I always check out threads of this topic because I'm preparing to retire.
Like an increasing number of folks in my line of work, retirement means I'll be leaving California.
I wasn't born here, although I've spent virtually my entire life here, having lived here for approx 50 years. I've lived in both ends of the state, in urban and rural areas.
California certainly isn't the same state in which I grew up, but how many states really are, nowadays?
Still, it's become different enough in some important respects, at least to me, during my adult years, that I'm not even entertaining the notion of remaining here once I retire. I'm going to be taking my retirement income (and tax dollars) out of this state.
I've spent occasional time in Oregon & Washington during the last 30 years because of family. I'm more familiar with the southern end of Oregon, particularly Medford & Grants Pass. I also spend time most years in the Seattle area and the northern end of the Olympic Peninsula (Port Angeles, Sequim & Port Townsend).
Having developed an appreciation and enjoyment of fine cigars in the last few years, I've realized that WA has enacted some rather draconian laws which would severely curtail my enjoyment of being able to find, purchase and enjoy fine cigars locally in that state. In this respect, WA may well be the model for CA's politicians to follow.
Granted, CA may have only staved off similar tobacco taxes temporarily, as the state legislature apparently feels the people of the state didn't know what they were doing when they voted down Prop 86, and is reportedly considering legislation to impose a drastic tax. I'll really miss the friendly atmospheres of the cigar lounges (some of which are rather more like private clubs, if you will) of CA, though, if nothing else.
Firearms laws? I won't miss CA's laws and regulations in the least.
I'll also miss CA's temperate climate. I've come to enjoy cruiser motorcycles in the last several years, and own a couple of them. Naturally, I'll want to spend even more time riding once I retire, and would like to find a climate which allows riding a fair portion of the year without needing pontoons attached to the bike. The spring, summer and fall weather of WA's Banana Belt always tempts me when we're visiting WA. The coffee shops & bookstores are pleasant ways to pass the winter hours, but I want to be able to ride in the warmer weather.
I don't plan on working at another job when I retire, although I'd like to live within an hour's drive of a reasonably sized metropolitan area (hospitals, entertainment, dining, etc., etc.). I may, or may not, consider seeing if some smaller PD or SO might find it helpful to employ the part time services of a former CA LE firearms instructor & armorer ... very inexpensively ... if only to let me keep my assorted armorer's certifications current, and perhaps still have at least limited have access to an agency range & ammunition inventory, truth be told.
Pay for my armorers recertifications, cover me if they want me to teach the troops, let me use the range and ammunition to keep the rust knocked off, and that would be 'pay' enough.
I'm not sure I'd want to become involved in being a commercial firearms instructor, or teach martial arts, again, though. Having been a LE firearms instructor since '90. I'm about ready to either retire form it entirely, or else cut back and just keep my hand in it in a small way.
The congestion and apparent local political climate of Seattle and Portland don't really appeal to me, although there is much of Seattle that I really find enjoyable and interesting. I just don't want to live in the area.
Over the years I've found a lot of folks in both states to be friendly, cordial and enjoyable company ... even when they learned I was just visiting from CA. I particularly enjoy the people I've met on the Olympic Peninsula. Lots of displaced Californians, too.
Still looking for property, though. We're thinking of looking slightly west of Vancouver WA, to see if that would fit most of our desires and needs. Anybody around the forum live in that area?
Shame about the attitudes and silliness in some of these threads, though.
