My opinion - Oregon and Washington states are both "out" for retirement. Oregon has high property taxes, a state income tax that goes after everything (including capital gains), and an ever-increasing tax load and cost of living. Washington is not far behind...

The problem is that states with lower tax loads aren't exactly near anywhere I'd like to live. I guess I need more research...

Similar question I ask is where is a “sun solution “ for those nasty, gloomy winter months. Not a permanent location, just a few months to take the edge off.

I hear Maui is nice.

Interesting responses.

I want to die in my own house!

I thought about the boat idea when I was single and in my 40's in Seattle. The lack of space stalled me out. I had cars/motorcycles and also pets that I couldn't figure out in that market.

I have buddies here who rent shop space for storage and to work on their cars/bikes. Over time, 3 of them have rented units in a 10 unit industrial development. I think their monthly rent is in the $800/month range.

I live in eastern WA. We are here for the long term. It is way more affordable than the western part of the state and more of a 4 season climate. You do have to like, or at least tolerate, a real winter. Some of the tax laws are changing but it generally impacts folks way above my pay grade.
My shop is heated and once we both retire we'll likely spend a month or so in AZ to get some heat/sun in February/March. Kids/Grandkids are either here or in the Seattle area except for the outlier in Austin.

We bought a house in South Carolina that will become the retirement destination mainly because both our children and within a four hour drive and they are likely to stay on the East Coast.

The farm is too much in terms of the amount of care and feeding the place needs.

We have a lot of friends and family in the area with mountain houses, beach places, etc.

My goal is to do the reverse snow-bird...get out for a few months during the summer and spend time in less humid conditions. I really enjoy the PNW and I particularly like eastern Washington State.

It works for me but being across the country from the kids is a no go for full time living.

We'll see. Nothing changes like the best laid plans!

I want to die on my own bed asleep, it's not a bad way to go

For me I'd like to spend my early retirement years living between Slovenia and Costa Rica with a few long distance overland driving tours in various parts of the world

In anticipation of retirement, we recently moved to Fairhope, AL. Lovely “Southern Living” town on the east shore of Mobile Bay. Bottom line, wife loves it. So far, I hate it.

Choose carefully.

Lol, ^^ why do you hate it?

Too hot and humid for him

I have a list:

-Humidity is so bad I have ferns growing between the shingles on my roof.
-Until I ran a dehumidifier full time in my garage, everything began to grow a layer of mold.
-Rains every day. Water leaks into the crawl space and despite tubes of caulk…it continues.
-Absolutely no good motorcycling. Straight, flat, grid roads for miles in every direction. Did I mention rain, heat, humidity?
-Very quaint downtown inhabited by fancy old ladies with zombied-out gray faced husbands. I don’t want to become one of them.
-We live in a “special” part of town called Montrose. Lots of massive oaks with Spanish moss hanging like you’d see in a Hallmark movie. But small lots, roof and lot covered with tree stuff that falls daily, minimal privacy and insane HOA governance. You pretty much need approval to pull a weed.

So, I’ll reiterate. Proceed with caution. Living here has always been my wife’s dream. So that took priority and I hope for the best as a result. It’s only been a few months so perhaps I’m being hasty.

Chattanooga, TN...awesome weather, cosmopolitan enough for entertainment, great driving...no state income tax...

That's my plan though sadly not able to retire just yet. You can buy a nice house between provence and the luberon areas for the cost of a studio in the SF bay area. 10 min from 3 fantastic "world rated" touristic villages. Cost of living is peanuts, property tax is 1/10th of here (and includes garbage for F's sake), food is better and about 1/2, Gig fiber is $25 a month, hell *everything* is cheaper (we truly are getting fleeced in the US) and if you get a retirement in $ you are doing OK with low monthly expenses and a lot do do nearby. Only thing to sort out is healthcare but we have plans for that.

Wow... nothing on the west coast...

https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-retire

Where did HughR retire?

Central Florida east. St Augustine I think.

Seahawk - your plan is somewhat similar to mine (working on Ours...). We love VA, and overtime the tax bite goes down on retired military pension, so that helps some. I grew up without humidity and absolutely dread JUL-early SEP with the heat and muggy weather. The rest of the year is great, and winter is pretty mild. Trying to get the comptroller to buy off on VA high country for the HOT part of the year, buy or rent will do that. I have a couple of years of work left in the tank, so there is time. Not sure I am interested in owning two properties, with two of everything.

We moved to SW Florida 9 years ago from the St. Louis area. The wife misses some of her friends, but flys up to see them several time a year. And of coarse we still get lots of visitors in the winter.

But the last 3 years have been insane. Housing prices have doubled, and so has insurance. I probably couldn’t afford my current house if I was looking today. Thankfully if your a resident you have the homestead deal and increases are limited.

Plenty to do, but it is hot and humid in the summer.

Hot and humid doesn’t bother me as much as cold.

Lake Wiley, SC is a good spot for retirement, lots of tax advantages for retirees, Part of York County, SC. Very near Charlotte, NC with all its advantages, but out of the hub-bub.