Thank you Eric.In addition to the rental properties, my wife and I have a paid off house, paid off car, and about $1.4m in retirement accounts, brokerages, and savings.We live in a HCOL area and our expenses are $9.5k per month even though we live pretty modestly.I set out initially to have real estate pay for at least some of my expenses in order to give me more freedom and financial security.Is your wife quitting too? 

I know we all got to make a living but....

Best of luck, and if I lived nearby I think I’d be bullish on, and potentially investing in the area as well! 

My wife and I have done all the terms (short, mid, long term rentals) and have done some live in flips.

I live in Phoenix AZ, where we take our pool safety very seriously, as kids die every year in pools because it's warm and they swim much of the year. 

Consult someone who actually knows what they are talking about/does this for a living, but most of your tax savings are only going to offset the earnings of the partnership rather than one of you individually.

If I buy property in a state that I don't live in and put that property into an LLC registered in that state, will it be protected or does that LLC need to be conducting some form of business?

I retired in my mid-50s and live a comfortable life, grateful every day for the path I chose.Looking back, I’m forever thankful to my partner who encouraged me to take that leap of faith and move to Ohio.

Apartment buildings, assisted living facilities, self storage, restaurants... 

Virtually everyone lives somewhere especially true for those that pay taxes (in CA property and income tax).