If I moved to where I love to be then I'd never need to go there to get away.

Parts of Nova Scotia in summer

Parts of Yucatan in winter with a choice of Sedona Az at other times.

We've been going to the islands for years sailing and cruising. Those people smile at you when the ship comes in-- and party when the ship (tourist ) leave.

A friend of mine, Barry, opened up a small beach break type area in the BAH's right by the cruise ships. They treated him like dirt year after year-- this reg and that reg-- you painted the building the wrong color or who told you U could paint the building. He was getting so fed up he was going to throw in the towel. Last trip he told my wife and I-- they just don't like black people here. The whole gov't in the Bahamas is black-- everyone everywhere. Barry you're black I said -- they're black? he said I'm from Jamaica though!!!!!

If your not what's called a "belonger" (born there) you are nothing to island people--. Islands, as much as we love them especially BVI's and Tortola, we weren't born there so your really never welcomed. (sorry to say)

Going anywhere is, unfortunately, governed by not only cash but time, health, and of course crowds. The really cool places are either crowded, or real expensive. If you're wealthy enough it doesn't matter. You can get whatever you want. The absolute best. Otherwise you have to compromise.

Try being at Yellowstone or Grand Canyon in prime season. The waiting list is like 2+years. The Caribbean? Frenchman's Reef? St. Barts? Tortola? Fiji? Tahiti? Big popular cities?

If you like the country more, do you go RVing? All the prime spots are booked, some years in advance. Prime campgrounds cost like living in hotels. If you can find a spot.

However there are reasonable cost ways.

You can get a decent used sailboat with a small motor, about 30-35 feet for under 10K. Then take the Great Loop. It's not terribly expensive. Eat on board if you want. Anchor where you choose. Different scenery when you like.

You can get a decent used RV for less than 20K. See the country, Canada, Alaska. If you're careful you could boondock, join different groups, etc and do it on a reasonable budget.

You'd probably be too old to just say xxx and backpack around the world. But maybe not.

We all have different things we like.

Some of us have chosen 2 areas to live. North in summer, South in winter. Usually.

Me, I like to try different places. The pull of distant horizons, the unknown, a rolling deck beneath my feet, the taste of salt spray, the cries of gulls. Going to the same place all the time gets boring.

A Shack in Yuma.

I love the land and house I have. We haven't taken a vacation in maybe 20 years, because it is wonderful here. Like 6x6 we love being a bit isolated and doing our own thing. The only problem is we live in the Vampire state of NY and now the Dems are in control of both houses and the executive. We are really screwed.

Banff Canada, West Yellowstone, or the Outer Bqnks.

Or a small cabin "off the grid" on top of a mountain!

Montana. I've been through most of the state, and haven't found an ugly spot yet. The drive from Bozeman over to Idaho border is one of the most beautiful roads I've been on.

However a close second is the Boise, ID area. In fact, that is just what I am trying to do. Grandkids live there. My son from here in Denver moved to Japan a year ago. So, we are both looking for new W2 jobs near Boise, we'll sell our residence and rental here, and start over up there. Hope to find new rentals to buy up in Idaho - I did the long-range rental thing before and it was not pleasant, so I don't see holding on to this.

Mickie, the 2008 turndown was caused by the current House Leader when she gave big mortgages to first time home buyers with poor credit. So many defaulted that too many houses went back to the banks too fast. Now she is trying to flood the country with illiterate ilegals.

I don't want to move anywhere else. Takes time to learn what to watch out for. Here I already know and I am too old and have too many aches and pains.

I would probably move just over the river into Pennsylvania or Pennsyltuckey as some people call it. Newtown is nice. New Hope is nicer. Yardley is nice too and nearer to St. Mary's Hospital jsut in case.

Why not stay in California. The top State tax rate is only 13.3%.

We are required to carry worker compensation insurance on any employee, full or part time, adding only 30% to 100% of their salary costs.

We have rent control so tenants are paying around 50% to 75% of the market rate on average.

The police are available to answer any call, so long as it's close to a Donut shop or Starbucks -- taking only 2 to 6 hours to show up on any given day.

One in Four drivers won't have insurance, or a drivers license or valid registration. If no one is killed or the damage is under $1000, the police can't be bothered.

We have great weather with fires, floods and earthquakes. The State Earthquake Insurance has a 10 to 20% deductible and their 25 billion dollars in reserves is actually only 3 billion. The 20 plus mission money can't be found.....I also don't know how government employee's have $100,000 cars, a 30 foot boat, a 5000 square foot house in Beverly Hills and a maid, cook and nanny?

