Are you happy where you are?

[Mags]

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Thought this would be our forever home. Both of us born and lived most of our lives in Oregon. Never thought the damp/dark of fall/winter/spring would ever get to us. As we've gotten older though the lack of sunny days for almost 9 and half months/year has taken it's toll on moral. Half our kids live in the area, but one of them is thinking of moving to Bend (lot more sunny days in Central Oregon). The other half live in other states. When asked, all the kids said not to worry about them, they'd find us. Our next scouting trip, Gardnerville NV.

... looks like this will be home till the end...ya never know though; health issues could some day drive us to a warmer, dryer climate, but then, there is family to consider because they are all here. Only one who is not is my Dad still alive at 86 and lives in the Denver area. Only time will tell...

[markiver54]

Ya might consider Tennessee. Very pretty state and no tax. Winters are fairly mild as well...just food for thought.

[Henry88]

Where I live, I have public hunting a mile away. I can shoot in my backyard and there's a 10K acre lake and the St John's river 4 miles away. The intracoastal waterway and mosquito lagoon and ponce inlet are 35 miles, and a biker bar within walking distance (long walk LOL).

The bad > It's either raining or too hot/cold. Mosquitoes are ubiquitous. If you want a walk in the woods, bring your machete. Snakes and spiders are your friends. A hill is something to behold.

And lastly, don't get in the water (Volusia usually leads the country in shark attacks).

So you decide

[Mags]

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Thanks. Further east crossed our minds, but want view of big mountains. So even Texas (Crawford) might not be where we want to be.

Ya might consider Tennessee. Very pretty state and no tax. Winters are fairly mild as well...just food for thought.

[dave77]

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Yes and no. Love our rural home and forested property in the Tualatin Valley of Western Oregon.
But...
...as we've gotten older the dark/dreary/wet fall/winter/spring has gotten to be depressing. Not enough days of sun.
...Oregon has the 3rd highest state income tax (nearly 10%) takes a big bite out of IRA/401K/Pension distributions (fortunately no
.........state income tax on SS (yet)). The extra 10% we have to take out to cover state income taxes, pushes us into higher income bracket
.........forcing payment of Medicare Part B & Part D (Rx) IRMAA in addition to regular Medicare.
So we are looking to move and looking at states with...
...more days of sun throughout the year (colder dryer sunny winter is ok, arctic winter temps is not. extreme heat summer is not).
...no income tax on retirement savings.

So currently looking into Nevada, Eastern Washington and Texas as some other places to live.

I've lived in E. Washington all my life, no plans to move.
..........we get lots of Sun, very little rain, other than Eastern Cascades and it's foothills it's basically semi-desert, native grass and sagebrush. We definitely have 4 seasons although most winters seem a lot milder than when I was younger. Summers are hot. Lots of temps in the 90s and usually a few weeks in the 100s. Developed forest land can be pretty expensive but I believe it can still be reasonably priced further north like in Okanogan county.

..........no state income tax, most places sales tax runs around 8%, property tax can be high depending on the value of your property.

.........Hope this comment is not considered political but one negative is our state gun laws seem to be becoming more restrictive, since Western WA has such a greater population they generally set the laws for the whole state.

[Mags]

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Further north, good to know. Thanks for that tip. Will add to our radar list, which so far includes Spokane, Yakima, Leavenworth, maybe Kennewick or Clarkston. Similar to WA the much higher population in Willamette Valley sets things for the whole state of OR.

Something for you to read if interested, but not to be discussed here.
https://lawcenter.giffords.org/state-ri ... in-oregon/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Oregon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Washington

I've lived in E. Washington all my life, no plans to move.
..........we get lots of Sun, very little rain, other than Eastern Cascades and it's foothills it's basically semi-desert, native grass and sagebrush. We definitely have 4 seasons although most winters seem a lot milder than when I was younger. Summers are hot. Lots of temps in the 90s and usually a few weeks in the 100s. Developed forest land can be pretty expensive but I believe it can still be reasonably priced further north like in Okanogan county.

..........no state income tax, most places sales tax runs around 8%, property tax can be high depending on the value of your property.

.........Hope this comment is not considered political but one negative is our state gun laws seem to be becoming more restrictive, since Western WA has such a greater population they generally set the laws for the whole state.

