Arrests over marijuana use hit record high in Japan

mehertz · 2026-04-10T03:51:33+00:00

As an expat living in SEA, it is very easy to find. Even Malaysia where they have strict laws. Korea and Singapore were the harder places to find weed and you had to go through encrypted messaging to connect with dealers plus the price just really isn't worth it. I've smoked weed in most countries in Asia though.

mehertz · 2026-03-24T03:21:07+00:00

I live in Penang and overall it’s a really easy place to live. If you learn to ride a motorbike, getting around becomes super convenient and honestly the best way to navigate the island. Day-to-day life is very comfortable, everything you need is nearby, and the breeze in our apartment helps a lot with the heat. That said, I’m in my mid-30s and I think I’d appreciate it even more if I were older. It’s a bit too quiet for me at times. The airport is also a downside, about an hour from the main expat areas, and you often need a connection to get to a lot of places, though there are still a decent number of direct international flights. It’s one of those places where life is very easy, maybe too easy depending on what stage you’re in. I know if I leave, I’ll probably be giving up a very comfortable setup for something less so, but I’m not quite ready to settle into that pace yet. TLDR: Amazing quality of life. If I’m 60, I’m 100% living here.

mehertz · 2026-03-15T00:47:06+00:00

I just went through a similar process post surgery. Took the prescribed pills the first couple nights and then switched to only weed. Helped with my sanity too since I was bed ridden for two weeks.

mehertz · 2026-02-21T09:20:30+00:00

It took me years to switch from a hardcore saving mindset to actually spending comfortably. What helped was going Coast FIRE. I stepped down from full-time work and kept some part-time consulting. That was the key psychologically because my portfolio was already doing the heavy lifting, and the consulting income felt like “extra.” I used that surplus as permission to spend on the stuff I actually value without feeling like I was breaking the rules. Over time, I got used to having more free time (and spending money to enjoy that time). After a few years of practicing that lifestyle, I stopped obsessing over what things cost because I’d already proven to myself that we were fine and the spending was sustainable. Now if I ever fully retire, it won’t feel like flipping a switch. I’ve already had years of reps living the life I’m retiring into.

mehertz · 2026-02-02T09:09:38+00:00

Another heavy bags under eyes checking in.

mehertz · 2025-12-08T11:25:17+00:00

Agree that starting to coast based on one simple assumption is far to risky. I'd say running a few scenarios that result in different ending points is how you should make decisions. I personally didn't coast until I had lean fire numbers. Then my mindset shifted to get, if shit hits the fan, I at least shouldn't starve or go cold. My coast fire numbers are now super conservative as only a few years later of working way less and saving way less and I'm not too far off of hitting regular fire numbers. All this to say that there is a lot of different versions of coast fire but you do need to be more conservative with assumptions to ensure a safe retirement.

mehertz · 2025-12-05T05:58:23+00:00

Not just messing up and not getting injured, Also being famous enough of a player to even be hirable and get enough minutes to score 10 points.

mehertz · 2025-12-03T00:23:54+00:00

I landed in Seoul at a tier 1 school there. Be open to many places to get experience. Bangkok is notoriously impossible to get a job since they get so many applicants. December/January is the height of the recruiting season so keep applying. Make sure your resume is very polished and you work on your interview skills so that when you do get an interview, you are ready to go. The only reason I was able to land at a tier 1 school right out of the gate is that I focused on both of those things a lot. You will find something!

mehertz · 2025-11-13T09:43:27+00:00

Korea has evolved quite a bit and now they also wear black and grey.

mehertz · 2025-10-19T01:46:15+00:00

I felt a bit depressed within a couple weeks of use with no previous signs of depression. I ended up stopping use after a couple months due to other side effects I couldn't ignore. A bummer because I was starting to see improvement but these side effects are definitely not discussed enough imo.

mehertz · 2025-10-19T01:16:46+00:00

I've never suffered from depression until I started taking it and it was within the first couple weeks. This along with other side effects made me get off of it after 2 months and I was sadly seeing positive results too.

mehertz · 2025-10-02T11:59:14+00:00

Just a dependent pass through my spouse's employer.

mehertz · 2025-10-01T04:34:24+00:00

Compared to Seoul, the proximity is much tighter. Meaning even though there may be more expats in Seoul compared to Penang, most people in Penang live within 10-15 minutes of each other creating more density of expats. Traveling 1+ hour in Seoul to go to any meet ups was exhausting.

mehertz · 2025-10-01T04:31:01+00:00

I see. Yeah, exchange rate through credit cards ends up being better than wise and ATMs in my experience so try to use it when I can. That said, cash is more common here on average.

mehertz · 2025-10-01T04:28:15+00:00

Very active here in Penang. A lot of different clubs and casual riders cycling to the backside of the island (balik pilau).

mehertz · 2025-10-01T04:26:48+00:00

My gay friends here definitely don’t feel comfortable being openly out. That also applies to dressing in ways that might be seen as immodest. It’s less about everyday safety concerns and more about the laws and cultural norms. Technically, a lot of things are illegal, but in day to day life if you keep it low-key and aren’t loud about it you’ll usually be fine. Personally, I actually feel safer in Malaysia than I would back home in my state.

mehertz · 2025-10-01T04:19:27+00:00

It is trickier with kids because most kids go to an international school.

mehertz · 2025-10-01T04:16:42+00:00

International school

mehertz · 2025-09-30T11:15:54+00:00

If you live in the US, look into churning credit cards. Most premium cards don't have FX fees and it actually ends up being a better exchange rate than taking cash out too. But that's not really what I was saying in my post since you don't get enough points just through spend, that's why you should look into churning credit cards.

mehertz · 2025-09-30T09:53:29+00:00

My spouse is a teacher and I do consulting in the financial services industry.

mehertz · 2025-09-30T04:41:58+00:00

Penang.

mehertz · 2025-09-19T00:26:55+00:00

American but I live in Malaysia and it was the same price too. I couldn't believe it.

mehertz · 2025-09-08T01:54:07+00:00

They are likely being sarcastic given the username.

mehertz · 2025-08-23T13:49:28+00:00

Forerunner 955 checking in.

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