I often use Google maps to walk the streets of various places where I am curious about the living conditions

Wife and I already have our plans. Just waiting for a sign, if you will, that it's time to put our plan in action. We have made preparations.

We will sell nearly everything and move to Colorado. We like the high desert climate there. We bought a house there a couple of years ago. Currently, it's rented until we are ready to move. We bought already because RE values are rising in Colorado much faster than where we live in TN.

We will become townies, living on the edge of downtown Colorado Springs. We have always been suburbanites. But we know statistically, as we age it will be harder for us to deal with a big house, big yard, and transportation. So we will live in a small house on a tiny lot in an historic old neighborhood with neighbors, sidewalks, bike lanes, etc.

Buy a large parcel of land in southern Florida and grow marijuana. YEP become a marijuana farmer!!!

BUT TOM it's illegal to do that now??? Not in the State of Florida with all all the permits. HOWEVER on the federal level it's illegal, for now! And it's illegal to move money from MJ profits into the banking system, for now.

A Conservatives view point its wrong on several fronts. A conservative politician will lose his or her base if they favor legalization of MJ.

A moderate they are stuck in the middle not sure which way to go with it due to what it will do to their voting base.

A liberal will vote for it to a degree but it will make them look like a "Pothead".

Sadly politics, Big Pharm, law enforcement, and jobs loss keeps the feds from legalization of MJ. An open mind with a little education will help eliminate the labels. YES MJ has a smell to it HOWEVER don't smoke it use it in a food source will eliminate the smell. And yes it will make you high if smoked or eaten in a food source or drink it in a liquid.

The CBD oil from MJ has many extremely healthy factors. Especially helpful due to PTSD with our military. Unfortunately the mindset that they are taking a drug is very unfortunate because the benefits to help PTSD out way the negative stigma that has been created.

CBD oil is helpful in cancer treatment, anxiety, alzheimers, dementia, seizures and many other medical problems.

Oh yes there will still be an age limit on using it, like alcohol and smoking.

There will still be a fine for driving under the influence of MJ. But a month swab and if positive will require jail time for breaking the law while driving under the influence of MJ

Big Pharm does not want it legalized because their profits will drop from other drugs that will no longer be used or needed to treat many health issues.

Prisons to a small degree and Drug enforcement will not longer be focused on MJ drug busts. And jobs will be eliminated.

Conservatives, Moderater and Liberal politician will see the benefits to making MJ legal and remove it from the Schedule I as well as not list it on the drug schedule at all.

Alcohol is more addicting than MJ!!!

Nicotine is more addicting that MJ!!!

YEP so I will be an MJ farmer in southern Florida in due time. The funny thing is I am pro-legalization of MJ and NEVER used it in my life. HOWEVER if i ever need to use MJ for health purposes It will be my FREEDOM of CHOICE to use it in a CBD oil or THC oil or smoke it.

WE all want FREEDOM in our life. SO the feds need to legalize MJ removing it from the Schedule of Drugs. Let MJ money move freely through the banking system.

Oh Yeah and now is the time to reduce non essential government. It's great there are many services that we have NOT missed over the past month of the gov shutdown so lets eliminate excessive gov waste for a smaller gov.

PLUS with legalization of MJ the taxes on MJ will help pay for the wall to protect our border and pay down the national debt. Wonderful problem solved!!!

Southern Florida here I come. Hmmm and maybe an MJ farm in every state. That would mean 7.3 days stay in every state. WOW that sounds like someone on the run or its FREEDOM!!!

FREEDOM in 2019!!!

God Bless America!!!

And Don't let any barriers stand in the way of making your move NOW!!! WHY wait do it in 2019!!!

FREEDOM!!!

Any reader know what a HALFBACK is?

I'm usually away for about five-six weeks of the year, and spend a large proportion of my weekends traipsing around OK and TX. I'm always happy to get back home where I belong. Even when I'm visiting friends or family--- which is 99% of my travel-- it's always nice to get back to my stomping grounds. I'm such a homebody.

So if I ever had the option of selling and leaving... I'd probably end up keeping our place here as our home base. It's where we have friends, family, and community.

But I'd certainly enjoy broadening my horizons a bit more. Puerto Rico's been on our list for a decade. We'd love to do Rome/Florence/Venice. I've wanted to do Egypt since I was in high school. I've wanted to do Mesa Verde since third grade, goshdarnit. It would be nice to spend a week in the Smokies, and a week in Yellowstone, sometime in off-season when you're not jostling elbows with everyone else on the planet.

You would think that the last punch in the Pie Hole

I've lived along the East Coast, from Maine to Florida. My favorite place was Virginia but traffic, development got too crazy. NC is as far south as I am willing to go these days.