<p>rocky,</p>
<p>Don’t you still have a few more months of winter to survive? I’m near Chicago and I hate it.</p>
<p>Would you consider Valencia, Spain? It was recently sited in the Fiscal Times (I think that was the publication) as #4 in the world as being a beautiful/affordable place for Americans to retire. I spent the last week of Dec. and the first week or so of Jan. there, and daily highs were 65-75, and S who lives there says it is typical. I plan to retire there, or near a bouts.</p>
<p>I bet Portugal would be even cheaper than Spain. You could hang out with all the older Brits who love it there. There’s a town in the south, called Evora, that is perfect - Roman ruins, Arab wall, beautiful tile, neolithic artifacts, local wine (dao), soup of the alentejo (garlic and cilantro), etc.</p>
<p>The Yucatan in Mexico. It has weather, beaches, ancient ruins, colonial cities, relative proximity to the US and low prices.</p>
<p>greenwitch,</p>
<p>That is likely true, but the water by the Valencia beaches is way warmer, warm even in March. In addition, with H being a citizen my health coverage is covered. Two years ago in Portugal the Atlantic was freezing (for my taste) when I was there in July.</p>
<p>spent the week between Christmas & New Years in Palm Springs a few years ago (on advice I received here!). </p>
<p>Very quiet place. Sun shone almost every day, although air temps at night were in high 40s. The house we rented had a heated pool and hot tub and it was heavenly. There were plenty of places to hike during the day. Lots of golf & tennis options if that’s your thing. </p>
<p>I would happily spend a winter month there, however I can’t see myself living there permanently, as I’m an East Coast girl.</p>
<p>Same place I spend the rest of the year. No way am I moving away from friends and family for better weather.</p>
<p>Yeah, me too. I’m happy spending Jan & Feb parked next to the space heater catching up on my reading. I’m not moving to where it will take hours and a flight to reach my family.</p>
<p>Somewhere on a beach between Monterey and San Diego. Maui sounds good, too. And i’d like to stay through March.</p>
<p>San Diego seems to be quite popular. It is a pretty place in the winter – so green.</p>
<p>3bm: I plan on taking my friends with me, lol!</p>
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</p>
<p>When it comes to moving permanently, e.g., retiring to a new place, I totally agree with you. But getting away from the cold weather for a month or two, or several weeks, is a relatively easy thing to do in terms of being away from family and friends. And I say that as someone who is very close to her family and who has a close circle of friends who I see two or three times, sometimes more, a week. </p>
<p>This is the first time we’ve been away for several weeks to our second home. Prior to my H retiring, it was just used several times a year for vacations. Now that we’re flexible, we can come and go as we please, and as weather permits, so it’s working well. In a few weeks, we’ll go back for a couple of weeks, catch up on time with family - and grandbaby - and friends, do a few medical appointments, then head back south for another 3-4 weeks, during which we are having visits by both family and friends. By the time we get home, winter should be pretty much over!</p>
<p>I love the change of seasons. I have lived in places where it was not distinct. I enjoy a big snowstorm, as long as I do not have to go anywhere. </p>
<p>But I would love to spend February in any one of the places already mentioned --Key West, Puerto Rico, San Diego, Hawaii, West Palm Beach, etc. All places I have enjoyed.</p>
<p>Any place with a great beach such as Hawaii, Caribbean, Bahamas or Florida gulf coast.</p>
<p>I have no plans to retire. If I retire, I would stay where I am now. Currently, we are taking 2 weeks trips to Mexico. If I am in physical shape to take trips anywhere, I would take 3 week trips to Mexico and stay at home for the rest of the year. There is no way I would retire to any place in Europe, California, Florida, Arizona, all of them are unattractive to either of us. While we did not have negative temp. this year, it has been cold to the point that it has prevented our daily walks. I do not like that either. However, every place has negatives, and I rather be at home than tolerate the negative sides of any of these locations.</p>
<p>Sanibel or Captiva in Florida are very nice, not like commercialized Florida.</p>
<p>We like Palm Springs . Love the mid-century vibe and dry warm weather and hiking.</p>
<p>love the winter, love the snow, don’t mind the cold…wouldn’t consider going anywhere for 2 months, maybe a week</p>
<p>I live in the San Diego area and I’ve always said that if I had the money, I’d have a condo in Miami–and only go there between November and February, maybe early March. Shirt sleeve weather at night without the bugs and humidity…</p>
<p>I loved January and February in Munich. All the parks had groomed cross country trails. Our apartment backed up on some woods and we could literally just go out the back door.</p>
<p>If I really wanted to get away, I’d go to Australia.</p>
<p>To me, Sanibel, Florida and adjoining Captiva are commercial and too touristy. Sanibel Island was laid back and rustic way back when the only way to get there was by ferry. Since 1963, when first bridge was built connecting Sanibel to mainland, it has become just another crowded destination in my opinion. I have some favorite spots to visit in Florida; I prefer quiet Florida locations near water, removed from crowds.</p>