What really matters is high income, not location. I could be happy most anywhere as long as I had a high income relative to the location. I would not really care if it was Pattaya, Phuket or some other country for that matter.
With money, you enjoy the venues you want and associate with the people you want.
I follow cases all the time on Youtube of expats getting sick in Pattaya and other parts of Thailand, several died. It's really sad and lonely. I always wondered whether I would end up like that. As I get older I can see it as a possibility.
When I first checked out Pattaya as a living location I remember looking up at a tall lonely condo building overlooking the beach and thought "Am I going to pass away there?" 😅 I can be dark at times. Most other guys were probably thinking about getting a beer.