Coeur d A is almost a suburb of Spokane, so job prospects are somewhat possible, and decent med care is proximate. Bozeman is very small, has been discovered by the yuppies, and is extremely cold. Medical care could be also an issue for a retiree there, not to mention slipping on ice.

Regarding crime, I have heard that eastern Wash, and n. idaho have their share of meth labs. Don’t know where to go to escape it. Just pick a good neighborhood on the right side of town, I suppose.

In any event, I must stay in SD county for 14 more years till I can collect my retirment. Then, out of Cali we will go. Heck,I might relocate the family 10 -12 years from now and rent a studio for the last few years of work. Kind of depends on where the housing cycle is as I approach retirement. I plan on traveling and deciding exactly where we’ll go(and having fun doing it) between now and then.