I'm so sorry to hear that. Speaking of retiring in lower-cost areas, a co-worker of mine left California after retiring, settling down in Nicaragua with a new wife there. Lived like a king there only on his SS, able to hire a maid, and fishing daily off a dock at the back of his house. He caught all the lobster he could eat and more. Lots of people I know left California in retirement, too expensive here. Some went to Tennessee, almost as good as Kentucky, where the SS goes further.
In MANY good ways, I feel like I am living in the US of 50 years ago here. I just smile when I see a pickup truck in summertime driving down the road with people riding in the back like we did in the 60’s.