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I would never settle in a state where I had to pay income taxes.
Government will get its money one way or another. For you, a state income tax shouldn't be an issue in any state, based on your retirement income. It's a much bigger issue for me. My federal income tax burden alone is over $20k. Moving back to Alaska from Arizona will save me almost $4k in AZ state income tax.
It is and it's very nice but Cleveland won out for a couple of reasons that the other choices didn't offer. First, it's close to cousins in Chicago and my sister in Toronto. Second there's the Cleveland Clinic which is doing research on a rare illness I have. The weather in Knoxville is just a bit too hot for me. I prefer colder weather.
Cleveland also has more things in the way of entertainment I enjoy although that wasn't a main factor. Nothing at all wrong with Knoxville, I just thought Cleveland suited me better.
OK, so much for my memory then. I thought I recalled you needed public transportation as you had a hard time getting around, and I did remember an illness was involved. So glad it's working out for you!
Western Washington
Arkansas Ozarks
Texas Hill Country
Rural Pennsylvania
Las Vegas
The win was Western Washington. We wanted green, trees, cooler temperatures, to not have to worry anymore about drought & running out of water. The biggest drawbacks are the people (very hard to make friends), the gloomy winters, & access to good health care.
Decided against Arkansas due to very humid summers & the bugs, especially chiggers. Also, had a very unsettling experience with law enforcement there, who accused us of being drug dealers due to our rental car & they claimed they couldn't find a record of my drivers' s license...doubt that, I came from a big state & had a commercial license. It was a scary & unnecessary experience, & I would never live anywhere with bullying LE goons like that.
Texas Hill Country is pretty, but too humid, hot, buggy.
Pennylvania was nice, but we realized we are West Coasters.
Even though housing was cheap, & Vegas is close to SoCal, it's too big, too hot, & water is a concern.
1. Tacoma because it's a gorgeous area near Seattle and not too expensive. Biggest negatives were still 45 minutes from grandkids and the gray winters which we are tired of.
2. Woodinville, Wa because it's a gorgeous community very close to our 2 grandkids. Biggest negative is housing cost and we aren't fond of the gray winters.
3. Medford, Or because it was the nearest area that has a better climate with low wind, more sun than the rest of the PNW and still a beautiful area. Negatives were state income taxes and a long drive to Seattle and grandkids.
4. Phoenix area because we own property there and love the area. The biggest downside was distance to our family in Washington state and state income taxes.
5. Chelan, Wa because it's a gorgeous area not too far from family and still inexpensive. Negatives were very small and slow internet.
We decided on Richland, Wa (Tri Cities) because of proximity to our daughter in town and still close to Seattle area and grandkids there. Also considered were the no income taxes in all of Washington state and lower cost of housing in Richland versus the other areas along with more sun in this area of Washington, great bike trails and excellent gym (Golds). We just bought a gorgeous house that would have been double the price in Woodinville for example.
Last edited by Tall Traveler; 09-21-2016 at 02:50 AM..
We knew that we wanted to be in Western North Carolina. We considered Brevard, Flat Rock, Black Mountain, Weaverville and Asheville. We have been coming to this area for over 40 years. Asheville won out because we found the perfect (for us), home on the perfect mountain/wooded property. The weather is wonderful-true four seasons, cost of living is reasonable. We have found it friendly and welcoming. There is so much to do, learn and enjoy. We have been here almost 3 years and couldn't be happier.
Too bad I can't live in all of my favorite places, simultaneously. Retirement is SO SHORT!
Dream locations will be internationally, South Island, New Zealand is pretty nice , and they even have HC Various climates, very near to each other, NO PREDATORS! Sheep & people graze / recreate / camp freely.
New Zealand's South Island is absolutely gorgeous, but I think that I would have to settle on the North Island were I to retire there; the south is a little too rural. One thing I found interesting when we visited last year is that we were told that 80% of the Kiwis living on one island had never been to the other.
Even though the South Island is beautiful, there are some incredibly scenic places in the North as well, such as Rotorua and the Coromandel Peninsula. I could definitely see myself living in Auckland or Wellington. Coincidentally, the clothes I'm wearing this morning I purchased in Wellington last year.
For a final comment about New Zealand, I'd have to say that the safety video shown on Air New Zealand flights is simply fantastic. Usually, passengers just ignore or pay scant attention to airline safety videos, but not this one. Watch it and you'll see why:
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, and they even have HC 
Various climates, very near to each other, NO PREDATORS! Sheep & people graze / recreate / camp freely.
