I don't know where he lives, but that's a funny coincidence.
As for subscribing, if you visit a thread, and make a comment, you're subscribed. You will receive and email regarding the next post following yours. If you then visit the thread, you will receive an email of the next post after your visit, regardless of whether you comment or not. There are threads that are exceptions to that. The "Positive Feedback" thread under "Buy and Sell" is an exception. If you "subscribe" by posting, you'll continue to receive emails of new posts.
Also, if you don't visit a thread you're subscribed to for a while, you'll receive a random email now and again.... just a notice of a new post on the thread. Sort of a reminder that you were subscribed. If you still don't visit for a while, you might not receive anything additional until you visit again. I don't know exactly the protocol, but that's been my experience.