[gomoho]

Originally Posted by Bizdoc

This is a question with about 4 million possible answers.

First is what are your medical needs. If you have significant health issues, you should either locate near your current host of doctors *or* look at continuing care retirement communities. In most (but not all) states, these will include a "buy in" which includes life tenancy in a house, townhouse or apartment. When you need it, you are guaranteed admission to assisted living and skilled nursing at reduced rates. Some (or all) of your buy in *may* (or may not) be refunded to your heirs upon your death.

Second is how attached you are to your current location. If you have lived their for all of your life and all of your friends are their, you may be happiest to keep that area as your primary residence. (warning: Keep in mind that all of those folks will also age, get sick, and die. Being the "last man standing" has its own problems.) Balance that with the reality that you will make friends wherever you move. Honest.

Third is where your kids and grandkids are. You may feel as if you have to be close to them. Temper that with the reality that your kids may have to move with jobs and your grandkids will grow up and have things on their mind other than their grandparents. The "grandkids trap" is over rated by many.

Fourth is the tax situation. You will probably hear all kinds of "stuff" about the tax advantages of A, b, or c. How it fits your situation can be very different from someone else. Also keep in mind that despite the speeches by political types, the cost to operate governments tend to be somewhat similar. Don't assume that a lack of income tax means it costs less. Look at what the total tax burden (income plus real property plus personal property plus sales plus other taxes) is.

Compare the cost of living. This is tricky, but a good example is what will heat plus electricity cost. How much will you eat out and what will it cost you? How far will you have to drive to do the things you want to do?

Finally, what will make you happy? Does your old location have the things you like to do? Will you have to travel long distances from your new home to what you like to do?

If you look at old threads on here, you find many of these things have been discussed seemingly to death. However, in the final analysis, only you know what will make you happy.

I think I would move your "finally what will make you happy" to first place. How do any of the other things you mentioned matter if you are not happy?