That deserves its own thread. Taxes, cost of living, amenities that you enjoy, closeness to family - a whole list of items to factor in.Whats the prevailing opinion on where to retire on a mil pension?
Texas, maybe out west for some land to keep the Griz-O-Copter but a hard no to P’cola or anywhere in Florida…my retirement will be as humidity free as possible.That deserves its own thread. Taxes, cost of living, amenities that you enjoy, closeness to family - a whole list of items to factor in.
Pensacola (in particular East Hill) is a place we are definitely considering - probably #2 on our list right now: beautiful beaches, fresh seafood, warm climate, reasonable real estate prices, plenty of SEC championship caliber college football nearby and the Blue Wahoos AA baseball stadium in town with the World Champion Atlanta Braves a short 5 hour drive away. Finally, a laid back lifestyle - or as Kenny Chesney would say, "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems."
We’ll…the tax part limits it to Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. They all have military health care facilities but I’d have to dump AK (the sunlight thing weirds me out) FL (humidity and alligators), and SD (just because), and probably TN (because the MMF is really in Kentucky). I lived in NH and liked it, but my wife hates it for no logical reason. That leaves me Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Or just pay the state taxes! California would be nice, but I’d need a lottery win.Some combination of no state income tax; low cost-of-living; access to military health care facility; and opportunities to do whatever lights your fire (and that of your spouse, if that's a consideration). Gotta stay busy doing SOMETHING after you fully retire.
I would avoid Washington, while they don't have an income tax now they get you on sales tax, gas tax, vehicle licensing and a variety of other ways to take your money. They also keep talking about changing the law to enact an income tax, I feel that is only a matter of time. Don't forget the crime issues, they will keep getting worse in Washington, many jurisdictions don't have the manpower to investigate a lot of different crimes.We’ll…the tax part limits it to Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. They all have military health care facilities but I’d have to dump AK (the sunlight thing weirds me out) FL (humidity and alligators), and SD (just because), and probably TN (because the MMF is really in Kentucky). I lived in NH and liked it, but my wife hates it for no logical reason. That leaves me Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Or just pay the state taxes! California would be nice, but I’d need a lottery win.
I agree, my brother retired to some place just outside JBLM. I’ve already decided to head back to Colorado, my favorite of several childhood homes. I get a good break on military retired pay and a “break” on property taxes (which are pretty low).I would avoid Washington, while they don't have an income tax now they get you on sales tax, gas tax, vehicle licensing and a variety of other ways to take your money. They also keep talking about changing the law to enact an income tax, I feel that is only a matter of time. Don't forget the crime issues, they will keep getting worse in Washington, many jurisdictions don't have the manpower to investigate a lot of different crimes.
Yeah, but it's also hot AF.AZ doesn't tax mil retirement and ordinary income tax is moderate. Military base access is good. Golf courses abound. Nearly all the open space is public land. Most folks think Sonoran Desert and may shy away from that. But that is barely half the state. Downside is housing has gone crazy. Less than someplace like NOVA or CA, but still bubble like highs.
To include the highest booze taxes of any state in the Union . . . a per-ounce liquor tax, and then on top of that, a 20% sales tax. But yeah, they get their money in taxing everything else but income for sure.I would avoid Washington, while they don't have an income tax now they get you on sales tax, gas tax, vehicle licensing and a variety of other ways to take your money.
I seriously wonder whether or not we (WA State) have reached a tipping point where the electorate is just frankly fed up with all the platitudes and no action. Especially after all the utter buffoonery that went down in 2020. Witness the last election, where the three-ring clownshow that is the City of Seattle electorate elected a centrist Democrat mayor and (gasp! Grab the smelling salts, Gertrude!) a centrist ex-Democrat Republican as City Attorney. Now if they could just get the Trotskyist off the City Council, there may yet be hope.Don't forget the crime issues, they will keep getting worse in Washington, many jurisdictions don't have the manpower to investigate a lot of different crimes.