Do Atlantans retire in Athens?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

The big problem we have compared to Florida... well the sheer amount of beaches and lakes they have are very appealing places to build retirement communities.

Of course, the big problem Florida has compared to us is those big spinny wet things that wander through the state every several years and flood/level the countryside. Maybe a good cinderblock house with a really big pump would be immune, I dunno...

[FromGA]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

The short answer is yes some people do, but we don't do it in droves either.

A large part of this is because the Atlanta area is so expansive, we have alot of really nice and really cheap fringe suburban/exurban areas to move to with a really cheap cost of living and wide variety of services. The main draw back are long commutes, which doesn't really matter when your retired. We also have a small share of people that head for the mountains or various lakes in Georgia (Oconee, Lanier, etc..).

There is one exurban community of Athens (partly in barrow Co.) called the Georgia Club. It is a high end development with lots of amenities. They market to retirees very heavily. This is on their website about retirees BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
You can see the aerial view here: Watkinsville, GA - Google Maps

I feel GA Club is neither here (Atlanta), nor there (Athens). I think a large part of the development either foreclosed, or the bank sold it for real cheap.

[phillipmaloney]

I just retired in November and I've thought about returning there (went to UGA). I live in Marietta now but I think I'd be very satisfied with what Athens offers. But I'm also considering Cleveland GA because I love the mountains.

[FromGA]

Originally Posted by phillipmaloney

I just retired in November and I've thought about returning there (went to UGA). I live in Marietta now but I think I'd be very satisfied with what Athens offers. But I'm also considering Cleveland GA because I love the mountains.

When we lived in Athens we would go to Tallulah Falls and Helen (since you were interested in Cleveland). Athens is a good place to live. Like I previously said, it is a "simple man's" Atlanta. Downtown Athens is pretty cool, and I used to walk around quite a bit. Also, the Botanical Gardens is nice.

Here is a thread I previously started, and contributed to:
"The best seat in the South" - Athens, Georgia

[FromGA]

Twilight Criterium in Athens is this April 27-28

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Of course, the big problem Florida has compared to us is those big spinny wet things that wander through the state every several years and flood/level the countryside. Maybe a good cinderblock house with a really big pump would be immune, I dunno...

[FromGA]

Athens, Georgia - William P. Barrett - Forbes

This list has Athens as a top place to retire to!

The advantage of retiring to a college town (than a mountain area, or other retirement areas, etc.) is probably that there is more regular stuff to do. In one episode of Seinfeld, I think he calls living in retirment community in Florida "waiting room to heaven". Living in a town like Athens, you will probably be living in a simple man's version of Atlanta.

[ATL Golfer]

I wanted to open a B&B there...maybe even before retirement from my "career". Athens is about as far as my wife will ever move from Atlanta. I'd choose elsewhere if allowed.