Relocation.....fantasy or reality....

[Wendythehamster]

I think my question is somewhere between on and off topic…

If you could move anywhere in the country where would it be?  And why?

We’re dreaming/planning  and I thought maybe you’d come up with some suggestions we hadn’t even thought of.

I know the MMM lifestyle can be pulled off anywhere. We are a family of 4 (kids are 8&5) in the New York suburbs and with cost of living here  I reckon we are pulling off badassity pretty well with our house paid off, maxed out 401k and a growing bushy mustache.   We have a good household income but by no means above average for the area.

However, we are getting to the point where we have a sufficient stash to consider retirement from corporate 9-6ness in our not too distant future, and frankly we think we can have a better quality of life in a different location.

As so much of MMM lifestyle ties in with our own environmental concerns I’m assuming some folks in the forum here will share some sensibilities.   Obviously being MMMers we would want to live in a good biking/walking area close to/in town, but also far, far away from fracking and nuclear plants.   

We also want to find somewhere generally less consumer-centered than the NY burbs…. we’d love to feel not so entirely isolated in our frugal fanciness!

I keep finding my mind drifting in a Vermont direction. You?

[Eric]

We discuss this around here from time to time.  My wife and I will definitely move to catch FIRE, as we're in Silicon Valley.  We can FIRE probably 5 years earlier just by moving to a lower cost of living area.  I'd prefer to stay out West, but both our families are in the Midwest, so we may end up back there which is how Madison and Milwaukee snuck onto the list.

Places I'm choosing between:
Boise, ID
Eugene (or Corvallis), OR
Spokane, WA
Madison, WI (or Milwaukee)
Fort Collins, CO (or somewhere along the range in CO)
Missoula, MT

Those are where I'm considering.  We like riding bikes, hiking, cooking, dogs, and plan to have a large garden an possibly some chickens.  We're choosing between bike-friendly medium-sized towns with at least some collegiate influence for cultural activities and live music.

Here's my favorite thread discussing factors and places:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/real-estate-and-landlording/cheap-but-nice-places-to-retire-to-in-us/

And another:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/how-did-you-choose-your-retirement-cityplace/

[Wendythehamster]

Ah ha, thank you for the links to more relocation talk....spot the 'new to the forum' girl!       

Milwaukee/Madison make it on to our list as my husband's a Wisconsinite too. (I'm from the UK).

We started out in California and moved east for his work.  Loved CA too but we seem to hit only the most expensive places to live!  Definitely agree with you about collegiate influence.  Thanks for the list!

     

[mak1277]

Currently live in DC Metro...counting the days until we can get out of here.

Relocation is 4 years away for us, so we haven't narrowed it down too far.  I'm looking to move out West and get a small house on 15-20 acres...big enough where I can't see any neighbors at least.  Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Northern Cali are on the short list.   And while Maine isn't "west" it's also on the list.  I'm very excited to visit all these places over the next couple of years and start to narrow down our choices.

[Bardo]

Currently in central Texas but looking to get out after retirement in about 14 months.  What I really want is somewhere with a moderate climate and lots of rain, so I'm thinking Portland/Vancouver WA metro.  I'm going out there in the spring to check it out.  It's thrilling finally being able to choose a location to live without having to worry about a job there.

[Eric]

It's thrilling finally being able to choose a location to live without having to worry about a job there.

I like the thought of that too.  Obviously you do your research, but if you get there and you don't like it, well then just move somewhere else!  Easy-peasy! 

[Lanthiriel]

I recently relocated to Alaska and I LOVE it, but my H is unimpressed with the high COL. While we don't pay sales or income tax (for now), housing and food prices really eat up our take home. We're thinking of heading back south in 3-5 years after he gets his professional engineering license and are considering the Great Lakes area or maybe Maine. It's tough because we really want a small town environment, but we're a ways away from FIRE, so for a while we need to live somewhere that can support two professional careers.

[RichMoose]

A few of my favorite places stateside. I've only spent a significant amount of time in the West, so I guess I'm not really painting a full picture.

