Slab City, California

In the Sonoran Desert Outside of San Diego, Slab City is an Off-the-Grid, Unregulated Squatter Community Popular with Old Hippies, Free Spirits and "Snowbirds"

Just 50 miles north of Mexico and 155 miles northeast of San Diego in the Sonoran Desert is the squatter settlement known as Slab City (or The Slabs). Once the site of WWII-era U.S. Marine Base Dunlap, this sun-soaked, wide open parcel of land (640 acres) gets its name from the concrete slabs left behind when the military disbanded the site. The Department of Defense returned the land to California in the early-1960s, but the state has done little to develop it since.

People looking for the "last free place in America" and an "endless Woodstock" began migrating to the area after the military left. Many Slabbers or Slabbies, as permanent residents are known, are in their 50s, 60s and 70s (although younger people live here, too), and many self-identify as "misfits," "free spirits" or "old hippies." There is no cost to camp in The Slabs. People just come, claim a bit of land and contruct whatever they want. Most residents live in a tent, abandoned bus, broken down automobile or tumbledown shack in various "neighborhoods" and look out for each other. The camp has no laws, no electricity, no indoor plumbing, no air conditioning and no running water (but also no taxes). The general, quasi-official rule is to live and let live (no murder, no robbery, etc.).

Colorful, hardscrabble art abounds, and numerous clubs help with things like mail and meals. A hostel welcomes all ages. A cat rescue saves wandering felines. A cafe serves coffee and food, and an internet cafe keeps the outside world within reach. The Range is an open air nightclub that keeps Saturday nights lively. Free clinics occasionally provide medical outreach.

RV "snowbirds" appreciate the no-fee boondocking and swell the population to about 4,000 people every winter. Some locals sell trinkets to tourists, but many people live solely on Social Security or disability benefits. The barter system is also alive and well.

Population: 100 to 200 permanent residents

Percentage of Population Age 45 or Better: 60%

Cost of Living: Below the national average

Median Home Price: N/A

Climate: Summer temperatures routinely reach into the low-100s. Winter temperatures are in the 30s, 40s and 50s. On average, the area receives two inches of rain each year.

At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No. The nearest hospital is in Brawley, 22 miles away.

At Least One Accredited by Joint Commission? No. The nearest accredited hospital is in San Diego.

Public Transit: No

Crime Rate: Meets the national average

Public Library: Yes, a lending library

Political Leanings: Liberal

Is California Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? No

Cons: Drug use is prevelant.

Notes: Various groups have talked about buying Slab City over the years. The state has also considered appraising the land and cleaning up the chemicals left over from the camp's military days. Some tensions exist between older and younger residents. For those who need extra services, the town of Niland, which provides fire and police protection, is four miles away. Slab City generally draws people who have run out of options, want to leave modern life behind or do not want to be found.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Maybe for people who are uncomfortable with modern society or have few other options. Otherwise, probably not. Life here is generally civil but unregulated, ragged and hot.

California:

Thanks to the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, the Golden State became a U.S. territory in 1847. Soon after, gold was found at Sutter's Mill. The land crowded with fortune seekers, and, shortly thereafter, California entered the Union as its 31st state in 1850.

California has 900 miles of coastline and claims the highest and lowest point in the continental U.S. Its terrain varies dramatically - from sandy beaches to rugged mountains, deserts to fertile farmland. Landmarks like Hollywood, Disneyland, and the Golden Gate Bridge play a large part in the nation's history and imagination.

Although Texas and New York have tried to close the gap, California's economy continues to be nation's largest. Agriculture, manufacturing, biotechnology, and tourism are some of its leading industries.

Cities of the Golden State have put some odd laws on the books. It's illegal to molest a monarch in Pacific Grove. Want to throw a frisbee on an L.A. County beach? Better ask a lifeguard first. What about bowling on the sidewalks of Chico? Strictly forbidden!

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