We all have our ways, values, and beliefs.

Why not just buy a roll of butcher paper, and cut squares to wrap your purchases with? The machines, and energy to cut those, the glue manufactured to make them bags, and the ink used to make them pretty seem to defeat the purpose.

Plain butcher paper. Cut squares to take shopping with you. Wrap your purchases to bring home.

@Pygo *******

Spent a nice 20 minutes or so sitting on the corner, drinking a beer and watching Krabi police set up an inspection station right in front of the police kiosk on Thanon Utarkit. Pulled over everybody that passed without helmets. Did not see any impounded bikes though.

I had a similar experience on my last visit. With or without VPN on an AIS simcard I could not get voice calls to work anywhere, but the messaging part worked fine over wifi.

@Dave ********

Thanks for the reply Dave. on my last visit I bought a $100 unlocked phone on amazon and used that with an AIS tourist sim. worked well on its own, and as a hotspot for my main phone. My IDP will have my motorcycle endorsement. Motorcycle will be an added luxury in time, but even as a rider for 40+ years, I am not sure I would want to ride in some of the busier parts of Bangkok!

@Dawn *********

The thread has branched out in quite a few directions. I think i mentioned it somewhere, but looking for the outskirts of Bangkok initially. quieter, access to BTS /MRT, a 7 /11 and some street food. looked around OnNut last trip, and google map exploring areas along the purple line extension as well. I dont need the tourist attractions on my doorstep. At home now i live in a 50sqm loft. I drive my car once a week on average, bike to work and use public trasport. and don't mind putting some walking miles into the day. It gets as hot here as Thailand but without so much humidity. I think i can continue to be a homebody in a small space in Thailand. Pension will be plenty to cover expenses and some weekend explorations, and my earliest social security draws if wanted or needed will be only a few years behind, and would consider a little more lavish and scenic location then.

@Brandon ***********

I was confusing purchasing re entry at airport with the extention.

@Terary *********

I can't vouch for my success, but again I think learning the language would be a great challenge and rewarding. If I cannot work, may not be able to volunteer, and don't have the urge to be a bar fly, I think it would be good to have school, and take advantage of the daily opportunities to use the language I am learning.

@Braulio ********

Hello Braulio. I am sure you meant well, but maybe you could rephrase your comment? It does not seem to answer any of my questions or bring clarity.

@Terary *********

I am over 50 now, waiting until my daughter's age off my company health insurance. I have traveled around Thailand a little, and being a pretty quiet person as well as a soon to be retired person I am looking at the suburbs/outskirts of Bangkok for the first year and possibly doing a Ed visa and language school. Not out of need, but going from a 40 hr workweek to nothing and being somewhere new at the same time may be a little much. Having the structure and schedule of classes would suit me well.

Thanks Chuck. I have motorcycle endorsements on my license.