Posted on Jun 12, 2015
What are the best Cities or States where retired military or veterans can get the best bang for their buck?
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Share a picture of the place you want to retire to! Do you have a favorite?
List the ones that you think should be added and send a picture of that location! Even if it is overseas!
I would like to retire in Belize!
List the ones that you think should be added and send a picture of that location! Even if it is overseas!
I would like to retire in Belize!
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Edited >1 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 102
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No cities! To many people! Middle of nowhere Oregon for me!!! Or the Bahamas!
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SPC Daniel Rankin
No sales tax on food. And as long as you do not need to buy clothes every year and other taxable items then it is all good. And in most counties if you are over the age of 63 no tax of properties either.
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SPC Daniel Rankin
In Chelan county I just bought my disability plates for the same price as a regular plate and now do not ever need to buy anymore plates. Just need to buy the tags every year and that is about a 55 dollar savings every three years.
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PO3 Pat Hagan
I guess a number of factors should be considered when choosing a place to retire. The most obvious is cost of living. States with no income tax tend to rank high. Reasonable property taxes if you plan to own property. Moderate climates for those intolerant of temperature extremes. Will you need to be in close vicinity of specialty health facilities ? Do you still have school age children ? My daughter was still in high school when I retired. Does your significant other need to be near the conveniences of the city ? I'm presently living in North East Florida and doing fairly well on my pension and a part-time job. Once my wife decides to retire I think we'll be headed to North Carolina though. We've been sitting on some property up there for awhile. Not sure about the winters, may have to keep good friends here in Florida ha ha.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs Unfortunately No Way they would let Me Retire at Diego Garcia. Now that is Heaven on Earth. As Far as Cost of Living, I've Spent Some time in Florida and it is Fairly Reasonable.
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PO1 Gery Bastiani
Diego 73-74 we lived in 13 man sea huts TIN roofs and small fans for are a/c. nightly movies shown on the side of the new chow hall we were building .25 cent beers
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I’m from Florida and that’s where we chose for domicile in permanent retirement. We like the Tampa area (MacDill AFB) and no income taxes. But actually we chose an option of mobility. Get tired of a place? Explore a new one or go back to an old favorite.
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SSG (Join to see)
Best way to spend retirement is to explore the country and have a place to stay along the way!
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MSG Tony Hodge
My daughter and her husband decided not to wait for retirement. they are doing that now. Az, Co, Or, Ca, Tx. He works remotely and she gets temp jobs, they are loving life.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs here in the U.S. I would want to go somewhere that doesn't get hurricanes, has good riding weather all year, and I won't have to mortgage my child to buy a gallon of gas. Dream retirement place for me though would be Iceland. I would trade year round riding for Blue Lagoon and Northern Lights.
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MSgt (Join to see)
I LOVE Iceland! Been there three times (so far). Would be kind of pricey to live there though I think. For a non-Iclelander.
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
SPC(P) Craig Kupras - I am going in September with my dad. A trip we have been discussing for almost a decade. Cannot wait.
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At this point I am looking at central Pennsylvania. eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina because of climate, lower cost of living [than Washington, D.C. area] and tax breaks fro retired military and disabled veterans.
My wife is leaning towards Virginia and Pennsylvania because she wants to be close to her son whom I adopted long ago. I know that in modern times grown men tend to move so I am not inclined to living near any of my four adult sons just because they are there currently. They are included in our family trust and I will support them as I am able - through prayer and finances at times.
For health reasons I need to avoid very sunny areas and for peace of mind I avoid living where alligators and crocodiles live [they kill over 2,000 people per year] and I don't want my visiting grandchildren to be threatened by alligators, caimans, etc. [I swam with alligators in the military a couple times and my sons teased alligators when they were spending time in Florida.
FYI LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne LTC Bill Koski SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes LTC Wayne Brandon SGT (Join to see) SGT Michael Thorin
My wife is leaning towards Virginia and Pennsylvania because she wants to be close to her son whom I adopted long ago. I know that in modern times grown men tend to move so I am not inclined to living near any of my four adult sons just because they are there currently. They are included in our family trust and I will support them as I am able - through prayer and finances at times.
For health reasons I need to avoid very sunny areas and for peace of mind I avoid living where alligators and crocodiles live [they kill over 2,000 people per year] and I don't want my visiting grandchildren to be threatened by alligators, caimans, etc. [I swam with alligators in the military a couple times and my sons teased alligators when they were spending time in Florida.
FYI LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne LTC Bill Koski SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes LTC Wayne Brandon SGT (Join to see) SGT Michael Thorin
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SCPO David Ingram
Steve take it from someone that knows... 4 years ago I had just retired from my post military gig in Phoenix. I had just finished 18 and looking with desert thirst at 19. The wife called and told me her company wanted to transfer to east Tn. She had supported me through two difficult careers and though I though I'd be a Phoenix guy for life here we are in Cleveland Tn near Chattanooga. Take it from a salty old navy guy, this is the place to hang up your combat boots (desert sage mk1 mod 0). The people here are some of the best in the world, cost of living is outstanding. BUT and there's always one of those, the winters here suck. At least for me (a Phoenix guy) they do, but each winter several old shipmates and I get together and spend a few weeks in Florida. Last year it was 2 weeks on the beach on NAS Key West. Sorta breaks up the season. Did I mention no state income tax? Anyhoot get the heck out of D.C. and catch the early morning scent of the wet hickory trees..... all the best
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Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.
