I have two recommendations for places to look into if you plan on only working for yourself, and not looking for work (unless it is remote contract work).
1. Oaxaca, Mexico - I lived there for a year while working on a startup and loved every minute. It's really cheap (my wife and I spent about $1100 a month in total, and had a great lifestyle). It's a beautiful city, with lots to do, and is close to some great hiking and only about 5 hours from gorgeous beaches. It's also very safe these days. The drawback is being completely isolated from the tech community.
2. Missoula, Montana - This is a great little college town about 3 hours away from where I grew up. I stayed a couple of nights there in 2008 and was blown away by how much it had changed in the time I had been gone. It's super cheap, gorgeous (great hiking, skiing, biking is all around you), the people are genuinely friendly and laid back, and there are great micro-breweries and pubs everywhere. Again, the drawback is being isolated from the tech community.
1. Oaxaca, Mexico - I lived there for a year while working on a startup and loved every minute. It's really cheap (my wife and I spent about $1100 a month in total, and had a great lifestyle). It's a beautiful city, with lots to do, and is close to some great hiking and only about 5 hours from gorgeous beaches. It's also very safe these days. The drawback is being completely isolated from the tech community.
2. Missoula, Montana - This is a great little college town about 3 hours away from where I grew up. I stayed a couple of nights there in 2008 and was blown away by how much it had changed in the time I had been gone. It's super cheap, gorgeous (great hiking, skiing, biking is all around you), the people are genuinely friendly and laid back, and there are great micro-breweries and pubs everywhere. Again, the drawback is being isolated from the tech community.
I hope you find what you're looking for.