Yeah I hear ya, the wife's co. closed last Friday, and she's now out of work. She's going on the Obama free loader plan until probobly after x-mas, then she'll go back to work!
Dean

No carefree swimming in dark FL lakes/rivers......gators love them. Even at the Jacksonville PR lunch stop (Outback Crab Shack, 1/4 mile long dock) tons of boats around and gators swimming 5 feet off the dock.....and people swimming 5 feet off the other side of the dock!

Clear water doens't hold heat as well (freshwater springs) and colder water is usually not where you find gators.

No state tax in Texas either

Not only no income Tax, but no luxury taxes, registration for vehicles and boats is ridiculously cheap compared to the Northeast. The housing is VERY cheap, however, you don't get the kind of appreciation in a lot of markets. Buy cheap, sell cheap, but you get a LOT for your money compared to the N.E. Additionally some of the best looking women on the planet, "one" day spent at party cove on Lake Lewisville, you will never leave the Dallas area.

I'm probably getting transferred to the D.C. area, damn, it doesn't take long to realize how good it is here until you start looking over there! Good luck no matter where you go.

We moved from the DC area (montgomery county MD) to Lake Norman in NC. We love it. Been here about 3 years. I'm sure Georgia, Texas and others have a lot to offer, but this area is fantastic. Mild climate, but you still get change of seasons and a short winter, people are more friendly, traffic is a nothing compared to DC. housing costs are significantly lower, LKN is pretty big, plenty of other lakes nearby, and not far to the coast.

Thanks everyone.

powell isn't that where planet of the ape's spacecraft crashed

So what about the Sandusky area? I visited for a few days last year anf looked like a great area. Winter not real short but Lake Erie is very shallow and gets fairly warm. Anyone have thoughts on this area?

Lake cumberland Kentucky.