I am wondering if one can get a retirement extension while on a tourist visa. If not, what kind of visa would you need to have? Thanks.

You need a non  immigrant visa entry to apply for the extension. That is normally a non-o visa.

At some immigration offices you change your tourist visa to a 90 day non immigrant visa entry up to the last 15 days of your 60 day entry or the extension of it.

You would need 800k baht in Thai bank or proof of 65k baht income or a combination of the 2 totaling 800k baht.

Where are you living?

Thanks Ubonjoe. Actually, I am presently working in Thailand but was just curious as my contact will be up before long. Buriram is where I'll be retireing and living with my Thai wife. We are legally married, haave a house and could apply for a marriage visa but the retiremnt visa seems easier. I have enough U.S. social security and money in the bank for a retirement visa.  I had a reitement visa last year but after one year I was offered a job a took it. Thanks again.

If you are currently on an extension of stay based upon working you could change the reason for your extension to retirement when your job ends.