[MonkeyMama]

I would recommend Portland area. Portland has been voted #1 city in many areas in recent years. Very cultured, close enough to the mountains and the shore. I know quite a few people who live in Vancouver, WA and commute to Portland. WA has some very affordable communities just minuted from the big city. Oregon is pretty tax free except property taxes like I said are high. So I know many people who live in Washington but work and shop in ORegon - tax-free.

Downside, everyone and their brother is moving there? LOL. I have my eye on it, it is a lot like San Francisco - feels good enough as home to me.

You may not be tied to NYC, but do you think you would have culture shock in a small town? I love the big city too much, that is why we stay. My sister lives in Raleigh area - it is very cheap and beautiful, etc., but I can not stand it there in the least. I also have family in kansas - talk about cheap. Those are my roots but the fact I could retire there today does not draw me in the least. I think I will stay near the coast...

But seriously moving outside of the big city just 2 hours was a big enough culture shock, probably why I Am scared to leave the state. If you start out renting though sounds good. You can test the waters before you really commit somewhere.