As far as weather goes, the Central coast and North coast of CA is about as perfect as it gets for me. From about San Luis Obispo to the southern Oregon coast. Some of the towns there are very expensive, others are too podunk, but maybe there's something in there?

Good advice on Yakima. We have an office there and while I really enjoy the area (one of our guys has a cabin near Rimrock Lake up route 12 I stay at) the town itself is unremarkable.

There are parts of Wenatchee I really like, especially headed to Leavenworth. Another small town I really like is Ellensburg - home of Central Washington University. Ellensburg has a very defined downtown and a good feel.

Lastly, I really like Spokane. I spent a week there last year and really like the surrounding areas. When I fly into Washington State I typically fly into Spokane and drive to Yakima, etc. rather than fight the Seattle traffic and the Cascades, especially in winter. Spokane is very easy to get in and out of.

The heat in the summer, especially compared to the air you can wear in Maryland, is not a factor for me. I also very much prefer college towns.

As you can tell, I have no experience west of the Cascades. Hard to go wrong.

Richard (and anyone else) if you find yourself checking out the Spokane area, hit me up. I'll show you some of the sights and beers from around here.

Jacksonville, OR....that is all I am going to say.

Thanks to all for this thread, and Jerry for the kind offer.
The property that was at the center of my decision to dash on up to Washington at this less that optimal time of year, sold on the day that I decided to go check it out.
After a couple of price drops. The very motivated seller found his buyer.

Some deal come along that you just have to jump on to make happen.
I should have flown up there ASAP for this one.

Cheers Richard

Don't know if I mentioned this in my OP but this is HUGE! (to me... wife is more focused on finding someplace "nice").

Easy walking, good light rail/transit, or golf cart friendly are mandatory.

I was looking at Los Osos but wife still thinks that is "too dry".

Morro Bay, Los Osos and Avila are all very nice spots, and in normal rainfall years may
not seem so dry.
I have stayed a couple of times at the park at the south end of Morro Bay, and really enjoyed walking around town. Pleasant friendly relaxed beach town folks.

Scottmandue, if the yellow/ tan hills get to your Honey, You may as well focus north of S F.

it is funny what effect the look of the countryside can have on your outlook.
This has been a wet monsoon season here in Az. and for me seeing the soft blush of green really makes the place much nicer for me, to be in.

Cheers Richard

This is why Eureka appeals to me.... need to schedule a short vacation to that town and see what the wife thinks about it.

Another big consideration... I have a CalPERS pension... apparently states have a wide variance on how much they tax a pension.

Check out this link regarding Eureka. I lived there for two years while attending Humboldt State Univ prior to joining the USAF. It is truly a beautiful place, with weather much like Seattle, but that was back in the late 70's when Lazio's was employing 25% of the town in the crabbing and salmon biz, and LP employed another 25% in the lumber biz.

I still like visiting there as a tourist, and Old Town has some cool restaurants and bars, but homeless and hookers abound. The beauty of the area is you can pop up to Willow Creek to find sun, Trinidad and Patrick's Point are breathtakingly beautiful, and good fishing is all over. ...But be careful hiking and exploring in the Mtns. if you come across the wrong pot farm, you're dead.

Eureka, California (CA) Comment: "THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HUMBOLDT COUNTY" by Kelly

Let me answer my own question... found a list of 12 states that have no pension tax... long story short Washington state in on that list.

There have been some recommendations on this thread on Washington... I will go back and sort through them.

WOW what a read those comments about Eureka are!

The week I stayed at the Ferndale fairgrounds was a small town, throwback to a long past time of small towns, everyone knows everyone, and seem to get along quite well.

I was there for 4th of July and enjoyed the parade and friendly festivities.
Reminded me of the small farming town of my youth in Indiana.

The couple of times in Eureka did reveal some of the issues mentioned, but some charming old neighborhoods too.

Scott, do check out Ferndale and other small outlying towns in the area when up that way.

Cheers Richard

Did you stop by Bellingham, WA?

What do you want to know about Bellingham? I went to school here in the '80s and have been living here for the last decade plus.

I will preface my answer with the standard "it rains all the time, it is overrun by hippy's and wannabes, traffic sucks, no one can afford to live here ........"

Need more info.

How much rain and grey are you good with?

What kinds of things do you like? Hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, golf, pro/college sports, operas, plays concerts...etc.

Generally in WA and ORE, once you get on the East side of the Cascades, you get a lot more sunshine/cold in winter/hotter in summer/wind depending on location...like Ellensburg, the wind is pretty much 24X7 but a lot less rain and grey. It is a ghost town when school is out.

I do not recommend Yakima, or as WA residents call it, Crackima. At one time it was the black tar heroin capitol of the West coast and violent crime was sky high. Have not checked lately.

Hiking, biking, plays, concerts, food.

Here is a list I started and comparing stats (I know it pretty much runs the I-5 from OR. to Canada):

Longview, WA
Tacoma, WA
Ferndale, WA
Bellingham, WA
Vancouver, WA
Puyallup, WA
Bothell, WA
Everett, WA
Olympia WA


Those all get around 35-40 inches rain... but as was said early on not so much the rain but the grey gloomy days... would like 150-200 days of sunshine.

Also spent my whole life in the big city... so would like something in a small/medium size (around 30-50K-ish)

Ferndale looks nice but I see the closest airport and Hospital is Bellingham so maybe that would be a better retirement location.

The Ferndale I was talking about is the Victorian town a bit south of Eureka Ca.

But it's probably way too small a town for you.

Cheers Richard

At that size limit you can scratch Bothell and Everett off your list. Its hard to describe, But from the boundry of the downtown core too N. Everett its pretty continuous suburban sprawl. Even though there are cities along the way such as Shoreline, lynnwood etc... They blend into each other one after another.

Sorry, all of those qualify for grey and gloomy.

I grew up in Puyallup and moved out towards Enumclaw 20+ years ago.

Tacoma is set to bust out if you are looking towards buying for an investment. That's where we are going to downsize to in the near term. The Stadium, Theater, Brewery and Medical Mile districts are going to be very solid as they continue to expand their light rail.

With your want of sun, I would suggest looking at the Tri Cities area in Eastern WA. Yes, it does get cold snaps at times, but there is quite of bit to do, biking and such and around 200 wineries within an hours drive or so. Trust me, I have been to multitudes with my wife.

Winters for Wa residents is a good time to travel south to the sun as we do as much as we can. Even more when I pull the plug next month!!

What is the "Tri Cities area"? Pardon my ignorance.