Looking for a change of scenery - suggestions?

I've been feeling the urge to get away for a long time. I've always been drug around by either my parents or my job to one locale or another, but I'm ready to find a new place to settle down.

It can be anywhere in the world. I just want the mountains or the coast. Preferably both!

A nice quiet place in a natural setting where I can be at peace with few distractions. Of course I need to support myself too so there needs to be some industry. I don't like big noisy cities with lots of people though.

Current possibilities for me include: Colorado, Canada, New Zealand, Netherlands, Sweden. I'd consider California (where I'm originally from) if it weren't so damn crowded and expensive. Maybe there's a place in northern CA I would like? I'm sure there are many others that I haven't even thought of.

Anyway I'm just looking for ideas. If I could I would travel the world and then pick out a spot, but if I set out to do that, I'd probably run out of money before I saw the whole thing.

What about the Canary Islands ?

Beautiful volcanic/tropical scenery, plenty of things to do & see, hot all year around with it being close to the equator, nice little villages & towns to live and commute to work in the busier towns/cities!

My favourite of the Islands is Gran Canaria with La Palma a close second