Indeed. My view is if one is retired with a Thai wife, and has adequate financial means, and if one also prefers not to go the LTR visa route, then the non-immigration type-O visa, with annual extensions (of one's permission to stay) for reason of retirement, is THE way to go. If one has a Thai wife, and one's funds are a bit tight, and if one wishes to keep open the option of working (regardless of one's age) then the non-immigrant type-O visa, with annual extensions (of one's permission to stay) for reason of marriage, is a good way to go. Why Type-O and not OA? In that case (with Thai wife) one could also go for a Type-OA (with subsequent extensions of one's permission to stay for reason of marriage), but that IMHO sort of depends on the stability of one's marriage and on the health of one's Thai wife (if she is up in years). Having to change from a Type-OA to a Type-O due to a marital crisis (divorce or death of one's spouse) is not the sort of stress one may wish to add to their life. The Type-OA, as many noted, does open the possibility for working in Thailand for one on that Type-OA Visa. And financial requirements for Type-O/OA visas for reason of marriage (to a Thai) are less than for reason of retirement.
