In my opinion all the combinations now work grammatically, but would not be uttered by a native speaker. I cannot say which is the most natural because having said "That's where I want to retire" I would never say any of them. You simply do not discuss items that occur earlier in life after a declaration about retirement. Retirement takes place after all those things are over and done with. When you are talking about your kids growing up and where you want to be, you put that first. Retirement come later.
I'm still a long ways from
that/there/it but
that's/there's/it's where I want my family to be and where my kids grow up and go to school before I retire.
Is this combination correct as well -
1. (California)
That is where I want to
retire after the kids are all grown up and gone to college.
A. I'm still a long ways from
that but
it's where I want my family to be and where my kids grow up and go to school before I retire.
When I'm saying I'm still a long ways from
that - that replaces retire - and
it's - replaces California.
So you're saying all three combinations are now useable?
Even the one I particularly picked out and marked in red?
Wouldn't it be better to say: I'm still a long ways from
it(retire) but
that's(California) where I want my family to be and where my kids grow up and go to school before I retire.
Since I used
that for California in the very first sentence?
Or do all three combinations work no matter the word choices?
Thanks!