KhunLA

I'd guess 6 out of 9 attempts to use my debit card, failed, so I cancelled the card. Also BkkBank and about 3 yrs old. I just wait till I see no customers when driving by, and pop in. Only 1 branch in town now, since they closed the one at Lotus's mall, which was convenient, since there on most Tuesdays for my Swensen's fix. Strangely, I can transfer it out to wife's account via app. So she'll still have access after I crap out, and plants me in the garden

@itooktheredpill Once account established, no prob withdrawing the 65k as you need. I do the 65 monthly income extension, and every 3 or 4 months, I make a withdrawal, so the balance doesn't exceed $10k USD worth, so avoid need to file FBAR w/USA IRS. You can withdrawal any time if you wish. USA Soc Sec doesn't allow ATM withdrawals, at least mine didn't when opened, so don't bother with having ATM card on the account (BB). Some months it worked, but most months it did not. So I cancelled, since have to go in anyway, when it failed. Rather annoying. Then read new-blip stating Soc Sec doesn't allow. How consistent that policy is enforced, I don't know, but surely others may chime in to confirm or tell me I'm wrong. YMMV

Haven't a clue ... as dog woke me at midnight, when people started popping off whatever they were. Watch ICONSIAM's on YT ... amazing. Uncharacteristically fell asleep around 9:30, after a doobie & a full moon dark. Watched Dave Chappelle, and opening joke was excellent, but went down hill from there.

over with .. but:

Future of EVs ... hopefully for us, nothing changes. As we saved ฿47,8k the first year owning, and half our kms were on the road.

Actually, we explore a lot more now locally, within that 125 km radius, being it free to venture out. Hint: solar

Yep, use to be a weekly stop, and a wasted 10 minutes & 1000-1500 baht gone for the luxury of being able to add to the local air pollution. 10 mins X 52 weeks = 8.6 hr waiting around to waste money Now I spend that 50k baht on something I actually want.

Not that this has anything to do with EVs, but yea, can't remember last time I did much to my ICEVs, as there's so much crap you have to remove to get to anything. Labor is so cheap here/TH, I didn't even bother with oil changes, though dealer says 'if' I do them, voids the warranty. Not sure how true, but not worth knocking my knuckles for what it cost to have them do here. Total scam, but don't care. Remember they sold oil with advert of how long it lasted, now it's every 10k kms Sell sell sell. Oil is so clean when I check the level it's hard to read. What a scam. Oh wait, that does make it on topic. No oil changes w/EVs

There really isn't much to motivate Yanks & Canucks to come to TH. I can think of more negatives than positives. Give them 90 day visa free + extension, and still don't see the numbers increasing. Doubt if many would make a repeat visit. Think on best years, only 1+M Yanks came here. Paltry numbers for a country of 350M population. UK about the same, just shy of 1M, but 1/5 the population. Distance & cost matters. Canada's #s apparently not even worth mentioning. ASEAN & E. Asia made up 2/3 of 2019's tourist.

No, haven't but this is way too cool ...

Agree Just amazed me how someone, who doesn't know much about me, tells me what 'I need'. Even after I explained in details, why I don't. Mind boggling Almost the first 2 years here/TH, I didn't own a car, and lived in a village 15 kms out of town, and managed quite well. Even traveling the length of the country. UT-BKK-CM-Phuket on numerous trips via air & ground (train/bus) transport. Hopping from beach to beach down the W Gulf coast was rather easy, from Cha Am to Chumphon. Even back then. On Topic ... no Glock needed or allowed unless a young female at the hands of drunken train employee ... ... discussion for another thread.

You just don't stop ... do you understand the true meaning of 'need' = must have. Due to more than enough public trans, at every location I ever 'needed' to be, that means, I never 'needed' to own a car. And if you really want get picky, my first 2 damn good jobs, 1 was along the rail line & bus, though I walked unless raining, instead of bus. Train was actually faster & cheaper. And the 2nd, I walked to/from, until a bought a car ... for convenience. That's from the house I grew up in, which I purchased at 27 yrs old. There was 2 factories right across the street I could have worked in, as brother & friends did. So could easily remained in that '15 minute city' all my life. Just preferred not to, and owned cars, trucks, MCs, bikes for convenience. Could easily walk to the shopping mall from that house. So I really never needed a car. Same as here, it's a convenience, and an expensive one at that, considering the % of monthly funds needed to own a decent one, when total monthly bills without a car, could be in the 20k baht range. Our petrol car here cost about 10k to own & operate. So not exactly a small ticket item, taking up 1/3 of a monthly budget. Please don't bother replying again, as I'll ignore you.

