"Best" (as defined by Mustachian standards) city on the west coast.

[FrugalFisherman10]

Hello - I thought this would be a fun 'poll' to get some input on.
What city do you think is the best city in the western US for mustachians? Pre-fi, Post-FI whatever. It's a pretty broad question but do what you will with it.

I am from Georgia, and love it here. I have been enjoying the outdoors (fishing, hiking, camping and more fishing) for the last 20 years in the southeast, and there's SOOO much more to be explored and experienced here and on the East coast. I have this sneaking deep-down attraction to coastal Oregon though, and would like to live there someday, if only for a few years, or maybe to settle down for a while. I also really like Colorado for the few times I've been there. I have been to Utah as well but only in the summer. I hear it's great, but it just doesn't have the same draw as Oregon to me..not sure why.
I am largely attracted to the 'west' just in general, for many of the outdoors/recreational opportunities that are there. (West defined as Colorado to California and north of that line.)

I have found myself googling several times "cheapest/most affordable west coast cities," But I'd like to hear your input. Are there any good cities in Oregon that you would say are bikeable, have good outdoors nearby, aren't too tiny/too remote/too unpopulated (these areas don't seem to have many of the other efficiencies of larger well planned cities.) What's it like to live in Eugene?
Excited to hear your thoughts!

[honeybbq]

You said COAST, so I'll scratch off Colorado and Idaho from my list.

By definition, not California. The state is insolvent and water costs more than wine.

Leaving Oregon and WA. WA has no state income tax, so for someone still earning a salary, that is attractive. Particularly if they make a good salary or draw a large amount of $$.

However, WA is really expensive if you pick Seattle. Smaller cities along the coast or along the peninsula would be ok.
Tacoma if you can handle traffic. Port Townsend if you like to port North... Vancouver, WA is right across from Portland which is nicely located. If you are ok going inland, Spokane, WA has an extremely good COL and great exposure to outdoors and lakes.

If you pick Ore - I'd pick Bend or Eugene. Again, good access to outdoors and fun mountain stuff- skiing, etc.

[AZDude]

What about rural Nevada? CoL is inexpensive, and no state income tax. The state is more than just Las Vegas.

[Cougar]

What about rural Nevada? CoL is inexpensive, and no state income tax. The state is more than just Las Vegas.

second this.

unless you have to be within 50 miles of the "coast", i'd go with reno/lake tahoe. it much cheaper than most everything in CA, OR and WA; the weather is good all but about 2 months, you can get anywhere from its airport and its easy in and out, have reasonable medical and if you have the cash, you can buy enough land for a farm for your own food.

[FrugalFisherman10]

What about rural Nevada? CoL is inexpensive, and no state income tax. The state is more than just Las Vegas.

second this.

unless you have to be within 50 miles of the "coast", i'd go with reno/lake tahoe. it much cheaper than most everything in CA, OR and WA; the weather is good all but about 2 months, you can get anywhere from its airport and its easy in and out, have reasonable medical and if you have the cash, you can buy enough land for a farm for your own food.

Yeah - Nevada is pretty sweet. I've only been to some of the National Parks there but I wouldn't be opposed to it.
For my "living PNW coast" dream that's kindof it's own thing. So I guess there's two questions going on here:
If I said "yes I have to be within 50 miles of the coast", in Oregon or Washington, what city would you say?
Eugene (a little more than 50 miles)
Corvallis? I know some people from there but haven't visited
I've been to Portland and it's pretty sweet.
Bend is likely a better location for everything outdoors,non-coastal isn't it?

I didn't realize Washington had no state income tax!

If I said, Anywhere out west (Colorado to California, and North) what city would you recommend?
Lake Tahoe
Rural Nevada - x2

[clarkfan1979]

I live on the east coast of Kauai. Am I east coast or west coast?

[FrugalFisherman10]

I live on the east coast of Kauai. Am I east coast or west coast?

hahah very funny. I was wondering if any Hawaii-dwellers would chime in. This may seem like a dumb question but how mustachian and how affordable is Kauai? (I'd like to be surprised :) )

[seattlecyclone]

Pre-FI, Washington is great because of no state income tax. Seattle has some great, high-paying jobs available, especially in software. If you can get one of these jobs, it's a great city. If not, it's probably too expensive. Post-FI I plan to stick around Seattle because I've fallen in love with the city, made lots of great friends here, and I earn enough that retiring here won't require me to work much longer than retiring in a small town somewhere. I can't necessarily recommend it as a post-retirement destination for most people, again because of high housing costs.

