San Diego, California. I would never move back there myself, but then my I have different criteria for selecting the perfect retirement location.
This would be a lot easier to answer if you told what you don't like about Seattle Incidentally, Seattle goes from 145th St (the border with Shoreline) to a fuzzier border on the South mostly made of Tukwila and Renton. E, somewhere in Lake Washington, West, Puget Sound.As I edge closer to my ER, I think after 10 years here in Seattle, perhaps a new location is in order. All opinions are welcome and encouraged.
Thanks in advance!
Scenario:
1. Late 40's couple due to ER in 2 years - no kids
2. Lived in upstate NY, OH, South FL, San Fran and WA so far
3. Retirement house will be purchased for $600k or less
4. Household income should be $130k
5. Most likely will work part time
Requirements:
1. Within a 10-40 minute drive to a city with sports teams, restaurants, performing arts, and concerts
2. Weather not extreme in the winter
3. Trees and forests near
Ideal:
1. Fairly conservative
2. Within 40 minute drive to an ocean or large body of water
3. Cute, quaint towns are nice
4. House has .5 acres or bigger lot
5. Near wineries or where wine grapes can be grown
I envy Californians for their weather.
But you're not going to find any better music than east of the Mississippi!
That's right! New Orleans is on the East Bank of the Mississippi. At least most of it is, just barely...
The inland fringes of San Diego and inland Orange county will meet your requirements except for being close to the city and having forests. Coastal north county SD where I live, while lovely, has a pretty limited housing supply in your price range and is trending ever bluer. How about Huntsville Alabama? It's wealthier than the rest of Alabama (a low bar) and has NASA and some other high-tech as well as Yankee transplants from around the country. It's a little higher in elevation and not quite as miserable in the summer and far enough inland that hurricanes are not an issue. It has some quite charming old architecture.
San Luis obispo area might work for you
San Luis obispo area might work for you
I live in Woodinville on an acre with a great house. I like this area, but I think it is getting a bit too expensive compared to the value and the weather is too gray, dark and rainy for me. Also, things like the city council passing a $15 min wage law is ridiculous. The traffic is bad and getting only worse too.This would be a lot easier to answer if you told what you don't like about Seattle
Yep, I was thinking you might want to take a pencil and draw a circle around the Houston area and just move outwards till you find what you're looking for. .......North of Houston is more "trees and forest"(check out the area around The Woodlands). Fairly low cost of living, friendly people and a diverse state to explore. I think I've just convinced myself to stay put after retirement!
I live in Woodinville on an acre with a great house. I like this area, but I think it is getting a bit too expensive compared to the value and the weather is too gray, dark and rainy for me. Also, things like the city council passing a $15 min wage law is ridiculous. The traffic is bad and getting only worse too.
On a positive note, I love the woods, water, access to mountains, low crime, easy city for me to get around.
I live in Woodinville on an acre with a great house. I like this area, but I think it is getting a bit too expensive compared to the value and the weather is too gray, dark and rainy for me. Also, things like the city council passing a $15 min wage law is ridiculous. The traffic is bad and getting only worse too.
On a positive note, I love the woods, water, access to mountains, low crime, easy city for me to get around.