You got your wires more than a little crossed there Terry..
I frickin' copied the email reply from the consulate in OZ into that other thread somewhere. They said in it you could get a "NON-O single entry 90 day visa". I mean for-fox-sake, how much more did you want me to do for you? Don't make me look thru my b/s emails from consulates and re-post it.
Still, after all that, you managed to bollox it up by calling it a "retirement visa" <-which it was NOT!
That's what put you on the "OA long stay visa" track instead of the O like we'd beaten to death on that other thread.
One thing, how about we get the terminology right it's an OA VISA not an AO!
And yes, every time you enter thailand for the duration of the visa you get stamped in for a full calendar year.
So exiting and entering again just before the visa itself runs out will garner you another full year's permission to stay in the country. That visa is actually good for TWO years worth of stay in thailand..
However once you get stamped in for the second year (by running for the border just before the VISA itself expires), IF you wanna leave and come back you'll need to buy a re-entry permit. The re-entry permit part of the visa is ONLY good for the duration of the visa NOT to be confused with the permission to stay stamp they put in your passport when you enter the country. The visa will say "must be used by" or "must enter thailand by" and be dated a year from the day you applied for it. That's the day you need to border bounce by to get the second year.
It is indeed 2 for the price of 1... It's just a pile o' paperwork.. Oh and don't confuse extensions of stay inside the country with what you get outside the country!!
Now as far as the O/P and his a little light on substance post.
WTF is "just picked up from a yank" anyway? Is that an STD you catch from yourself wankin' off?