I would rent yearly and move state to state starting in South Carolina and move southwest across the country.no interest in leaving the USA.
About 5 years out from retiring my plan was to live in different places for 6 months to a year at a time. And I think if I were single that is what I would do. I would put my things in long term storage and just find furnished places to rent from Southern California to the Virgin Islands to the Philippines. But with a wife and 2 yorkies (love them but damn they can ruin travel plans) I thought we would find a place for minimum a year at a time because moving is a huge pain in the butt and not cheap. And with the dogs who are 12 and 13 years old, the expense and pain of moving them out of the US is a factor. We took them to Playa Del Carmen Mexico with us for 6 weeks and the air fare to get them there in travel crates under the seat in front of us cost about the same as our own tickets.
We have friends that live in Newport Beach Ca and we've visited a few times. I loved the area, Laguna Beach, the outdoor activities and the mild weather. The rent is almost cost prohibitive as I'm not wanting to pay 4K a month for a 1200SF house. We could find a place a little bit south of there that is doable but having lived in Texas for decades before moving the Arkansas, the $800 bite each month for state taxes is annoying and California would be a little worse. I think if money wasn't an issue Southern California would be our next stop. We would rent, so if after a couple years it gets old, we'll try somewhere else.
Florida is on the list because there are no state taxes, the water is some parts is nice and the beaches pretty clean. Destin is our only experience other than catching a cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale. But from what I hear, 90 deg with humidity makes it feel like 100+ which I want to avoid. Austin would hit 105 on occasion and those days you just don't want to leave the house.
Another option is the rent something in Texas for around $1000 a month, then just do the 3 month rentals at various places. Anyone want a couple Yorkies?