General Discussion > Post-FIRE

Relocating for warmer weather and lower cost of living...but where?

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bhallissey:
My wife and I recently paid off our debts and anticipate starting our FIRE life in 4 years just before our son starts school. We currently live in the northeast and are tired of snow. I have a work contract that continues for 4 more years and should provide us the remainder of the money needed to hit our number. We are hoping to hear from mustachians on locations that meet the following criteria:

No Snow
Low crime
Average or better cost of living. Currently we are in a high cost area so even average will be a savings
Good school and community
Walkable and bikeable
Easy access to outdoor activities like fishing and boating
Within an hour of an ice hockey arena(this is my odd ball one but as a mustachian i want to optimize without giving up ice hockey)

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Any other mustachians leave the cold and snow behind for a better fit?

Bicycle_B:
You might do all right in San Marcos, TX.

No snow, check.
Low crime, I think it's low.  Lived in nearby Austin for 2 decades, never heard anything bad; friends who live and work there like it.
Cost of living good, much cheaper than Austin when I checked last year to help a friend who was being priced out of Austin.
University town, schools and community should be good.
Walkable and bikeable - I think so.  Town is not big (a few miles across).  I remember seeing sidewalks when visiting a neighborhood of older homes.  Not sure how many bike trails though - research this one.  IIRC, saw lots of bikes on the spacious, beautiful campus of Texas State University when visiting on business.
Outdoor activities - must be.  Floating on nearby river is a common pastime.  College students loaf near it banks.  Must be fishing somewhere, though protected areas cover some of the waterways (no fishing in those, except scientists tagging fish). 
Ice hockey - According to Google Maps, Texas State University in San Marcos is 52 minutes by car from the home rink of the Texas Stars, farm team for the NHL's Dallas Stars.

Rollin:
We have all that here - Pinellas County (includes places like Clearwater, Largo, St. Petersburg, etc.). Professional hockey 30-45 minutes away in Tampa, at least one arena I am aware of in Oldsmar (north end of county).

MoneyStacher:
I'm in total agreement with you on weather and have been thinking it over for some time. Should I have a permanent home in a northern-ish area and rent in the south for a few months when cold or do the opposite? Today I saw this article and I'm sold on San Diego with zero days below 32 and only 2 above 90. Can't comment on crime or other stuff you might want to have or avoid.

https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/slideshows/the-20-best-places-to-live-in-the-us-for-the-weather?slide=21

FINate:
Davis, California may check all of your boxes, though the cost of living may be higher than you want (Spirling's has it at 172.5, where 100 is US average). Known to be a very bikeable town. Lake Tahoe area is ~2hr east, SF Bay Area ~1 hr west. Yosemite is ~3 hrs. Lots of fishing in the Central Valley rivers/lakes. Low crime. UC Davis so a college town with the associated pros/cons. No snow, though summers get hot (not quite southern AZ hot, but still triple digits)...unless along the coast in California (very spendy) then generally you have either cold/snowy winters or hot dry summers (or both in the high desert).

Prescott, AZ may also be worth checking out. Has a walkable/bikeable downtown. Cost of living is about average. Lots of outdoor activities (mountain biking near town and in nearby Sedona, and Grand Canyon is not far). However, being in the mountainous north of the state (somewhat cooler summers) they get snow...but they also get a lot of sun during winter so I think it's different from the winter gloom of the NE.

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