The ideal state for retirement?

Protected One

Protected One

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Just starting to look into the state to move for retirement. The main criteria are:
a) Warm climate
b) Gun owner friendly (because I will be carrying daily)
Florida is NOT a candidate because it's too humid in summer.

Suggestions and reasons for suggestion are appreciated. :)
 
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Consciousness.....

Oregon is nice, or Eastern Washington. I kinda like Montana too, but the wind blows there. Think about Arizona, up north is nice, around Flagstaff.
 
If you don't like humidity, then you may want to forget the southeast... Lots of gun friendly, freedom loving States here though.
 
My research landed me in east Tennessee. South enough to be warm but in the mountains it's survivable in summer. They're good with guns and the eastern part of the state is solidly republican. Although the sales tax is hair raising, there's no income tax. Property taxes vary county by county and they are trivial where I am. Best knife shop in the world is nearby and Bud's gun shop is putting in a big facility next door to 'em. We lack the public hunting land of the western states but there is some.

For me, I made the right choice.

Ed
 
I envision summering in the lake area of NH and wintering in NE TN. Of course at this rate, I'll be wheeled out of my office and into the meat wagon.
 
I vote for AZ -- although Phx is pretty hot. Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff are possibilities.

I also like Idaho -- around the Boise area isn't real cold and it's dry so not much snow.
 
Diamondback,

Shhhhhh! We got too many of them yankees already, don't tell 'em about A/C. Or no state income tax, or no snow, or no snowblowers (which in absolute honesty I have never seen) or warm beaches or girls on those beaches or big fish or how, at least in this part of Florida, it never reaches 100 (record was set two days ago-96). Shhhhhh!

Bob
 
California has the best climate, and that's all. The northwest is wet and damp. Oregon is going left. Colorado is starting to show liberal anti gun tendencies.
About the only warm dry places left are Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and maybe Nevada. Utah is not bad but pretty dry. North of that can get cold.
How do you feel about snakes?
The southwest is the only area that seems to satisfy your criteria. If you don't like humidity, none of the southeast states will work. I personally like the Carolina mountains, but there will be a mild winter.
 
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Another vote here for Arizona, I certainly don't miss western Washington any.
 
Don't go to Kingman, Arizona! The weather is sunny almost everyday, the humidity is so low you get static shocks all the time, everyone carries guns and therefore so friendly it makes you suspicious, seldom get to hear the AC running...except today it almost set a record of 102, taxes are so low it makes one feel guilty other people have to pay more. Probably lots of other reasons to make you want to look elsewhere.

As a former Calif native I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. My neighbors are from Detroit, so we have a representative of Michigan here all ready..............
 
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I'm voting AZ. I bought a house near Phoenix 4 years ago in anticipation of retirement. Now that I'm there, I plan on relocating by November. Don't let the heat scare you... 2/3 of the year is near-perfect, and you can always go to one of several lakes, the high country areas, or just go traveling elsewhere during the summer. And gun-friendly doesn't even scratch the surface.
 
I've got 75 acres in the mountains of southeast Arizona, elevation about 5000 feet, 6 miles from the pavement and about a mile to my closest neighbor. Hopefully I'll be there in about 4 years.

I wouldn't trade my Maine upbringing for anything but I'm looking forward to seeing winters in my rear view mirror!

I guess you can say that Arizona got my vote.
 
I have enough income being retired I could live anywhere but the misses won't move. So I could live summers elsewhere and winters home. Who has the best gun free pro gun state?
 
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Look for a state that has no income tax. The reason is if you are living on a pension or investments that income will not be taxed by the state. WA is one state that has no income tax and is gun friendly with preemptive OC and shall issue concealed. Also we have a high sales tax but you get to decide how much tax you pay by what you buy. Western WA has a high cost of living (real estate) but eastern WA isn't too bad. Climate is not good on the west side, too wet, but east side isn't too bad. Look at Tri Cities, Yakima or Chelan.

I grew up in southern AZ and the summers there have become brutal. Drought and water shortages there will eventually turn the SW into a dust bowl.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/arizona-could-be-out-water-6-years-180951814/?no-ist
 
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If my grandkids didn't live here, I would move to Arizona.
I also like North Arizona. Flagstaff is a real nice town, I was over there a couple of weeks ago. But it's a little too cold for me.
Sedona is an absolutely beautiful place, but its headquarters for the warped and crazy.
Not too far from Sedona is Cottonwood, also Prescott and Prescott Valley. All Very nice.
I also like Payson. And then there is my favorite town in Arizona, Show Low.
Phoenix has way too many humanoids, I like it both up north and down south of Tucson, but it's just way too hot.
 
A10 said:
Consciousness.....

Oregon is nice, or Eastern Washington. I kinda like Montana too, but the wind blows there. Think about Arizona, up north is nice, around Flagstaff.
Click to expand...

Arizona is the leading contender at the moment. But, the Scottsdale area.
 
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We chose SW Utah. The west is about elevation. Cedar city where we live is around 5700 ft. South 45 miles, St George is about 2,900 ft. Any day st. george is about 15 degrees hotter than us. We can get over 10,000 feet just a few miles away. Thats like 20 degrees cooler at all times than us. You dont have to go far here to pick your temperature. Gun laws and permits are the best or next to it. The biggest draw for me is all the public BLM or forest service land in all directions. Our thing is trail riding with our ATV`s. Its probley known as the best in the lower 48.
I cant speak to the tax situation compared to other states. I never really researched all the states on that factor. The biggest thing we noticed after leaving southern california is going to the DMV or post office, or soc. sec office. Next to no lines, sometimes its like, where ya been? We been waiting here on ya. Once you get out of the towns its unpopulated and usually public land that you can walk on. I can be in the national parks of Bryce Canyon, Cedar Brakes or Zion in less than a hour. We are a hour and a half from the casinos in mesquite nevada or 3 hours to vegas. I dont need to mention the spectacular scenery.
I wouldnt want to be looking for a job here though. We dont have too much beach property here either.
 
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