What to do first? Where to start?

I suggest starting by making a list of all the things you like and don’t like about where you currently live.  That means the state, city, your home, things to do, nearness to friends and relatives.  After that go to the Money’s best places to retire and fill out the surveys of what you are looking for.  You will probably see many things that matter to you that you forgot on your list.   One for me was sunny days!   I have to have them.  

What do you really know about where you live?

Do you what the crime rate is where you live?   How many sunny days do you have? What is the cost of living?   Find out these things about your home town so you can compare it to other cities.  Money web site and Where to Retire magazine have many good hints.  Another excellent site  http://www.city-data.com/city/.  That is my first place to go to when I want to quickly find out about a new place/