I didn't realize you were on the Columbia River.

Real estate has been good to me all these years but yes there is much more to life than worrying about cash flow and rentals tenants and stuff.. keep your perspective.We live in the Jet age for 750 bucks you can be around the world in 15 to 16 hours.. all these people that get so focused on being retired or living on their rentals AS soon as they can to me they miss many of the pleasures of a rounded life.. hopefully if they do achieve their dreams they will stop and smell the roses.I had one guy on BP write me a private message one time and said I post to much and I just not have a life.my reply well maybe so from his perspective but in the last year I have been to  Isreal  Thailand Hawaii 2 times London  British Columbia to fly fish and about 12 other locations in the US ( those are primarily business) so don't let the peanut Gallery here on BP bug you !!! 

I've got a decent bit of cash saved up, a few private investors, and a very strong monthly income proportionate to my area (Columbia, SC).

I only have one rental in Columbia so far and am just getting started.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3334-Columbia-Hwy-Leesville-SC-2-70/72001688_zpid/

Hey guys, we have few rental homes -leased with annual contracts in Columbia, Maryland (Howard county).

These are actually UDR Apartments in a pretty nice area of Columbia, MD. 

We currently buy in Atlanta/North Florida and Columbia SC the same price point. 

That said, for cash flow, a smaller town such as Albuquerque tends to lend itself for cash flow better and you can reduce your management expenses if you manage the properties yourself.I must say I am biased as I have invested in both Large Cities (Denver, CO) and small towns (Columbia, MO) and really enjoy investing in the smaller towns more.

I live in Greenwood but have mostly focused on Columbia real estate.