Thai people are able to accept a normal life outside of the cities and the tourists areas.
It is no different than any other country.
When you own your own house, there is always something to do (improvements)
Vegetable gardening, fruit trees, fish pond. Also something interesting going on.
You can have a normal life as westerner far aware from the hustle and bustle of the cities and expensive tourist areas.
I am sure if you owned your own house in the west, spending the rest of your life in a condo would not meet your expectations and get boring.
The tourist areas and cities will always be there for a holiday or visit.
Who want to subject themselves to that madness and cost every day the rest of their lives?