[doggyfizzle]

By definition, not California. The state is insolvent and water costs more than wine.

I take issue with this.  You should double check your facts about California's finances and water costs.  I live on the Central coast 20 miles south of Santa Barbara (less than 5 minutes to the beach from my front door) and pay about $1 per day for water (I have two decent-sized healthy lawns and shower twice a day).  Also, in terms of sheer economic opportunity, California is pretty hard to beat for people who are interested in making a good living from right out of college to retirement.  It isn't that hard to find affordable housing (oh my gosh you can't buy a mansion in Malibu waaa!), and one's proximity to a pretty astounding array of National Parks (Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Big Sur) is unsurpassed (IMHO) by any other state in the Country.

[Roboturner]

taxessssssssssssssssss

[FrugalFisherman10]

taxessssssssssssssssss

Yep higher in Cali but most of us ER'd mustachian types who live here have worked out ways to be in a low or zero tax bracket (both fed and Cali state) so it's usually not an issue for FIRE'd people but working people may have a big income tax bite here. Sales tax though can also be high -around 8% - 9% depending on the county. But again, us good mustachians don't buy much beyond food which isn't taxed.

Yep I was also interested to hear some people defend California, as I have a sneaking suspicion it isn't allll expensive (housing-wise that is). I definitely wouldn't be looking to have a mansion in Malibu.

So here's the west coast dream then..? Work and save in Washington state, then retire to California (keep a low income tax rate by choice after you're FIRE) haha!

[doggyfizzle]

taxessssssssssssssssss

But depending how you file, you get some of the state income/property taxes back on your federal tax return.  I work in the oil industry, so I compare Central CA to Houston (center of the energy universe) for "cost of living" reference.  While there is no state income tax in Texas, I would be getting hosed on my property taxes.  An equivalent house in Houston (roughly 350k-400k) compared to my humble place in Ventura (750k appraised) would run up about 12-14k a year in property taxes, compared to my 6k/year in California.  So coupled with the CA state income taxes, my out of pocket local taxes are about the same as just property taxes would be in Houston, but I live on the central CA coast (not the over-developed Los Angeles-San Diego megalopolis), which is, in my opinion, entirely preferable to living in Houston.  Yes, there was some opportunity cost (putting 200k down on our house), but definitely worth it to be able to surf in any number of places that aren't Galveston or the Port of Houston Ship Channel.  Not to mention, I can wake up and surf at 6 am, be done by 8, and make it to the mountains for some afternoon skiing if I really wanted to...

[big_slacker]

I've lived in WA, OR, CA and NV. Currently in WA. Beautiful state! Some HCOL areas which can be offset by a high paying job or by living outside the cities and extra expensive burbs. No income tax, if you rent then no property tax, woohoo! I'd look around CL for an idea about housing, but if you like the outdoors look at areas along I90 east of Seattle as they are on the way to the mountains which are a paradise of hunting, fishing, offroading, climbing, kayaking, camping, biking, hiking, etc...

Someone mentioned northern NV. Reno is fairly inexpensive. Carson city is even more inexpensive. Look south of highway 50 (Indian hills, jacks valley). In some neighborhoods you can ride a quad or dirt bike directly onto MILES of state land to the east. And load up your jeep, head up highway 50 to tahoe for world class hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, beaches, etc.

Southern NV (vegas) is actually fairly inexpensive if you do it right. I would live close to charleston on the west side of town for proximity to red rock state park and it's awesome hiking, biking and climbing. Boulder city is another thing to consider. It's small but close to bootleg canyon for hiking and mountain biking. Close to lake mead as well. Vegas can be an excellent jump off point for adventures. Short drive to Zion, Bryce, Hurricane. San Diego is 5 hours if you want a real beach. Moab is 9 hours. Tahoe 8 hours. I know, driving isn't 'mustachian' but those kinds of trips are epic and worth burning gas for.

