We Want Year-Round Sun After Retirement. What Mid-Sized City Is Best?

"Moving to a sunnier climate is a dream for many retirees, especially for those who have spent years dealing with cold, snowy winters in the northern hemisphere. As you get older, the appeal of shoveling snow fades quickly. Even people who live in places with mild winters often crave regions that offer steady sunshine throughout the year, since bright days can do wonders for warding off the winter blues."

"This idea recently surfaced in a post on the r/retirementtips subreddit. A woman explained that she and her husband were preparing to retire and wanted to relocate somewhere in the western half of the United States. Their wish list included plenty of sunshine, abundant trees, affordability, and access to quality healthcare. One important caveat: they wanted to avoid desert climates. Since they only knew the areas north of Denver and Sacramento, they were seeking recommendations for other sunny, livable regions that might fit their needs."

"Although Reddit often has a reputation for feeling like the wild west of the internet, many of its individual communities are surprisingly helpful and thoughtful. In this case, users offered a wide range of suggestions. Several recommended smaller cities in Southern California, such as Fallbrook, Torrance, and Lomita. However, these areas did not seem to fit the Redditor's affordability requirement. Southern California is generally more expensive than Northern California, and California as a whole has some of the steepest living costs in the country."

A couple preparing to retire planned to relocate to the western United States and sought regions with steady sunshine, abundant trees, affordability, and access to quality healthcare while avoiding desert climates. They were familiar only with areas north of Denver and Sacramento and requested recommendations for other sunny, livable western regions. Respondents suggested several smaller Southern California cities such as Fallbrook, Torrance, and Lomita, but those locations often failed affordability criteria. California's cost of living runs about 38 percent above the national average, with housing prices nearly double the U.S. norm, creating a significant affordability challenge for budget-conscious retirees. Some suggestions included destinations outside the western region.

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