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Where would you like to live in retirement is money is not an obstacle?

My wife and I mused that if we won the lottery we'd just stay here.  I'd probably get some of our carpet changed.

I really like the Monterey CA. area but I'd still worry about the high cost of living and the high tax rates even if I had too much money.  Just seems a waste.

even if I won a large lottery
I would probably visit that area a week or so, much more often

I think that's a pretty healthy place to be.  I caution against winding up being those people whose identity is mainly in their job.  That tends to lead to problems in other areas of life.  OTOH, I don't think it's great to be like those people who totally shun their work as anything integral to their identity.  It's what we spend a major portion of our lives doing.  There's a lot to be said for taking pride in a job well done, however important you think it is (or isn't) or however much you like it (or don't).  It contributes a portion to our sense of self-worth--and it should only be a portion--so taking it seriously is prudent. 

You sound like you have the right orientation towards it. 

I don't think that (the bolded part) is great either, but for some people, I understand it. Not every job is fulfilling, or interesting, or well-paid.

My job just happens to be all three. I feel like my job is an excellent expression of my talents, and I feel a genuine sense of accomplishment from it. 

For many people, however, their jobs are none of the above. I can see how shunning it would be an emotional coping mechanism to defend that they're more than just some corporate worker bee. 

Yep. And that's about 98% likely to be Orange County, CA... Which means my "number" has to be higher than most other places.

Probably at least double of what you'd need here.

In housing costs, probably. For everything else, probably not.