OR, I only lived in Portland. It's extremely bike friendly, as long as you ride a road bike in the city. Not much MTB. Tons of outdoor stuff if you get out of the city. It's not super cheap but there are affordable parts of town. Definitely a nice vibe in p-town. If there is anyplace where it's easy to be mustachian it's portland. :)

[Bracken_Joy]

Oregonian here. I've lived all the places you mentioned, and then some- but the majority has been Eugene, Corvallis, and Portland, so I'll address those. You said you've been to Portland, so I'll just use it as a comparison point. 9% income tax is not fun, but no sales tax is great (if nothing else, no mental math in stores). And it's true- it's beautiful and lots to do outdoors.

Corvallis- a weird lovely bubble of a place. Very college focused, but a small town feel all in all. Very few "chain" stores- everything is mom and pop, and the town has a history of denying big stores opening, like WalMart. Something like the second highest per capita rate of advanced degrees in the US. Very bikeable and walkable. Not too much crime except stupid college things- public urination, bike theft, vandalism after football games. Not a ton of industry, and it can be VERY hard to find a job. Too many college kids willing to work for any level of pay while in school. Tons of hiking trails right by town, with McDonald/Peavy/Marys Peak. Relatively expensive compared to some OR cities, but not as expensive as Portland.

Eugene- It really depends on the area you're in. South Eugene is a world apart from North Eugene/Santa Clara area, which is a world apart from Sheldon/Coburg Rd area. Very much "duck fever". Rabidrabidrabid fans. Starting to have some renewal and new businesses coming in- thank god because otherwise the downtown is a sad shell of the 70s. Hiking isn't as readily accessible as Corvallis, but IMO the access to the cascades has more to offer. Very bikable though, although it varies a bit depending on the area you're in.

Tons of food culture in both Corvallis and Eugene. Farmers markets and lots of local sourcing in both places. Restaurant scenes are pretty good, although I'd put the balance to Corvallis having more to offer there. Eugene has a lot more standard commercial things you might want- Target and Costco and Walmart and the like. Eugene has the Hult Center, so some shows come through (much more than Corvallis), but if you want really big name/big production stuff, you have to go to Portland anyway. But Corvallis has TONS of free stuff to do associated with the university, and I always found it to be better advertised than the free stuff in Eugene. Both have great public libraries.

No matter what, if you want to do outdoor stuff, you'll need a car in Eugene or Corvallis (or a friend with a car, anyway).

In general, with Oregon though, downsides include: income tax, grey for months on end (lots of depression!), very humid in fall/winter (lots of mold! and allergies to mold!), tons of grass and tree pollen in the spring/summer (lots of allergies!), DEEPLY divisive political views- we have a really sharp urban/rural divide, so you get extreme politics on both sides, and never the two shall meet. Drug problems are big (meth!), and to fly internationally you pretty much have to drive to PDX (eugene has an airport, but it's got 1, maybe 2 gates). Oh! And field burnings- lots of asthma attacks every year with those.

[Left]

juneau, alaska.... also no income tax
well, not exactly low cost... but for a mmm living, it isn't really that bad either

how "west"? the US territories are nice as well... Guam and other islands like the us virgin islands... are you needing to work as well for income?

[GreenSheep]

I've lived in the USVI (St. Croix specifically). It is anything but cheap ($7 for a gallon of milk, for example). It is, however, a place where DIY skills are both useful and admired, and where the richest of the rich often drive rusty old island cars, not caring at all who knows or cares about their net worth.

[Left]

never really said it was "cheap", just said it could work with a mmm lifestyle :D

[OlyFish]

I live in Olympia and I love it. it is a small city, so you aren't going to get great theater/ fancy shopping/ big museums. However, the cost of living is fairly low (especially compared to Seattle or Portland or even Tacoma). you are 1 hour from Seattle and 2 from Portland if you want to go to shows or museums or sporting events. you are about an hour from Olympic National Park and 1.5-2 from Mt. Rainier. skiing is 1-2 hours. Hiking trails are plentiful. There are also some pretty decent bike paths. The walk score is admittedly not great unless you are living in a select few neighborhoods.

It IS supposedly the rainiest city in the continental US, so there's that, if you get seasonal affective disorder or something, but other than the fact that everyone is sick of rain for the entire month of February, it has a lot going for it.

and as others have said, no state income tax. There are limited county taxes. The property tax is semi-high but not ridiculous (compared to some other states that have no income tax, like TX). The gas tax is fairly high, but then again the roads tend to be pretty well taken care of compared to other places where the gas tax was low.

