Any consideration of a move would have to include a solid red foundation.
I told my wife and family if I go before her I want my ashes scattered along with my dogs ashes (so far we are both still alive but our dogs time on this earth is very limited, this I know is our last Christmas with him according to his doctor) in the mountains. It maybe VA or most likely Western NC. We recently moved (retired) on the coast of NCAs I approached retirement some 17 years ago, and having already visited over 40 countries, I opened my mind to the entire world for settling down. I briefly considered Malaysia because of the warm climate and low cost of living (seemed everyone I knew had a cook and a driver), but rejected it because it was too far away, I didn't speak the language, and the culture was too foreign for me.
I seriously considered Ireland after a dozen vacations there, and was attracted to the beautiful scenery and friendly English speaking people. I even looked at some land, but rejected Ireland because of the cool wet climate, high taxes, and liberal government.
Finally I decided that the good ol' USA had the greatest freedoms and best standard of living - the question was where? I eliminated the top third of the country because it was too cold for me, and the bottom third because it was too hot, humid, and buggy. Next I dropped the entire center of the country because it was too flat and had weather extremes, and then nixed the west coast because of the cost of living, taxes, and politics. That left the mid-Atlantic.
Finally I settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia. Bought a house on a ridge a few miles outside a small, eclectic, one stoplight mountain town (Floyd) with some incredible views. Here I have moderate weather with four seasons, and the friendliest people I have ever met (I came from NJ). Established my large vegetable garden and installed a heated in-ground pool with a large patio and pavilion, and at 73 am happy as a clam. Even bought a cemetery plot here!
This is from my front porch.
View attachment 196609
Check out the number of homicides.20 acres in the US Virgin Islands sounds nice. Does this count? Lol
Someone with real wealth. You and Zee09 spring to mind.Nobody has signed up for a quiet end in Monaco?
Zee09 is already in Monaco or maybe in Switzerland. I'm a beach bum.Someone with real wealth. You and Zee09 spring to mind.
Just a fuzz over our large left leaning cities. Holy smokes.Check out the number of homicides.
Finally I settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia. Bought a house on a ridge a few miles outside a small, eclectic, one stoplight mountain town (Floyd) with some incredible views. Here I have moderate weather with four seasons, and the friendliest people I have ever met (I came from NJ). Established my large vegetable garden and installed a heated in-ground pool with a large patio and pavilion, and at 73 am happy as a clam. Even bought a cemetery plot here!
This is from my front porch.
View attachment 196609
Ohio does offer a lot of natural beauty. A drive through the countryside in spring or autumn is full of gorgeous vistas and a quarter of the state is hilly and picturesque Appalachian vistas.Ohio is beautiful. I have family that go back generations in neighboring Newport, Kentucky. The winters makes it undesirable-even worse than Utah winters-IMHO.
I have relatives just outside Floyd. I have considered moving there. So beautiful there.As I approached retirement some 17 years ago, and having already visited over 40 countries, I opened my mind to the entire world for settling down. I briefly considered Malaysia because of the warm climate and low cost of living (seemed everyone I knew had a cook and a driver), but rejected it because it was too far away, I didn't speak the language, and the culture was too foreign for me.
I seriously considered Ireland after a dozen vacations there, and was attracted to the beautiful scenery and friendly English speaking people. I even looked at some land, but rejected Ireland because of the cool wet climate, high taxes, and liberal government.
Finally I decided that the good ol' USA had the greatest freedoms and best standard of living - the question was where? I eliminated the top third of the country because it was too cold for me, and the bottom third because it was too hot, humid, and buggy. Next I dropped the entire center of the country because it was too flat and had weather extremes, and then nixed the west coast because of the cost of living, taxes, and politics. That left the mid-Atlantic.
Finally I settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia. Bought a house on a ridge a few miles outside a small, eclectic, one stoplight mountain town (Floyd) with some incredible views. Here I have moderate weather with four seasons, and the friendliest people I have ever met (I came from NJ). Established my large vegetable garden and installed a heated in-ground pool with a large patio and pavilion, and at 73 am happy as a clam. Even bought a cemetery plot here!
This is from my front porch.
View attachment 196609
I love the place but man the real estate scene is pretty crazy. Plus Portuguese in Portugal is tougher than in Brazil.Portugal.