[Cofisher]

While I am happy where I am, my heart is in the Rockies. I have access to good fishing here.

I want to use my flyfishing skills a lot more.

I have a lot of access to good warm water here. But my heart is in the rivers of Colorado.

It is good to have options.

[fortyshooter]

Well happy here. The weather in Central Va. can be entertaining but we get a mix of everything....70 degrees yesterday and 37 degrees today with sleet this morning. Our home is in an older nice subdivision,paid for and close to whatever you need but you pay the price in traffic,traffic noise,sirens every 15- 30 minutes on those warm nice days.
I have a nice little place in the country 30 minutes away for my shooting range needs.
Gun laws fairly basic here...no crazy stuff here like up North.

Drive 90 miles to the West and you in the mountains...drive 90 miles East you standing in salt water!

[dave77]

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Further north, good to know. Thanks for that tip. Will add to our radar list, which so far includes Spokane, Yakima, Leavenworth, maybe Kennewick or Clarkston. Similar to WA the much higher population in Willamette Valley sets things for the whole state of OR.

Leavenworth area is very nice, only around 20 miles away from me but far enough into the Cascades to be into the forest. Be aware that it's economy is mostly tourist based so there are times when the city itself will be very crowded, also property is very expensive. Another place very close by that is also very nice would be in the area of the lower Blewett Pass or for that matter anywhere in the Wenatchee River Valley area which would include Peshastin/Dryden and Cashmere and even Wenatchee. I know we have a lot of Seattle area retirees moving over here.

Yakima is pretty metropolitan, the area is nice but I think you might prefer the more rural areas around Ellensburg or Cle Elum, Roslyn is only a few miles from Cle Elum and that's where Northern Exposure was filmed, You can even eat at the Brick.

[Mags]

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Been to Leavenworth a couple times. Christmas there all year. Yup, Rural/Forested would be to our taste. Again thanks for the tips!

Leavenworth area is very nice, only around 20 miles away from me but far enough into the Cascades to be into the forest. Be aware that it's economy is mostly tourist based so there are times when the city itself will be very crowded, also property is very expensive. Another place very close by that is also very nice would be in the area of the lower Blewett Pass or for that matter anywhere in the Wenatchee River Valley area which would include Peshastin/Dryden and Cashmere and even Wenatchee. I know we have a lot of Seattle area retirees moving over here.

Yakima is pretty metropolitan, the area is nice but I think you might prefer the more rural areas around Ellensburg or Cle Elum, Roslyn is only a few miles from Cle Elum and that's where Northern Exposure was filmed, You can even eat at the Brick.

Further north, good to know. Thanks for that tip. Will add to our radar list, which so far includes Spokane, Yakima, Leavenworth, maybe Kennewick or Clarkston. Similar to WA the much higher population in Willamette Valley sets things for the whole state of OR.

[bandit1250]

I am fairly happy here in Pa. Our area is a decent area for things to do and the cost of living is lower than the areas close to the bigger populated places. I like the hunting here and all the public land we have available near where I live. We try to make the best of the winters we have that can get pretty nasty some years. My wife and I just dress for the cold and take the 4-wheeler to the mountain for some winter riding. Not far from here is some history of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War with the Antietam Battlefield and Sharpsburg and of course the Gettysburg Battlefield. Where we ride is a very well known boundary. The Mason-Dixon line. I live in Pa. and like it better than some other eastern places but my heart is in Wyoming and Montana. Here is a few shots from the Mason-Dixon Line.


Wouldn't be fair not to include my better half with her Marlin 39A braving the cold on a 12* day just to be with me and shoot a few rounds.

[Mags]

Love the view you got there on your outing!

My heart has gone out to Montana too. My dad was from the White Fish/Columbia Falls area. I had never been there but a few years ago we went to look the area over and also took in Glacier National Park. Fell in love with Bowman Lake and the Trail Creek valley area of the North Fork Flathead river.

[Lyman]

I was born and raised here in San Diego. Though I now live on the eastern edge of the County in Lakeside. I love the area where I am now but it is very expensive to live here anymore. As soon as I can swing retiring I am planning on Northern AZ. I have a lot of Family here but my kids are all grown and no longer need my support. Too many people here for my liking these days. This picture is up the road a bit from where I am 20 miles or so. Hard to believe but behind me is all Pine Forest.

