Off topic: Pro-gun Southern coastal states

[johnh]

So the Mrs. and I are increasingly thinking about post-retirement living, and we want to be near the beach. We also like warm climates. Of course we need gun-friendly laws. We are going to spend some time in the next couple years vacationing around the South to see what areas we like best. Florida has long been on the short list as we have vacationed there a bunch. What say the rest of you about other states down that way? Texas is also a maybe, but we have not hit the coastal areas. We are not rich enough to buy a beach house, meaning the goal is to be close enough to walk/drive over for the day. Mind you I am 50 so looking for career two as well. I can likely find something to do wherever though.

Fill me in on destinations we should add to the list. Carolinas? Alabama?

[berettabone]

All I can say is just keep in mind...............hurricanes...........PITA...... ..........stay well enough inland so you don't have to interrupt your whole living condition.

[myskyn]

I was born and raised in Alabama and the beaches are beautiful. The fishing is great as is the hunting ( no tags, just a license and a place to hunt.) You're an hour away from the casinos in Mississippi and the tourist areas of Ft. Walton and Destin in Florida.

[b4uqzme]

I always wanted to retire to Tennessee until we bought a place on the gulf side of Florida. We bought it as an investment but like it enough to consider retiring there someday. Just north of the expensive areas things get real friendly. And we visited the Florida panhandle last fall. That was gorgeous!

I still wanna check out Tennessee though. Lakes have beaches?

Hope that helps.

[Bawanna]

I've got a good pretty big cardboard box and a blue tarp already. Looking for a good bridge to put it under. I'm thinking retirement isn't in the cards.

[b4uqzme]

. Oh yeah. Berettabone’s hurricane barely missed us. That could have been a game changer...

[JohnR]

Florida is the Gunshine State, just stay north of Orlando, or in rural areas. State Statute prohibits local governments from regulating guns, and concealed carry is easy.

[johnh]

We are really leaning towards that. Hopefully nothing changes in the next couple years. One reason we want to look around a bit just in case Florida were to go left, but I am hoping it won't given the long pro-gun tradition.

[kenemoore]

Sunny South Carolina!
I live in North West, South Carolina, far enough inland that hurricanes are not a concern. I would not call it a retirement community where I'm at, you can see Hog Back Mountain from my back porch though. Lots of gentleman horse farms. Lots of industry, and pretty gun friendly. No open carry, but shall issue carry permits, you have to take a training course, cost anywhere from 35-100 USD for the course. I can point you to a $35 dollar class.
Coast is about 3 hours away. It snows once or twice a year. Usually melts the next day. Taxes aren't too bad. Lots of jobs if you looking for work. Hunting and fishing a plenty.

There are a lot of retirement communities being built down in the low country. Around the marine base in Beaufort. Close to the coast, but not coastal prices. Lots of golf, if that's your thing.
Not as hot as Florida, but we do see over 100 for a day or two each summer.

[AJBert]

Just remember the humidity, that is the reason we left MS. If you have a place you can go north from say June to Aug you'll have it made. But if you like being in a sauna...this isn't like that at all.

As far as hurricanes go, live inland a few miles. We lived in Gulfport, MS when Katrina hit. We were about 7-10 miles from the beach and about 25 miles east of the eye. The beach was completely wiped out...they are still trying to rebuild. Where we lived the was wind damage and our house survived quite well. One house in our area had a tree come down on it where as we had about a dozen trees come down but none hit the house.

I will say the cost of living in MS is much lower than any place I've lived, the area is beautiful, the friendliest folks you'll ever find. If it just wasn't for that damn humidity we'd still be living there, probably. AL is pretty much the same. Things change a bit when you head east or west but nothing too terrible by a long shot.