San Diego usually tops the list of best year round weather places. But check out Albuquerque, NM. This link gives you the scoop of the weather with monthly highs, lows and sunshine.

Here is a link that might be useful: Albuquerque

If you can afford to pay upwards of $500,000 for a house, you might enjoy living among the vineyards in the Valley of the Moon in northern CA. You would be between Santa Rosa and Sonoma and an hour from San Francisco. Mild temperatures, cool nights because the fog rolls in from the coast. Google Oakmont Village for more info.

Since we took our vaca a few years ago to Wyoming....that is my place....I sooo wanna live there! Wyoming!

I'm good where I'm at. Colorado, in a little mountain town. Sparkling water bubbles up out of the ground in springs. The temperature is fine, great scenery, lots of waterfalls, beautiful rock formations, BIG blue skies, flora & fauna! It's very affordable....food...taxes...utilities. Accessibility to stores, library, doctors....good!

Hawaii is a good place for you, I think, if you have lots of cash. I understand it's an expensive place for housing and to live.

As for me, I love where I'm at, except in winter. I should probably become a snow bunny and go south in the winter :-)

Would you consider being a snow bunny, with a southern residence for the winter? A lot of people do that around here, and though it brings some complications I'd probably consider it if I could afford it.

The Maryland shore is a nice option. I know some people who retired there, and they love the climate and atmosphere. I also hear raves about North Carolina, especially the mountains.

Suzieque, you might want to check this out: MoneyWatch's reviews of various "Best Places to Retire" lists. Interesting!

Here is a link that might be useful: Best of the Best Lists

jel48...a snow bunny wants to live in only snow....a snow bird leaves when it snows. :0)

I started reading the articles. One person suggested Fiji islands. Ok....hurricanes and poverty. ???? The indians and fijians don't get along....civil war? Yes, I've been there. It's usually on the Govt.'s list of dangerous places.

How about Somalia? Everyone there has malaria...(My sister moved there, then moved home after she got....yep...malaria)

I like the guy that said to stay where you are.....:0)

know some don't like the rain but i'd move back to the seattle area in a heartbeat...now we're "stuck" in detroit cause that's where the kids and grands are..

we lived in san diego for quite a while...it's lovely but not quite the sleepy navy town it used to be. and if you're on the wrong side of the "mountain" you miss those lovely ocean breezes, and it can be pretty uncomfortable...not to mention the smog...again not as bad as la, but it's there...

i guess it would be nice if you can afford it, to rent in the winter...my pal who lives on colorado, is looking to move to the carolinas...

Prescott or Prescott Valley, Arizona. At about 5,000 ft. the weather is moderate compared to Phoenix. Clean air, fluffy clouds. Maybe a couple snowfalls in the winter which melt off pretty quick. Housing is a real bargain in PV now.

Western WA sounds good for you. There are lots of peaceful little towns with mountains and ocean for day trips. The climate is mild. An occasional bit of snow in the winter but usually around 45 degrees. In the summer it's usually in the 70s-low 80s.

No hurricanes.

How about the Pacific Northwest near the ocean? Very temperate, very beautiful. It's the only climate that might tempt me.

Yep, Pacific Northwest. If you can handle the rain, it's almost like spring/fall all year round. Rarely gets under 40 or above 80-85. Lots of cute little towns near big cities. Close by mountains, oceans, forests, or even desert if you drive east. Very green and lush. I love it here!

Look at smaller towns near Seattle and Portland. A couple of my favorites are Olympia, WA, North Bend, WA, Corvallis, OR...I'm sure I'll think of more. :)

North Bend/Issaquah, WA

The Cochilla Valley in southern Californa desert. Completely surrounded by the highest peaks in CA, yet with a high water table....the valley is the closest I have ever seen as perfect.

Just 120 miles from LA, and has a full sized airport, and an exellect hospital complex.

Interstate 10 runs across north of the valley, and rt 111 through the south.

Towns include Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and Indio.

The southernmost part of Ontario is at an equal parallel to northern Calif.

I like it here.

Not too hot summers (mostly) ... spring and fall are great.

In winter ... when I look out the window into a blizzard ... I just say to myself, "I didn't want to go anywhere today, anyway".

Heating bills aren't too high ... electricity the same (though it's about to go up).

