[hattend]

Any suggestions appreciated

[alaskanfan]

One word dude, Homer. You would like Alaska more if you didn't live in the interior.

[andysandmikesmom]

Well, here is my two cents worth....I have lived in three very different parts of the country....first off, I lived in Chicago for the first 32 years of my life...then we lived in Fayetteville North Carolina for five years...and we have been out in the Pacific northwest for almost 20 yrs now...three different places, each with their own drawbacks and each with something to attract....

In Chicago, I loved the hustle and bustle of the big city, the museums, the zoos, the stores, the cultural attractions...

In North Carolina, we loved the food, the warmth of the people, the beachs of the coast, and the history of the past...

In the Pacific Northwest we love the mountains, the forests, the ocean, the food, the climate{yes, even with all the rain, we prefer the temperate climates}

So I guess I try to look for the good in the places we live....

In four years the hubby and I will be retiring..Where? Well, no where specific...we plan to become elderly gypsies, living out of our RV most of the year, driving the highways, driving the backroads, seeing what there is to see, hoping to visit new states, seeing new sights, meeting new folks...

And we plan to keep going that way, until our son decides we are a menace to the highways, and commits us to a nursing home, or until we die, and they need to pry our hands from the steering wheel...

For us anyway, retirement means getting out there, and seeing what there is to see, and doing what there is to do...

[TC Rider]

I wouldn't even consider NC. We have hurricanes almost constantly.

If you like sports, our teams are all overrated.

Don't buy into the lies about year round golf either.

Seriously, my Mom and Dad retired to Boulder City, Nevada about 15 years ago and still love it. It's about 15 miles south of Vegas, very quiet and sedate. Need a little action, hop in the car and head up the road.

My parents never cook, they manage to track down a free buffet nearly every night and breakfast is only $.99, 24/7, all over town.

[Hardcorps]

May I suggest Arkansas. Wait! don't stop reading. Arkansas is a compilation of people from all walks and beliefs. I have lived in 14 different states but Arkansas is the only one that makes sense. Whatever you like or dislike will be here but not in spades. I never lock my doors or car, it is not unusual for me to return home and discover that my house has been cleaned from top to bottom by neighbors out of the kindness of their heart. Why, I don't know why.... that is what makes it great.

[maxwell]

FLORIDA!

(Just kidding...)

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

As you say you want to be in the west, I suggest in no order:

Arizona

Santa Fe, New Mexico .. they need more Conservatives

The lakes above Austin, Texas

Texas east of I-45

Colorado

[JDoutrider]

Lake Tahoe...on the Nevada side. Best skiing in America! One of the prettiest spots on earth...gorgeous summers, great snow in the winter. It's grown up quite a bit since I lived there, back in the 50's and 60's, but I still go down there for fun! Pricey, however...

[bert]

Come see us in East Tennessee, solid Bush country, low taxes, nice people, including many retired military. The mountains offer the best trails in eastern US, good deer hunting, many lakes with excellent bass and trout fishing, Bristol Motor Speedway, large duck and goose populations, several ski resorts within 60 to 90 mile radius.

Freep mail if interested. We need more FReepers.

[Saundra Duffy]

Nowhere in California.

[Big Horn]

Here in Wyoming we have hunting and fishing, men are men and so are 85% of the women.

[thirst4truth]

Southern Oregon, specifically Roseburg, Oregon. The weather is mild, no snow. You are one hour from the coast, the beautiful Oregon coast and the dunes. Population 27,000 and not growing. Lots of country property with 5,10 or 20 acres and a nice house under $200,000. Three hours from Portland, one hour from Eugene. Where they still pump your gas and no sales tax! Go to roseburgproperty.com for some property costs. Good luck!

[CharlotteVRWC]

Try North Carolina....nice weather all year round.. I like Charlotte since it is close to Mountains and the Ocean for short trips. You can get a license for CCW...

Unfortunately, Jesse Helms is retiring as our Senator.

[don-o]

Whatever you do, please do not consider moving to Upper East Tennessee.

This place really is terrible, so you should never, under any circumatance, even remotely consider retiring to Upper East Tennessee.

And that goes for all retirees. Choose Buffalo over Upper East Tennessee. Thanks

[Dakotabound]

Interested in 40 acres and a house in the middle of nowhere, Florida Panhandle? In a few years?

[The Right Stuff]

Hey, Don - my novel suggestion

Buy an RV! If I was retired, I'd be on the road constantly.

We have an awesome country. Every single part of it that I've seen has its' own beauty and its' own uniquiness.

I've been lucky enough to see the plains of Kansas and Nebraska abloom with spring wildflowers. Lucky enough to see the flatlands of the Texas Panhandle. Lucky enough to appreciate the dry gasps of the pioneers, making their way across the Great Salt Basin.

When my kids go to college, I'm going to full time RV - interspersed with trips to the Caribbean, etc.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

There are many beautiful places in the Southwest.... Northern New Mexico is wonderful, especially the mountains. But if you are tired of the cold, Central Texas is nice- stay away from the trendy areas like Austin, or Kerrville - prices are a little higher there - but the smaller towns are very inexpensive and some of the nicest people in the world! Northern Arkansas is fantastic - and Arizona is great as well.....

[Enough is ENOUGH]

I visited a relative in Tucson. Nice area but just don't lean back against your car unless you want your a$$ fried.

[asneditor]

Port Aransas, Texas. Right on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico!

[xzins]

I've been out west, but Appalachia (any state) is the most beautiful region in the nation. Property prices, food prices, cost of living in general is the lowest in the nation.

Driving from LA to Texas on I40, it was barren wasteland through Arizona, then quasi desert until Oklahoma. Driving north to south from Las Vegas to Sacramento CA, it was wasteland the entire way. Not having seen the northwest, but hearing that they do have vegetation, then I can only assume that's the part of the west to which you refer.

Can't figure why we fought the Apache's for those deserts.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Florida. You get to vote twice.