scubatech
Well-known member
I was up there on my FJR last August, did Rattlesnake Grade......fun ride.
22 years ago my wife and I, then in our early 40's, both retired from the U.S. Navy.
We were living in the Metro Washington DC area and knew we couldn't stay there, too many people etc, etc, etc......
Drove around the country in our motor home, with our two kids ages 12 and 8, looking for a place to settle down.
Criteria - Four Season Climate (after 12 years of San Diego and Pearl Harbor we wanted seasons), Smaller town 15,000 + or -, Small College or University in the town (prevents severe inbreeding of the local population and reduces "we've always done it that way itis), no state income tax on military retirement, able to live on Military retirement without working if we so chose (House Prices).
There were many options which we marked on a map and then drove to.
Some you just knew weren't right, others you had to stop and check into further; schools, church, business climate growth etc, etc, etc.....
We settled on three places we really liked:
Coeur d'Alene ID, Ellensberg WA, Spearfish SD.
Went back to all three for a second interview:
Ellensberg had something growing my daughter was severely allergic to.
Coeur d'Alene had a Nazi parade the morning after we arrived and there was a moratorium on development which was pushing Real Estate prices way out of line.
Spearfish, we loved and have been here for 21 1/2 years.
Now, we have Granddaughter in Portland OR and have begun thinking about a move further West, WA or OR. I'm sure we will begin a similar process soon.m Both Washington and Oregon do not tax Military Retirement so that is good. We'll see, I like the weather in Eugene or near there and there are plenty of roads to ride. Bird hunting isn't so good but there are some ducks so that may work for me.
Life is always an adventure! Change is good!
Enter your email address to join: