here - there is this constant gnawing feeling that won't leave me in peace. Each time there is a negative event that happens in my life here it returns in full force - hence this becomes the fuel that makes me want to see if the grass would be any greener in the other pond(s). Also, in my previous professional career, I was taught to continuously be on the lookout on ways to mitigate future negative outcomes and this learned behavior permeates into my current retiree life. So, I need to make this adventure in order to be able to give peace of mind to myself. Perhaps, at the end of this journey, I will discover that the "grass is as green as it gets" by just remaining in Jomtien and to accept and manage the negative things that I do not like about living here.

On 9/23/2026 at 8:41 PM, macaroni21 said:

Does that mean that you will be splitting your time 50/50 between Cebu and Pattaya?

I intend to split my time between Pattaya (Jomtien) and in various locations in the Philippines - because I have still not yet found a location that meets my desired retirement location attributes, such as:

• Beach front living - but western facing for the amazing sunsets. Unfortunately, many places that I visited in the Philippines - the accommodation on the beach was east facing - so no amazing sunsets.

• A high floor with a big balcony - this I found to be very challenging - as it seems that the Philippine people are not balcony loving people like here in Thailand. If you do find a balcony, it is very small and somewhat dangerous due to it being too small.

• Decent access to some gay life - obviously nothing in the Philippines can match what Pattaya has on offer - especially in the Jomtien Complex Supertown. But I would be ok with just being able to hang out with the local gay community - which I have found that they tend to be informal meetups and of course there are always the apps. For example, 1 Cebuano guy created a new Telegram group last year, called anonymous cebu and already it has more than 5,000 members and they organize social events, hiking trips, game events, sightseeing, hookups, approved safe masseur list, dating advice, and many more categories. So, this is proof that the Filipino gay community is starved for something other than the apps to meet people - and I find this very encouraging.

On 9/23/2026 at 8:41 PM, macaroni21 said:

Does Thailand allow you an aggregate of 180 days per year?

Yes, to mitigate the potential taxation issue on your Assessable Income on money that you bring into Thailand - you should stay outside of Thailand for 183 days in a calendar tax year. Technically it is only 180 days - but I was advised to use 183 days instead.

13 hours ago, vinapu said:

congratulations !

Thank you! They are visiting tomorrow!

12 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

To be honest - my preference is to remain here in Jomtien - which is very easy as I would not need to do anything = status quo (lazy way out). But, after 4 years of living here - there is this constant gnawing feeling that won't leave me in peace. Each time there is a negative event that happens in my life here it returns in full force - hence this becomes the fuel that makes me want to see if the grass would be any greener in the other pond(s). Also, in my previous professional career, I was taught to continuously be on the lookout on ways to mitigate future negative outcomes and this learned behavior permeates into my current retiree life. So, I need to make this adventure in order to be able to give peace of mind to myself. Perhaps, at the end of this journey, I will discover that the "grass is as green as it gets" by just remaining in Jomtien and to accept and manage the negative things that I do not like about living here.

I intend to split my time between Pattaya (Jomtien) and in various locations in the Philippines - because I have still not yet found a location that meets my desired retirement location attributes, such as:

• Beach front living - but western facing for the amazing sunsets. Unfortunately, many places that I visited in the Philippines - the accommodation on the beach was east facing - so no amazing sunsets.

• A high floor with a big balcony - this I found to be very challenging - as it seems that the Philippine people are not balcony loving people like here in Thailand. If you do find a balcony, it is very small and somewhat dangerous due to it being too small.

• Decent access to some gay life - obviously nothing in the Philippines can match what Pattaya has on offer - especially in the Jomtien Complex Supertown. But I would be ok with just being able to hang out with the local gay community - which I have found that they tend to be informal meetups and of course there are always the apps. For example, 1 Cebuano guy created a new Telegram group last year, called anonymous cebu and already it has more than 5,000 members and they organize social events, hiking trips, game events, sightseeing, hookups, approved safe masseur list, dating advice, and many more categories. So, this is proof that the Filipino gay community is starved for something other than the apps to meet people - and I find this very encouraging.

Yes, to mitigate the potential taxation issue on your Assessable Income on money that you bring into Thailand - you should stay outside of Thailand for 183 days in a calendar tax year. Technically it is only 180 days - but I was advised to use 183 days instead.

Your doing the right thing, dont waste another 4 years staying put in Jomtien, you will be 70 before you know it , crawling up the Jomtien complex.and sitting there in those bars complaining about life

Do something with the time you have left , you have about 15-20 years ., the Philippines takes years to explore

Siargo, Bohol , the 🏝️ islands go on and on

On 9/23/2026 at 8:58 AM, zoomomancs said:

I was diagnosed with bladder cancer which had spread to my lungs in January. I managed one short trip to bkk in April before the chemo/immuno started. The good news was that the ct scan in August showed my lung tumours had reduced by 50%. After about 57 trips to Thailand in 16 years I miss it. Seize the day.

sending good wishes your way to best the thing and get you back to Thailand asap….who needs lungs anyway, the only body parts needed are cock and wallet