[Erica]

Hello - I thought this would be a fun 'poll' to get some input on.
What city do you think is the best city in the western US for mustachians? Pre-fi, Post-FI whatever. It's a pretty broad question but do what you will with it.

I am from Georgia, and love it here. I have been enjoying the outdoors (fishing, hiking, camping and more fishing) for the last 20 years in the southeast, and there's SOOO much more to be explored and experienced here and on the East coast. I have this sneaking deep-down attraction to coastal Oregon though, and would like to live there someday, if only for a few years, or maybe to settle down for a while. I also really like Colorado for the few times I've been there. I have been to Utah as well but only in the summer. I hear it's great, but it just doesn't have the same draw as Oregon to me..not sure why.
I am largely attracted to the 'west' just in general, for many of the outdoors/recreational opportunities that are there. (West defined as Colorado to California and north of that line.)

I have found myself googling several times "cheapest/most affordable west coast cities," But I'd like to hear your input. Are there any good cities in Oregon that you would say are bikeable, have good outdoors nearby, aren't too tiny/too remote/too unpopulated (these areas don't seem to have many of the other efficiencies of larger well planned cities.) What's it like to live in Eugene?
Excited to hear your thoughts!

The Oregon Coast towns are overall, not very populous. But for your other requirements, my favorite is Gold Beach.
I'd suggest staying in California on the coast such as Crescent City but living in the small section of Fort Dick. More nature on that side.
You could go to Coos Bay but I wasn't impressed at all with that. It had more jobs available but less access to beaches. It didn't feel very connected to me at all.
You may want to check out Oakridge Oregon the biking capitol of Oregon. It doesn't have all you desire but you may like it anyhow, it's really cheap too

[big_slacker]

juneau, alaska.... also no income tax
well, not exactly low cost... but for a mmm living, it isn't really that bad either

how "west"? the US territories are nice as well... Guam and other islands like the us virgin islands... are you needing to work as well for income?

Juneau is a beautiful little town, the hills with that mist look like something out of a fantasy movie. Spent some nice time there in oct IIRC? Not too cold, touristy little downtown area. I ran part of Perseverance trail (like 8 miles out 'n back) which starts right in town and I was in the wilderness QUICK.

[Dicey]

Yeah, you are right. California sucks. Please stay away. Thank you.

[WYOGO]

Las Vegas/Henderson hands down...

Taxes, cost of living, cleanliness, ample outdoor recreation, well maintained infrastructure, superior flight options, closest major metro to the southern California beach cities.

Nothing like those warm breezy Las Vegas nights.

Must enjoy warm/hot dry summers and severely low precipitation.

[big_slacker]

Las Vegas/Henderson hands down...

Taxes, cost of living, cleanliness, ample outdoor recreation, well maintained infrastructure, superior flight options, closest major metro to the southern California beach cities.

Nothing like those warm breezy Las Vegas nights.

Must enjoy warm/hot dry summers and severely low precipitation.

People should be mentioned too. So many douchebags, peacockers, big spenders and wanna-be's. It's hands down the most superficial based city culture I've lived in. Not to say there aren't some nice, normal folks there, but man is it tough to find them. No surprise Vegas was the #1 hardest hit in the housing crash.

Man, the summers are tough too. I used to get up at 4:30am to go mountain biking so I could be done before it got hellish. I'm no sissy, I was a motorcycle only commuter when I lived there, but it kind of makes summer a workaround instead of a joy if you're an outdoor person.

Great place to be mustachian though, I agree. So cheap, you can stack cash like mad and still live very well while doing it.

[vern]

I didn't realize Washington had no state income tax!

Shhhhhhh.  Don't tell anyone!

[Evgenia]

First, in reply to an earlier post: California is not insolvent. The state is running a budget surplus. Not that that will probably determine where you want to live, one way or another, but I do recommend some towns there based on firsthand experience.

I have focused on places that are affordable, beautiful, bike-able, near nature, and with great people and communities. They are also not terribly long drives from other great places.

Bellingham, WA is pretty great, and one of our favorite blends of coastal, affordable and with enough "stuff" to keep it interesting.

