KhunLA

Producing enough to run the house; 1 AC (13k btu), TV / monitor (65"). laptop, 2 frigs. With excess recharging ESS. Negative scenario, as completely overcast ... again.

Proximity and familiarity rules with many when thinking about retirement. FL, Mexico, Caribbean, topped due to holidaying there. SEA, not even a thought of, until an off chance visit to TH, then had to rethink everything. South of the border (USA) was definitely tops, since I was fluent in Spanish (high school), and would take about 6 months to remember most of it.

So true. You can nitpick any location, as all have their negatives, but if you aren't involved, then irrelevant. Read the news & op-eds, and you'd never visit the USA without a kevlar suit. Or expect to be approached by hookers all day & nigh in TH. Only thing to worry about, is if 'kidnap' insurance is required in any country ????

Agree, and goes with all these silly surveys. But at least TH isn't #1, or top 5. Prior to and after retirement, my 'research', and more about cost & visa ease, and I was leaning toward Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Czech Rep, though not in any order. That's if leaving the USA, and FL was top / only choice, due to RE, tax, beaches, and familiarity of the state. Hurricane season was the deciding negative factor. No regrets with TH as choice, though ??? if I'd repeat. Relative to RE pricing in 2000, so irrelevant. If much younger I might change locations, but not at 67 years old, and quite settled here, with new house, and very happy.

Finally one we can almost agree on, in top 10. Mexico #1 makes sense, with USA & Canada so close and the obvious choice for them. Indonesia # 2 ... hmm Taiwan ? ... my ignorance shines Spain/Portugal ... for EU/UK crowd

You may want to consider a different brand system if not already vested in. Nikon is struggling, future, a bit uncertain. https://fortune.com/2022/07/12/nikon-quits-slr-market-smartphone-digital-mirrorless/ Our local BC still selling Nikon. Current equip ? Don't really notice since having Sony. Which our local BC, strangely has very little of. Seem to prefer Canon.

Using about 5kWh overnight, from ESS, and a bit more than I estimated. That's with intermittent use of AC, fan on all night, both in bdrm. Along with laptop, TV, int. router, and 2 frigs, as mandatory use. Laptop & TV off before midnight. During the day, 2 frigs of course, minimal lights, as lots of glass and ambient light. AC on all day, damn chilly. No panels on E roof, so don't start generating anything to note, until after 0700 hrs, then producing more than consuming. Kitchen: Gas range top, the rest is electric. Electric: 70L oven, toaster/conv oven, conv/air fryer, toaster, microwave, coffee machine & grinder. Most used daily. Others, not so much, stand mixer, blender, etc.

We're being conservative with usage, at the moment. Grid is turned off, via breaker between meter & house. Told by local vendor, meter is read at end of month, 28 or 29th, but until confirm, don't want to run meter below what was read. Use wise, very conservative, as only 1 AC (13 btu) installed at present, and we're quite busy with organizing the house, as just moved in a few days prior to installation. Weather has been almost constant overcast & rain, so excellent tester for negative conditions. Here's our usage, production / consumption.

Our system installed 4Aug, by Hua Hin based installer, house location - A. Muang, Prachuap Khiri Khan Components of: DEYE SUN-8K-SG01LP1-EU 8kw Single Phase Hybrid Solar inverter Priced (big range): Alibaba ฿55k (non manufacturer), not inc. shipping/duty ฿100k+ on AliExpress (not inc shipping/duty) ฿77k on LAZ, though photo close but not same No buyers SunTech Solar Panels: 18 @ 540w Price ? ... seen for ฿6500, installer charged ฿15k (฿7500 ea. 2X installed) over original contract, from 16 panels to 18 panels. 10kWh ESS / Battery back up, asked how much for a 2nd, if wanting to parallel in. Quoted: ฿95k DIY: Inverter: ฿77 +/+ ? Panels: 18 @ ฿6500 = ฿117k ESS: ฿95k TTL: ฿289k +/- for components Installed price: ฿345k - 4 man crew + mounts, tracks, cables, tools, knowledge AND ... warranty w/installer having 20 yrs installation experience (per website)

I'll be generous, and simply assume it's for the pollution. Many pre 'situation' worm masks outdoors & on scooters. BIB directing traffic a long standing example of that.

