[Mac]

What I really like about this board is that most of the postings give me cause to think. I agree with what Mike says except that I think I was already in the frame to become a Thailand groupie even before I had ever been to LOS.

When I was young I thought life should be a certain way. My dream was to have a successful career, a girl who loved me, a couple of charming children, and a solid bunch of friends. For a while it all worked out but after 14 years of marriage the strain of managing a "successful career" which actually meant 08:00 to 22:00 at grindstone, having no soul, and a bored feckless wife, proved too much. Divorce was inevitable. Despite the fact that she had run off with another man and deserted the family she still got most of the money and the children. I felt betrayed. The dream was vapour. I had also begun to despise European women.

Thailand was a healing panacea. Disneyland yes. But something else as well. In Thailand you are stripped of your pretentions. No-one knows or cares about the machinations of your career. The status symbols which seemed so important in England are not carried across the culture gap. Who cares if you buy Armani shirts when you can get a "genuine" copy for 500 Baht. I found the whole experience exhilerating and life changing. All that really matters in LOS is how you behave. Most Thai people think you are already stupid so anything you do which makes you appear less stupid is a blessing to them.

I do not know about relationships with BG's. But I definitely have a relationship with Thailand. I am sure that there are many worms under the stones if you turn them over but that is true in any country. I like the pace of life, I like Mai Pen Rai.

On balance Thailand has returned my soul and restored my faith in women. The European people I have met have been broad minded and "jai dee". The girls are kind hearted for the most part and have none of the neuroses I see so much of in London.

Short of screwing me up Thailand has rearranged my priorities. It is only difficult because those new priorites are not compatible with a rat race, money focused, materialistic existence in England...