I wrote:
I only bother to call them if I am enroute somewhere with a plan. Otherwise I take off (on the edge of a MATZ) depart and don't talk to a sausage.....It's a whole new way of flying to me, and I must say it is very enjoyable....
But just to add to this, when I fly in the USA in places like the LA Basin, I ALWAYS ask for Radar service (unless I'm in a funky aircraft with a TIS)....This is because the risk of collision there is what I would call relatively high, it has happened before and everyone I know who flies there has had a "close call" at some time....including me.....