I know It’s been a while since this thread last saw the light of day, but I ended up being a bit outrageous in the end.
After a month in Bali, I hopped a flight to Bangkok, then a couple of weeks in Krabi (south) and then another couple of weeks in Kanchanaburi. Not really doing much of the touristy stuff as I was trying to be as frugal as possible, but just being somewhere different is exciting in itself.
And then I flew back to Australia. It’s a bit complicated to explain, but to remain eligible for government benefits (even though you don’t get any payment while out of the country) you can’t be gone for more than 12 weeks. So came back, and hoping daughter had gotten over her case of the shits asked to stay there for a week or two, was answered with a single word, ‘No’.
Then I had to try to find somewhere to stay, in Queensland, during school holidays. It’s bad enough when it’s NOT holidays as Far North Queensland (think Great Barrier Reef, rainforests, tropical paradises) but in the end I found a sort-of boarding house. It was a room with a fold-out bed, shared kitchen and bathroom and was $540 AUD per WEEK. That was more than my full budget for a fortnight in Bali and Thailand!! Thus, once I’d done all my businessey stuff, got some prescriptions filled etc etc, I booked a flight back to Bali, one way.
Now this time I’d teed up some super-cheap accommodation through a Balinese acquaintance and for $600 AUD per month, I had a large room, private kitchen and bathroom, gorgeous swimming pool and well, I was in heaven really. Oh and cleaners changed my sheets and towels every second day. 
The beach was just 5 minutes walk, the sunrises were a delight, and I was staying in Sanur, a much ‘nicer’ part of Bali than the rougher Kuta, Seminyak and Legian.
But after a month of that, I got a bit bored so booked a flight to Vietnam, my favourite country in the world. Just by the by, flights within SE Asia are ridiculously cheap, so it was a no-brainer to move on really. First stop Saigon for a week, then Phu Quoc (an island off the south coast of VN, near Cambodia) and then up to Da Nang and Hoi An in central Vietnam. The weather was stinking hot everywhere, but when I travel I head out early morning (mainly for coffee and whatever street stalls are selling delicious foods) then back to the comfort of the hotel before heading out again late afternoon.
I treated myself a bit in Hoi An. It’s a city/town renowned for its clothing and tailors who will make you whatever you want, in whatever fabric you pick, and the prices are insane. I bought two pairs of made-to-measure linen cargo pants AND a pair of made-to-measure suede Birks (the closed in toe variety) AND a gorgeous leather backpack that set me back the grand total of just over 3million VND, or $180 AUD. Just the Birks alone in Aus would have cost more than that!!
I ate snails from a little vendor across the street from my hotel, I ate bbq fish on the beach at An Bang, I ate banh mi, pho, and to my utter embarrassment, I even ordered KFC via Grab (the Uber equivalent in SE ASIA). I had an absolutely wonderful time, but my time to return to Aus was up again.
I’m back in Australia. The friend who I mentioned in the first part of the OP has settled his issues, and offered me a place to stay until I decide where (or if) to go next. Unfortunately it’s in Victoria. Victoria at this time of year is FUCKING COLD. I had NO warm clothes, only Asian-wear of skimpy tops and flowing pants. So first thing was heading to the nearest Opportunity Shop to stock up on jumpers, jeans, and anything at all to keep the chill at bay. At least the Birks I bought in Hoi An keep my feet warm, well they do NOW that I have thick woolly sox on as well.
My friend lives waaaay out in the boonies from any major town or centre. But he’s got this sort of ‘converted shed’ which is decked out with a comfy bed, a lounge, a fridge, cooking top, kettle and a private bathroom. I am extremely grateful for his kindness in letting me stay here as long as I need, but I’m not sure I can deal with such solitude for any great length of time. I miss the tooting cars, the karaoke bars, the need to look both ways five times before crossing a street, the smell of bbq on the roadside, the smell of frangipani (but not the smell of durian) but most of all, I miss the coffee. Sure, I could buy some Viet coffee here and buy a phin to make it, but it’s just not the same, not by any stretch!
While I’m here, I’m doing much homework on obtaining ‘social housing’ which will help me afford somewhere to live permanently. But I can’t guarantee that the travel itch won’t set in again and I might find myself packing a bag and heading off somewhere else in the future. Especially if an inheritance (mentioned in another thread months ago) comes good as the lawyers expect it will!! My future is totally uncertain, but despite the months of anxiety, I’m getting better at just going with the vibe. 
Oh, sad addendum: the gorgeous doggie that was the catalyst for much of this shit got rehomed not long after I left because no-one wanted to look after her! I only found out yesterday, and if I ever see my daughter again, it might be too soon. What a shitty thing to do.