You would really have to be very tall, or very 'un-proportional' to not find clothes that fit here. I'm average, 175cm / 80ish kgs, and have no problem. Have been 100 kgs, still no problem. Only issue I have, if off the rack, w/18" neck and 48" jacket size, is their expectation of my waste to 50" plus ???? I like loose fitting clothes, but that's a bit much. Briefs are hard to find, and I don't bother. Stocked or have sent over from USA. Shoes/trainers are a challenge if large/long/wide feet, or wanting some arch support. Unless you know the brand, buy large, and expect shrinkage from the non pre-washed material used. Wife makes everything now, but no real issues in the past. Then of course, there are tailors pretty much everywhere, unless into the village life and never go to the metros.

For me, it would be legal. In USA airspace, then just before exited AC at first international airport for last leg to BKK. Only take enough for that 1 trip.

Certainly wouldn't be that zonked that I couldn't open the exit door/window. Probably much better suited for that task than most others, since highly seasoned traveler, and actually stay current with exit procedures and pay attention. Instead of what most do, ignore and or have never read the flyer in the seat pocket.

Made a butter run today. Actually a 'special' trip for, along with lite munch tester. Lite munch was so so, won't return. Butter, usual get during to/from Krung Thep as along the Hwy #4. Butter - 5kgs @ ฿1150 from a bakery supply shop, @ Sam Roi Yot Almost a bargain, if not adding the round about day out. Petrol ฿490, although without the scenic route, only 100kms Petrol ฿300 How's it compare to others for taste, haven't a clue. Taste great on bread or toast, so works just fine.

For myself, no consequences at all, health or legality. Danger to others, none from the window seat.

Don't really have any, besides a wee bit of common sense & moderation. Never smoked tobacco ... so that's easy. Ganga ... will be once (1 doobie) a month Sip alcohol on rare occasions, and rarely 1 L at any one sitting. Most foods, dining in house, made from scratch, and minimal processed meats, along with moderation. Multi & vit C to fill the gaps, w/ a wee bit of walking.

If choosing a 'metro' area N of Krung Thep, UT is pretty hard to beat. Does have a good mix of all things. Yet to find a better night market area in all of Thailand. Can live 15 minutes off the ring rd, and you'd never know the metro is there, with all the good & bad of any metro area.

Yea, I did watch 13 lives last night, wife fell asleep, and nothing new or exciting. Attempts to add some drama failed miserably. Only thing of interest, was a bit more details (if true) of just how far, deep in the cave the kid were. They were kind about the Thai 'side' of things, that the local news & internet, at the time was not. Highlighting the 'water from above' was interesting, again, if true to the degree shown. Waste of a few good actors, as they really had nothing to work with. If living here and followed the story as it happened, you may want to give it a pass. After binge watching 3 season of '24' this week, I needed a break. Nice pause in between S3 & 4.

Simply spend a wee bit more, and buy a proper, full size e-motorcycle, that can be registered, which start at 37k, (DECO brand) with removable battery for easy charging in condo/apt. Still not waterproof, though OK to ride through very 'small' puddles or damp road. I wouldn't ride in any rain (lite drizzle) for any length of time. You can get waterproof ones for about 40k. Guessing if one in OP had a decent lithium battery, then it was probably just shy of 30k anyway.

Not if you take as many as I do ... sleep like baby for solid 8 hrs ????

To my knowledge, no meds are banned on flights. Some not recommended, or to take care if you have health issues. The risk so minuscule, not worth mentioning. If OP gets that zonked out, and won't be able to function in an emergency, then simply do what I do, take a window seat. That will put him/her/it out of other psgrs way, trying to exit. The very few times flying economy, to Thailand, thanks to Vs, I've gotten a solid 8 hrs sleep. Literally impossible in an economy seat without meds. I don't take the window seat for anyone's safety, just so I'm not disturbed, awaken by whoever is in the middle or window seat when they need to use toilet.

People that want a trophy wife / GF, to show photo of, to the friends and family. Knew one guy couldn't wait to show his wife's photo to everyone. At the time, he saw her once a year for 2 weeks. ???? At least give the gals credit for being honest. They have no interest in have sex with 'you'. Told in advance, money only please. Do have to wonder how desperate, depressing that scenario is, to pay for privilege of having a trophy photo of someone. Give me a big ol' fat ugly gal that enjoys sex ... ????

Showed good use of the search function, since 12 yr old thread, and curious which restaurant they are vested in, pizza or Indian ... ???? A Robinson ... they have progressed since we were there. Wife and kid did the swans around the lake, and aquarium, the latter a bit depressing. I sat across the street from lake eating banana splits ... and that's about it. There's a few town in the NE that can be seen in a few hours, or less than 1. Many moons ago, so maybe so have grown since. NE = self entertain ... not a negative, just a reality.