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I'm looking for insights on how those of us not old enough to qualify for an expat/retirement visa spend extended periods of time in Thailand (6mo to 1yr +). I've heard from a travel blogger who spent 6mo living in Chiang Mai doing visa runs every two months, another who enrolled in a Thai language school for a year and got an edu visa. I realize there are drawbacks and advantages to various methods. What do you do, or know of what others are doing? As a little background... I've have come up with many plans to spend more time in Asia, Thailand in Particular, over the last few years. Most have not panned out, or more accurately I've made the decision to stay and work than taking the plunge of traveling for an extendend period of time. Even though I have my concerns, I'm finally ready to make the plunge within the next year. I'm doing it for more than just the mongering, though it would still play a part, I want to live and travel in Asia for a year. I'd like to make Thailand my home base (probably not Pattaya) to explore Cambo, Lao, Vietnam, Phill, and Burma. Though I want to travel cheap and not jetset everymonth to a new country and back to Thailand agian to gain another visa. I'm not packing it all in, I'm lining up some remote work that I'll be able to do from overseas. It may not bring in much or it might be a full on western salary....I'll just have to wait and see what I can work out. But I'm not looking for a job teaching english. Just looking for your thoughts on ways to make Thailand my home base for a large stint - 6+ months in a row. I know this post is a bit verbose. But it any of you guys have been there, done that, and got the t-shirt I'd appreciate your advice. Cheers.