[perfectwanda1]

Ann Arbor is a wonderful community to live in. Home town of the University of Michigan.
Great hospitals, schools, shopping, and restaurants. People from all over the world come to Ann Arbor for education and healthcare. This community truly has it all. And IF you need to "get away" you can always go "Up North". And the possiblities there are endless!

Come to Michigan......If you seek a pleasant penninsula.....look about you!

W

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by perfectwanda1

Ann Arbor is a wonderful community to live in. Home town of the University of Michigan.
Great hospitals, schools, shopping, and restaurants. People from all over the world come to Ann Arbor for education and healthcare. This community truly has it all. And IF you need to "get away" you can always go "Up North". And the possiblities there are endless!

Come to Michigan......If you seek a pleasant penninsula.....look about you!

W

Retire in Ann Arbor?

That is probably amongst the last places that would be on my retirement list. While I love Ann Arbor, it is a place for young people. It is crazy busy, the roads are confusing, traffic, especially pedestrian traffiy is crazy, parking is impossible, it is loud and very expensive, plus it is filled with students, rabid fans and other youngish people. Generally retirees want someone quiet and slow paced, pleasant more than exciting, inexpensive so a fixed income will not become a problem, geared toward olrder people/retirees. That does not describe Ann Arbor.

Plus they want to move to Michigan lakes. No lakes in Ann Arbor at all. Just a shallow river and only a few people have access to it. Somewhere near Ann Arbor might be nice for retirement if you feel you need to be close to top hospitals, but you only need Ann Arbor hospitals for major issues, I would not bother going there for everyday stuff. Any hospital or clinic can handle the everyday stuff related to aging. No lakes really close to Ann Arbor either. I think Hell is probably closest if small lakes are suitable. For great lakes, you will nto be anywhere near Ann Arbor.

[J'aimeDesVilles]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Retire in Ann Arbor?

That is probably amongst the last places that would be on my retirement list. While I love Ann Arbor, it is a place for young people. It is crazy busy, the roads are confusing, traffic, especially pedestrian traffiy is crazy, parking is impossible, it is loud and very expensive, plus it is filled with students, rabid fans and other youngish people. Generally retirees want someone quiet and slow paced, pleasant more than exciting, inexpensive so a fixed income will not become a problem, geared toward olrder people/retirees. That does not describe Ann Arbor.

Plus they want to move to Michigan lakes. No lakes in Ann Arbor at all. Just a shallow river and only a few people have access to it. Somewhere near Ann Arbor might be nice for retirement if you feel you need to be close to top hospitals, but you only need Ann Arbor hospitals for major issues, I would not bother going there for everyday stuff. Any hospital or clinic can handle the everyday stuff related to aging. No lakes really close to Ann Arbor either. I think Hell is probably closest if small lakes are suitable. For great lakes, you will nto be anywhere near Ann Arbor.

Sorry, but I have to respectfully disagree with most of this post.

A2 has a lot to offer retirees. It is a slow-paced small city with plenty of recreational and cultural amenities for a city of its size. Nationally, some of the best rated places for retirees have universities nearby (e.g. Charlotteville, VA; Austin,TX; Ithaca, NY). Colleges and universities offer more than just medical facilities. They have performing arts, libraries, recreation, and sports. Not to mention the obvious, education. More seniors than ever are taking the occasional class for personal interest, or even pursuing a degree.

Not everyone wants to live on a lake. I couldn't care less if I was ever near one. But for those that do, Ford and Belleville Lakes are nearby. Also, there is plenty of access to the Huron River. This is a beautiful and wonderful river running alongside many parks in the A2 area. Parks with miles of biking/walking trails, canoe/kayak liveries, fishing piers, picnic areas, etc.

Another great thing about A2 is that it is near a major metropolitan area if one wishes to go there, but it is in close proximity to open rural areas including some State recreation areas.

A2 is expensive and the road pattern can be confusing until you get to know it but the positives far outweigh the negatives.

[perfectwanda1]

Ann Arbor is FUN!

W

[Nephler]

Anywhere south of, well, where I live now, tip-of-the-mitt, is out of the question for me. I live 25 miles from the nearest wallyworld, or any of that try of shopping, and even that is too close. Give me a general store, like the one in Bliss that carries a bit of everything, and I'm happy.

[beachmouse]

University towns also tend to have better than average public transportation, and not everyone is going to be able to drive safely for forever.

[J'aimeDesVilles]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

University towns also tend to have better than average public transportation, and not everyone is going to be able to drive safely for forever.

Good point!

[jmz768]

I don't understand all the people recommending retiring way up north. While awesome for 3 seasons, winters are absolutely brutal. Not a huge deal for younger people but I'd have to be in my 60's and 70's dealing with a Northern Michigan Winter.

[FisherOne]

Originally Posted by jmz768

I don't understand all the people recommending retiring way up north. While awesome for 3 seasons, winters are absolutely brutal. Not a huge deal for younger people but I'd have to be in my 60's and 70's dealing with a Northern Michigan Winter.

I agree with this. I retired to northeast lower Mi from Tucson, call me stupid, but I wanted to return home! Been here 8 years now and absolutely had enough snow shoveling, cold Huron winds in spring and fall when you just want it to warm up, and isolation. This was the third time I returned to my home state to live! Apparently I have a short memory! House is sold and moving to upstate South Carolina and not looking back. I will return to visit and I will miss seeing Lake Huron go through it's color changes and I will miss some of the trout fishing, but as I approach 70 these seems like a totally better option for me. In the end it's each to his own, but that is my experience.

[ram2]

Originally Posted by FisherOne

I agree with this. I retired to northeast lower Mi from Tucson, call me stupid, but I wanted to return home! Been here 8 years now and absolutely had enough snow shoveling, cold Huron winds in spring and fall when you just want it to warm up, and isolation. This was the third time I returned to my home state to live! Apparently I have a short memory! House is sold and moving to upstate South Carolina and not looking back. I will return to visit and I will miss seeing Lake Huron go through it's color changes and I will miss some of the trout fishing, but as I approach 70 these seems like a totally better option for me. In the end it's each to his own, but that is my experience.

Since there are no big cities in northeast Michigan, why did you expect anything but isolation?