Brian, After reading your last comment ... I wanted to add that where you live might also be a compromise with your significant other. We started with a list of 5 criteria each, and while I'd rather live in walking distance to the ocean, all of my other criteria was satisfied by moving to Fountain Hills, AZ.

Hey Paul S. Henderson come on over to Kauai!  That's where I live and that's my answer, right here on the beautiful north shore of paradise.

I've lived all over the country (was a Military wife for many years) including Hawaii, New England, the Midwest, etc. I was born and raised in South Carolina and have returned to my roots here. I love all that SC has to offer - mountains, ocean, forests, small towns, large towns (Charleston is amazing!!!) I love to visit other places but SC is where I wil live until I die!

I have lived in several places and each one has its pluses. I would say Maui or Kauai would be my number one choice! I lived on Oahu for five years and it really is to crowded for me however that is where all the jobs are!

Columbus, OH!

I would love to live in the high sierra, at least during the summer months, I nice cabin on the water.  I would also like to live back in Oklahoma near my family.  

Hawaii, the island of Oahu. Anywhere near Diamond Head or Aina Haina on the ocean side. Great weather, ono food, lots of activities and malasadas from Leonard's Bakery.

I have lived all over this country and in Germany. But in the end I love my hometown of San Antonio! Friendly people, different cultures that respect each other and a celebration of some kind or another every month!!

If I could roll the clock back to the mid-50's it would have to be Tucson. Of course, I'd want to roll my clock back too. ;-)

Hi Brian England , As far as the US goes, I would chose Santa Barbara or Beverly Hills. But my overall preference would still be Belize. Right on the ocean.

brian i've lived in new york, connecticut, los angeles, santa barbara, honolulu,  oregon, san diego and encinitas, california.

of them all i preferred santa barbara for the vibe, the climate, the pace and if it wasn't so frikkin expensive i'd be there tomorrow.  the town treated me very well. 

if one has limited but generous resources, californias central coast is a nice mix of open space and proximity to fun stuff like beaches and skiing. 

for those with an unlimited budget i recommend a home on kauai and one in santa barbara, california...the best of both states. 

Coastal California north of Santa Barbara or Monterey.

We love, live and sell the Lake Tahoe Lifestyle.  Many days of sunshine, a big beautiful body of water and beautiful mountains.  I lived on the beach in FL for a few years after college and realized that I'm happiest & healthiest living in the mountains and vacationing on the beach.  Plus living in NV with no state income tax is AWESOME!!!

We just moved to Arizona from New Hampshire ... for the clear skies because my husband loves astronomy. We didn't plan, but did enjoy not having to deal with all the snow this winter ... so I wrote about Where, What & Why We Move.

I live in the Bay Area so it is hard to beat.  Would enjoy living in Hawaii on the island of  Kauai.  Nice little beach front place.

I have visited 48 states, all except Alaska and Hawaii.  Colorado is one of the nicest places with beautiful mountains, sunny weather and people that have moved here from all over the country.

I like where I'm at. We have wonderful scenery and a great small mountain town atmosphere. 

We are buying a home in North Palm Beach Florida and will go between Oklahoma and Florida from now on.

Probably near the beach and since I do like Florida so much that state gets my vote.

I'd live in Tennessee. I love the mountains and parks. I like that you get some colder weather to bundle up in but not so much that you are buried in snow. I'm in Northern Indiana and after 31 years here I'm starting to get sick of the amount of snow we get. I also like the attractions and proximity to some great landmarks. My family travels there and we never go home without wonderful stories and sights embedded into our memory.

I have lived in the northeast, and the southeast. When I came to Western North Carolina for a "visit", put it this way, I NEVER LEFT. I love it here in the mountains, the beauty is just beyond words.

I have always loved San Francisco - if I had enough money, I would call it home in a heartbeat.  (Just hoping the water shortages out west ease up soon!)

Brian, I live in a little town in southwest Missouri located in the Ozarks Mountains, Branson, MO.  I have lived in this area of Missouri all my life and go places to visit, but when I get back to our hills I always have the feel of "coming home".  If you're not aware, Branson is a very prosperous tourist town, hosting about 8M visitors a year.  Besides over a 100 music theatre venuts, one of our large attractions is a Corps of Engineers controlled lake, Table Rock Lake, with over 750 miles of shoreline.  Great for boating, fishing, etc.  So we have a a great mix of customers and sell everything from regular residential, to condos, vacation/weekend homes, to lakefront or water view.  We have a large retiree market also.   It's a geat place to be.

Destin Florida.... a slice of paradise

I would live in the Bay Area without a doubt. I lived there in the 1980's and loved it. I just can't afford o go back there now. It is a lively, bustling area with lots to do.

San Diego! 

Warm coastal living is my favorite and I love mountain air in the summer.   Perfect home ownership for me would be primary residence in Sanibel, FL, a second home somewhere in the Rockies and third home in Kauai.

I'd stay right where I am but I would love the snowbird life of leaving in the Arizona summers and stay on a lake somewhere for a few months.   :-)

Brian England 

If it were for the overall cost of living it would be San Francisco. But I have to say I am real happy living here in Carlsbad - SFO is a quick plane trip

Jeff

I do too!  I wonder who that could be?

This may surprise you- but I would stay in St. Louis.  (2nd choice would be Tennessee)  I love having all 4 seasons- yes I get tired of long winters and long summers- but we are all able to travel to stir things up;)

Brian England ... I would be moving to Arizona to be closer to both my son (and 3 grandchildren) and my daughter (who lives in Phoenix).  We will probably be snowbirds down the road because we also have 2 grandchildren here.  Tough choices!

If I had unlimited funds, I would choose San Francisco.