Posted: 6/7/2025 10:05:35 PM EDT
[Last Edit: TSH77769][Edited]
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In what is a bitter sweet victory after years of difficulty VA has upgraded my rating to 100% P&T. I am, due to medical issues, basically retired and not able to hold a job that is too physical (standing ok, lifting bending, kneeling not ok). I do not have to work but might want to. I have 1 wife, 0 children (none ever coming either) and 0 debt of any kind and we own a home. I'm coming up on 50 and my wife is about 10 yrs older. VA comp will be my exclusive, income, at least until we can start drawing on my TSP. I would like your thoughts and ideas on which state to retire to. We do not want to deal with snow that sticks regularly (e.g. NM ok, ME not). I prefer dry over humid. I'm terrified of hurricances (was on the edge of Harvey and it was scary AF). Cost of living is important but state income taxes maybe not so much as VA comp is not taxed. For example, property tax and related exemptions will play a major role. Access to a good VA medical center is important but a few hours drive is OK. Access to a base PX and Commissary might be nice too. I'm aware that most states have some sort of relevant property tax exemption, which I can see online, however I'd like your insight on specific details here. For example, how often do you have to apply? According to my best friend who is also 100% P&T in NM he only had to apply once whereas in TN he has to reapply on a regular basis. I really appreciate your insights. Thanks! |
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Originally Posted By TSH77769: WTF?! Why would there possibly be any haters? They didn't just give me a 100% P&T rating for nothing, or all at once either. Not saying you specifically, but they do give out disability for dudes lying and fluffing up their stories. For every 1 of you, there's 100 of the fakers. There's basically no such thing as somebody getting out of the military who's not also suckling uncle sam's teet. Thats why there's haters. As for your location question, I would have suggest down here in GA based on your cost of living. But the humidity rules out just about all of the south east. North GA and TN starts getting into the mountains, which is less humid. |
| I would have recommended Missouri but you won't like the humidity or tornado season here. Other than that, Missouri is pretty nice as long as you stay away from the Columbia, Kansas City, and St Louis areas. All three are liberal cesspools. |
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Originally Posted By giantpune: Not saying you specifically, but they do give out disability for dudes lying and fluffing up their stories. For every 1 of you, there's 100 of the fakers. There's basically no such thing as somebody getting out of the military who's not also suckling uncle sam's teet. Thats why there's haters. As for your location question, I would have suggest down here in GA based on your cost of living. But the humidity rules out just about all of the south east. North GA and TN starts getting into the mountains, which is less humid. That's pretty shocking to hear and I can't really comprehend that. From what I have experienced and my best friend experienced I would say it would be the opposite if anything. |
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Can I ask why Idaho isn't in the cards? Mountain Home would give you ready access to the AFB, a local VA clinic in town, and Boise is right up the road for the big VA clinic when needed. It's dry. Not much snowfall. But winters do get cold. |
History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which Trump is always right.
Modern life is one steep, perpetual tax on the mathematically impaired
Modern life is one steep, perpetual tax on the mathematically impaired
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As far as the south goes: Middle Tennessee between Campbell and Nashville. East Tennessee, close to Knoxville or Chattanooga for medical care. No practical base access. Ozarks, medical would be the issue as you would need to be near Little Rock. LRAFB is about it as far as base access. I had an uncle that lived in Conway and like it. |
| The VA in Grand Junction provides a high level of care with people who genuinely give a shit. You can live in eastern Utah and get there in an hour. Sheridan Wyoming VA is old but people care. Cheyenne also a good option. Montana turning into a pain in the ass/too expensive. Avoid Rapid City (feels like they are overwhelmed/too many in need). I spent the last year traveling to almost every VA in the US doing data center upgrades, have another year's worth of the same. |
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Originally Posted By rmakak: Texas will exempt you from property tax at 100%, at least that's my interpretation. I think close to half the states in the country do. That's a huge benefit in high property tax states. Some have valuation and acreage qualifications, though. A cursory google search seems to suggest Idaho is not on of them. |
History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which Trump is always right.
