gk10012001

So is anybody planning on using Thailand new crypto usage plane for tourists so they can use crypto in Thailand presumably for hotels and other places that get plugged into the system? Also, wonder if transferring in crypto will be part of the assessible income thing they now are doing for long stay expats?

Seems like putting solar panel on top of one's car would add a measurable amount of charge over the course of a day's usage or while parked outside?

This eagle scout and ex USAF captain born in 1957 lost all faith in these branches of government when they came up with the name of "Department of Homeland Security". Homeland...... Stalinist Russia terminology,

That really does seem to be the simplest approach and least paperwork. I would prefer to not keep that amount of money overseas but I can easily afford it. The reasons I would not prefer to keep that much out of the USA are: 1: Have to report anything over 10,000 USD if overseas. Not difficult to do, just prefer not to 2: My line of engineering work on US Defense contracts would require me to answer yes to a few questions and possibly complicate my security clearance investigations. Once I fully retire and no longer maintain my clearances my preference to avoid this goes away. 3: Well, the money if kept in my USA accounts would earn a measurable amount dividend or interest if I kept it invested. 4: Lastly, the money is overseas. It may or may not be easy to re patriate the money back to the USA should I desire or need to do that

They lose faith now? For over a century Thailand has had handful of coups. The last time they had a mostly legitimate PM, Thaksin, who was re-elected, he was then overthrown. The people simply can not come together. Often I have heard them say "we need a strong leader". Well, granted a strong leader can often get things done, but the danger is autocracy sets in. The last long running guy said he took over because Thailand was paralyzed.

My Etrade reimburses instantaneously at least it used to. It does the ATM usage fee. Doesn't do the international fee anymore

Thanks. I have rarely used paypal except for some minor donations 'ot use those so was not aware of much especially how they do international things

The website Rome to Rio has an amazing amount of information about trains, buses, etc. Not sure how up to date it is, but I have found it useful as a starting point

I would add that for several expats, UK USA, the big inconvenience was their embassies stopping issuing income affidavits. That forced people to do the other methods, deposit 800k, make monthly transfers et al.

Who says safety is one of their concerns? Chinese group travel agents? Surveys of travelers?

I have run into quite a few seniors on my trips to Pattaya. One or two seemed to have a reasonably competent Thai lady looking after them for the help they needed for routine things. No idea on the old guys medical needs. None seemed really obvious as we chatted a few times in the lobby or the hotel lobby.

I hear you sir. Luckily my MOM lived to 92 but did not need constant care. Lost some mental faculties of course but bless my now jack in the box donkey sister and brother in law who took her in and let her live with them her last 12 years. She still did the laundry, ran the dishwasher etc. Couldn't cook much as she tended to leave the stove on, the refrigerator not all the way shut as she coudn't hear the beeping from the door open etc. But she made sandwiches, could use the microwave, the keurig machine etc. Our family got lucky, I fear my youngest sister is going to need care as her drug and drinking background is catching up with her and she has the signs of going crazy as one of my great aunts did.

yeah. My first trip was in 2004. 15 visits since. Almost bought a condo in December 2004. 1 million baht at the time with an exchange rate of 40 to 1 USD. No idea how things would have turned out. Now that I am semi retired I still doubt I will spend more than 179 days in country. Can't see the risk of buying anything at my age to boot 68

For years I thought this could be a booming business. Labor is relatively cheap in Thailand. medical care can be OK although nurses education and training are not recognized in most western countries, certainly not in the USA.

yeah. sometimes simple ways are the best way. I will probably do the same and just withdraw the cash and then deposit it. Of course depending on ones visa and extension, this may not show that the funds came from overseas transfers which is required by immigration to show right?

ah the Thai baht has been worse. A few years ago it was as low as 29. Of course back in 2004, my first trip it was 44 to 1 USD. Real loss in buying power. I am not aware of any big safety changes.

being new to this sort of thing and having only just used Zelle once this week for the first time and was impressed with how fast and easy Zelle was, I wondered if one can use zelle to transfer money to thailand? So some quick research: While Zelle doesn’t work internationally, you don’t have to worry if you want to send money overseas. For international payments, Zelle alternatives include PayPal, WorldRemit, Wise, Revolut, Remitly, and TransferGo.

Here in the states an engineer co worker of mine has a large solar system, starting off grid etc. He says so many panels one buys on line are actually used panels. So be careful of what you get and that you can verify its usage history as truly new or used

Love your name. being greek I am well aware of Eratosthenese

I am on medicare now for two years. used it once. It was OK . I was traveling and out of state and went to an ER in Baton Rouge. Service was great. For some reason I still got a 128 dollar bill from the hospital despite my advantage plans but that's fine. One can disenroll from medicare part B at anytime. Of course if you re enroll you are charged 10 % more for the premiums for each 12 month period you did not pay. What would be fair would be to not have to pay Medicare premiums when overseas for say some three month period or more since you can't use it overseas. That would be a fair compromise between just stopping and starting it at ones convenience. Now, even though you can't use it when overseas, nothing is technically stopping you from getting back to the USA and then use it. As for Tricare versus Medicare. I would also add VA general medical benefits that are not available to so many veterans now that are separated but not full retired. heck they have like 8 groups of eligibility now and I can not even apply.

yeah. the danger of any type of subscription these days. They can and often change things, usually in agreement with the fine print on the contracts unfortunately

born in 57 in the usa. Early cars my parents drove had no seat belts. When I was about 14 I often rode with my neighbors in their car and they all used seat belts. So I started using them then. Their Dad was in the army reserves and maybe such things were required or expected. Anyway of course it is a great idea and glad I learned. I have been in two accidents, not my fault, and the seat belt saved me a lot of injury. Actually the seat and shoulder belt was the best. Thais... well, they are not taught much in driving school class if they even go to one. I remember my driver education class when I was nearing 16. seeing photos of heads smashed into windshields, bloody messes from accidents being shown. I doubt they show such things in education classes now.

Accurately or not, I have no doubt that various agencies will share or try to share various information for all sorts of reasons and from all sorts of sources. The data is electronic and just waiting to be pushed or pulled somewhere

yes i agree. It is usually better to file the 1040 and close things out. It can come in handy sometimes later if you need to prove to some agency how little you make say, as if you were applying for some benefits or aid or whatever. My mom's only income was meager Social Security and she never filed a 1040. Became a bit of an issue when she was trying to show how little she gets when applying for various things like free hearing aids, grocery allotment etc. Had to show proof of not having income. . Yes technically and properly many people do not need to file a 1040. Up to you as they say in thailand. My Social security alone is well over the no need to file threshold plus I do have IRAs and other holdings in my regular brokerage account and in a few years will hit the Required Minimum Distribution RMD age and will have to withdraw monies from my Traditional IRA which was a roll over IRA from all my various company 401k pre tax monies.