As a fellow Canadian having spent 23 years coming to Thailand, I would recommend the six months and six months option. The advantages of no winter weather on the one side and no torrential rains and air qualty (for the most part) on the other side. One condo or rental in Chiang Mai/Hua Hin and one in the Okanagan works great. Then there's the critical issue of health care, with you won't loose your provincial health coverage(at least in BC) and have to wait the 3 months to reapply. Tough to beat free, complete healthcare (depending on your income level). If you are not aware, CPP and OAS are paid regardless of how long you are out of the country, only the GIS (supplement) is not paid after being gone for 6 months. All that said, "try before you buy" is paramount...

@Paul ******

Thanks good to know!

Pyongyang.

Been away for 2 years. Lots to catch up on. Thanks for your comment though. Very helpful.

Surely someone else in this group can back me up on this...if not, when I fly in and out in February and get my visa exempt 45 days, I will be returning to CM Immigration for the extension again....

@Phil *******

Yes, this was at the Immigration office near the airport...and as I recall there was a tropical backdrop that you were standing in front of...I swear to God! It made me think this was a TAT setup!