Spring starts about this time of year. Some nasty pollen falls starting late April into May. The main season is Memorial Day to Labor Day, but the absolute best months at LOTO are Sept and Oct. Summer months have some hot and humid weather, but it really depends on the weather patterns that year. It could be 80-90 degree highs in July, or it could be +100 and sticky humid. What makes boating somewhat different here is all the places to go on the water, plus all the activities and events all summer. After labor day, once school is back in the lake is quiet during the week, but still busy on weekends. All the places on the water remain open, but some of them start limiting hours during the week starting later Sept. Some start closing for the season in late Oct. Some, like Redheads, are open year around.

As for taxes and retirement, Missouri is a mixed bag. Property (land) off water is cheap, really cheap. A nice lot on the water, or home on the water is noticeably more expensive. There are tons of condos, so if that is what you are looking for the prices are more competitive. You can figure your property taxes will be less than 1% of your property value, more like .8 of 1 percent. But there is personal property taxes. Most of which are reasonable. But boats , especially expensive boats get taxed pretty high. Last I looked state income tax is 6%, and there are not a lot of breaks in retirement. I believe you get SS income breaks, but not sure much more. Illinois, which most residents think is a Sh!thole state for taxes gets reasonably better in retirement. Illinois does not tax SS, regular retirements, 401K or IRA income. That's the only reason we keep a main residence here and second home on LOTO.

Sedona is extremely expensive and a major traffic jam at times. Beautiful place to hike. How about Utah, Lake Powell ?

10-4....... You can use Bobbys or Jasons bedroom & dock because someone has to stay home and watch the store!

I think this summer I might have to take a road trip to Loto when all this crap clams down.

Tank, what Lucky said! South Florida is a great place to visit, living there is a PIA. Honestly not much cheaper than SoCal. No state income tax, but FL nickel and dimes you to death in other ways. I grew up in SoCal, I’ve never seen traffic like south Florida.

Agreed that the fort Meyers, Cape Coral area was a lot more relaxed and seems everything was cheaper there.

Don’t forget the yearly hurricane evacuation. It’s exactly like Covid-19 craziness...every year lol.

Good info in this thread! I’m liking Tennessee, beautiful country up there!

I don't like crowds and like having all four seasons. I like central Washington State. The Columbia River with dams makes it like a big lake. I like lake Chelan. Ocean boating isn't too far. Central Washington State is conservative. Low property tax, no state income tax. The dams on the river also make for cheap power.

Only place safe today is the IIS space station... at least until the next supply mission!

How are the winters at Loto and are the summers very hot and humid?

I’m partial because I’ve lived here my entire life but you can’t go wrong with Tennessee.
I have visited every mainland state except for Oregon and Washington and while there are many places I would enjoy living my first choice would be Tennessee.

Tennessee #1
Cigarette #1

This past winter was not bad some of the coldest temp I saw was -4 with only 3 0r 4 snow fall's of about 3-4 inches each, summers here in the Midwest do get hot and humid, July and August being the hottest upper 90's to low 100's, Sept starts to cool off heading towards fall