Where to retire?

Not necessarily just for military personnel. My retirement (civilian job) is a few years away and I have no roots keeping me in California anymore. I would love to find a small, military supportive town in a conservative state. Preferably something with California weather but much less expensive ;-).

Currently, I'm thinking of somewhere in Texas. Probably near Houston as I have a newphew who lives there and I would love to reconnect. I'm definitely open to other states though.

Anyone out there passionate about the love they have for their city/state?
Indiana is conservative except for South Bend, the area around Chicago just across the state line, and the Indianapolis metro area. Affordable homes, low COL, lots of small towns and cities. Great place to raise kids, grandkids, or have grandkids spend their summer at Grandma and Grandpa's home or lake cottage. Fishing, water-ski , jetski/speedboat/ canoe/kayak on the lakes. Lots of state parks for recreation. The northern part of the state has the Amish and Mennonite communities, heirloom quality Amish built furniture, fresh baked cinnamon rolls, pies, cookies, homemade jams and jellies, and is the RV building capital of the world. Larger cities, such as Ft. Wayne, have sports teams that are feeder teams to the NHL, MLB. High school basketball is taken VERY seriously, with local games broadcast live on radio in the evenings 3-4 days a week.

The state government has a surplus. I know you said " California-like weather". A blistering hot, hot summer day in Indiana is 75 degrees. If the temp goes to 78 or higher, people start complaining about the oppressive heat. It can get humid for a week or so in August. How well do you like snow? from November- Mid February is the trade -off for those summers. Jacket weather starts around mid-October, winter coat weather November- mid March, jacket weather end of March-mid April. Deer and duck hunting seasons-hunting license required.

Oh, the occasional mountain lion passing through a field or wooded area in northern Indiana, usually in search of food or on their way to southern MI, which apparently is a hotbed of mountain lion activity for whatever reason. It is illegal to shoot them unless they are attacking people or livestock. Keep an eye on Fluffy or Fido if they are outdoors. Also, with small dogs weighing less than 10 pounds, keep an eye out for owls or hawks.
 
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In light of recent electrical events in Texas, the reliability of the power grid of the retiree home may have to be considered.
Who knew how power companies operated in Texas? I'm used to only one company supplying electric. There's a news article about a person in Texas who did not lose power but was charged $17K for the period!
Things like pipe insulation, residence insulation, & a standby generator may also want to be considered.
Plans to have a week or so supply of water on hand too.
 
@VelveteenR Checked out the Tesla Powerwall website & plugged my #'s in. The recommendation was as follows:
3 Powerwalls
$22,500
Gateway
$1,000
Powerwall Installation
$2,500
12.24 kW Solar Panels
$24,600
Install Solar + Powerwall Together
-$2,500
Cash Price
$48,100

Federal Tax Credit
-$10,881
NY Solar Tax Credit
-$5,000
NYSERDA Storage Incentive
-$6,250
Price After Incentives
$25,969 excluding sales tax: 28K w/tax.

Definitely think solar is the way to go esp. down Southwest.
Hurricane Sandy broke us. Had a standby natural gas fed generator installed for 15K.
BTW: When running, the generator is loud!
 
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Did you hear me scream "Not in the UP (upper peninsula) of Michigan!!!" at about 7:15 am EST this morning as I was laying on my back in the driveway? (Yes, the dog pulled me and I slipped on the ice yet AGAIN, aka "took a digger") How am I ever going to do this when I am 80?
 
Not necessarily just for military personnel. My retirement (civilian job) is a few years away and I have no roots keeping me in California anymore. I would love to find a small, military supportive town in a conservative state. Preferably something with California weather but much less expensive ;-).

Currently, I'm thinking of somewhere in Texas. Probably near Houston as I have a newphew who lives there and I would love to reconnect. I'm definitely open to other states though.

Anyone out there passionate about the love they have for their city/state?
Surf? Hawaii.
Got 13 boards waiting for you.
 
We've found a spot in Idaho. Just over the national average for days of sun per year at 207, so solar for the well pump, lights and refrigerator should cover emergencies. Generator for cloudy days and high percentage of neighbors who believe as our founders do . They DO tax retirement income, which is a higher cost than current home state, but school and property taxes are lower, so it all evens out. Looking forward to planning it out over the next couple of years, well before we cross the 50/60 line.
 
We've found a spot in Idaho. Just over the national average for days of sun per year at 207, so solar for the well pump, lights and refrigerator should cover emergencies. Generator for cloudy days and high percentage of neighbors who believe as our founders do . They DO tax retirement income, which is a higher cost than current home state, but school and property taxes are lower, so it all evens out. Looking forward to planning it out over the next couple of years, well before we cross the 50/60 line.

Hope you bought that spot in Idaho two years ago, you have no neighbors for several miles, you never have to go into town and you have a time machine.

Nothing is the same.




 
Hope you bought that spot in Idaho two years ago, you have no neighbors for several miles, you never have to go into town and you have a time machine.

Nothing is the same.




Wish we were looking a couple of years ago, but it wasn't even on our radar then. Life unfolds and we react. Our DD married a young man from ID, since then we realized she's too far away from home, so we need to consider retirement options (we are early 50s). Thankfully, we found a place that isn't in a crazy market, and will allow us to live as we want in retirement.
 
Wish we were looking a couple of years ago, but it wasn't even on our radar then. Life unfolds and we react. Our DD married a young man from ID, since then we realized she's too far away from home, so we need to consider retirement options (we are early 50s). Thankfully, we found a place that isn't in a crazy market, and will allow us to live as we want in retirement.

I hear you. Idaho, Texas, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas..... they are all being overrun by people seeking good deals and refuge.

I hope it works out for you!
 
I hear you. Idaho, Texas, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas..... they are all being overrun by people seeking good deals and refuge.

I hope it works out for you!
Thanks! We're pretty sure the nest egg will allow almost any where we'd like. One thing we wish we could change over the past 30 yrs is living closer to family. The oldest child seems settled in ID, middle will be in Colorado Springs for the next 4 years starting in June, and the youngest has a year before high school ends, so it's time to be thinking about where to go next, and family is key...
 
SF to Houston here for over 15 years. You get use to the humidity but man I am getting tired of the hurricanes and flooding. Your property tax is not great we have some of the highest property tax in the country. The people have been the best. I wont think about leaving until my high 3.
 
As long as you are conservative I can most definitely recommend Wilmington, NC. Great weather, great beaches, military friendly. Also, Morehead City (Atlantic Beach) would be good. Both towns are close to bases.
 
SF to Houston here for over 15 years. You get use to the humidity but man I am getting tired of the hurricanes and flooding. Your property tax is not great we have some of the highest property tax in the country.
AVERAGE property tax in much of NJ is nearly $10K and I know many people paying over $20K.
 
Our friends in Denver know they would get a great price for their home (carefully renovated 40’s bungalow in desirable trendy, walkable area), but they are discouraged when they look at Western states of interest, and soaring real estate prices driven up by out-of-state buyers from more populated Western states. Their Plan B is to hugely downsize, get a small condo as a home base in a desired area, and get one of those tricked-out Sprinter vans and hit the road.
 
AVERAGE property tax in much of NJ is nearly $10K and I know many people paying over $20K.
Harris county you will pay anywhere 2.86 on up plus some areas have the MUD tax. There is a 65 and over exemption. Look at HCAD for property evaluations.
 
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