@Marilyn I grew up in San Diego and have raised my kids there during their early formative years. We now live about an hour from there with a resort style pool too (we love vacationing in Mexico so we copied the feel and look for our backyard).
I understand your situation. I have a close relative who retired from Illinois to AZ because of the high taxes. They love it there and they get the most out of their retirement checks.
@Rivet2000 interesting idea
:-?
@cbreeze wow I can’t imagine retiring in the Bay Area…it’s too expensive
I’m in SE Fl, and I like it here. Delray beach and boy ton beach are less expensive than Boca, WPB, or Miami. Weston is beautiful. The closer one is to the ocean, prices rise. I’d love to retire and be on the intercoastal.
I live in an older, family neighborhood, with no amenities. There are many 55+ communities that are attractive, cuz they have many social events, theatre, movies, clubs, gyms, spas, dining rooms, etc. Rentals and condos near ocean also have amenities.
We moved from MA to AZ in '99 with an eye to retirement, and both of us retired recently. We have beautiful weather for nine months, great COL/quality of life, but no bodies of water to speak of. Our compromise is to spend three months each summer in wetter, more temperate coastal climes, like Maine and the PacWest. However, we plan to spend these first few summers subletting in college towns with Ann Arbor first up. (We’re both Michigan alums.) We’re going to try out a few of those “best college towns” and pretend we’re hippies again.
My inlaws retired to LA from central Michigan. They live in a tiny house at the foot of the 405. Just yuck. But they love to go on and on about how wonderful it is. To each his own, I guess.
I lived in California just before I moved to Florida. Housing and income taxes were definitely more expensive in CA, but there were a lot of things that were more expensive in FL, like car insurance and registration, food (yes, much more expensive, especially fresh fruit and veggies), gasoline was not all that much different (more expensive than most in both places). All personal services in FL are taxed, like dry cleaning and haircuts. My utilities seemed to be about the same, but the cable TV was much better in California.
Actively searching - southeast - golf and beach. Hilton Head in October, Naples in February. Done with snow and ice. Coming from the expensive DC area real estate market, these areas look ok to us price-wise. Just want to find the right vibe. We are pretty casual.
Savannah GA and nearby islands: Wilmington or Tybee.
@rockvillemom please pm me with your insights when you’ve checked them out 
Will do. We have been to Hilton Head before - vacationing - but this next trip is more focused on can we see ourselves living here? DH is 60 - not quite ready to retire - he has a job interview lined up while we are there - I have to set up a time to meet with our real estate agent. Want to focus on the neighborhoods we prefer and house vs condo/villa. DH wants to buy a house in the Hilton Head Plantation area, I’m more thinking a condo/villa on the Atlantic side. I like the vibe very much - seems pretty casual and friendly - I always enjoy walking on the beach, talking to people, particularly those walking their dogs.
DH has a good friend who just bought a house in a planned community with 2 golf courses in Bluffton, but that does not appeal to me. I don’t play golf or tennis and it seemed too focused on those activities.
I will be happy to share insights when we return.
My cousin and husband retired to Johns Island. It is north of Vero Beach, FL. H and I visited them this winter and had a great time. I was surprised by all the nature/wildlife areas–Pelican Island, DJ Wilcox Natural Area. Also liked the McKee Botanic Garden. I wouldn’t mind spending a few months there in the winter–wouldn’t move there permanently.
We love the St. Petersburg/St. Pete Beach area. St. Petersburg is a vibrant revitalized city with lots of diversity, cultural offerings, local colleges and universities. There is an abundance of local produce, fresh markets, etc. We moved from CT, so we were used to taxes on personal services. We love no income tax, (don’t know how long that will last)!
Oh no! Stop telling everyone about the Western panhandle of Florida! Don’t let that secret out!
We lived in Pensacola twice, and loved it. Seriously considering retiring in the area.
We retired to Tampa, FL. Easily can get to the Gulf beaches but like city amenities. Live in the part of the city people would evacuate TO in case of a hurricane. There was a tropical storm our first month and just plenty of rain- H loved the monsoon like weather (from India).
Our search for a place to retire included so many factors. No place is ideal. No state income tax makes Florida nice but I dislike the lack of public school spending. Our area (and many others) have plenty of retirees and amenities/services. Where you retire depends on your expected lifestyle. Religion matters- your comfort level with local social life and community mores depends on whether you fit in. Likewise your political beliefs matter. There was an article in the Tampa Bay Times about how lesbians did fine in The Villages- as long as they were Republican. Likewise some areas are more upscale- thinking of Naples. We wanted to be close to a university- over 60 you can audit classes for free. Plus Ollie- seniors classes taught by peers and others (look up USF-Ollie for listings). Very casual dress here as well. Enough liberals, so many people from OOS. Different parts of the Tampa Bay area will appeal to different people. PM me or the St Pete poster for our personal feelings about specific areas here.
I prefer the heat and humidity to deserts. July here means staying indoors with air conditioning - compare to January up north with heat but rains end quickly and don’t need shoveling. Not mainstream culture and southern/Christian areas are a real turnoff to us. Works for those who fit in with the majority. Great public library system in Hillsborough County (Tampa). Know people in various parts of the city who have different lifestyle expectations. Know a young person who disliked Tampa because he was a liberal contract worker for MacDill AF base and lived near it- not like our area at all.
You need to evaluate your expectations for your daily living. People/politics/religion/education/arts/libraries… taxes/costs of living…
“about how lesbians did fine in The Villages- as long as they were Republican”
I’d like to see a Venn diagram of that - only half kidding, too.
Strange to see the long, human interest article but it was in the paper. Democrats not welcome but activities and acceptance for gay people. Who knew.
I have a friend who retired from NJ to an absolutely beautiful community on Lake Keowee in Senaca, SC. It would be my dream to join her down there someday!
We plan on retiring here in MN where our grandkids will live and where we own a lake home for 8 months (May through December) and then rent someplace warm during the coldest months. Best of both worlds!
^^^We have a similar plan–stay in MA in the home where we have lived for 35 years, and spend May-Oct at our island place (off Cape Cod) and then rent in warmer areas from Jan-March. We are visiting in Santa Barbara right now and have really enjoyed it. I could spend a few months here in the winter.
@Bromfield2 I met lots of East Coast/Mid West folks wintering on the Maya Riviera every year… Thanksgiving at home, Xmas on the beach with delighted kids/grandkids along for a vacation. They return home by beginning April when it just gets too hot in the Yucatan.
That’s actually my retirement fantasy should I NOT win Powerball. (Winning entails a much more resplendent retirement fantasy.)
Lots of great options/ideas ^^
I’m sad and frustrated that now my H is saying he’s not interested in moving from CA 
Well, CA is a huge state. Is he open to considering a different area?