Retire to best weather

[ORork]

I've been looking the internet over for months now searching for the perfect place. I've found favorable post about Thatcher, Arizona. Perhaps Graham county in general. I would like to hear first hand accounts from riders who live there. What's it really like? Just how hot does 104° with 10% feel like. I'm in Iowa and I gotta tell ya, 95° and mid 90's humidity is just brutal. At my age, I'd rather put up with the winter and dress accordingly. Summer here, you can only get down to shorts and still suffer like mad.

There's something about San Diego, but it isn't the climate.

I did elude to something and you all nailed it. We're all in for a challenge when the pay checks stop.
Ponder this. Dad said "You come into this world with no hair, no teeth, in a bed. If you're really lucky, you leave the same way".
God I miss my dad.

[wayzalot]

I lived in Apache Jct. Arizona for 19 years.  Yea its a dry heat (like a blow torch).  I now live on the Minnesota South Dakota border.  Summers are like heaven.  Winters suck because of the lack of sunlight.  Never feel cold just don't like living in the dark.  I have a lot on a lake and hope when I retire to make a deal with someone from AZ to spend their summers on a Minnesota lake and my winters in the AZ desert.  Perfect life.  

[Memnar]

Trying to get out of R.I......The SH*THOLE capital of America. As soon as the house sells We're headed for the Charleston S.C. area, or about 10 -20 miles inland. I'll trade my snow shovel, high taxes, crooked politicians, bad roads and drivers, for some humidity!

Your only trading your snow shovel.

[aquaman]

Seattle area is about as perfect as it gets 

[4DWUDS]

Well after living in all the states around D.C. then to Florida,Ohio,Texas,and now AZ, I am moving to Jamaica. Ya Mon

[Jim Bronson]

I have been in San Diego for 8 years and I will echo the others ! The weather isn't "perfect" here,,, it's just the same...everyday.

Good point. The WX is borrrring. If you like seasons, you won't like SD. You know how desparate people are when you see them driving back from the mountains in the winter with a pickup full of snow for their front yard.

[Zeushawg]

Native Iowan my self - sittin in Des Moines as I write hopin for more than an hour or so between rain so I can ride long enough to warm the oil. Now, during the winter 6 months (Oct-April) I live in Lakeland Fl. Great place to be - 1/2 way between Orlando and Tampa with tons of country roads to ride. The Local Hog group is very active and you can find one or two 100+mile rides most weekends. During the week a group calling themselves the geezers ride from the HD dealer on Wed/Tues. for lunch for another 100+mile ride. So lots of activity. Can't do summers and most of the riders look for reasons to go north in Aug-Sept.
So in my book you might need two places. Have ridin most of the country and there are many places that offer ideal riding but the weather isn't the best. or the weather is great but the ridin isn't.
From the looks of your response this is a popular search and I don't see any that are saying hands down this is the place to be. I look hard at Az. but I like to take a different road now and then and in Arizona there just didn't seem to be lots and lots of "little back country" roads; might be wrong - hope you find that one perfect place! If you do keep it to yourself or it will soon be full of folks...LOL

[harborjohn]

LA,San Diego, Santa Barbara are the hands down winners of best year round weather.  But there are cheaper less crouded places to live.

[Jim Bronson]

I've heard good things about FL. Watch out for love bugs though.

[hotham]

Check out Prescott, Arizona.  4 seasons, mild weather, never to hot or to cold.  Up in the moutains

[calbyker69]

Couple of interesting comments about retiring and dads. So in honor of Pops day I will give you my Dads thoughts on retiring. He is 75 and works full time at a casino in Laughlin.
"I don't plan on retiring, I will work up until the day I die of "natural causes". That will be being shot by a jealous husband while climbing out the bedroom window of a satisfied 30 year old woman!