Extending Songkran, as if drought conditions aren't at their worst already at that time of year. Let's waste some more water

We also have an Asgatec and going on 10+ years use. Not so much now, but quite a bit of use at house in Udon Thani / 7 years. Having a hedge wall around most of the 2 rai.

I could have taken public transportation to just about anywhere, if not everywhere I ever needed to be. At worse, a taxi or rent a car, for the very rare instances, if any, that were a necessity, not along public trans route. Location dependent of course. With that, vehicle ownerships is a luxury for convenience. That's not considering use of a bicycle. Never 'needed' a car, though quite different from 'wanting & having', since I do enjoy my O&As. Don't need one here, as I could train & taxi to a convenient airport, then fly to Phuket or where ever, and taxi to beach areas. Just more 'convenient' & enjoyable for me to self drive. But not necessary. Actually know a couple people that have never owned a car, in USA, and quite strange to me. Many expats here do not own transport, as it is a huge monthly expense. Instead use baht bus system, especially at Hua Hin & Patts, as you see them loaded up at times from shopping at chain markets, so no tourist. Part of the reason they settled there, I would think. I personally wouldn't be without 1 or 2-3 modes of transport. Having 4 now, car, mb, ebike, pedal bike. Had as many as 7 in USA at 1 time, only 1 being a pedal bike, rest all petrol machines. In my silly days, one for every occasion, work, comfy, play, play & play ON TOPIC ... as always, better to have Glock, if and when needed, than not. Although, same as 4 wheels, never really needed. Simply enjoyed having.

Just too many people & congestion. Main reason I gave it a break about 13 yrs ago. Only returned during covid & truly BLISS. June this year, and back to why I stopped going years ago. And that's off season and still way too many for me.

That's why I usually get pepperoni pizzas, adding lots of 'flavor' so I can forget, forgive them for not using quality (expensive) cheeses. You really do need a hot pizza oven to get the cheese cooked just right. Why I get better results at home when using the 2 step method. Cast iron on the hob, to crust up the bottom, then highest temp in over, and directly under the heating elements (broiler) to melt the cheese and get some crusting on the top ingredients. With a careful eye not to burn.

And the trolls of course ... for the never ending clicks

If you can afford to buy a nice home in a nice area, then why would you need or want a reverse mortgage. They are designed more for people who actually need money in their later years.

Better to have and not need as they say. I was a manager of a couple high volume petrol stations, and had to make daily bank deposit for the one. The other, armored truck picked up, as not in a good hood. Which I had to drive through. Sticking out like white on rice. Car jackings weren't a thing back than, but no worries with the POSs I drove. But some idiot might realize my routine and think I'm carrying money. I was a truck driver, long & short. I was a slum lord, and self employed (chimney sweep) that took me to some shady areas. And lived in a couple houses while rehabbing them. So yes, having some protection seemed like common sense to me. Again, never truly needed.

Yep, from PHL, MEM, DTW, I could be in S. FL or Caribbean Is, or Yucatan.. in less time than it takes to clear USA air space from PHL, then it's another 12-18 hr to BKK. Planes arriving from E coast coming in late, so always had to overnight (slept at DMK mostly) and took next AM flight to Udon Thani, when I was commuting, or to Phuket, the 2X I was actually on holiday. Another 8 hrs before being where I wanted to be. I got the BKK-NYC TG flight one time, what a treat. Even though I had to catch another to PHL, it was worth it. Surprised, sort of, that didn't last very long, and shows how little interest there was for New Yorkers to go to TH. Between TG & UA, just a couple trips, got just enough miles for a free flight in USA, and a nice stay at Sheraton BKK Suk. Although had to pay the 7% tax at Sheraton, which cost about the same as my usual hotel stay in BKK Great pool area at the Sheraton. Hotel probably dated now, with all the newer ones.

Democracy doesn't exist in the USA, by design. Per the Constitution, it is a 'Constitutional Republic'. Learn the difference and you will stop expecting to be a democracy.

I've had a few; 22 25 9mm 38auto 38 357 22L .223 35 7mm 7.5mm 7.62 39mm 8mm 12 gauge

terrified ... that's what you got from my post quite the imagination