Sequim, WA - a real gem! Desert-like weather right on the ocean because of a unique rain shadow location. Just a short bike ride away you are in dense coastal rain forest. There's fantastic seafood right out your door and the town is a nice, family size. There's also good opportunity to grow your own produce of virtually any kind. Professional jobs might be scarce depending on your career.

Wenatchee, WA - great weather again. A little cooler in the winter and a desert type location. Lots of outdoor activities and the rivers are great!

Walla Walla, WA - Similar in many ways to Wenatchee. Walla Walla is a budding wine country with very nice landscapes. Far enough away from the Hanford disaster / Columbia nuclear facilities that it shouldn't be a bother.

Corvallis / Albany, OR - Nice college town area so you have good sports at reasonable prices. Nice weather, great opportunities to grow your own produce. Again, close to mountains and hills for biking, hiking, etc.

[RichMoose]

Currently in central Texas but looking to get out after retirement in about 14 months.  What I really want is somewhere with a moderate climate and lots of rain, so I'm thinking Portland/Vancouver WA metro.  I'm going out there in the spring to check it out.  It's thrilling finally being able to choose a location to live without having to worry about a job there.

If you are open to living in smaller, but still full-service cities, I would look to other places that are cheaper. The Mt Vernon - Anacortes - La Conner area in WA is really nice and in the spring you'll see fields full of tulips. Rain is moderate (40"/ year on average), but a tad grey in the winter. Bellingham, WA is nice but not as agricultural or scenic as the former in my opinion.

[frugalecon]

I think about this a lot. The Pacific Northwest has some great attributes, great beer and wine scene, phenomenal food, amenable to gardening, not necessary to shovel much snow unless you want to. I do like the vibrancy of a big city, or at least access to it. An easy train ride to somewhere would be ideal. (European cities are obviously good in this regard.)

I plan to do some more exploration of the California coast in the spring, though the crazy COL might be an impediment.

Maine is gorgeous, but the winter is a drag.

[Wendythehamster]

Thank you all  for contributing your thoughts!  Now that the thought of moving has set its seed, the  NY area is driving me more nuts by the minute!

[Mr.Chipper77]

Wont be that much longer for us and we want OUT of the Midwest and are really considering NC, Tx and Co with slight look at OR

[Artemis67]

If you are open to living in smaller, but still full-service cities, I would look to other places that are cheaper. The Mt Vernon - Anacortes - La Conner area in WA is really nice and in the spring you'll see fields full of tulips. Rain is moderate (40"/ year on average), but a tad grey in the winter. Bellingham, WA is nice but not as agricultural or scenic as the former in my opinion.

I can vouch for Bellingham and its outlying areas. I lived there for nine years, finished a BA at Western, and it was really a great place to live. My mom and stepdad followed me up there, and still live there. The only reason I left was because I'm a city dweller at heart and it eventually felt too small. But I can give it a big thumb's-up. Check it out.

[MrsSmitty]

I've lived in the midwest and Texas, and done a lot of traveling over the years. I ended up in Richmond, VA due to random job transfer about 7 years ago and absolutely adore it. Small enough to feel cozy but big enough for all the city amenities/entertainment. Beautiful river with great hiking and charming historic districts a mile or two from our house. Mild but still seasonal weather. Low cost of living. Great walkable areas. Tons of breweries if that's your thing and only a short drive to the central Virgina wineries if that's your thing. Near enough to DC, the mountains, and the beach. The people are a great mix. There's very much a feeling of community. I can't speak highly enough of my little town.

[Bardo]

I think about this a lot. The Pacific Northwest has some great attributes, great beer and wine scene, phenomenal food, amenable to gardening, not necessary to shovel much snow unless you want to. I do like the vibrancy of a big city, or at least access to it. An easy train ride to somewhere would be ideal. (European cities are obviously good in this regard.)

I plan to do some more exploration of the California coast in the spring, though the crazy COL might be an impediment.

Maine is gorgeous, but the winter is a drag.

Gave some thought to Maine before focusing on the PNW, but I suspect that the reality of the winters would be much worse than the dream.  I don't care about living within a large city, but I would want easy access. 

