Ao Nang is a dive. Bad beach, crap food, tourists galore. No hospital. Even the food in Krabi Town is crap.
Ao Nang and Khao Yai are two of the strangest options for living.
Phuket is the only good place to live in the south. It has hospitals, good beaches, good food and lots of shopping for the woman.
Pak Chong hey? I stayed there for 2 nights. Was enough for me. Given your wife likes mountains and you beaches split your time between Chiang Rai and Hua Hin. Two of the best small cities. The roads between Chiang Rai and Nan are ranked amongst the best in the world for driving or riding. The food is awesome better than any Pak Chong food. You will thank me later.
Best cities are Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Hua Hin.
Ao Nang is Indian food and tourists. Khao Yai is worth 3 days.
US had 3 major problems - border, inflation and debt. Trump fixed 1 problem in 3 weeks. Biden fixed no problems in 4 years and 2 wars started.
If Trump lowers debt and inflation what will their whinge about? Dogs barking?