Why tourists areas?
Surprised to see that most foreigners relocating to Thailand want to live in tourist areas?
What do you think the main reason is for this?
Familiarity? Maybe they have visited as a tourist and liked the area?
Maybe it is the only area they know?
Maybe have friends in the area?
It could be a multitude of reasons?
Tourist areas are no different than tourist areas in other countries.
Once you have been there for a while and you have seen and done everything 100 times, then what?
Another issue is the cost. Tourist areas are expensive across the board.
For those on a fixed budget, that means only renting.
How feasible is it to rent a place for the rest of your life?
For me, there are many tourists areas that I have visited one time and never gone back.
Nothing special and I certainly would not want to live there the rest of my life.
Tourist areas tend to attract the worst of the worst of foreigners and all their problems.
I think if you plan to move to Thailand, you should spend a good 6 to 12 months traveling around the country to see if there is an area outside of the tourist areas that may be more suitable for your entire life.
The people are extremely helpful and friendly, lowest costs in Thailand and plenty of nature.
You can always go on a holiday anytime to the tourist areas.
You may discover many unsolvable issues you have not faced in your own country.
Noisy neighbors, barking dogs, break-ins, power outages, floods, you name it.
No matter what, do your RESEARCH thoroughly before you decide to permanently locate.