Why haven't you been to Alaska Mike?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seahawk
Agree.
Wherever my wife and I end up eventually, my criteria is pretty much:
- Mountains or water, would prefer both.
- Smallish town, intact downtown.
- College or university within an hour drive.
- Zone 5 or 6 Climate. I like defined seasons, hate humidity.
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I liked Oregon better than Washington, though the Canada side of Washington is very not bad. Be advised, if you plan on going in that water, get yourself a drysuit, or McGyver a ghetto dry suit with duct tape at the ankles and wrists, and pour a quart or two of warm water in the neck hole right before you go in, will give you more time before you get too cold. You will want gloves too, if you want your fingers to work. Maybe go to San Diego or Santa Cruz if you want to surf. Lot of nice tide pools though along the coast. Picnic is nice on a sunny day, and Devil's Punchbowl is something to see on a stormy day too, but obviously you are not going swimming. Very dramatic coastline there, looks like a damn car commercial. Sisters is only a few hours from the coast, and is charming, but mountains equals snow, and that means someone working a shovel, and that is definitely not my jihad. Eugene and Corvallis are close enough to pretty much anyplace in Oregon if you want college town, but I am more likely to head to the hills or the coast.
In college, I knew this gal from Coos Bay, sharp as a tack and cute as a button. Were never available at the same time though, too bad. She surely did love my old bug. Could not believe how much more quiet it was than her's.
WRT the OP, you are probably going to like pretty much anywhere in the Southwest. Tax and gun laws are pretty reasonable for the most part. I already have a place in Texas where I plan to go when I retire. Can look out the window and see water, and it is about paid off. Renting it until then. I can't imagine it would be too tough to rent a place for a while, if you discover a place that looks good too you. Maybe tour the area by car or rail to scout it out first. It is not like you have to pack up all your stuff and roll out of Dodge on a particular day. Pretty big move, you want to consider it carefully.