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My pleasure, ICD55 (BTW, I just figured out your username. LOL.)
Your strategy to make friends makes sense. The only problem is that an apartment complex in a small desert town isn't likely to produce the kind of neighbors you are looking for. There are retired people all over Kingman and I met a lot of them, most who lived in newer neighborhoods with smaller lots and homes. There are also some nice well-kept older neighborhoods with lots of retired folks, but I didn't know too many of them. There's at least one (maybe several) retirement communities that you definitely should check out. They're typically gated, so that 'vette of yours would be extra-safe.
Kingman is huge on hot-rods, btw. Radiator Springs in the movie Cars is modeled on Kingman I'm told. You may or may not know about the annual street drags where they shut down Main St for a weekend and put up bleachers and a Christmas Tree (timing light). Great fun. There are several hot-rod meets during the year in downtown Kingman as well. I got into the local off-road scene and met lots of neighbors, (many of which who were retired), that had off-road toys and we'd go out into the mountains and play. Having shared interests like that is a great way to make friends.
Anyway, I don't want to oversell Kingman, but think it would be worth keeping an open mind. Just steer clear of the apartment scene and look for a more upscale dwelling which I think can be had on your budget.
Wow Kdog, If I didn't know better I'd think you were my friend that's taking me around AZ in August. I just got off the phone with him and your input is exactly what he said. Now he didn't have quite the details you have about Kingman but you're touching all my points of concern. The pic's and things you telling me about are right up my alley. I can't begin to thank you for all your help. I've had a rough couple year's between health issues and the ole lady, but the 13th of August can't come soon enough. I'm hoping to be re-locating by Oct. 1st. Thank you so much for all your help and great sense of direction. I really do appreciate your time and concern. If a quarter of the people I meet after my move are as good as a person as you, this will make my life all I could ask for. Thank you much my friend!! Glad you liked my user name, its my tag on the Vette. The MV here where I live, looked at me when I got it and asked "what does that stand for?" I asked her if she ever heard of Sammy Hagar, who? she replied. Never mind was all I could say. You've put me in a great state of mind for my trip out. Take care and hope some day we cross paths.
Wow Kdog, If I didn't know better I'd think you were my friend that's taking me around AZ in August. I just got off the phone with him and your input is exactly what he said. Now he didn't have quite the details you have about Kingman but you're touching all my points of concern. The pic's and things you telling me about are right up my alley. I can't begin to thank you for all your help. I've had a rough couple year's between health issues and the ole lady, but the 13th of August can't come soon enough. I'm hoping to be re-locating by Oct. 1st. Thank you so much for all your help and great sense of direction. I really do appreciate your time and concern. If a quarter of the people I meet after my move are as good as a person as you, this will make my life all I could ask for. Thank you much my friend!! Glad you liked my user name, its my tag on the Vette. The MV here where I live, looked at me when I got it and asked "what does that stand for?" I asked her if she ever heard of Sammy Hagar, who? she replied. Never mind was all I could say. You've put me in a great state of mind for my trip out. Take care and hope some day we cross paths.
I Can't Drive 55
Not to worry: our limit on the rural freeways is mostly 75 and the Az DPS are pretty good about NOT lighting someone up till over 80.
Wow Kdog, If I didn't know better I'd think you were my friend that's taking me around AZ in August. I just got off the phone with him and your input is exactly what he said. Now he didn't have quite the details you have about Kingman but you're touching all my points of concern. The pic's and things you telling me about are right up my alley. I can't begin to thank you for all your help. I've had a rough couple year's between health issues and the ole lady, but the 13th of August can't come soon enough. I'm hoping to be re-locating by Oct. 1st. Thank you so much for all your help and great sense of direction. I really do appreciate your time and concern. If a quarter of the people I meet after my move are as good as a person as you, this will make my life all I could ask for. Thank you much my friend!! Glad you liked my user name, its my tag on the Vette. The MV here where I live, looked at me when I got it and asked "what does that stand for?" I asked her if she ever heard of Sammy Hagar, who? she replied. Never mind was all I could say. You've put me in a great state of mind for my trip out. Take care and hope some day we cross paths.
