@Ellen ************

One last question; I'm rather curious. Since you're so authoritative, do you actually live in Thailand or have you spent much time there?

@Peter ******

OK, yes I agree that it is often the case, but I also believe that it is often not. I would agree with "many", but not necessarily with "most." Also, I don't think that there is anything unique about Thailand or relationships between Thai women and farang men. I've seen many situations where an American woman is mostly interested in the wealth of an American man (and in one case, vice versa), but I also know of many where the money is irrelevant. I don't think that we can generalize.

@Ellen ************

Frankly, I'm rather pleased that we have no common ground.

@Richard **************

You said, "if your support ever has to be cut off for whatever in life happens, so will the relationship and that's the fact you cannot dispute." Yes, I certainly can dispute it. The fact that your woman was with you only for the money does not reflect well on you. Yes, it's certainly a flaw in her character, but it's also indicative that you may have little else to offer. Personally, I have no doubt that if I lost every penny, my wife would take care of me for the rest of my life. We are bonded by more than money.

@Ellen ************

Not all Thais are desperately impoverished, although that seems to be your conclusion. Many manage to live quite comfortably even though not rich by Western standards. You comment, "but the money makes all the difference in the world for them" is undoubted true in many cases, but it is not a universal truth. Money is not the prime motivating factor for absolutely everyone. You claim to have "a fair and even hand", but then Fox News claims to be "fair and balanced."

@Peter ******

All of your suspicion about the motives of women makes me wonder if, perhaps, you have had numerous bad experiences with Thai women or women in general. My observation has always been that when a man has had bad experiences with several women, Occam's Razor would indicate that the fault more likely lies with the man rather than with the several women.

@Ellen ************

and you accuse others of "arrogance"? Look in a mirror.

@Tony *********

The relationships between any two people are often transactional.

@Peter ******

You may think that it's "a fact", but I disagree. It may be true in many cases, but that does not make it a universal fact. If you view everything in such simplistic terms, then you aren't being honest with yourself.

@Richard **************

Ah, another cynic. I'm retired and for the first couple of years in the US, I did support my wife. However, she soon decided that she wanted to work and she now generates more that half our combined income. She would be just fine without me. And no, she's not working just for the money; she's working because she loves to be doing something.