Where to retire?

NW Florida is military friendly. The large Baptist churches have a lot of activity based social events and announce them so new people can get involved. It is not ideal for medical care or nursing homes though.
Be sure to buy flood insurance due to the hurricanes.
 
You forgot to add the 1-2" of ice below that lovely powder. Keeps you young as you navigate to the mailbox. :yllol:
We grew up there. went to college and faced 23 brutal winters there but the military moved us far away and we never looked back. Way too cold for my lady bones. Living in the desert on a green golf course with a pool fools us into believing that we have the best of both worlds. Oh and the 115 degree summers....
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We grew up there. went to college and faced 23 brutal winters there but the military moved us far away and we never looked back. Way too cold for my lady bones. Living in the desert on a green golf course with a pool fools us into believing that we have the best of both worlds. Oh and the 115 degree summers....
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Wow....I just sat down to have my coffee and saw this in my morning news. I guess I do have the best of both worlds...1615654105470.jpeg
 
We too are from Ca, and are looking to move to a more conservative state upon husband’s retirement. At the moment interested in Woodway Tx, just outside of Waco, Tx. We fell in love with the area when moving our older son into college. Weather isn’t the best, but the friendly people in town makes up for it.
Woodway is the nicer part of Waco for sure! My mom lives near there!
 
Dallas Fort Worth, San Antonio offer a lot of value in terms of real estate, conservative, relatively better weather, no state tax.

I am from DFW area, love the place.
What is the parent group in that area? I am moving to East Texas in a couple of months and would love to get invovled with them.
 
A couple items to think about when retiring to a place you have not spent a large amount of time at:
1. Rent don't buy - for at least one year (you may change your mind)
2. Consider overall tax cost - not just income tax
3. Generally it's better to have zero mortgage payments in retirement
4. Plan on tax rates going up.
 
Just some food for thought for those beginning the search.

No Income Tax States: AK, FL, NV, SK, TX, WA, WY

States That Do Not Tax Military Retirement Pay: AL, AR, CT, HI, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, WV, WI

States That Do Tax Military Retirement Pay: CA, GA, MT, NM, ND, RI, UT, VT, VA

38 states do not tax social security

14 states with retirement income tax breaks: AL, AR, DE, GA, HI, IL, IO, KY, LA, MI, MS, NY, PA, SC the tax breaks vary/apply to only certain groups
 
Huntsville, AL also known as "The Rocket City". Close to major airports (Nashville, Birmingham, Atlanta). Affordable and drivable distance to beaches (Gulf Shores, South Carolina). Healthcare locally is good, but you are less than 2 hours away from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and University of Alabama Birmingham hospitals. Affordable housing and the area is thriving/growing. The con...being in the heart of tornado "Dixie Alley" and an increase in tornado activity.
 
An area of Texas that gets overlooked for full-time retirement is the area in and near South Padre Island, which is widely considered Texas' best beach. It's in the Rio Grande Valley, which is the cheapest cost of living area in the country. (See https://www.coli.org/quarter-1-2019-cost-of-living-index-released-3/) We do get a lot of "Winter Texans" from the Midwest/Upper Midwest, but they are of course not full-timers.

A downside is that it's a ways to drive anywhere from here (4 hours to San Antonio, 5 to Austin, 6 to Houston), but flying is easy with three airports alone in the Valley. (Little known fact, Harlingen was Southwest's fourth destination.)
 
Just some food for thought for those beginning the search.

No Income Tax States: AK, FL, NV, SK, TX, WA, WY

States That Do Not Tax Military Retirement Pay: AL, AR, CT, HI, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, WV, WI

States That Do Tax Military Retirement Pay: CA, GA, MT, NM, ND, RI, UT, VT, VA

38 states do not tax social security

14 states with retirement income tax breaks: AL, AR, DE, GA, HI, IL, IO, KY, LA, MI, MS, NY, PA, SC the tax breaks vary/apply to only certain groups
Also Tennessee no state income tax. Their economy is booming.
 
An area of Texas that gets overlooked for full-time retirement is the area in and near South Padre Island, which is widely considered Texas' best beach. It's in the Rio Grande Valley, which is the cheapest cost of living area in the country. (See https://www.coli.org/quarter-1-2019-cost-of-living-index-released-3/) We do get a lot of "Winter Texans" from the Midwest/Upper Midwest, but they are of course not full-timers.

A downside is that it's a ways to drive anywhere from here (4 hours to San Antonio, 5 to Austin, 6 to Houston), but flying is easy with three airports alone in the Valley. (Little known fact, Harlingen was Southwest's fourth destination.)
Apparently Elon Musk agrees with me. ;)

 
Extreme Southeastern AZ is pretty nice year round. Monsoon summer storms are awesome. Snow lasts a day or two approx. twice a yearmonsoon.jpg
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Summer monsoon clouds build. Autumn 20 minutes from the house. 4 seasons, none last too long. Friendly people. Lots of retired military due to our base and those stationed here previously enjoyed it enough to return to retire. summer 2.jpg
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Well I always liked quiet European life. I would probably prefer by the age of my retirement to buy property get residency in Europe probably in Greece. Cheap, warm, lots of places to visit and see and amazing fresh food.
 
I'm a former Californian and now live in GA. The weather takes a little getting use to, but you will adjust. AC is a beautiful thing!!
 
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