I see a doc (usually) and most of the time a hosp. at no direct cost to me.

I have family, friends, church, etc.

Where else would anyone want to be?

(Though when I can no longer drive, I'll move to town ... hitch-hiking in winter ain't no fun).

ole joyfilled

wHEREVER YOU DECIDE THINK ABOUT GETING IN AND OUT HOW FAR IS A GOOD AIRPORT? WOULD YOU HAVE TO FLY TO A BIGGER AIRPORT TO CHANGE PLANES TO GE TO A BIG CITY? tHAT COULD BE A FACTOR. aRE YOU INTO A LOT OF HOSPITAL VISITS? CHECK THAT OUT TOO. NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO THERE IS BOUND TO BE SOME KIND OF NATURAL WEATHER EVENT TO LOOK FORWARD TO: WHETHER TORNADO ALLEY, ARID DESERT, FLOODING ZONE. mAYB WHERE YOU ARE WILL PROVE TO E THE BEST WITH A VACATION PLACE SOMEWHERE Sorry about the caps

If your income will be enough to pay taxes, I'd look for a state that has no state tax. We moved from Maryland because of their taxes.

Friends moved from Chicagoland to Prescott several years ago. They moved on to the San Francisco area later, after houses and the pines around them burned in a forest fire. (See recent news of Flagstaff.) There was also a long drive to Phoenix to the airport and first class medical care. They'd rejected Albuquerque because it's so dry and barren -- no foliage taller than your knees, according to my friend! LOL Now they 'rock 'n roll' and await The Big One in CA.

I'm not FROM the South. Not sure I could live with the 'born and bred' folks there or in Texas.

We're on Maui for a month or more in winter. We stick it out at home for the remaining winter because we love it here the other seasons. (I can't see retiring to Hawaii; Rock Fever.)

No place is perfect -- at least not once it's been 'discovered', over-populated and polluted. I think the WATER problem is starting to loom large too. (I'll stay here, snuggled up to Lake Michigan.)

I think a lot of retiring folks are considering moving in to a city for ease of access to all things cultural and shopping!

Every state has good and "bad" areas. There is magazines about retirement. Check your library for issues. I love the norther tier states, and the coast of No Cal, Ore, Wash, but about 1-5 miles back to get away from the fog. Montana is nice, ND--a bit chilly, Minn, again weather. If you do not have relatives you want to live near, consider a senior complex. Most do have medical which when you get older is important. Many do have ind. houses, duplexes etc and do allow pets. I am thinking of some of the Sun City ones, if they are still around. You mentioned land? But again who will take care of you and it, if you can't. Just a thought.

My DH and I have talked about moving out of Cali in a few years. We were thinking Montana or Wyoming.

Stacy - where in Wyoming were you looking?

It is important to be near good medical care with all specialties. I had a friend in Medford, OR, who had retired with her DH from Sacramento to Brookings Harbor, OR. After her DH died she moved inland to Medford because medical care was closer. She told me many times that folks should think twice about retiring to the Oregon Coast where they have to drive a couple of hours for medical care.

Cape Cod is a nice area. Temperate winters. Near Boston. Of course there's nothing to do there.
The Desert gets up in the 110's in the summer. And, the only things to do there are play golf, drink or shop.
I like the San Diego area. 70's year round yet you can drive for a couple of hours and ski, little rainfall, near the ocean and near the desert. Lots to do.

I have a cousin in San Diego and they can't wait to get out of there when they retire. Too much crime for them. They went out to dinner and came out to find their nice truck stolen even though it was locked and had an alarm on it. They live in a gated community with an alarmed house. They want to retire to AZ.

Wow - thanks for all of your responses! I've got a lot of research to do now, and I appreciate it.

Marie cate-funny you should mention Albuquerque! Just happens to be where I am right now.We have been here for a year helping the kids with the grand babies so we have seen all the "extremes" in weather.We love it here and the biggest bonus is NO MOSQUITOES.We had a few days in the winter that were cold and wet and some summer days that are HOT but overall it is very pleasant.Just be sure to get a home with refrigerated air!Just don't get a place in the mountains because there will be days that you won't be able to make it to town.Which is OK if you don't have to be somewhere on a schedule.Granted,the mountains are cooler in the summer so you just have to weigh the pros and cons.There's lots to do here,parks,the zoo,aquarium,etc.Shopping is great and it's not far from Santa Fe.

