tony292-[B]nwlivewire[/B]- something else in addition to things like CDC Health Charts for states and/or regions, that is not addressed here is Climate-Topography in State a veteran/retirees might want to relocate to! This can add significant cost in host of areas from clothing (especially with spouse and children), proper bedding, auto mobile adjustments (engine block heater; air intake adjustment altitude, snow-ice tires/chains; survival gear in trunk...) !
Might want to see, for example only,
North America :: United States — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency - "
Geography United States"
If one wishes to move say to Alaska- one will simply need tons of things, such as clothing ala US Army ECWCS System- Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (see for example only web-address:
http://chemicaldragon.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/ECWCS.205181439.pdf ); an engine block heater, extra fuel cans, down-wool-electric blankets, snow-ice tires/chains; snow shovels-picks, etc... and all of this adds up in USD very, very quickly....
Then there is the simple issue of self-sustainment, say in Alaska- cost of food (Alaska whole lot flown in various areas so simply costs more); cost of fuel-high price gasoline and diesel fuel due local regulations (or once was); ease of travel to local US DVA or other medical facilities- which is largely weather dependent and cannot get to some places via road or rail in winter...
(Funny: local veteran supposedly gave a lot of formerly issued US Army Gear as issued at US DVA Standowns [see, if so inclined, PEB FORUM THREAD-"
Burn pit documents and resources" Post Number# 35 Forum PEB and Disability Evaluation System Overview Conditions and Ratings Respiratory Conditions ] in large Alice Pack, packed IAW former USARAK-USAEUR-USFK old CSM standards and individual, allegedly, could not even lift, let alone carry all of it as US Infantry Soldiers, etc.. must be able to do! This is no slight on individual discussed above, as a local doctor- very athletic/ in shape- tried pick Alice Pack up a put on back and could not do it as well! This local MD asked, if females, in IN units-Ranger School, etc.. if they get "hormone-injections” as they simply could not believe the average US Female could wear all this on extended filed Exercises/Deployments, eating One MRE A Day, and walking on average 6-10 Miles A Day...LOL,LOL...
)
Then let’s take Alabama, for example! Whole bunch UASF retire around bases in Montgomery AL, etc... and simply cannot believe how cold it gets when the sun goes down in winter, or that in fact on rare occasions even lower Alabama gets snow and ice.... necessitating some level of winter gear if say moving from South Texas, Southern CA or Florida. Then there is the beyond hot and humid summers that require totally different items- such as sun protection, constant hydration requirements, heat clothing, and Air Conditioning etc....which all incur further cost if relocating from say New England and or Oregon.....
As one can hopefully see, relocating for a retiree and or veteran whom are solely on say US BVA fixed income can in fact become quite a huge fiscal issue just due to Geography alone...
Hope this helps at least one vet and family planning on possibly relocating- either US or abroad...??????
(still issues this web-site!)