if you build a house it can go some way in stopping your spouse

a spouse can cancel your lease one year after divorce. with or without lease, you spouse can sell land, of course the lease goes with the sale, so you will have a new landlord. if the house in near her family and her village, safety becomes an issue, or if new landlord wants you off, no matter, safety is definitely an issue. is you sub lease, then a 3rd party is involved, and can not be cancel, i think

on topic. if you have need to be in uk on a yearly basis, what you say is the best option. easy, no hoops or major documentation. did that myself for first couple years. pick up duty free, make it worth while, get some of that visa money back, nice day out. wise choice. but when no need to return to uk, extension are worth the hassle. unless enjoying you time in laos, then other visas can be aquired.

good luck, enjoy.

Thanks everyone,
seems like I had got it understood ok. maybe one day can go for more permanent visa, but not needed yet.

Thailand don't make things easy with visa rules do they. So, this is basically 'plan B' if you haven't quite got the 800,000 lump sum, or 65,000 monthly? But if you have got money, can get one year renewable retirement visa starting with the 90 day visa from home country. Yes? I think that's it, like rick, not needed yet, maybe easier rules on visa from Thai authorities soon?