Central Coastal California , no crime, no gangs, no traffic year around near perfect climate ... call me we'll talk  Tom

Central Coastal California , no crime, no gangs, no traffic year around near perfect climate ... call me we'll talk  Tom

I second that, especially San Luis Obispo or Atascadero/Templeton area.  Paso is going ghetto, south county is already there.

Little word of advice if you wanna retire and live somewhere with a good climate year round look at spending some serious$$$ because face it everyone else wants to live there too...I couldn't say where a good place is I live in vegas, but its all I know! When my dad retired he actually moved to oregon and loved it...out here in vegas we got all of the above riding skiing/snowboarding and a big lake...and some gambling too!

Good input. Never thought of TN. Got a buddy who grew up in Louisiann and Arkansas. He tells me there is beautiful country and cheap living but humidity can get crazy. We thought about mid Cali coast (drove through last fall and my wife loved it) but damn there are alot of people there and cost of living seems high. I spent several years in SF bay area and a bit of time in Simi Valley but dont' think I would ever live there. Not been to Arizona, but am interested. We plan a visit there next fall. We hired a guy from Phoenix and every time I talked to him when he was in the hiring process he told me it was over 100...that is too freaking hot! Of course he got up here and his wife lasted one winter and they moved back...quite on his last day of training which cost us a ton of money. So, the search continues. Unless I hit the lottery, then I am going to buy a cool place in a bout a dozen climates and travel between them. 

Good buddy of mine bought his retirement placein Kingman many years ago...no regrets.  I'd like to check out Payson, Williams, etc.

Central Cali is going to put you 3-4 hours from LA depending on where you end up and where in LA you want to go. 7 hrs to Vegas from there. But either arent that bad of a drive. Made both drives many, many times.

At 12+ hrs driving then I'll consider flying. Commercial air travel sucks these days. Like driving. Border is kinda a hassle these days though. Kinda enjoying Canada but not sure about winter yet, assuming like Seattle and Portland, must move south cause that really sucks!

Van 19 drinking age even at going on 37 young college chicks are hitting on me big time! So maybe be warm enough for winter! 

Looked funny when I re-read it, 3-4 hrs from Cental Cali to LA and 7 hours from Central Cali to Vegas. Didnt mean to make it sound like you had to drive down to LA to get to Vegas.