The islands off of Seattle are great, and there are a lot of them -- Bainbridge, etc. They are not exactly inexpensive, but you get a lot more for your money there than you do in Seattle proper. Also look farther north at Whidbey Island.

Bend, OR is increasingly popular these days (AKA "New Colorado") but is not near water, so is thus not really coastal. We've spent a lot of time up and down the coast of Oregon, and we like Port Orford best culturally, though it is tiny. And the rainy winters can, seasonally, be a lot for people to deal with day in and day out. It may not be an issue for you, but best to mention it.

We love Fort Bragg in CA but it may be too small for you. Lovely, though. Also consider downtown Mendocino, and Jenner, Bodega or Valley Ford. Gorgeous, and a lot more affordable than the SF Bay Area. If you don't mind being a bit inland, try Ukiah or Willits. Stay away from Eureka, though; too much pot and meth in particular there. Unfortunately, that's an issue at some points on the coast.

Two other California treasures? Dunsmuir and Portolia. Oh yeah.

I don't consider Las Vegas the West Coast, and it's a nightmare in summer unless you love 100+ degrees and requiring AC and high energy bills to thrive.

There are a LOT of great options. And oh, if you're willing to go a bit inland, CA and OR have some gems: Placerville, the Surprise Valley and CA high desert, the list goes on and on.

Good luck!

[Bracken_Joy]

I thought of one that hasn't been suggested yet: Roseburg, OR. It's actually been cleaning up pretty nicely and getting some economy back. It also has a cut-over to the coast, like Eugene, Corvallis, and Portland do. It's a smaller town, so less culturally, but there are nice people and lots of outdoor recreation. With the Umpqua through town there are a lot of watersports and fishing. Definitely more conservative socially overall than Eugene/Portland/Corvallis, but there is an emerging homesteading movement down there, so you get some hippy folks as well. I can't speak to many of the restaurants down there (I always go to the same ma and pa cafe for their fish and chips), but maybe someone else could chime in.

[Erica]

Yeah, you are right. California sucks. Please stay away. Thank you.

I'm reading and do not see where someone said California sucks

[Erica]

The Lost Coast is beautiful. Great prices. Best air in California. We drove there a few months ago, it's not too far from Ferndale which is absolutely breathtaking and is one of the only towns outside of the druggie triangle. We are still keeping our eye out in that area hoping our son will come around. He wants to stay here.  Port Orford was our third favorite spot on the Oregon Coast. Prices were great and they have a cute little health food store over there. Serves good soups but as stated, it is tiny and rainy

[spokey doke]

I thought of one that hasn't been suggested yet: Roseburg, OR.

just the occassional mass shooting...

[Bracken_Joy]

I thought of one that hasn't been suggested yet: Roseburg, OR.

just the occassional mass shooting...

Yeah, because those haven't happened anywhere else.

We're mentioning Colorado- should we bring up Columbine? We're talking about Eugene- how about Thurston? Tacoma has been mentioned- Foss High School ring a bell?

Don't be a dick. That is still a very fresh pain to many people out here. While I didn't lose anyone close to me, my mom and brother both did. Oregon is not a big place.

[Roboturner]

Yeah, you are right. California sucks. Please stay away. Thank you.

I'm reading and do not see where someone said California sucks

I think he was being facetious...

[FrugalFisherman10]

The Lost Coast is beautiful. Great prices. Best air in California. We drove there a few months ago, it's not too far from Ferndale which is absolutely breathtaking and is one of the only towns outside of the druggie triangle. We are still keeping our eye out in that area hoping our son will come around. He wants to stay here.  Port Orford was our third favorite spot on the Oregon Coast. Prices were great and they have a cute little health food store over there. Serves good soups but as stated, it is tiny and rainy

Lost Coast like Shelter cove and Whitethorn? Yes that does look beautiful. How is Ferndale that "out of the druggie triangle", with those cities nearby, plus Eureka to the north?

I have focused on places that are affordable, beautiful, bike-able, near nature, and with great people and communities. They are also not terribly long drives from other great places.

Bellingham, WA is pretty great, and one of our favorite blends of coastal, affordable and with enough "stuff" to keep it interesting.

Bend, OR is increasingly popular these days (AKA "New Colorado") but is not near water, so is thus not really coastal. We've spent a lot of time up and down the coast of Oregon, and we like Port Orford best culturally, though it is tiny. And the rainy winters can, seasonally, be a lot for people to deal with day in and day out. It may not be an issue for you, but best to mention it.

