although the noseeums leave a lot to be desired.

Property in So Cal is really prohibitively expensive unless you print your own money... I am an engineer and would likely have to work until I am in my mid 70s to retire here... and taxes are still high.

I could sell my home here and with the equity alone buy into something in NC, and still have what is left of my retirement funds and retire in my early 60s.

I want decent sailing waters... which frankly So Cal really doesn't offer anyway... Ensenada and Catalina are about the only destinations... everything else is long distance cruising. I am also weighing Pacific Northwest where there is nice cruising... but an awful lot of "wet cold" in the winter.... or perhaps Florida (major hot and muggy) or somewhere in the Carolinas. I also swim and bike... So to be able to do these activities too are concerns of mine.

My wife is an artist... and the historical nature of New Berm or other older east coast towns might appeal to her.

New England seems quite interesting, but the idea that one has to "shovel out" about 1/4 of the year just doesn't do a thing for either of us. We'd also like to get out of the traffic crunch lifestyle of So Cal... Thus away from major big cities. We've looked in to Hawaii... but the distance and isolation rather put it down the list a bit.

We may take off for a few years and cruise Baja... and let my son take care of the house for a while... but eventually we will settle down somewhere, and sooner is better... those sunsets seem to be getting closer and closer.