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5. California, I would avoid it unless I already lived there, in which case there are some hideaways.

Please feel free to elaborate on where those hideaways are! I love the weather here in California, but have been fearing I'd have to move, as it is getting more and more unsafe and unlivable here.

California hideaways dept.

Posters have already suggested the chilly, clammy areas that border Oregon and the Pacific, but I don't think most Californians really think that is the climate they would choose to retire in...and they would probably sooner go to Arz, Nev, even Fla, than those places...at least if they are from S. Cal.

My favorite is a little spot called Tehachapi hidden away east of Bakersfield...but that general region has others too. Then there are the not-too-far northern areas, try for elevation over 1000 but not over 3000 ft as the Sierras are ascended, anywhere from Nevada City on the N down to Sonora and on about 40 miles S of that. There is a delightful highway called Calif. 49, just stay within a 10 or 20 miles of that, and don't tell anyone you are from the Central Valley. No, you are from the Sierras or the Sierra foothills, and places like Jackson, Tuolumne,

Really, there is an area between Jackson and San Andreas, called Valley Springs, I think, or Mokolumne or something, that is good...or Auburn and Newcastle over Sacramento on the slope up the mountain.

These lovely Sierra spots can be rainy in the winter, but not snowy, and are wonderful 3 other seasons...Yet, if medical or other necessity threatens, you can quickly be in Stockton, Modesto, Condit land, Fresno, Sacramento, and the like. Costs can be much lower there than in LA or San Francisco...

In N Cal, look at hidden spots like Covelo, Comptche, Angwin, Lucerne, Lakeport, Ukiah etc...the idea is to get far enough inland for some sun and warmth in summer, but not far enough to have that hot central valley climate, much less the cold winters in and east of the Sierras.

If all else fails, just move out to Redlands or Riverside, or a few miles into Mexico ( Baja) inland from Tijuana.

If all else fails, just move to San Andreas and say it is all his fault-- you just couldn't bear to leave CA for good.

If you really HAVE to leave CA, though, look at something on that long, long ole road that stretches from Austin, Tex. westward to El Paso. Fredericksburg, Marfa, Alpine, Kerrville, a dozen or two others. Some of these places are kind of remote, but they are Mexican and inexpensive, very genuine, a little touch of Anglo and German at times.