Wow, great feedback so far... OK, to answer some questions...
Bob, Sedona looks great but housing is almost as expensive as here on Calif. Central Coast. With no significant gain on house equity, we'd probably stay where we're at.
9and7, I grew up in snowbelt of NE Ohio but have been spoiled far too long in California. Love everything you said about NH but cold winter tolerance is non-existent and two homes probably won't be our path.
BBmom, I'll take a closer look! that region is a possible landing spot for our daughter.
Hshuler, I have some family in North Ga. and that is part of the draw to the region. I was thinking NC might be a little less stifling in the summer but not really sure. I don't picture Georgia lakes as really clean and good for swimming, boating, etc., but I really don't know. We checked out doing a big family reunion on a lake there one year and ended up not doing it because the lake water level was so low and it looked pretty brown. Would love to hear more.
SBD and TE, yeah, that is a concern... we've also been spoiled with no summer bugs and no humidity so we'd need to spend some time there that time of year to recall just how bad.
Fenway, we do LOVE it where we are. Some of the incentive would be that if we could find another area we would love as well, the exchange on home value would put us in a more comfortable retirement situation and sooner if we wanted. Also, the aforementioned family in N. Ga. and we have been here on the west coast for a very long time and up for a new adventure and seeing more of the other side of the country. So, sounds like you are saying all four of those cities have proven to be winners?
Gunnar, thanks for the list! Any specifics as to why they may be preferable would be welcome additional info.
HShuler, some of our must haves/ nice to haves... affordable housing, favorable weather, good friendly people, good scenery, safe small-town feel and access to plenty of activities are our musts. We love being around the water, whether it be lake, ocean or river, but want it to be usable (clean to swim, boat, kayak, etc.), not brown or stagnant. Would love to hear more detail about usable lakes in the region. We hike, golf, play tennis, bike, go to ball games, college sports, day trips exploring, canoe/kayak, etc. Wouldn't mind getting back into a bit of fishing. While we like small-town feel, we would want to be within an hour or so of a hub so that we could travel to family not within driving distance and other vacation travel. There are a wide range of fits, anywhere from some acreage with a couple horses to a lake house to a smaller house in a nice suburban neighborhood to a beach house/condo near the ocean. We like mountains and trees as well as ocean. Not so much on plain flat land. My wife hasn't seen much of that region and I think she'd really enjoy it. We are used to plenty of sunshine and blue skies but do miss an occasional T-storm. Immediate family is big but we still don't know where our three adult kids will ultimately end up... and at least two will likely move around for a bit so can't really factor that in. Two of my sisters and most of their kids live in suburbs of Atlanta and it would be nice to be within drivable distance as well as a bit closer to my many other siblings that live in Ohio, where winters would be too cold and grey for our liking.
Foxdad, you hit a lot of interests and son has really enjoyed the people in Virginia... just don't want to creep too far north. Southern would be a possibility I suppose.
TPM and Senna, I could totally do FL and some friends in Tampa area but my wife has a perception of too hot, too flat and no seasonality, whether right or wrong.
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