CMX

If I'm in the neighbourhood of Rimping Mee Chok (North), I'd instead drive directly to the Sausage King workshop and store (now well mapped on their advertisement here).  Mis-labeling is out of the question there, Rimping's markup is avoided, and I've even experienced a discount for Thai Visa Members.  I select what I like, of course, at its price.

If I supposed that 'retirement' should be equated to 'waiting to die,' I'd suppose that working is fulfillment, rather than embarking on a vast (if necessarily incomplete) exploration of the self and our planet and all of our worthwhile human works and thoughts.

I don't see the point in using a credit card when cash or another instrument such as a debit card will serve.  I admit, that (if paying off the balance of the card when due) you get to use their money for some weeks, but you're charged a ton if you're a day late in paying out the account.  Basically, merchants are saying that their business depends for profit upon cash, banks charge them a percent, and they're passing that charge on to the customer, me, who is trying to borrow money for some days for free.

Best we can do is to keep each other informed, as is the case here.

There are many who will tell you to avoid agents, as they charge a month's rent and are principally working for the owner.  However, just taking a look at rental houses in this city via Google will allow you to develop a list of realitors.  My own walked me through half a dozen places, and during the second year negotiated the rent downward, knowing that I'd search elsewhere.  Also they provided a 'standard' contract in both Thai and English and acted as intermediary for every concern I've had (not many).

It remains in this town a renters' market for houses.

As you look at these offerings for houses, you'll note the term 'gated' given.  A telephone call (skype?) will allow agents to indicate if the places are secure - or less so.  Perhaps best to take a residence-hotel for a week or two and apply to these agents for showings.  Remember that as the market is soft, asking prices may well be negotiable.

Some moobahn are very well secured.  I visited one where, after one big iron gate is opened, you drive forward to the guard room where at least two guards are on duty.  Before you is another iron gate, so you are trapped.  Have to have your own card - or talk to the guard.  High walls ring the development.  Going out is of course just reversed.  In another moobahn the main gate is always guarded by at least three chaps, and going beyond leads you to a further guarded gate for your own group of houses.  There are patrols (on motorbikes) plus, yes, the neighbors.

Certainly there are places where the guard situation have been reduced or cancelled, but there are many reliable examples of the opposite.

You'll know, of course, that only Thais can own land.

Well, if I'm following the evolution of shield solutions here, tinted shields can get me a fine but sunglasses are less likely to do so, or maybe not at all.

If I had to guess, I'd suppose that BIB would be most likely to pay attention to mirrored and blackend shields (especially way down south), as they cannot identify the rider?  Certainly here in CM, many motorbike riders on weekdays wear tinted shields, of those that have them.  Police at static posts are still stopping those without helmits at all, so far.