Ouch. Salaries tend to be higher though. And eventually you can retire, sell that house, move down to G-d's country and buy a nicer house with some land for a fraction of what you get for yours.
Yes, true. I've known a few of the older people I used to work with do exactly that, to TN actually. One guy in CT and his wife are living like royalty down there (but because of what happened to his dad, he was a nazi like saver/retirement prepper...and he is certainly enjoying that now). I will likely not stay here once my parents die. I'll visit, maybe even for extended periods of time, but really, IL and the surrounding area is a fairly boring state, unless you get down to Southern IL area. Likely I'll head out towards WY/CO area, or, FL if I can find an area I like close to the Gulf (might rethink that given the oil contamination).
I believe we still typically have one or two armed officers in our high schools. I'm not sure though; I have a grandson in first grade but my other grandson is out of school. Our city school system folded and I know the city and the county were fighting over the cost of the officers so I'm not absolutely sure they are still there.
We have a few that wander the halls during passing periods, openly fully armed. The sign at the school says it is 'One of Americas Best High Schools'...even though it has had below state averages and a problem school for like 10 years running or something like that. Got to love delusions...
Chuck