We love Fort Bragg in CA but it may be too small for you. Lovely, though. Also consider downtown Mendocino, and Jenner, Bodega or Valley Ford. Gorgeous, and a lot more affordable than the SF Bay Area. If you don't mind being a bit inland, try Ukiah or Willits. Stay away from Eureka, though; too much pot and meth in particular there. Unfortunately, that's an issue at some points on the coast.

Good luck!

If you live in Fort Bragg, jenner, bodega etc., where do people work? If I moved out there while I was still working (since FIRE is a long way off for me), what types of things could I do for work? Do people just drive to a bigger city?

[powskier]

Juneau is a beautiful little town, the hills with that mist look like something out of a fantasy movie. Spent some nice time there in oct IIRC? Not too cold, touristy little downtown area. I ran part of Perseverance trail (like 8 miles out 'n back) which starts right in town and I was in the wilderness QUICK.

Juneau is great but the weather can suck due to the high rain amounts. I lived in Anchorage (and also in Cordova which makes Juneau look like a dry desert rain-wise!) and it's much more moderate weather-wise with less rain and snow than Juneau but also much colder. It's also nice not to be stuck on an "island" where your only way off is by plane or ferry. Anchorage has a great bike system that goes for miles and miles on paved off-road paths thru beautiful parks - also used for XC skiing in winter. There are more city and cultural things going on and also very easy and close proximity to mountains and wilderness. Housing is cheaper than Juneau and more jobs. Also there's the states dividend fund where every resident get approx. $2000/year from oil revenue taxes (as well as no state income taxes). Food isn't too expensive either as much is grown/ranched in the Palmer-Susitna/ Matsu Valley (land of those ginormous veggies) area just north of Anchorage. I lived there about 4 years and really enjoyed it. Probably nicer if you are already FIRE'd and can leave during the darkest part of the winter which can depress many people although I liked it myself. 

ETA: One thing I liked about Alaska, and many other western cities outside of Calif, is the more relaxed lifestyle. Driving a ratty old pick up or compact car that is 15 years old is very accepted in those places unlike some areas (here in SoCal for instance) were your "worth" as a person is often viewed by the things you own. Much less up-scale-driven mindset in places like Alaska and people are much more accepting of mustachian types.
[/quote]

Stay away folks , Alaska has high murder rates, highest suicide rates, expensive living, highest sexual assault rates, gray skies and been swamped by Palin fans moving here in the past 7 years. Seriously California is where you should go.

[jacquespluto]

Some Oregon options..

If you want to be close to the airport and enjoy big city food and entertainment - Portland

If you like wine and want to be between the coast and the big city - Newberg and Mcminnville

If you like beer and winter sports - Bend, Hood River and Ashland

If you like college towns - Corvallis and Eugene (on a smaller scale Ashland)

If you really want to be on the coast but still close to the big city - Cannon Beach/Seaside and Lincoln City

[Evgenia]

Lost Coast like Shelter cove and Whitethorn? Yes that does look beautiful. How is Ferndale that "out of the druggie triangle", with those cities nearby, plus Eureka to the north?

If you live in Fort Bragg, jenner, bodega etc., where do people work? If I moved out there while I was still working (since FIRE is a long way off for me), what types of things could I do for work? Do people just drive to a bigger city?

Ferndale has a cute downtown, Victorian houses, and has more thriving businesses than some of the other towns. It definitely shares (at least, in my experience) some of the problems of the marijuana-and-meth economy, due to proximity as you mentioned. It's not as bad as Garberville or Eureka, but it's there. Meth operations are found there, there are a few meth treatment and rehab programs there, and so on.

I didn't realize FIRE was a long way off for you, and I'm sorry I didn't realize that when I made my initial recommendations. Employment in Fort Bragg, etc. can be tough (unless you're a doctor, nurse, dentist or teacher, which are often much needed in CA's more remote and coastal areas). Much of it is agriculture based -- wineries, ranching, etc.

Some people, however, have Bay Area based jobs and telecommute from these areas a lot. Employers like Mozilla, the US EPA, and many, many others have a lot of exclusively or primarily work-from-home employees. The traffic and office space costs in the Bay Area are out of control, so employers are adapting.