[hd06myway]

I think for myself, living in upstate NY, where the riding & Summers are great, but the winter is too long, is to buy one of those RVs where you can pack your bike in the back and go anywhere warm for 3-4 months out of the year.  That way your not stuck having to go to the same place every year.  No way I'm moving South, spending my summers in doors because it's too humid to breathe let alone ride or moving to Cal where most people are exoding because of the hi taxes and million $ track homes.   There is no perfect place to live, if there was we'd all be trying to get there.

[dakota224]

Check out Prescott, Arizona.  4 seasons, mild weather, never to hot or to cold.  Up in the moutains

Great area.. one of my choices in 5 years. others are Payson Arizona. Bisbee Arizona, Tombstone Arizona. and of course Durango Colorado & Cortez Colorado ..

[Jim Bronson]

What about Pahrump?

[Gunney8]

I think Pahrump could get very expensive, both for night life and divorce...
I plan on selling my oversized home in Colo for a small condo in CO and get one in AZ for the winters. We'll see after the bride retires, I'm done....

[04glide]

Pahrump NV and Prescott AZ are two good choices as are other locations in both states. I have lived in San Diego all my life (46 years) and love the local mountains for riding but your money will go twice as far in NV or AZ. I had an uncle that lived in Prescott and X inlaws live in Pahrump. My uncle was loving it in Prescott up until his death. CA sucks in general as far as the cost of living. The wife and I were making over $100,000 a year for about the past 5 years and it was still a struggle. In AZ you can live much much cheaper. Housing alone is half of what you will pay in CA. Good luck with your relocation.

[flstci1]

"http://visitidaho.org"

[Gunney8]

Actually, I heard Mequite, NV was pretty reasonable. I went to a look-see about 5 years ago and there wasn't much there so I sorta chickened out. Sorta wish I hadn't because I'm told it's pretty well built up now (not so...desertery) and is real close to the Utah border. Nice riding area on the Utah side.... still......HOT.

[Rags722]

Weather - schmether.  Theres a lot more to think about than just the weather.  I've been thinking about getting away from the PA winters, but also have to look at what income gets taxed, number of health care facilities in the area, and CRITTERS.  I have no desire to put up with snakes that bite, scorpions, fire ants and things of that ilk.  My buddy made the big move to Fla a few years back into brand new construction.  Said they had a "slight" problem with little scorpions in the bathrooms and under the eves, fire ants in the lawn that went after his dog without mercy, and some kind of snake that liked to hang out in his shed and garage.  Said he could manage the scorpions by spraying every few weeks.  Learned to tolerate the snakes, and kept the dog inside. He was back in 3 years and said overall, it sucked living like that. To me, that would not be worth the hassle of moving to a warmer climate.  Then, you also need to look at the demographics of the area and figure out the crime rates and who your kids and later on your grandkids are going to be going to school with.  Trust me, if my grandkids need to go through a metal detector to go to kindergarden, it just isn't worth the price for the most perfect weather in the world.  I'm still looking, but there are a lot of areas with nice weather that are all ready X'ed out for other reasons.
Rags

[Hog Dog]

There's only one way to do it, summers in Seattle WA, winters Wickenburg AZ...   

[truck]

Rags....Are your kids still in school?

[wolf_59]

Orork
I understand what your asking, lived in New Mexico most of my life transfered to College Station TX. about 12 yrs ago the absolute most miseable 18 months of my life 90* and 3% humidity here in the 4 corners and 90* and 90% humidity there plus the $300 bills a month to run the cooler and still not be comfortable
I'll take the hot and dry any day over hot and humid

[V24me]

I'm starting to think that the California residents are spreading some dis-information     It's probably heaven, they just don't want anymore people there!

Like William Shakespeer said, "I think thou dost pertest too much"

[Jim B.]

For the best weather, it's the central coast of California from Santa Barbara to Morro Bay. Mild weather and one can ride nearly year-round. Lots of scenic side roads and the Pacific Coast Highway.

[Rags722]

Rags....Are your kids still in school?

Mine are not.... but if you have kids still in school you don't want them going to a war zone just so you can have nice weather.  At my age, I'm thinking more about my grandkids.