Ultimately, I would love to buy a piece of land now in the area we are thinking of retiring in. Then over time, build the house we want to be in, as money allows. I want to do it right and have a house that is not just beautiful, but is more on the green side, i.e. solar power, steel frame to help withstand strong weather/winds or any 2012 doom that may come our way, "shelter" somewhere near the house for any future doom, etc. Just can't figure out which to do. We're not exactly Rockefellars.