We purchased a plot of land on the last day of a 5 day holiday [totally on the spur of the moment].
Went back to NZ and wondered what we had done, but the views were fantastic and the weather a warm 27 degrees all year round [even when it rains]. This was to be our retirement dream.
Some 12 years ago we sold up in NZ and moved to Samui to design and manage the construction of the villas which we now rent out to our guests/friends. All our friends thought we were mad. Now most of the families have been to visit and find that we weren't so mad after all [and maybe they might be the mad ones]. Thailand is so inexpensive and laid back, with fantastic food, beaches, who could ask for a better place to retire [semi retire !].