I'm going to quit working in approximately 2 years. I probably will not stay in Dallas because it is just too damn hot in July, August and sometimes September. 110-116 with it rarely getting below 80 at night is hard on one. It is cheap living. We have at least 10 different grocery chains and so food prices are very competitive. No state income tax makes investment income go much farther. Property taxes and insurance are high. Housing is cheap or right now anyway. I paid $117000 for a 2200 square foot house in a nice neighborhood and the property taxes are about $3000 a year, insurance another $1000. Gas is cheap, we can get it right now for $1.16 if you look, my sister says it is 40 cents higher in Denver.
What do you like about where you live? What are the pluses and minuses? What would I like about where you live?
The Best and the Worst
I chose Palm Springs for a variety of reasons: it is small town (compared to Seattle); no pro sports team, no stadiums, no freeways, no traffic. It is a homo haven. The weather is dry and sunny (very hot in mid-summer.. 115 or higher).
Military income (including retirees) don't pay state income tax. We have a state sales tax of 6%. My house has four bedrooms and cost about $225K. Property tax is about $2,600 a year. State law is changing and some retirees will begin to pay tax on their pension - depending on their year of birth and the source of the pension (takes effect this year).
Gas is around $3.50 or so a gallon. I never understood why when I travel south and reach the Ohio border gas is always less!
Property along the west coast of Michigan (along Lake Michigan) can be pricy. But if you don't buy property right on the lake property is reasonable. Interestingly the west coast of Michigan (lower peninsula) is well populated with condos, golf courses and all kinds of sky resorts and recreation property. A popular retiree area is the northern part of the lower peninsula (Traverse City, Petosky areas). Property values in those areas tho can also be pricy.
The politics in Michigan can be described as a mixed bag. The east side of Michigan (Detroit and the burbs) are typically liberal/Democrat while the west coast (west of Lansing) is conservative/Republican. There are many people north of Lansing and Grand Rapids and south of Traverse City/Petosky who live on government welfare or at least fixed incomes.
There is a community on the west side of Michigan that is known as gay-friendly. The name is Saugatuck. The police refer to the town as "sausage tuck." Kind of tells you of the conservative nature of the west side of Michigan! One of the beaches along Lake Michigan is restricted access for gays - understand that some enjoy being naked in that area... Here I live real close but never been there - need a buddy to go with me! Any volunteers?
Just read an interesting article about three locations within Grand Rapids that are popular in the gay community. Again, in an area generally seen as conservative that kind of gives you an idea of the diversity in the population here.
everysooften
west Michigan