I have insurance through my company which is mostly useless. I think maybe it will help in emergencies, but I think there is a clause "If out of the USA for more than 30 days" so I really don't trust it.

I have had some minor medical stuff done over the years. Doctor's visits are pretty cheap here (compared to the US) so I don't bother with insurance.

Teaching English or SCUBA instructor are the two most common foreign held jobs.

Judging by your writing you're probably qualified to teach at a government school, if you have the credentials. I am not making a joke teaching in government schools is about the illusion and not about the skill. They hire you based on the fact that you know pretty good English and you look like a foreigner.

"photography and videography", are probably jobs reserved for Thais, which means you couldn't open a business or advertise openly but you could do a side hustle videoing people from your country (or your language skill set).

$1000 will be the most difficult part. Simply you will need more, probably. If that is enough to get you here you could go live at a temple but that isn't a good idea.

@Don *****

Yeah.. "good", "evil" ... This is a Thailand Visa advice site.. Get a hold of yourself man.

It depends where are you?

In Pattaya there are a couple of places and I know a lady who has helped me in a couple of difficult visa situations.

@Don *****

I don't know.. I find it kinda entertaining.

The biggest issue I have with dental work in Thailand is that it take sooo freaking long.

To have an implant takes 7-8 months and several visits. If/when you talk to dentist be sure to understand the whole time line. They'll tell you one thing but mean another so you need to be very specific... when will it all be done and the mouth 100% healed and you will not need more appointments. I think something gets lost in translation and they'll tell you 3 months... but what they mean is 3 months for one part, but you need other parts (extraction, heal, check-up, implant, heal, checkup, finish, heal check-up).

Don't expect to come for a week and have all your work done.

If you want shopping, you have to deal with tourist/foreigners. A majority of Thai folks don't have the money to buy bunches of useless junk. I would suggest shopping in Bangkok 2-3 days then off to the better spots.

I don't how crowed it is, but Koh Lipe is not easy to get to so I suspect there are fewer tourist.

Krabi is pretty nice (Ao Nang). The beaches will have loads of tourists but fewer that Patong (Phuket). Otherwise you will want to ask locals for the best spots.

@Peter ********

I am sure they have trailer parks (or similar) where ever

@Sam *****

comes from.

There are dogs in Thailand.. Many would be grateful for the home.

You don't need a "home base" the TM 30 require is just when you have business at immigration. You don't have to go to the same immigration each time.

You can stay in Bangkok for a few weeks/months etc do your TM30, then go some other place and enjoy yourself. Next time you need to go to immigration make sure you have a current TM30 on file (this will be done for you by any normal hotel).