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Our house is about the same size as yours and fuel costs are similar or a tad more than yours. We use gas for heat and electric for everything else.

We're thinking of relocating south for retirement. Since our 401k didn't make it all the way back since the crash, it would help if we moved somewhere with a more reasonable cost of living. Having been to all the states east of the Mississippi, it is a hard choice!

Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia have a fairly low cost of living. Since Katrina, housing costs down here have skyrocketed. I built my house in 1992 for around $45.00 a sq foot. Most "reasonable" housing now goes for between $95.00 to close to $120.00 a sq. ft.
Land is also rising rapidly. We bought our property (about 1.6 acres) for $15,000.00 in '92. The same would go for around $30,000 or so now, and if you got into one of the new subdivisions much higher. Some are going for $30 - $45,000 just for the lot, and we are out of the city of Mobile.
I don't know if it is "the bubble" they are talking about or not, but if you get off the coast a bit (50-100 miles or so) it may not be so bad.

We would sure welcome you down here, so consider yourself invited! Please leave your politicians up there though LOL!

Cordially,
GE