As I shared previously. I tried Hampton Roads area for a couple years after retiring. Norfolk. VA Beach, VA. cost too much and it was too crowded for me. Moved on to greener pastures in FL with less taxes, more money. Finally we decided on the Arkansas Ozarks where land was cheaper, fishing and hunting were great, the weather fairly moderate, and we could build our own home. Now Arkansas has finally stopped taxing military retirees! There are some great places in the N. Central Arkansas. For example, Mountain Home, AR has all the amenities, a University, Large Hospital, One of the best Libraries in the state, hunting, fishing (Trout, bass, lake bass, etc) . And we are not too far for a day trip to many exciting places, including Branson, MO. I do NOT sell real estate, but here is a link to explore land, homes, lake and river property, etc. in North Central Arkansas: http://GilbertRealty.com .
Mountain Home Real Estate - Gilbert Realty Co., Ranked First in Real Estate Sales & Listings -...
Gilbert Realty - Mountain Home - Real Estate - Ranked First in Real Estate Sales and Listings - Free Retirement and Tourist Information for Mountain Home Twin Lakes Area, North Central Ozark Mountains, Arkansas. Excellence in Real Estate Customer Service. Multiple Listings - property: Homes, acreage, lots, land, farm, farms, ranch, commercial, business, lake side, river front, resorts, White River, Mountain Home, Lakeview, Bull Shoals, Bull...
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Not going anywhere- if I had my choice. Key West.
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SrA Christopher Wright Sgt Randy Wilber SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl (Join to see) Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth LTC (Join to see) MSG Frederick Otero SFC Pete Kain SSG David Andrews LCDR (Join to see) PO1 Tony Holland SCPO Morris Ramsey SPC Margaret Higgins SGT Jim Arnold SFC William H. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT Charles H. Hawes SFC Craig Dalen CPL Dave Hoover
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SrA Christopher Wright Sgt Randy Wilber SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl (Join to see) Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth LTC (Join to see) MSG Frederick Otero SFC Pete Kain SSG David Andrews LCDR (Join to see) PO1 Tony Holland SCPO Morris Ramsey SPC Margaret Higgins SGT Jim Arnold SFC William H. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT Charles H. Hawes SFC Craig Dalen CPL Dave Hoover
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Sgt Albert Castro
I was in Key West for 4 months on a USBP Marine Op, didn't want to go back home. I don't think there's much left since the hurricane. I've seen the pics of Duval St since the storm. Pretty bad.
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Las Cruces, New Mexico. The city is in Southern New Mexico and has over 300 days a year of sunshine. It is near White Sands Missile Range, Ft. Bliss and Holoman Air Force Base. A V.A. clinic is in town and a V.A. hospital is 45 miles away in El Paso TX. The town is full of retired veterans and is military friendly.
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SrA Monty Jones
I have to agree with you. Bisbee, Az is near you and Tombstone. Also is a small town called Patagonia. Very nice area. Enjoy your retirement.
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SSG Edward Tilton
I have lived in Sierra Vista, outside Fort Huachuca, for ten years
Medical is getting to be an issue. They are being sent to the hospital in town. The VA Clinic is just a clinnic, be prepared to drive the 70 miles to Tucson Va. Tombstone and Bisbee are fun but you can only do them so many times before they get old. I got old and travelling isn't easy any more so I am trapped here. The weather is wonderful, most of the year you don't need A/C or Heat. Then there is wildlife
Medical is getting to be an issue. They are being sent to the hospital in town. The VA Clinic is just a clinnic, be prepared to drive the 70 miles to Tucson Va. Tombstone and Bisbee are fun but you can only do them so many times before they get old. I got old and travelling isn't easy any more so I am trapped here. The weather is wonderful, most of the year you don't need A/C or Heat. Then there is wildlife
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MAJ Mickey Vennum
I have lived in Sierra Vista for 40 years while on active duty and retired. Wonderful city. People come from all over the world to vacation here. Travel to Tucson for medical is becoming less and less necessary since the building of our Medical Center. We have some of the most advanced medical equipment in the state. Our medical center is now also a teaching hospital.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs: I WOULD LOVE TO RETIRE TO STINSON BEACH, CALIFORNIA!
MIKEL, HAVE A VERY, VERY BLESSED DAY- Margaret
MIKEL, HAVE A VERY, VERY BLESSED DAY- Margaret
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SPC Margaret Higgins
SCPO Morris Ramsey - Please do the exact same thing, Senior Chief Petty Officer Ramsey! GOD Bless you and yours, Margaret
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SPC Margaret Higgins
SSgt Jim Gilmore - I don't think that COL Mikel J. Burroughs is a killer....I think that you are great, Mikel! And, Staff Sergeant, Stinson is indeed gorgeous; is it not! I used to live in Marin County SSgt Jim Gilmore! -Margaret
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Something to consider: http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/state-retirement-income-tax.html
Some States exempt all or a portion of military retired pay from income taxation.
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SSG Edward Tilton
Arizona: Social Security is not taxed , nor is VA. There is a $2500 deduction for each Federal Pension. So I am tax free. I am disabled so I don't pay for tags. There is a Real Estate thing where you can freeze your taxes. Mine are lower now than they were ten years ago.I would have loved to stay in California but it was just too expensive
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