[OutBy40]

I live in Tucson, AZ - we have a fairly low cost of living here.  If I had to move, I would definitely stay out west and would probably find a small down in Nevada, Utah or Colorado...maybe somewhere in the four corners region.  Honestly, I haven't given this much thought because, well, Tucson is pretty affordable.

[Davids]

Why the USA, why not the world, so many places are cheap. For example Prague is a place my wife and I have a dream of one day in theory moving to. We visited there before on a European trip and loved it. It is low cost of living and close to many other locations by train and a short ride by plane to other spots.

[cartechguy]

Great topic!! I just moved from the DC area after selling my car repair shop after 20 plus years and relocated to Palm Beach Shores Fl and RETIRED!!  I am only 45 but in the near future I will open another small car repair shop and work a few days a week.  My dream is here and that is sitting on the beach everyday at this point!!

[mak1277]

Why the USA, why not the world...

I think this is a good question.  For me personally, my retirement location is about location, not cost of living.  I want space...land...mountains and streams.  I want a place where I can't see any other houses or hear cars drive by.  I suppose there are other places in the world I can find that, but I *know* I can get what I want here in the US in half a dozen or more states.

[clarkfan1979]

I have lived in a few places that I would recommend without hesitation.

Ft. Collins, CO (5 years)
Breckenridge, CO (1 winter season)
Encinitas, CA (2 years)
San Diego, CA (5 years)

Places that I would like to live in the future

Kauai, HI
Seattle, WA
Vancouver, BC
Huntington Beach, CA
Portland, OR
NYC

Good luck to you in the future. One of the greatest things in life for me is moving to a new place and meeting people with similar interests and goals. Living in transplant cities is fun because you meet people from all over the world.

[OutBy40]

Why the USA, why not the world, so many places are cheap. For example Prague is a place my wife and I have a dream of one day in theory moving to. We visited there before on a European trip and loved it. It is low cost of living and close to many other locations by train and a short ride by plane to other spots.

Costa Rica is darn cheap too if you live a bit inland.  And far better weather in my humble opinion.  :)

[Siobhan]

FL Keys. 

We both HATE the cold, and we've lived/visited pretty much every state in the good ol US of A (Washington state is the last on our list).  I loved Maine/NH, I couldn't take the winters though.  Loved CO for the 4 years we lived there, but after moving back east I realized how much I like the fact that it doesn't snow in September and May/June. 

Totally non mustachian, but we currently live in the DC Metro area so COL is around the same, we've chunking away money to cover it and will hopefully purchase a duplex when we make the transition.

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

+1 for moving to Vermont! That's our plan after FIRE-ing in 3 years. We're in Cambridge now (just outside of Boston) and COL is super high (good though because our house will become a rental property). City life just won't facilitate what we're hoping to do in early retirement.

We're planning to homestead and are looking to buy 20+ acres of land (with a house) in rural southern Vermont. It's beautiful, not too expensive, has wonderful cultural hubs in the small towns, good schools, great weather, close proximity to Boston & NYC, and enough land for us to grow our own food, hike,  have a woodworking shop, etc. It also has the ethos, vibe, and culture we're looking for.

Wendythehamster--where in Vermont are you thinking of?

[irishbear99]

My husband and I are trying to get back to Portland, OR, which is where we lived before we moved to Oahu four years ago. While we are doing well and enjoy it here, the cost of living in HI is bordering on ridiculous. Living in Portland will help make FIRE much easier and happen much sooner. Also, we really miss the Portland culture and vibe, not to mention great concerts, restaurants and activities. There's a job opening next week in my organization in Portland, which I plan to put in for. /fingerscrossed

[Luke Warm]

i posted earlier about klamath falls, oregon. something about the west calls me. we've visited the left coast a few times and we always leave wondering why we don't live there.

[PerpetualWanderlust]

Realistic Cities:

Denver, Colorado
Austin, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Durham, North Carolina


Dream Cities

Biel, Switzerland
Sydney, Australia
Munich, Germany
Nice, France
London, UK
Destin/30A, Florida


Difference in my dream cities and my realistic cities is simply cost of housing/living.

