re: Roanoke VA for retirement?

Star City

Pros:
- Lots of outdoor activities around there: hiking, mountainbiking (Carvin's Cove, Douthat, miles and miles), offroad ATV/Jeep (and Hatfield/McCoy trails in WV not far), skiing (Snoeshow and Winterplace are day trips), Beckley WV not far, cycling the Blue Ridge Pkwy, camping, etc.
- Breweries, wineries, distilleries around.
- Claytor Lake nearby for watersports, float fishing on the New, fly fishing.
- Va Tech is nearby for ACC sports, Charlottesville / UVA a little farther
- Mountain fests during the summer/fall (Floydfest, Troutville, Microfestivus, etc.)
- It does snow there. I like snow. And doesn't stay balls hot for months.
- Demographics are pretty good.

Cons:
- Taxes compared to Tenn I suppose.
- Methheads, homeless? I have no idea. Stay away from those areas. And like anywhere, buy a property a little out of town with some space.
- I81 is truckers paradise. Don't get in a hurry.