Mark and I have a case of wanderlust and though it is many many years away, we are planning where we will retire. Believe me, you, it will NOT be in CA. It is so danged expensive here. Why, the median price for a house in SLO is over 500,000.00! Looking in the Midwest or OR and WA. Can ya all tell me about where you live and what is good about it and not so good about it? Dee Dee, I was "IN" Centralia last night via Internet. We liked that area when we came to the Bow Wow. What we really like, contrary to popular opinion is fog and overcast. Don't like HOT weather so desert areas are out.
How about Kalispell, Montana ? It would be like going somewhere on a (http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/otn/alienz/ufo.gif)
If you don't like hot, as we don't, this is the place for you! The scenery is gorgeous, but winter comes quickly in the Rockies....very short summers. Of course, you can always seek lower elevations in Colorado than where we live.
Hmmm, well, I did read that Portland, ME was voted best place to raise children--and even if ya don't have kidz, I know that the NE states as a whole have pretty good social services, which might be a consideration for retirees, eh? Oh course, it's snows 300 days outta the year. And the mountains, there are lotsa mountains. So, if fog is on your list, Littleton NH is just honking beatuiful.
Hmmmm, maybe there is a demographic search on SOME government website that might help ya narrow down yer choices based on your predicted needs and desires.
There are books titled "Placed Rated" available at the library or bookstore that might have good info. Lotsa folks here in PA go to North Carolina and LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next to Seattle, Bucks COunty, PA is about the prettiest place you would ever see, but it is getting "strip-malled" and over-built. (notice I didn't say "developed": the land is perfectly developed without a structure on it, thankyaverymuch.) Also, getting very expensive.
Anytime you wanna take a trip our East, the latch string is out for you. :thumb:
Sandi, I am not even gong to suggest Houston. I know how you "love" our heat and humidity! :2funny:
The best things about living in Ohio are the relative low cost of living and the large number of state parks, metroparks and nature reserves to enjoy.
Of course you have been here before and have family here, so you probably know that.
Missouri's not bad and our location here is pretty good. We are less than an hour from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas. The cost of living isn't bad here although I think it's cheaper in AR. I would love to move down to Fayetteville, AR area. It's really growing down there and the weather is nicer. We do have heat and humidity but it's bearable.
Iowa touts a good education system, but if you are thinking of retiring, you are a little beyond that stage of your lives. The crime rates are pretty low as well.
However, I would not recommend Iowa because of the extremes in weather conditions - brutally cold winters, and hot summers. It's very agricultural-oriented. There are no professional sports teams, so people go nuts over college sports. And, it's a long drive to any large city.
The only reason we are staying is because of our fairly good jobs, and if nothing drastic happens, we will have good retirement packages. When we retire, we will definitely leave the state, for some place a little more temperatre.
I hate to sound like I'm dissing Iowa, but for people of retirement age, it's not that great of a place.