Some retirees want it all, and by that, I mean a state with warm weather, firearms freedom, and low costs. Catey Hill, an editor at MarketWatch, was asked for just that by a retiree living in California. She responded with some ideas for locations offering just that. She wrote (abridged):
You’re not alone in wanting to flee California in retirement — and for you, the costs make it hard to live anywhere in California on your Social Security checks alone. Though you’ll be hard-pressed to find a state with weather as good as it is in many parts of the Golden State.
That said, I’ve found some affordable spots in gun-friendly states with decent weather where you can live mostly on your Social Security check. Some of them get a bit hotter than the 80s in the summer and can be chilly in winter, but most of the year, the temperatures are mild. Here are some spots to consider.
Bella Vista, Ark.
Arkansas has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the nation, according to CBS News, so you’ll be among like-minded folks in this state. And in Bella Vista — a town of roughly 30,000 in the Ozarks — you’ll also enjoy a cost of living that’s below average for the U.S. and plenty of trees — and the beautiful view its name promises.
Silver City, N.M.
In its “Retire Here, Not There” series, MarketWatch highlighted this college town as a great place to retire, with one retiree telling us: “Everybody from every walk of life has a place here. And there’s always something to do.” The article also highlighted a “vibrant Main Street,” “friendly people” and interesting arts offerings.
Gainesville, Ga.
Located on the shores of the 38,000-acre Lake Lanier and in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this city of about 35,000 offers you plenty of opportunities to get out in nature — from kayaking on the lake to hiking through the 1,440-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve, one of the state’s biggest protected green spaces.
Read more here.
Choosing where to retire is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. If you live in America though, you have lots of options, and the freedom to pursue them when you set off on your retirement life.