Speaking of which, if you don't mind being a bit of an urban pioneer, I personally believe Vallejo is a potentially Mustachian area. There are a lot of short sales there in the $200s right now (we've considered one as an investment property), it's very near the city of Napa, the Napa Valley, not too far from Berkeley and Oakland and lots of other great places, and there's a direct ferry to San Francisco. Yes, the Vallejo ferry takes about an hour, but it's pleasant (water views, a bar on board) and for a ~$200k home in the Bay Area with the employment prospects, it's an acceptable trade-off to me. I am a bit mystified as to why Vallejo remains so inexpensive, but I can't see how that can continue with the rest of the Bay Area costing so much.

Other California areas that I think don't get enough credit are Davis and Sacramento. Yes, it's hot in the summer, but both of these have a lot of trees and are pretty darned cute (downtown Davis in particular).

I'd also look more closely at Portland, areas outside of Seattle, Bend, and Bellingham.

[Christof]

Redmond, OR... Close to Bend, but not (yet) that expensive. Bend itself has become some sort of new San Francisco.

[big_slacker]

Juneau is a beautiful little town, the hills with that mist look like something out of a fantasy movie. Spent some nice time there in oct IIRC? Not too cold, touristy little downtown area. I ran part of Perseverance trail (like 8 miles out 'n back) which starts right in town and I was in the wilderness QUICK.

Juneau is great but the weather can suck due to the high rain amounts. I lived in Anchorage (and also in Cordova which makes Juneau look like a dry desert rain-wise!) and it's much more moderate weather-wise with less rain and snow than Juneau but also much colder. It's also nice not to be stuck on an "island" where your only way off is by plane or ferry. Anchorage has a great bike system that goes for miles and miles on paved off-road paths thru beautiful parks - also used for XC skiing in winter. There are more city and cultural things going on and also very easy and close proximity to mountains and wilderness. Housing is cheaper than Juneau and more jobs. Also there's the states dividend fund where every resident get approx. $2000/year from oil revenue taxes (as well as no state income taxes). Food isn't too expensive either as much is grown/ranched in the Palmer-Susitna/ Matsu Valley (land of those ginormous veggies) area just north of Anchorage. I lived there about 4 years and really enjoyed it. Probably nicer if you are already FIRE'd and can leave during the darkest part of the winter which can depress many people although I liked it myself. 

ETA: One thing I liked about Alaska, and many other western cities outside of Calif, is the more relaxed lifestyle. Driving a ratty old pick up or compact car that is 15 years old is very accepted in those places unlike some areas (here in SoCal for instance) were your "worth" as a person is often viewed by the things you own. Much less up-scale-driven mindset in places like Alaska and people are much more accepting of mustachian types.

Stay away folks , Alaska has high murder rates, highest suicide rates, expensive living, highest sexual assault rates, gray skies and been swamped by Palin fans moving here in the past 7 years. Seriously California is where you should go.
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Anchorage is kind of expensive housing wise though isn't it? I know a lot of people on the team I worked with moved out Wasila for cheaper homes.

There are definitely some cool parts of Anchorage but it definitely has to be your style. It can be unforgiving in a lot of ways. Winters can be rough with the temps (not even that bad compared to other places in AK) and the dark. Summers are badass though if you're an outdoorsman. One of the few places in the US where you can get to real wilderness so easily.

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I've lived in Port Orford. Too small even for someone who likes to live in the sticks, imho. Costco/airports are hours away. Great whale watching though.

For Alaska, I like Seward over Anchorage: your own glacier, insane scenery, fishing...if I could do 'dark', I'd live there. Not close to Costco/big airports but somehow the scenery and people made up for it.

I'd also live on the east fork of the Shoshone river near Cody, Wyoming...if country music didn't make me want to stab myself in the eye with a rusty fork.

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Heh Heh: Spartana, the first time I saw Copper River salmon fishing I thought it was some sort of flash mob.

You're not kidding about shoulder to shoulder!

But....AK is also the place where you can find a private pilot to just drop you anywhere....so getting dropped off and then hiking back out is pretty awesome. Or doing a loop and getting picked up at a pre-designated place.

I'm overly cautious and would want to have a backup pilot know my location...in case the first one couldn't.