[Pylortes]

Here's my list which heavily weighs lower cost of living and small to mid sized cities (proximity to universities, beach, mountains and weather are also factors)

Greenville, SC
Charleston, SC
Madison, WI
Charlottesville, VA

I also agree that OR and WA would be cool, but a little higher cost of living than what I'm interested in. I'm not big into winter weather (couldn't leave Madison off the list it's too cool).  I have a dream of living in Madison in the summer/fall and SC in the winter/spring! I didn't have CO, Maine, etc areas but they could be cool if you don't mind the cold.

[Wendythehamster]

Well for MY Vermont thoughts I have a hankerin' for Burlington...but then I step out the door in the NY burbs, feel an icy blast and wonder if I've lost my mind dreaming of moving to a frozen lake.....But I like the thought of being in an artsy environment, clean and a  walkable town.    I don't think I'm ready for completely out in the wilds and not needing a car is very appealing to me.

As for why not the rest of the world I agree and to be honest my kind of lifestyle is more 'European'... but my answer is quite mundane. I've only just got my US citizenship and  I have a serious case of immigration exhaustion. I've still got wanderlust as far as traveling goes, but as for moving....not so sure.  I found it stressful enough moving to another culture in which I shared a language.....maybe I'm a little faint hearted!

[HP]

Sequim, WA - a real gem! Desert-like weather right on the ocean because of a unique rain shadow location. Just a short bike ride away you are in dense coastal rain forest.

Sequim has a bit of a prairie thing going on, but it's hardly desert-like, given the average number of sunny days is less than 150/year and temps rarely rise above 85.

Technically, the rain forest is a few hours by car from Sequim, though there are some lovely, relatively damp, old growth woods.

You are correct that the job market leaves a lot to be desired, which is a big reason we're planning on moving away in within the next few years. (Not enough sun, and minimal educational opportunities for the kids being the other main reasons.) COL is very low and the area sure is beautiful during those rare sunny days, though.

[Ynari]

SO and I are in the midst of a potential relocation, and we have our sights set on Denver, CO.

Requirements in a city:
Generally walkable (or electric-bike-able)
Nice weather - we both say Chicago's too cold and Florida's too hot. Somewhere in the middle!
Accessible to both city and wilderness/countryside
Good circus scene - this isn't as limiting as you'd think, but it still makes some major cities much more appealing. Denver seems to have a scene roughly on par with Chicago and NY, what with their annual circus festival and at least a couple of training studios.  California, Portland, and some parts of New England are also places I've considered here, but they don't fit the other categories as nicely.

[LiveLean]

We're able to live anywhere and we continue to choose Central Florida, though we have a second home/rental property in Virginia Beach.

Love NYC, San Diego, etc., but can't fathom why anyone would subject themselves to those sort of taxes.

[wtjbatman]

Realistic Cities:

Durham, North Carolina

Good friend of mine moved from Minnesota to Durham for work. He keeps telling me how much he loves it and that I need to move out there and join him. Warmer weather, more jobs in our field, lots to do, and COL not any higher than where I live (and he used to live) here in MN.

Me and the fiance are going out there this spring to check it out. Call it a bit of a trial run.

[biscuitwhomper]

Folks, I know it has been said before, but I have to repeat it.    MAKE SURE YOU  RENT FIRST, if even for 6 months.   It always has taken me about a year to figure out the exact neighborhood that suits me.   Don't learn this lesson the hard way, like I did.

[clarkfan1979]

I have lived in a few places that I would recommend without hesitation.

Ft. Collins, CO (5 years)
Breckenridge, CO (1 winter season)
Encinitas, CA (2 years)
San Diego, CA (5 years)

Places that I would like to live in the future

Kauai, HI
Seattle, WA
Vancouver, BC
Huntington Beach, CA
Portland, OR
NYC

Good luck to you in the future. One of the greatest things in life for me is moving to a new place and meeting people with similar interests and goals. Living in transplant cities is fun because you meet people from all over the world.

