[Craig T]

It's time to make a big decision regarding our impending retirement. It's not very practical to stay in our current home after we retire, so we are going to downsize....But the question is where? I'm hoping some of you who have lived both in So Calif and the Southeast might chime in.

My wife is from Charleston, SC and we visit often. I like the area, and it's a MUCH lower cost of living then here in So Calif. We could pay cash for a nice retirement house there with the equity we have here. But, my being born and raised in So Calif, I'm not sure I would like the heat, humidity, and bugs. My hobbies are golf, fishing, and of course Porsches, so weather is HUGE to my quality of life.

Our choices are...1. Staying in this area under more budgeted conditions. 2. Moving to SC without much change in lifestyle.

There are a couple areas we are considering...Mt. Pleasant (nice Charleston suburb), Beaufort/Hilton Head, and up by Ashville, SC.