I like living here...no state taxes in Texas too...but, you probably wouldn't like the heat. I was just thinking about he Smokey Mountains in North Carolina. It's beautiful.

Central coast area of California. There are still some affordable areas where you can have your 1/2 acre or so. You would be between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. It's a beautiful part of the state with a mild climate. Close to the beach AND the mountains AND the valley. Beautiful vineyards and lots of rural areas still around but the convenience of modern life a stones throw away.

Cochilla Valley is HOT. Over 100 degrees in the summer.Have a friend who lives in a retirement community there.Hot. Forget gardening.Then again if you like to gamble there are plenty of casinos. Not my cup of tea.

Linda in Iowa is spot on about San Diego. Nice to visit but wouldn't want to live there. It's a mixed bag of an area. Nice areas outside of San Diego itself but lots of not so nice areas too. Close to the border with all the problems that ensues.

Lilliepad- I've never been to New Mexico in the winter. We used to visit relatives in Santa Fe and Albuquerque but we had to travel when school was out so that meant the summer. The only down side is the lack of lakes and rivers. We used to swim in the Pecos River in the summer - all 3' of mud. There are beautiful small lakes near Santa Rosa.

I have to agree with Marilyn C - we want to stay on the East coast near the kids and the mountains of North and South Carolina look promising.

Cochilla Valley is HOT. Over 100 degrees in the summer.

A dry heat. Not anecdotal, been there many many times. I hate hot humid days here in the east. The humidity is what makes warm weather uncomfortable.
As to gardening....The valley is not like Arizona(which is unbearable) - with the higher water table, grass and gardens bloom there beautifully.

Monica the OP stated she wished for a climate between 40 and 85. Dry heat or not 110 degrees in the summer is NOT what she is looking for. It's one thing to visit an area after leaving East coast humidity and quite another to live there. Coachella Valley is the desert. People in the area do not sit outside on the patio in the shade with a book. They stay inside their air conditioned homes with a book.That is not what the OP described as her desired lifestyle.

Linda In Iowa has lived in California for many years. She had an informed answer. I am a California native. I know people who live there. I am a heat lover and when I visit I make sure it's not in the summer. Hopefully Jodi and Carol will chime in on this post.

Well, as I stated in my post, what we call "the desert" (Coachella Valley) does NOT have a comfortable summer climate. Period. I have been there in the summer. Not pleasant. One "winters" in the desert and spends the summers elsewhere.

Everyone we know who has a place out in the Coachella Valley leaves for 4-6 weeks every summer. The snowbirds head back to Canada.

Our neighbors bought a beautiful place out there two years ago and live four out of seven days a week there. They love the house, the neighborhood, people, etc. but come July, they stay home and hire someone to go into their desert home once a week to clean. Even sealed shut, the home which they bought new, just fills with dust. They just informed us last week, they have put it up for sale.

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I would like to suggest Eastern Tennessee. Crossville / Fairfield Glade area comes to mind. Absolutely wonderful area. Not too hot, not too cold, housing is affordable and it's not so deep South that it would be a culture shock. And not too terrible far from the East coast I suppose.

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With that said, I have never understood why, after building a life somewhere, with perhaps a home that is paid for and family and friends all around, people pack up their bags at retirement and leave everything behind.

Jodi-

I think we should start a thread titled, "How do we want to live". :0) Near a lake? Near mountains? Is hiking or boating important. Are property taxes affordable? Do you like a hot or cold climate? What are your priorities?

We chose the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia for a number of reasons: there are four distinct seasons, and none are severe; we don't have to deal with tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, etc.; cost of living is reasonable; crime is low; because we are close to D.C.(60 miles), there is quality medical care; taxes are reasonable; land is still available; housing is affordable; people are friendly, and life is slower-paced than in big cities.

We considered the southwest, but decided against that area because of the illegal immigration problem, and desert fever. We liked the wide-open spaces of Wyoming, Montana, etc., but worried about being too far from "civilization" (primarily medical facilities) when old age comes.

We fly over Montana and Wyoming enroute to Hawaii. I've visited both in summer (mostly remember black flies lol). Why would you want to live there in winter -- or in the 'mud season' that is known as Spring in other climes? I realize these are BIG states; maybe I'm being too general?