I've been thinking Kentucky or Tennessee myself. I'm 20+ years from retiring, so I'm not thinking about it too hard. A lot can change in 20 years. My youngest isn't even a year old.

The Carolina's were near the top of the list for me but a recent trip to Colorado has me rethinking that. Mosquitos are the devil that comes with the hell of high humidity.

Not nearly so many in the SW as the SE

...but also fewer poisonous critters and more water availability in the SE.

I think he died. LoL

I'm less than 2 years away from retirement. I put a list of requirements too. The list helps - it is a good screening tool. The other piece is how much money you will need in retirement. TN and KY are on my list.

Good luck with your search

Colorado, Utah, Arizona other western states have already been targeted and ruined.
Seems the east is the spot. Little cabin in the smoky mountains. Or, like my brother, he and his wife got out of Frederick Colorado and moved to Hot Springs Arkansas. Now they have a big house on a lake...

Your problem is, like my sister in Fox River Grove who's been trying to get out for years, is housing. Her house would be worth $500,000 - $600,000 in Colorado. But in Illinois it's worth half that. Why..? Property taxes. Her property taxes are over $11,000 a year there when out west they might be $2,500. This affects mortgages, financing, home ownership. And also, the sale of her property.

Stay in Chicagoland, enjoy the Bears, Vienna Beefs and real hot dogs...

I really enjoy these threads, good variation in experiences.

I'm right there with you. I spend a lot of time on the water, but never enough, and cant see living away now. But, I keep going back to cost vs access. What is does not too costly mean to you? How close to the water is close enough? I feel pretty fortunate to have my boat at the end of the pier but I also dont look forward to shoreline erosion, hurricanes... but thats on Chesapeake Bay. I'm sure there are similar issues with a lake or smaller river but I really dont know.

I've also thought about keeping my current place and doing snow bird thing, or at least having 2 places to take advantage of the seasons. Who knows, maybe I'll end up in a van down by the river.

Bozeman MT is worth a visit IMO. It is a college town with a good hospital. The metro area is fairly small but lively and interesting. It also has a lot of western history. 3 months of freezing cold for sure but the other 3 seasons are nice. Some of the prettiest area on earth.

Bend Or. Lively town and the micro brew capital of OR. A lot to do there with decent open land nearby. Three months of cold but not Chicago cold. Not dirt cheap but less than SoCal by a lot.

Hickory NC. Dirt cheap, plenty of large parcels, and an easy drive into Charlotte for night life or major airport.

We are on a 2 year clock to retirement and looking around a bit. Ultimately we will end up near the grandkids but they are looking too. FYI, water and mosquitos go hand in hand so if you want one, the other will surely follow.

Rocky Top is a beautiful area. Spent a little bit of time there last year but definitely need to explore further.

Lots of interesting places in eastern WA and eastern OR.

we spent time in Greenvillie, I loved it there except the bugs. we have looked in Tuscon, Prescott and Payson, all good spots.
nobody has mentioned Fidalgo and Whidbey yet, great islands that you can drive on/off. not as wet as Seattle and Portland. another place we liked was Grants Pass Oregon, nice place, nice people, a race track close by, taxes are better there than Portland

I live here in the middle of God's country (as we kindly refer to it), but this: would be a close second. Spent two months there doing research while in school and we fell in love with it...zero money, stayed in a tent, enjoyed pots of beer around coal fire pits...great people, great place.

Lived in Hot Springs Ar for ten years and then moved back to SoCal (big mistake).

Going back as soon as wife retires......
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537546367.jpg

Sisters or Bend Oregon, bit more of a drive than you spec though to healthcare and metro area

Yeah bend is cool!

Following this thread also... we are considering WA. & OR.

Did a job in Tenn. super nice people and great real estate prices but snow and tornado's

Still places to be had in CO.. property tax is significantly less here than IL as well. Have a price range you're looking for?

Think healthcare where ever you go.

Southern Oregon, Klamath Falls area.

Climate per wiki

Klamath Falls is known as “Oregon’s City of Sunshine” because the area enjoys 300 days of sun per year.[29] Klamath Falls is a high desert and features a climate with cold snowy winters along with hot summer afternoons and cool summer nights. Under the Köppen climate classification the city’s climate type is Csb, often described as Warm Summer Mediterranean. Using the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm preferred by some climatologists Klamath Falls is a Dsb climate, often described as Warm Summer Continental Mediterranean.

Typical of its region, Klamath Falls has a dry season in summertime, with the greatest precipitation occurring in wintertime, much of it falling as snow. Although it is not arid or semi-arid, total precipitation is still low, at 13.41 inches (340.6 mm) per year, due to Klamath Falls being in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains to the west. The wettest “rain year” has been from July 1957 to June 1958 with 20.36 inches (517.1 mm) and the driest from July 1954 to June 1955 with 6.09 inches (154.7 mm).[30] The all-time record high is 105 °F (40.6 °C), set on July 27, 1911, and the all-time record low is −24 °F (−31.1 °C), set on January 15, 1888.[31] The freeze-free season averages around 120 days,[32] with the first freeze in a typical year being on September 21, and the last freeze being on June 1.[33][34] On average 21 days per year reach 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher, and two nights per year reach temperatures of 0 °F (−17.8 °C) or lower.

Thanks everyone.

...unlike the west coast necessity, my home isn't part of my overall investment strategy - so thats not a major factor in moving.

...with the desire for water - even a decent sized trout stream might do - or a tributary leading to a lake. I may not use it a lot, but I do enjoy the solitude and peace of water and fishing. I don't want to have to drive to it.

...Is there anywhere in the SE that *isnt* overrun with mosquitos? A nice luxury 2 bedroom cabin in the mountains with 10 acres sounds divine...

Maybe I'm just immune to noticing them....but skeeters aren't everywhere here....only where there is that water that you so desire ;). Seriously though....I don't really notice skeeters here at my primary house (even with a pond 40 yds away) 'cause they ain't here, nor even on "most" of my rural acerage which has several nice ponds. Except one of the ponds...when they occasionally emerge (this week for example). I've never lived in the mtns....I doubt seriously if it's an issue...along with the humidity....but everything is relative :).

If everyone in FL had to experience a "noseeum" week like I did on Pine Island years ago....the state would be unpopulated :(