[Mags]

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Pine trees of Palomar? Lived in Escondido for a while.

I was born and raised here in San Diego. Though I now live on the eastern edge of the County in Lakeside. I love the area where I am now but it is very expensive to live here anymore. As soon as I can swing retiring I am planning on Northern AZ. I have a lot of Family here but my kids are all grown and no longer need my support. Too many people here for my liking these days. This picture is up the road a bit from where I am 20 miles or so. Hard to believe but behind me is all Pine Forest.

[Lyman]

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Pine trees of Palomar? Lived in Escondido for a while.

I was born and raised here in San Diego. Though I now live on the eastern edge of the County in Lakeside. I love the area where I am now but it is very expensive to live here anymore. As soon as I can swing retiring I am planning on Northern AZ. I have a lot of Family here but my kids are all grown and no longer need my support. Too many people here for my liking these days. This picture is up the road a bit from where I am 20 miles or so. Hard to believe but behind me is all Pine Forest.

No, Mt laguna.

[markiver54]

I was born and raised here in San Diego. Though I now live on the eastern edge of the County in Lakeside. I love the area where I am now but it is very expensive to live here anymore. As soon as I can swing retiring I am planning on Northern AZ. I have a lot of Family here but my kids are all grown and no longer need my support. Too many people here for my liking these days. This picture is up the road a bit from where I am 20 miles or so. Hard to believe but behind me is all Pine Forest.

BTW lyman...nice ride! I have a bit smaller metric bike but don't ride much anymore.

I know what you mean about your area. I lived in SoCal for about 5 years, ( 88 to 92 ). Worked in Irvine and lived both there and Lake Forest. Even back then the population and expense were difficult. Was a packaging designer for a major company and traveled to San Diego often to Jenny Craigs' headquarters.

I do miss the weather though. Remember how odd it seemed when it rained.
Some fond memories though.

Good luck with your future plans!!

[Redthies]

I live in the outskirts of the second most expensive city on the planet. My neighbors 800 sqft turd box on 1 acre sold recently for $6.05 million. The geography and climate are great. I love it 10 months of the year. 2 months of the year I wish I were somewhere else.

That said, we are planning on moving somewhere completely different within the next 5-10 years. We are looking at a few options such as Chile, Uruguay, Portugal and Spain. I have serious connections in South America, including a former President, a famous actor and a Consul General, but Europe is more stable, and my wife has EU citizenship. I’m after somewhere with a completely different culture. We love adventure and travel. I’ve been to Australia, South America, Africa, Europe and all around North America. Many of my trips were between 2 and 6 months.

Were I to be able to relocate my business, ideally I’d end up somewhere with a climate and location like Santa Barbara, but with population density and life values like Wyoming!

[markiver54]

I live in the outskirts of the second most expensive city on the planet. My neighbors 800 sqft turd box on 1 acre sold recently for $6.05 million. The geography and climate are great. I love it 10 months of the year. 2 months of the year I wish I were somewhere else.

That said, we are planning on moving somewhere completely different within the next 5-10 years. We are looking at a few options such as Chile, Uruguay, Portugal and Spain. I have serious connections in South America, including a former President, a famous actor and a Consul General, but Europe is more stable, and my wife has EU citizenship. I’m after somewhere with a completely different culture. We love adventure and travel. I’ve been to Australia, South America, Africa, Europe and all around North America. Many of my trips were between 2 and 6 months.

Were I to be able to relocate my business, ideally I’d end up somewhere with a climate and location like Santa Barbara, but with population density and life values like Wyoming!

What a great vision; hope for you that your wishes become a reality!

[Redthies]

Thanks Mark!

[Shakey Jake]

Yes and no. I'm thankful that I have many clients being in a metro area and service Houston Symphony, Rice University, and University of Houston professors, players, and their students. I wouldn't have nearly the amount of business being somewhere else. I absolutely hate the climate here in the summer. If I were to hit the lottery I'd have a home here for the winter and a home somewhere up north and west. Perhaps Wyoming or Montana.