like retire before 40 cheap. ive heard parts of thailand are awesome, super cheap and tons of fun but heard wind is inconsistent. Brazil would fit the bill, but from what i heard its getting more expensive and not super cheap anymore. Dont get me wrong, i am going to enjoy checking these places out cheap or not. But i am looking to stop the rat race, and there has got to be a perfect spot that fits the bill. Any suggestions ?

it's hard to get somewhere with year round wind that is cheap and reasonably warm. Brazil does seem awesome for euros.

In a van down by the river

depends on some factors, like how well you can handle 3rd world countryside? will you rent or buy a house? some places to consider:

* Madagascar, one look at google earth and you'll see hundreads of kilometers of continuous beach and shallow water lagoons
* Sri Lanka, now that the civil war is over I expect this place to go big, if I had the cash I'd start a business here
* Philippines, lots and lots of perfect underdeveloped places
* Vietnam, no lagoons there though
* China, Hainan area and Fujian coastline, lots of underdeveloped islands in the taiwan strait, things work a bit better in china (like germany of the 3rd world) and the infrastructure is excellent, it's no tropics though

Brazil is the best.
Philippines second, cheaper but less consistent wind

retire by what?
forty years old?

get real pecker-head!
thats one of the most screwed up things i ever heard of in mein life!

Yea ....you got to work ...constantly make things, do more, buy more ,wreck more, recycle it etc. etc. ,or you will get so bored hanging around on that sunblasted beach doing nothing but kite ,and the odd jobs for tourists.
I think if you can stand the idea of leaving your old life on the other end of the globe you will be fine ,think about Bali too it has excellent waves.

Vin, while I think you might be saying," We all need to do stuff to keep us interested in life," it sounds like it is coming from a place of "who the hell do you think you are stopping work at 40. That aint right."
I don't think any person ever wants to stop doing things. Some of us just get off the treadmill early because we can, or because we just have to. When you stop running around like a hamster, you can slow down enough to see what is important, and do those things that matter, whatever they may be.
Hopefully you are doing that now.
This is in no way a criticism to any post...

Seriously? That's one of the most screwed up things you've ever heard? How about war for oil? Is that messed up?
Don't bother answering that, rhetorical question. I can tell by your location tag that you have definitely drank the "USA is #1" coolaid. Don't look now, but you (I) have major blood on your hands.

I can totally understand wanting to leave the rat race behind. It's just bad for the mind and soul. Unfortunately, it's hard to escape.
Good luck, Cal33

It all depends how much money you can spend per month.
NE Brazil is not cheap but the best place in my opinion.

Cheers
Caesar