I have heard excellent things about Thailand. It is blazingly hot in the south but in the north there are moountains and a city named MingChing or such. It has a large expatriot population so has pizza parlors, burger joints and steak restaurants. plus you can catch the nfl games there. Housing is new and very affordable and as you say, the people are sweetest on earth.
Hell No!
The party hasn't even started!
Molon Lave
Chiang Mai- and they LOVE Americans there and respect the fact that we are bringing money to their country- they will go out of their way to PROTECT you from bad people because they know you are helping the community by being there spending your money
Thailand has many advantages and attractions - but it is not paradise. Chiang Mai is a very nice place in the North Mountains (kinda North West)... It is hot in Thailand everywhere - just less hot in some places in some seasons. I don’t recommend it for American families unless you have or can get an international employer with a job in Thailand. It is very difficult to find work in Thailand for Foreigners of all nature (Westerners are called Farangs) - jobs are protected for Thai Citizens (novel idea the USA ought to try it). If you are a retiree or co retiree couple - have savings and a monthly retirement pension of at least $1,800 for one person or about $2,600.00 for an older couple - then you can live just fine in Thailand... Medical care is very affordable and of high quality in many cities especially Bangkok (but it cost more to live in BKK). Foreigners cannot own land in Thailand unless you are married to a Thai then the Thai spouse actually owns the land. Foreigners can own Condos - just the structure part. Rent is cheap, cars are just as expensive or more in Thailand. Immigration is a hassle - there are various visa options but most of those require leaving the country every 120 or less. A retirement Visa requires proof of at least 28,000 in a Thai bank (never ever under that mark). But about 500,000 Expats live in Thailand and make a go of it. Many are doing quite well. You can own a business with a Thai partner and a lot of other stipulations. I am going to retire there in a month or two... Basic Thai language is not difficult. I have a friend who lives near Phuket in a nice - small bungalow and his total monthly expense is less than $1,200. and he lives nicely in a tropical beach paradise.
Panama is bending over backwards to get American Retirees to move there - very few restrictions on Visa - you can work there, etc.
Sounds analogous to the Californication Red States, except on a national level.