Walla Walla, WA
Intercourse, PA
Climax, MN
Moreheadsville, PA
Dyckesville, WI
Beaver, OK

and for some reason, I'm drawn to Magnet, NE.

I'd say Sydney except the commute would probably be a bit of a stretch for you. But just think, your 911 will appreciate about 100% overnight when you bring it over.

Palm Springs, California.

Hardly ever any rain = clean car all the time.

Yes, hot summers, but cool breezy evenings. Nice winters.

3 hours from San Deigo, LA is even closer and LV is close as well. Nice central location. Dullis (SP?) Airport 40 minutes away.

Here's a cost of living converter

http://www.homefair.com/homefair/calc/salcalc.html

We have lived all over the country. Ended up in N.C. and love it.

My future wife was going to school in Nashville while I was working in Atlanta... Spent many many weekends there over three year period.

I always considered it a very nice place to be. Beautiful environment, especially during season change. SUPER nice people. Plenty of fun things to do. etc etc etc...

Only real negatives I can think of is Vandy football. ;)

- Skip

I know you are not looking at Calif., heck if I wasn't born here, own a house here, and been working for the state I would be looking to get out.

Cali:
Love the central coast, last time I stopped in Santa Barbara it was crowded, expensive, and parking was a nightmare.

Palm springs is a fun town to visit but hot, smoggy, and not much entertainment.

Best deal here IMHO is San Diego.

Personally I'm thinking of retiring to Morro bay but that is just me, been a city boy all my life and they have a small town feel with lots of stuff to do.

I lived in Indianapolis area for 6 years. Cost of living is one of the lowest in the country. I just sold my wifes condo there...it took 14 months, and lets just say the check I brought to closing was larger than the buyers....the market is very depressed in the area. I moved south of Denver and I can't figure out why I ever lived any where else. This place is amazing.

I said Santa Barbara because of it's size...it has amenities that San Luis Obispo doesn't and is easier to get to LA for it's amenities...

However the Central Coast of Califoria up around Cambria is the spot Daddy...

i've really fallen for wilmington NC, i want to relocate there within the next 2 years :)

Maine is GREAT. The snow from last winter is almost gone now!!!

The answer is simple Charlottesville Va
Voted the #1 place to live
We have what you are looking for just recerch it

I've lived in:
Rural CT
Suburban MN
scrubtown TX
Western MA (Northampton)
Boston area
Chicago
NYC
Westchester NY (Pound Ridge)
Boston area.

Of all these places, NYC is my favorite for the energy and fun things to do round the clock.

But if I had a family, Western MA would be high on the list, so would CT, both mostly due to the schools and the weather/country, but for ultimate quality of life, nothing can beat MN. It is very cold in the winter, but good schools, great people, lots of recreation fun and it's just got this liberal yet conservative slant to it that strikes just the right balance on so many issues.

Actually Wilmington is a GREAT area. As a matter of fact it is on our short list of cities we would move to and retire.

There are 2 issues for Shuie as I see them: Schools and airport.

Temecula CA. Pacific ocean, mountain skiing/lakes/camping, LA, San Diego, and 3 major airports, all within 1 hour's drive. Wineries, unlimited golf, and Indian gaming (buffet for Tabs) all local. Hot in summer but absolutely perfect weather the other 8-9 months. Leave your guns at home though - you won't need them here.

I hate snow and I hate cold. Those 2 things factor greatly in where I would live.

I grew up on Long Island and know all too well what winter is. I tough out the hurricane seasons in Florida because I cannot live without the ocean. Just wish it would rain less here. Right now we have gone 7 days without a drop. The Targa top has not been on that car at all.