I Can't Drive 55
Ha, great story about the license plate. I'm glad your friend and I seem to be on the same page. Small towns like this aren't for everyone, as evidenced by the wide range of comments you'll see in this forum. There's no right or wrong, just different strokes for different folks. I'm glad you have a friend in the area. That will make it much more pleasant to look around. We've been gone from Kingman for a year, and we still keep in touch with many of the good folks we met there. If I was still there, I'd love to meet up. I've actually met a few friends through this forum.
Anyway, good luck with your decision regardless of where you end up. It sounds like you are ready for a new chapter in your life and that's an exciting place to be. I'll be around to answer any questions I can along with the other good folks on the forum who know the area (and some who don't know the area, but will feel free to chime in anyway. ) Please keep us informed on your progress.
Thank you for that little bit of info Packard Fan. My friend had told me the same. This town I'm living in has 35 mph limits, but with all the tourist's you're lucky to do 15 mph in the peak season. Even the main 4 lane highways with 55 mph limits are so congested with all the rubber necking tourists, you're lucky to do 35 mph. My friend has lived in Snowflake and Tucson, and does not recommend them to me. I'm just into different things than he is. He has said basically the same things Kdog has mentioned. He was an otr trucker for about 25 years and has been just about everywhere in the US. He did speak highly of Kingman, Bullhead and he also mentioned Parker. He just hasn't been in the area for a while and things can change as we all know. I'm definitely looking into small homes in the areas we talked about and I'm sure I'll find what I'm looking for. Take care and thanks to all with your advice and help. I'm still open for anyone else that may have different views of other places.
I'm in your same age group. Moved from the Rocky Mountains to Arizona 15 years ago. Spent time in Bullhead, Kingman and Havasu. Loved Havasu, moved here, built a new home here and have never regretted it. BTW, really enjoyed the street drags in Kingman and now street drags in Havasu Nov 2 - Nov 4, 2012.
Thank you for your input. I must admit, Havasu city has my interest as well as Kingman and Bullhead. Havasu city was my friends 1st choice for me. I know the types of issues that come along with living in a resort town but if I can foot it to the lake and daily needs type of thing(stores and such) a resort type of atmosphere is fine with me. The resort town I live in has no public transportation available and the daily needs thing is something you have to drive to and then you then have to deal with all the traffic which is a real pain. I'll really like your input as to what its like in the city as far as those concerns. If I were to be close to most all my needs and could walk to and from safely, the city wouldn't bother me at all. When I first started looking into that area, the places were quite pricey for a person for me. I've since looked around the city and have found condo's for rent that are well within my budget. I currently live about 3-4 miles from the beach so driving is necessary for most things. Another concern of mine with living in a single family home type deal as you have, is the maintenance. I really enjoy doing all that goes along with being in a home, but my hips and other health issues limit how much I'm able to do with out going against my capabilities. Renting a condo somewhere close to everything I need and the lake would be very appealing to me as well. Maybe you could give me a little insight as for how living in the city would be a good thing for my needs and are there any unsafe areas in the city? Having your input, since you've been there would enlighten me as to the pro's and con's of living in the city. I love water activities and being around both young and others my age is something that appeals to me. And with the temps as I see they are, I think I would spend a lot of time there. If you have the time and can give me a little more input as to living in the city of Havasu, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm looking into Bullhead, Kingman and Havasu city when I get there. I hope you can understand what I'm trying to get across to you. Its early and I'm still not completely awake yet, sorry. High school sports and even little league baseball and wrestling programs are quite enjoyable to me as well. I really would like to hear from someone like you that lives right there so I'm getting 1st hand info. Kdog really opened up my interest for Kingman but I still have that interest in Havasu city. Thanks for any and all input you may have. Have a great day and look forward to your input,
ICD55
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) Please keep us informed on your progress. 
