re: what state would you choose to live IF...

NE Tennessee.

Made the decision to come back and retire here. Live out in the country and have good neighbors.

We've had one tornado, an F-1 in 25 years. We've had three earthquakes, felt 2 of them, but low intensity. We have lots of good quality water and soils.

Summers are about three months, falls are magnificent, winters generally tolerable and springs are so beautiful you just want to sit outside and breath.

Swings of weather: one five inch rainfall in July, washed out a few minor bridges. A blizzard that dropped 18" of snow when my husband said he thought it was ok to leave the snow shovel out in the barn.

Longest without power (different snow storm) was ten days, and our electric co-op went on a massive and intelligent tree cutting, and worse storms have had less effects ever since.

Just some things for you to consider as worth asking about.