I live in Huntington Beach (as does Surf HB) and ...well... it's not a place I would ever want to move to if I didn't live here already. Great beach areas and weather but otherwise not much to offer, and the surroundings aren't very nice until and it's heavily built up and congested. Very crowded,  expensive housing, killer traffic,  smoggy and hot in summer. So I'm just curious - what appeals to you? Surfing? Weather? Beach? Lifestyle? Probably all.   I only stayed here after I ER'd for the beach volleyball and water sports, but am ready to move on to greener (literally) pastures.

I still love to surf, snowboard, and skateboard at the age of 35. These are not age appropriate behaviors in many parts of the country. I am not able to be honest with my current co-workers about my hobbies. I think So Cal is an exception and why I would like to move back. I lived in San Diego for about 7 years. My wife and I have a lot of friends and family that live near Huntington Beach. One of my snowboard buddies lives in Laguna Nigel. One of my skateboard buddies lives in Oceanside. It would be fun to be able to do these activities with my friends again, instead of by myself. My wife and I will only move back to So Cal if both of our commutes are less than 10 miles. There are a few beach cities on our list, but I think Huntington Beach has most of things on the checklist.

I was very excited to hear that Bear Mountain and Mammoth are doing a combined pass now. I heard that Mammoth bought our Bear Mountain. All of our favorite bands typically stop in LA. We are currently 2-3 hours away from 3 majors cities that get bands, but require a hotel because of the distance. As a result, we have yet to see a concert or show by one of our favorite bands/artists after living here for 3 years.

[seattlecyclone]

I currently live in Seattle and have no real intention of moving elsewhere. Every time I visit Hawaii I kind of fantasize about retiring there, but am not sure I could stand the heat for extended periods (I sleep much better in cool weather).

I think it's interesting that Madison is on so many of your lists. I lived there for two years while earning a master's degree and really liked it. I could see myself living there again, but I have to say I like Seattle more.

[Sid Hoffman]

I think anywhere in the southwest or west in general would be workable, although I prefer non-snow places.  Maybe I'd put up with some snow if I was FIRE'd because at least travel would always be on my own terms, not driven by a work need to get things done at a certain time.  Areas I might consider would be:

(All are general areas, not necessarily within city limits of the named location)
Fort Worth, TX
San Antonio, TX
Phoenix, AZ
Prescott, AZ
San Luis Obispo, CA
Tillamook, OR
Provo, UT
Colorado Springs, CO

It's hard to say exactly which places I'd absolutely live year-round versus seasonal living, as I'm not sure what my life will look like 10-15 years from now when I'm likely to be boarding the FIRE train.  I think places like Phoenix and Fort Worth are just so easy to find a nice, affordable place while being surrounded by city services and close to an international airport that it's easy to say I'd live there year-round.  Further down the list, I could maybe picture living somewhere in the San Luis Obispo area, as I've found rentals there which are pretty price competitive as long as you're willing to live small or be a roommate.

For the last 3, I love those places but have also only gone in the warmer months.  I don't like snow and I certainly don't like the prospect of riding my bike to the grocery store in the snow.  I have even more trouble picturing myself at 55-65 years old enjoying riding my bike through the snow.  However as a seasonal deal, I could picture myself doing a cheap rental in a cool weather place from April-September, then back to the a warm place near family from October-March.  That way I kind of get both things I enjoy: mild weather year-round, but also close to family at least for half the year and all the major holidays.  SLO, CA would give me nice weather year-round, but none of my family is in California.

[clarkfan1979]

I have lived in a few places that I would recommend without hesitation.

Ft. Collins, CO (5 years)
Breckenridge, CO (1 winter season)
Encinitas, CA (2 years)
San Diego, CA (5 years)

Places that I would like to live in the future

Kauai, HI
Seattle, WA
Vancouver, BC
Huntington Beach, CA
Portland, OR
NYC

Good luck to you in the future. One of the greatest things in life for me is moving to a new place and meeting people with similar interests and goals. Living in transplant cities is fun because you meet people from all over the world.

