Durango retirement? (Grand Junction, Montrose, Cortez: lofts, condos, homes)

[brightdoglover]

New to city-data, here, but really enjoy the discussions. I am considering Durango for semi-retirement (summers) or retirement. It's several years away, but I like to do my homework. I've driven through Durango many times - I used to vacation and ride in Ridgway. I even bought and sold propert twice outside Ridgway, but realized I could never afford two homes (I live and work near Boston) and have no way of having parts of the year free to go elsewhere until retirement.

I'm visiting Durango for a few days around Labor Day, mostly to find a new place to ride, the place in Ridgway having been sold. Online, I've noticed several condo developments of possible future interest. As an older person (retire at 62?) I'd be interested in in-town condos. I've noticed Canyon Terrace, Rio de Codo (?) and the smallest of the Rivergate Lofts. I don't need space but would want a good in-town location with a view and within decent walking distance to town and public transport, although I expect to be driving late into life.

Another concern, I've read headlines that, despite the expanded hospital, there are no doctors in Durango taking new patients or accepting Medicare. Now, I am spoiled with the huge medical availability around Boston, but do accept that I might need good medical care in the future. An elderly friend of mine moved from Ridgway to Montrose due to age, could get sufficient cancer treatment in Montrose, and had to be driven to and from Grand Junction every day. Might facilities and services be expanding with increasing population and retirees?

I also am somewhat open to moving there while still working if I get fed up enough with my job here. I'm a psychiatric/detox RN with experience in all diagnostic groups except children. It sounds like there are few services in much of Colorado, including Durango.

I look forward to discussions, TIA.

[I_LUVNM]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

... I've noticed Canyon Terrace, Rio de Codo (?) and the smallest of the Rivergate Lofts. I don't need space but would want a good in-town location with a view and within decent walking distance to town and public transport, although I expect to be driving late into life.

Another concern, I've read headlines that, despite the expanded hospital, there are no doctors in Durango taking new patients or accepting Medicare. Now, I am spoiled with the huge medical availability around Boston, but do accept that I might need good medical care in the future. An elderly friend of mine moved from Ridgway to Montrose due to age, could get sufficient cancer treatment in Montrose, and had to be driven to and from Grand Junction every day. Might facilities and services be expanding with increasing population and retirees?

I also am somewhat open to moving there while still working if I get fed up enough with my job here. I'm a psychiatric/detox RN with experience in all diagnostic groups except children. It sounds like there are few services in much of Colorado, including Durango.

I look forward to discussions, TIA.

The Rivergate Lofts RiverGate Lofts - Luxury Condos on the Animas River are near the river down by the Animas Medical Campus. They are nice but further from downtown, although not far though. Canyon Terrace, I think if is the ones I think it is, is out in Carbon Junction which is where Super Walmart is located. There are alot of new condos recently built and being built right in downtown, with all the action right there and you could just walk everywhere. Crossroads is one that comes to mind but there are alot others, here is a link to that one: Crossroads Durango (broken link) So you might check out those as well as alot of others in downtown. If you do decide to still keep practicing and get in at the Animas Medical Campus, you could walk to work living at the Rivergate Lofts. About doctors, there is a shortage, too many new people and not enough doctors plus they closed Valley-Wide Clinic where taxpayers didnt want to support it. There are doctors over in Cortez and they accept new people. Hopefully new doctors will heed the call and come to Durango. They pretty much would have an instant client base from day one.