I’m firmly convinced a person needs two homes, one in the south for winter and one in somewhere like New Hampshire for summer. Make your permanent residence the one that offers the best tax benefits for your situation.
There are fewer and fewer places in the U.S. I’m willing to set foot in much less live in. I’m 52 and have travelled for a living my entire working life (airline pilot), I’ve been pretty much everywhere and have a good feel for where I want to be and where I don’t. I’m from Mississippi and I’d live in New Hampshire. New York could fall into the ocean and I wouldn’t even yawn.
Here on the Florida Gulf Coast (actually all of Florida), we refer to such people as 'snowbirds', coming down from the northern tier of states and Canada, starting around November and leaving around April and May. Without them we would never have had our NHL Teams (Lord Stanley needs a tan)!
By June you start to realize why Florida was a small population state before Air Conditioning became inexpensive. It is called A/C because it is not just the temperature, it is the HUMIDITY that wilts and is made livable by the same. There is a reason why A/C repair companies have 24/7/365 service down here!
I remember going to Asheville NC one August for a military reunion from here in Florida. I knew it would be nice but we were reveling in it while the locals were bitterly complaining of the oppressive heat wave. Perspective!
I met a pilot one summer around 12 years ago at a tiny bar in the middle of the Green Mountains of Vermont.
He flew international for Lufthansa and was on vacation.
While sitting at the small bar i asked him that since you have been everywhere why pick the Green Mountains of all places for a vacation.
His reply was well yea i have been all over the world but i really don’t know of a more beautiful, peaceful place than where i am sitting at right now.
As far as i know he was right..
but yea New Hampshire is pretty nice too..