What is great about the place that you have retired in or plan to retire in? Not so great?

COL Lee Flemming — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 04:54:41 -0400

Share your transition criteria for picking a place to retire...

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 13 at 2016 5:00 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 05:00:59 -0400

All big AD military towns. Lots of GIs have been going to the Phillippines. Cost of living is dirt cheap. I was thinking about Guam or Saipan. Everyone says they are going to Canada so there goes the Great White North.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Sep 13 at 2016 6:22 AM

Maj Marty Hogan — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 06:22:32 -0400

Where I grew up. My entire family from my mom to my grandkids live within 60 miles of our house. Family is everything COL Lee Flemming

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 13 at 2016 6:52 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 06:52:33 -0400

Staying where I grew up. Down side is the winters, but that's Michigan for you.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 13 at 2016 7:51 AM

SGT David T. — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 07:51:21 -0400

Alabama is a good state for it (especially around the Huntsville area) they don't tax Federal retirements and very vet friendly.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Sep 13 at 2016 7:54 AM

SFC Christopher Perry — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 07:54:46 -0400

Its Texas.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Sep 13 at 2016 8:00 AM

SFC Christopher Perry — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 08:00:56 -0400

Oh wait, you were probably looking for a little more than that.

Extremely vet friendly place to be. Admittedly we only entertained CO and TX. The decision was a pretty easy one for a veteran, once the research was done.

And... Its Texas.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Sep 13 at 2016 8:37 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 08:37:51 -0400

Florida is a great place for retired veterans. When we were coming up on retirement neither one of us had any desire to return to hometowns, so we looked at assignments we had enjoyed the most and had narrowed it down to Albuquerque/Santa Fe or Tampa Bay areas. For us it ultimately came down to proximity to water. Climate obviously played a big role, SAC had seen fit to station us in northern tier assignments often enough that we were more than done with the hassle of winters.
Florida offers a great climate, no taxes on retirement pay and easy access to military facilities. You are probably never more than a couple hours away from a military base anywhere in the state. Other than mountain climbing and skiing there is a huge variety of pastimes to choose from and if you are so inclined you can get resident discounts at all the Orlando attractions. Florida is a melting pot from all over the country/world, so Floridians are more than open to outsiders, especially veterans, something that isn't necessarily the case in many places (if you weren't born there you will be an outsider forever). All things said, just a great place for vets to retire.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Sep 13 at 2016 9:20 AM

CDR Terry Boles — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 09:20:20 -0400

Plan on Colorado Springs. Easy access to medical care, friendly winters that are not as bad as elsewhere, close to skiing, great summers, and some of my military buddies are already there.

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Sep 13 at 2016 10:08 AM

MSgt John Taylor — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 10:08:02 -0400

Central east coast. Love the weather, folks and proximity to beach & mountains

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 13 at 2016 10:30 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 10:30:47 -0400

I have lived in TX, IN, VA, NC, CT, IL, CA, CO, HI and finally chose TN for my final retirement home. No state income tax, mountains all around me, homes far cheaper than most places I have lived, respect for the military, more of the culture I was used to for years, love of country (very little hate and discontent in this neck of the woods... I could go on, but you get the picture. Or if you want I will add photos of the surrounding area and the home.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2016 10:38 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 10:38:17 -0400

A. It is where my wife was born and raised. B. Because they do not tax military retirement pay nor social security I have no state tax burden.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Sep 13 at 2016 11:06 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 11:06:56 -0400

The great thing about the city to where I have retired, COL Lee Flemming, is that I was Born here, Sir!
I adore San Francisco; and it's local color.
It is a real "melting pot"; and the people here-even strangers-are really friendly.
-Good Morning, Sir!
-Margaret

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Sep 13 at 2016 12:05 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 12:05:37 -0400

Well I wouldn't say retired in because I have quite a few years left. But I chose to live near base because we loved the small town area. The schools were fairly decent. Housing was affordable. My wife also loves the military aircraft flying over head all the time. So it was a good place to settle down at least.

Response by PO2 Marty Sharpe made Sep 13 at 2016 12:46 PM

PO2 Marty Sharpe — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 12:46:48 -0400

I did not retire from the navy. But Iam retired and I live about 25 miles from where I was born and about 7 miles from where I grew up. Said I would never come here but here I am Weatherford Texas. Not such a bad place.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Sep 13 at 2016 2:33 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:33:03 -0400

We decided on So.California, due to the wife having a lot of family in San Diego and LA areas. In return we purchased a home and some acreage in fairly remote quiet area, that i preferred.

Pros: A happy wife...lol, close proximity to 2 of our 3 kids, the weather, and nothing else that i can discern.
Cons: Taxes, taxes, taxes. High cost of living. Gov Jerry Brown, State Senate, State Assembly. A state that is a liberal Democrat wet dream.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 13 at 2016 6:21 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:21:42 -0400

There are 7 military installations around this city. There are over 150000 Civil service jobs....and there is BOEING...great place for retiree's to work..and some other places here like it...The weather is GREAT!..there is a WHOLE lot of things to do....and it's a hop skip and jump away from the ocean and other places....and it's a MULTI CULTURAL city and people actually get along here.

oh and we don't have a state tax...and our taxes are low...and gas is super cheap.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2016 7:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 19:08:39 -0400

COL Lee Flemming Iowa has some outstanding retirement beneits for retired military. Gov Branstead passed the Homebase Iowa initiative I believe in 2014 to draw more military retirees here. I recently moved back home(where all my family is). Job market is very stable, housing market is ok. Yes we have some pretty rough winters(but I'm really praying for a shitload of snow this year. Missed good snows living down south)
And also looking at the pic posted with your question. I did the math and I'm at .0052% of the population in the town I live in...lol. I'm the only retired military member living here. Almost 80% of the males served (at least 3 yrs). So military service and tradition runs very strong here.