Retirement Location: So. California to Central California
I retired to the beautiful Central Coast of California. It's absolutely gorgeous. You have beaches, and rolling hills and the wine industry is surpassing even the Napa Valley.
Recently San Luis Obispo was rated the top happiest place to live in the country. It boasts a stellar university in Cal Poly and yet still enjoys that small town ambiance.
I moved here from Southern California and opened my own business, a small diner which blossomed into 8 locations!! I retired from that in 2008 and now just enjoy the area.
Low crime, friendly people, wonderful weather. The cost of living is higher than most of the state but I find it well worth it. I watch my pennies and made some good investments so I am blessed enough to live the SLOW town life.