I live in Huntington Beach (as does Surf HB) and ...well... it's not a place I would ever want to move to if I didn't live here already. Great beach areas and weather but otherwise not much to offer, and the surroundings aren't very nice until and it's heavily built up and congested. Very crowded,  expensive housing, killer traffic,  smoggy and hot in summer. So I'm just curious - what appeals to you? Surfing? Weather? Beach? Lifestyle? Probably all.   I only stayed here after I ER'd for the beach volleyball and water sports, but am ready to move on to greener (literally) pastures.

I still love to surf, snowboard, and skateboard at the age of 35. These are not age appropriate behaviors in many parts of the country. I am not able to be honest with my current co-workers about my hobbies. I think So Cal is an exception and why I would like to move back. I lived in San Diego for about 7 years. My wife and I have a lot of friends and family that live near Huntington Beach. One of my snowboard buddies lives in Laguna Nigel. One of my skateboard buddies lives in Oceanside. It would be fun to be able to do these activities with my friends again, instead of by myself. My wife and I will only move back to So Cal if both of our commutes are less than 10 miles. There are a few beach cities on our list, but I think Huntington Beach has most of things on the checklist.

I was very excited to hear that Bear Mountain and Mammoth are doing a combined pass now. I heard that Mammoth bought our Bear Mountain. All of our favorite bands typically stop in LA. We are currently 2-3 hours away from 3 majors cities that get bands, but require a hotel because of the distance. As a result, we have yet to see a concert or show by one of our favorite bands/artists after living here for 3 years.

Oh yeah - you can be 100 plus in HB and the surfing, skiing, boarding, beach volleyball, basic beach/ski bum lifestyle is very acceptable...and very normal. And of course it is true that you can snow ski/board in Big Bear in the mornings and then be on the beach surfing in the afternoon if you live here - barring the traffic of course which can turn a 90 minute drive into a few hours. Today is a great example - will be close to 80 here today and great surfing (big storm waves) but you can also be in the mountains where there's several feet of new snow and in the teens and 20's just a hour and 1/2 away - and yes, got my Mammoth/Bear Mountain/Snow Summit combo ski pass burning a hole in my hand :-). Best of both worlds so I understand why you'd want to live here.  I more or less grew up here since I was 14 - although I moved away for 10 or so years after high school - so I take all this stuff for granted and the acceptability of it all. Never really felt other parts of the country would have a negative mind set that only young people or kids should do active things and the old farts have to sit in the rocking chair on the front porch but maybe I'm wrong. 

ETA: About a year after I quit my job I sold my house in the OC and bought a place in Big Bear Lake. It was about 1/4th the price of housing in coastal OC (HB) and I had a lot of the same recreational opportunities since I was FIRE'd and didn't have to work. I have since moved back to HB several years ago for family reasons, but living in BBL is a great way to live the SoCal lifestyle without the high housing costs, huge number of people, traffic congestion and smog if you aren't dependent on a job.

Thank you for the advice of living in BBL. I will consider it. This week has been tough because my surfing friends have been posting pics of the waves this week. When I was surfing regularly, I was a lean 190 lbs. Now I'm a stocky 205. Yes, I could probably eat better and exercise to get back down to 190. However, when I was surfing a lot, I didn't have to watch what I ate or had to block out time for exercise.

[Luke Warm]

i love to play and that's probably my main motivation for wanting to relocate. i've played around here for 20 years and i want something different. i've ridden the same roads and mtb trails, canoed the same creeks, walked the same beaches. i want to ski and hike in the mountains. go camping without being eaten alive by bugs or sleeping in a sweaty sleeping bag. before too much longer i'll be to broken down to enjoy a new playground.

[87tweetybirds]

Why the USA, why not the world...

I think this is a good question.  For me personally, my retirement location is about location, not cost of living.  I want space...land...mountains and streams.  I want a place where I can't see any other houses or hear cars drive by.  I suppose there are other places in the world I can find that, but I *know* I can get what I want here in the US in half a dozen or more states.