Modern life is one steep, perpetual tax on the mathematically impaired
Modern life is one steep, perpetual tax on the mathematically impaired
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Originally Posted By rmakak: Texas will exempt you from property tax at 100%, at least that's my interpretation. County taxes yes are exempt however school ISD taxes remain.... But ..they did just pass and sign a bill that MAY remove those as well for 100% ers... We shall see. Why not Arkansas? |
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Good for you. Asia or South America 100%. Not trying to be a dick, but if that’s your sole source of income…it’s really not enough to live comfortably in retirement. Especially considering VA healthcare. Your money would go much farther and afford you a higher quality of life in one of those areas. Not to mention, you essentially get to live a new life and have a fresh start! |
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Originally Posted By heat762: County taxes yes are exempt however school ISD taxes remain.... But ..they did just pass and sign a bill that MAY remove those as well for 100% ers... We shall see. Why not Arkansas? Originally Posted By heat762: Originally Posted By rmakak: Texas will exempt you from property tax at 100%, at least that's my interpretation. County taxes yes are exempt however school ISD taxes remain.... But ..they did just pass and sign a bill that MAY remove those as well for 100% ers... We shall see. Why not Arkansas? Arkansas is quite humid. |
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@TSH77769 SWOK is what you seek. Little to no snow, mild winters, virtually no humidity but we do have a nice dry heat. Cost of living is cheapest around. Excellent VA clinic on Ft Sill plus you have use of the Army hospital, PX, commissary, etc. Oklahoma exempts property taxes plus you get a tax exempt card from the state you can use for everything else. Some fairly cheap real estate in these small towns around here. Average teacher salary here is 35K so if you’re drawing 100%, that should be around 4K a month or 48K a year, you can easily do it. Message me if you want to talk. |
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It’s hot as balls in the south east right now. It sucks. I can’t do anything without pouring sweat and dehydrating. It’s only about four months though that you can stay in an air conditioned garage and work if you can get one. I read an article recently about the best year round weather. San Diego was #1. Around 80 something percent perfect weather days. Most of the southeast wasn’t too bad either. |
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Just to draw a distinction my wife and I were talking about it and we don't actually care if it gets cold we just don't want it to regularly have snow that sticks because we don't want to shovel snow we don't want to scrape ice we don't want to have to drive in snow and we want to be able to walk without having to walk through snow. So cold and snow of course obviously have a correlation but they're not exactly the same. So it's specifically the snow that we're trying to avoid not the cold per se. |
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Just to draw a distinction my wife and I were talking about it and we don't actually care if it gets cold we just don't want it to regularly have snow that sticks because we don't want to shovel snow we don't want to scrape ice we don't want to have to drive in snow and we want to be able to walk without having to walk through snow. So cold and snow of course obviously have a correlation but they're not exactly the same. So it's specifically the snow that we're trying to avoid not the cold per se. |
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Lawton is too small for me my wife was flying with it but I'm not. My wife and I both very much enjoyed Norman. It's currently the highlight of our trip. We're in Midland Texas right now and it's just too hot for too many days per year and too expensive for what it is. |
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Lawton is dump anyway. If you hate humidity like my guns do then stay due west of Tulsa. I don't think any other state has the 100% Vet Sales tax cards. Mine were easy to get and I've probably saved 500$ on ammunition orders, that's better than any stupid subscription program. After living in OK for the last 15 years (OKC, Ottawa Co) I will come away with 2 hot takes which could be hard negatives to consider 1. Fantastic Gun Laws but NOWHERE to shoot. Seriously pull up NSSF and Google maps and you'll see we barely have any Shooting clubs or public ranges once your outside the major metros. There are DWC ranges for people with hunting licenses but they're few and far between. Not all areas of the state are the same FWIW. You also aren't supposed to target shoot outside of designated firing ranges on public game land. So if that's an aspect you enjoy a lot in Idaho you could be giving things up. 2. Don't expect the State Gov or politicians here to ever take on the state's endemic infrastructure and economic issues. Its a race to bottom on who can turn the state into a Theocracy, that's the only priority of people holding office. In that regard Senator Lankford is totally worthless to constituency issues. I always thought Inhofe was better and Mullin about the same. We do have an up&coming AG who may not be a total nitwit like last Governors |
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Originally Posted By TSH77769: In what is a bitter sweet victory after years of difficulty VA has upgraded my rating to 100% P&T. I am, due to medical issues, basically retired and not able to hold a job that is too physical (standing ok, lifting bending, kneeling not ok). I do not have to work but might want to. I have 1 wife, 0 children (none ever coming either) and 0 debt of any kind and we own a home. I'm coming up on 50 and my wife is about 10 yrs older. VA comp will be my exclusive, income, at least until we can start drawing on my TSP. I would like your thoughts and ideas on which state to retire to. We do not want to deal with snow that sticks regularly (e.g. NM ok, ME not). I prefer dry over humid. I'm terrified of hurricances (was on the edge of Harvey and it was scary AF). Cost of living is important but state income taxes maybe not so much as VA comp is not taxed. For example, property tax and related exemptions will play a major role. Access to a good VA medical center is important but a few hours drive is OK. Access to a base PX and Commissary might be nice too. I'm aware that most states have some sort of relevant property tax exemption, which I can see online, however I'd like your insight on specific details here. For example, how often do you have to apply? According to my best friend who is also 100% P&T in NM he only had to apply once whereas in TN he has to reapply on a regular basis. I really appreciate your insights. Thanks! Stoked for you that you reached that 100% P&T! |
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Arkansas is extremely kind to 100 percent disabled veterans. Total property tax exemption, lifetime hunting/fishing license, etc. NW Arkansas is very prosperous (yes, Walmart HQ) and there is a nice VA hospital in Fayetteville. Snow does happen here in the mountains but it's not a big deal. It is very pleasant with lots of outdoor activities. |
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Originally Posted By rmakak: Texas will exempt you from property tax at 100%, at least that's my interpretation. If that is the case, the San Antonio area is a good choice. It is hot, but far dryer than the Gulf Coast. There are tons of retirees around Ft. Sam Houston. |