Not for everyone, certainly, but it's perfect for us.
Rather than go on about what's so great about it I will just say this:
The weather sucks
There is no mall
There is no theater
There are twelve churches but only two bars
There are no freeways, only two lane blacktop and dirt roads
Access by boat or airplane only. There is no bridge and no road in or out.
With a population of less than 3000 you can't be anonymous. You WILL be well known whether you like it or not.
EVERYONE is armed, litterally for bear (and wolves).
You would hate it here.
Being from Tacoma, I can see you are experiencing a lot of hidden costs. In Tacoma, the rainfall causes moss on the roof, the rapid development of potholes to wreck the suspension of your car (ball joints=$600) and the need to paint more often. If you have to go across the Narrows Bridge, the toll is $4.50.If you have to go to Ketron Island, the Value Pass ferry, one-way, is (Vehicle up to 22 feet) (5 trips) $87.25. Tacoma is #7 in the nation’s most dangerous cities. The sales tax is 10.3 cents/dollar—the highest in the nation. The B and O tax rates are: Retailing: 0.471% Wholesaling: 0.484% Manufacturing: 0.484%.
Costs to license a pet: Unaltered dog or cat = $55; altered dog = $20 and altered cat = $12. The typical car insurance = an average of $515 per year for minimum coverage and $1,410 per year for full coverage. Cost of gasoline at Arco = $3.90/gal.
The cost can go on . . .
My two trips to Maui were with mixed reactions. Lucky I didn’t retire there. The fire took out some beautiful areas.
Live in Ketchikan for three years. I loved SE Alaska! Yes, the weather was a little wet and windy, but you couldn’t beat the location! I often think about going back for retirement.