This is a sentiment I relate to, though finding a place where you are in the mountains, near streams, but not able to hear cars or see houses while being very close to a city can be difficult. I'm a country kid myself, and I'd love to return to where I grew up when I FIRE. I grew up in a small area in Idaho. It's called Teton Valley(Idaho, not to be confused with Teton county Wyoming, which is just over the state line and mountain pass). It's a georgious place especially if you like winter sports/pastimes  as well as summer sports/pastimes. It also has a sense of community and culture.

[Vilgan]

Went through this with the wife (then GF) a few years ago. We were living somewhere crappy and wanted to live somewhere better. We moved to Seattle and life has basically been eternal bliss ever since. Big city makes sense for employment, if we were retired though there are lots of awesome small towns that are a lot cheaper as well. Bellingham WA, Corvallis OR, Port Angeles WA would be 3 that I would strongly consider.

If you don't love where you live, MOVE. We did, and it has made all the difference.

[benjenn]

DH and I are counting the days (330) until we can retire and move to the most beautiful place we know, Gulf Shores, Alabama.  We already have a place there on the 15th floor of a great condo building with a 30 foot wall of 9 foot windows overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.  White sand beaches await us!  There's plenty to do there and bigger cities near enough that we won't be far from anything we could possibly need.  Yes, there will be a lot of tourists there in the warmer months but plenty of time we'll feel we have the whole beach to ourselves.  No state income tax on pensions, relatively low COL, plenty of sunshine and we can watch dolphins play from our balcony.  :)

[Luke Warm]

DH and I are counting the days (330) until we can retire and move to the most beautiful place we know, Gulf Shores, Alabama.  We already have a place there on the 15th floor of a great condo building with a 30 foot wall of 9 foot windows overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.  White sand beaches await us!  There's plenty to do there and bigger cities near enough that we won't be far from anything we could possibly need.  Yes, there will be a lot of tourists there in the warmer months but plenty of time we'll feel we have the whole beach to ourselves.  No state income tax on pensions, relatively low COL, plenty of sunshine and we can watch dolphins play from our balcony.  :)

i'm right down the street in pensacola. alabama has a lot to offer and the beach there is one of the most beautiful beaches i've ever seen. birmingham has a great park, oak mountain state park, that is outstanding.

[gnomemom]

DH and I are counting the days (330) until we can retire and move to the most beautiful place we know, Gulf Shores, Alabama.  We already have a place there on the 15th floor of a great condo building with a 30 foot wall of 9 foot windows overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.  White sand beaches await us!  There's plenty to do there and bigger cities near enough that we won't be far from anything we could possibly need.  Yes, there will be a lot of tourists there in the warmer months but plenty of time we'll feel we have the whole beach to ourselves.  No state income tax on pensions, relatively low COL, plenty of sunshine and we can watch dolphins play from our balcony.  :)

We're looking at the Panhandle for retirement, too!

[Daisy]

How about South Florida? Yes, it can be expensive, but not necessarily. I can't believe that I am advocating yet another New Yorker moving to Florida...we just want the nice ones. ;-)

It might be better than southern California in that there is no state income tax. We also have a lot of immigrants, so there's always a place to find cheaper housing (this is all relative I guess). The downtown Miami area is really picking up (though not cheap) and there are more options for car-free living with the new trolley services popping up in a bunch of neighborhoods. Although it is very spread out and the public transportation is not that great...I think it is improving slowly. I just met some long-term FIRE'd folks in my cycling club that recently moved to Miami to live in the urban area for just this reason. They love the international vibe of the city. They have lived in a bunch of places and found this was their favorite.

We have beach volleyball all around. The surfing isn't that great, but windsurfing and especially kite surfing are very popular with our high winds. Several beaches around town are usually loaded with kite surfers when the winds get high.

We don't have mountains, but I just bought a round trip ticket to Colorado for a ski trip next year and paid $270 since we have several airports in the area that have direct flights to all over the country.

You can also shed most of your winter wardrobe and just keep it for when you travel to cold places. I barely use electricity in the fall/winter/spring.

[Luke Warm]

what's a good website for cost of living comparisons? do they usually include the state taxes in their comparisons?