kokesaat

เข้าใจบ่ [เข้า - ใจ - บ่อ] แปลว่า เข้าใจไหม Often seen as part of Isaan-speak. The first time I saw บ่ I thought for sure it was a spelling mistake. Now I know it's a shortened version of บ่อ

Google translate. Although I can read and write Thai, I'm an amateur. So I regularly use Google translate, mostly for onesy words, but on occasion for complete sentences.

Having been here for 25 years and seeing how things change (exchange rates, various government rules affecting pensions/cola, etc), my advice would be: If you come here at 60, be prepared to go without your pension. If you can't live without the pension, then you're probably better off where you are. If you end up receiving a pension at the expected age, then that'll be gravy. I came here at 46. The doom and gloomers in the US have long predicted the demise of the social security program in the US. When I turned 62, I started receiving social security. That was, and continues to be, gravy. But there's no telling what will happen in the next few years/decades. At the very least, have a plan B (escape plan).

"Also, as everybody knows: Nobody can directly ask Google anything. Google is like God. Communication only goes one way. God speaks and we listen. But when we speak, Google, like God, seems not to listen." There are options out there.....Tutanota. Posteo. StartMail. Runbox. Mailfence. CounterMail. Proton Mail. Mailbox.org. Haven't heard of them? Gmail is a free service for most all their users.....if they want to enforce 2 step verification to protect their business model, that's their call.

I've yet to hear of a US citizen whose passport was lost in the mail upon renewal. Renewal by mail is a sign of the times.......and, in my opinion, a welcome one.

I've been using gmail exclusively for over 10 years....desktop, 2 mobile phones, laptop.....in Thailand and during multiple long vacations to the US. Sometimes I'll draft an email on my laptop while I'm having breakfast........snap my laptop shut......and go to my desktop to resume drafting my email. If my desktop or laptop recognize my face, my gmail account is where I left off. If I use my fingerprint on my mobile, my gmail account is where I left off. I don't have to do 2 step authentication unless I sign out on one of my devices. I'm a fan of 2 step......on my bank accounts, on vanguard, on my military retiree accounts for medical/pay, on social security. Two weeks ago I established an ID.me account to make access to all my military related accounts easiere. To establish that account, I had to sit through a zoom session where I showed my passport photo and US drivers license as proof of my identity. It wasn't as simple as holding up the photo page of my passport, as the interviewer has me move the photo page to help her observe all areas of that page. Same with the license. I'm getting ready to close on a house in the US......but I'll be in Thailand. I can do it over zoom after verifying my identity and allowing our daughter to sign the paperword. 2 step verification.....a sign of the times. If it helps protect my accounts/identity, I'm all for it

Thank god for tech. Our daughter reports that the closing will be done via Zoom, so no POA necessary. I suppose it's similar to my recent experience obtaining an ID.me account.....after applying, I had a zoom call to verify my US drivers license and passport photos/info. FWIW.......the embassy had only early morning appointments available......that meant we'd have to fly up night before. Today my wife and I digitally signed the contract for the house......again, something we could not have done from Thailand not so many years ago.

Thanks for the insight.. ACS has very limited appointments, especially if within the next few weeks. I'm hoping Texas won't require witnesses.

Thanks for the reply

We are planning for our daughter to do a real estate transaction for us and need to figure out the mechanics of obtaining a power of attorney that would allow her to act on our behalf. - Do I have to obtain the POA here, probably through the US Embassy (American Citizen Services)? - Is there a way to do the POA electronically/digitally signed? - If I need to do the POA through the embassy, can I walk into ACS or do I need an appointment?