An advantage to travelling rather light is that I can pretty much move at the drop of a hat. This includes various reasons like growing tired of a place, price increases due to tourist opportunities (it's generally a buyer's market, though, because of Covid), a better location, or a better deal.

I previously wrote about 2 of my previous moves, with photos of both places: Islander Update and My New Digs In Phuket. Briefly, after four months in my original Phuket place, I moved to a little mini-villa with its own private little pool. I went from a measure of socialization fatigue to isolation. After three months I decided to move back and just manage my encounters better....To not be so available for frequent interruption.

But then the government happened and began allowing people to enter Thailand again, provided they're fully "vaccinated," plus jumped through a ton of hoops, plus stay in a so-called "SHA+" hotel for their initial 2 weeks. What's the difference between a hotel and an SHA+ hotel? It's an opportunity for what's called "rent seeking," where businesses have various advantages over their competition granted by government. It's typically done with licenses, permits, designations, etc. So, an artificial market is created to boost prices above what the market will otherwise bear.

I don't blame my friend the owner for taking advantage of it—he's suffered for 18 months through government "helping" in the exact opposite way. But, for me, paying more than double from one month to the next wasn't going to happen. I found a new place, but should have spent more time and effort on that. I quickly knew it was not for me. Markedly, I'm a guy who's pretty cheary when I get up in the morning—before I've had a chance to fuck up the day...

For the first time ever, I was a bit depressed every morning and couldn't shake it. But I hate to shop. I asked the girl if she could find me a new place and in about 2 days, Bingo! Thai owner of a 2-story, 2-bedroom, 2 bath townhome in a gated development. It's on the market for sale for about $150K, but so are a lot of other places all over. In the interim, she's renting it to me for 12,000 baht per month ($350). I'll have 30-day notice to move if she sells it.

Accordingly, I moved yesterday from my mistake—10 KM back here to Rawai where I love it—even with 6 days of paid rent still on the books.

Wanna see?