Rules have changed and are changing, they are becoming more greedy and full of trouble for retirement visa as well they won't give you more than 3 months and expect yourself maintain it 0 all along. They also expect you to maintain a rental lease and pay out of your pocket without using your 0 account so immigration really think you are dying to get retirement visa. Team up with your friend and keep moving between neighbouring countries stay few months there and few months in Thailand . Try to out smart the stupid immigration rules.

Not much fun rather more trouble to visit Thailand. Immigration enjoys troubling you when it is a tiny country with lots of corrupt police and immigration and only Thai language based corruption to bother you more and more. Go To Indonesia, Vietnam,korea rather than going to Thailand