We are both from SoCal and looking for better options for retirement. He is at 21 now, but is going to stick around awhile longer. I know some states do not tax retirement, that would be wonderful! What are your ideas? 

I hear old people go to Florida to die... Might seem like a down play on Cali, just fortieth beaches with smaller waves unless a hurricane is coming. (in from three-dimensional I don't have much desire to go back. Too hot.) 

We also have 2 young children so schools, etc. are a priority. I guess living near a base would also be nice for commissary use, etc.

We LOVE Cali, it is just so expensive and crowded. Looking to get a little more bang for our buck!

I am a teacher and plan on working. Hubby plans to have a mellow 2nd career. But really has no clue what he would like to do. 

I'm from Florida...Naples to be exact. Doesn't get any better/safer than that. Warm ocean water, clean white sand beaches & a hell of a lot more affordable than here. Oh and might I add relaxed driving. I lived in Naples 27 years & the only serious hurricane damage was loss of power for a week. Oh yeah no state tax either 

Texas. There a few bases and they are very friendly to former military. It's big enough that you have a lot of options where to live. And they don't have state taxes. 

Oregon is beautiful and the coast has a lot of Coast Guard exchanges :) 

My husband has under 3 years until retirement. Lately, he's been trying to sell me on the idea of retiring in Thailand or Seychelles. What?! lol 

Hawaii, they don't tax military retirement.

Dh will be working at something laid back that he loves, like golf, haha! He'll also be going to school.

I'll be finishing up a horticultural degree and hopefully working for one of the numerous botanical areas/gardens. 

We'd love to retire to Hawaii but the cost of living is crazy. We wouldn't live there again unless hubby stays in and is sent there lol. But we'd love to visit every so often. 

My grandparents (80s) and my mom (50s) are planning on moving to Naples because they do not have what in lame terms is a "death tax" some states like NJ will actually take 1/3 of your estate when you pass.

Although Florida doesn't have the best public schools, the magna (private) school are great and affordable.

We decided we'll be in California for 12 years or so (26/27 yr old) just because I am now in Biotech and no longer in teaching. Just so happens So.Cali is the capital of the Biotech industry, who would have thought! 

We have met tons of retirees on Oahu and they shared a bunch of "cheap" tricks. Every single one of them says retiring out there is the BEST thing they ever did.

We are pretty frugal as it is, we always have a vegie garden, love to fish, plus it'll be just the two of us, we don't have to worry about feeding/clothing kids, or schools. 

We are going back to Texas when he retires we don't know where but we want to be close to family but far enough so they have to call if they want to visit. We are from Ft. Worth but are thinking Wichita Falls area for the base. The base in Ft. Worth is just a joint reserve base and doesn't have everything that an active base has. 

Hawaii, they don't tax military retirement.
We have met tons of retirees on Oahu and they shared a bunch of "cheap" tricks. Every single one of them says retiring out there is the BEST thing they ever did.

We were told by several people that you should try to retire in Hawaii cause you get something like double the benifits (money) because the cost of living is so high there. That is what we are going to try to do. 

I don't know about double the money, retirees do get a COLA, plus no Hawaii state tax on his military retirement pay. That would technically be "double" what he pays in taxes. However, he would be keeping it, instead of handing it over in taxes.