Which states is there no way in hell you would retire to?

New York! Which is where I shall be retiring in 6 short weeks.

Wife and I thinking of retiring in a year or two. Currently live in Georgia and it's ok. But, we may take up some part time residence in Florida or Tennessee for some added benefits. Not sure I could drag the wife to Texas.

The communist state of MN.

anywhere other than Florida and North Carolina. I have spent 69 years in Florida and part of the last 20 in NC. I plan on doing the same for the rest of my time.

There are some other states I would accept if for some reason I had to. Tennessee and W Virginia come to mind. Also New Mexico seems pretty cool. But for reasons of climate, cost, lifestyle that's about it.

Which is a shame because California has the most spectacular variation of natural beauty of anywhere. But it is too communist and expensive. But I repeat myself.

Anywhere south of 45 degrees is out.

None of the New England states.
They have high taxes and less freedom because of massive infestations of liberals/progressives/socialists/communists.

Maryland! Extreme taxes and ruled by the democrats. Tax and spend. Wife and I are moving to western North Carolina at the end of the year. State taxes will be one half of what I am currently paying in Maryland and the cost of living is significantly less. Plus the weather is much better. I can't wait to get out of this shithole.

Illinois!

North Dakota -- too damn cold.

same for Alaska.

quote:

Originally posted by armored:
Illinois!

Amen armored

quote:

Originally posted by armored:
Illinois!

Just across the Mississippi is Iowa, with no tax on retirement income plus many other positive aspects.

Living back to back in Alaska and Canada ruined me on anywhere with a real winter.

Anywhere that is not USDA Hardiness Zone 8. Zone 7 and lower is too cold, and Zone 9 and higher is too hot.

It would be nice if there was a map like the hardiness map but one where you could preselect preferred weights for various factors like taxes, property taxes, political preferences, water quality / drought tolerance, heat, cold, humidity, insects / pests, crime rates, blah blah blah. Then based on weighted preferences highlight areas that are green (great match), yellow (partial match), red (stay away - you'll hate it).

I'd pay for a one time service like this.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

quote:

Originally posted by armored:
Illinois!

Just across the Mississippi is Iowa, with no tax on retirement income plus many other positive aspects.

The Mrs. and I both have Iowa on our list of possibilities. Good to know there is no retirement tax.

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
None of the New England states.
They have high taxes and less freedom because of massive infestations of liberals/progressives/socialists/communists.

Ditto for New Yorkistan.

There's only a few states that I would consider from the get-go, based on some basic starting criteria...

Not too hot. Not too cold. No liberal/progressive political BS. No hurricanes.

Pretty much limits it to the southern portion of the Midwest and some of the northern areas of the South. Stuff like:

Arkansas
Missouri
Oklahoma
Kansas
Kentucky
Tennessee
West Virginia

Along with northern Texas and western North Carolina. And maybe Utah, as the outlier.

I'd then need to look closer at subregions of those states for things like cost of living, real estate market, overall tax burden, access to healthcare, etc. I suspect I'd end up with just a handful of areas as final options.

And I like hills/mountains, so it'd likely come down to somewhere in northern Arkansas, southern Missouri, eastern Tennessee, or western North Carolina, depending on how exactly they rate in the above criteria.

I'm happy in TX, but could see OK or AR as alternates.

The west coast, HI, IL & NY would be a hard no.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Um, New York is IN New England...)

Um, New York is not considered New England. Look it up, brainiac.

New York is NOT New England - it's Mid-Atlantic.