[Giesela]

The NW of the mitt is still strongly under consideration for retirement. However I'm not sure how close I have to be to TC. Mostly I don't want to be too far from the amenities of the hospital, grocery stores and nature related things to do. I don't need the hospital now so theoretically I could live out aways, but how often do you want to move when you are old?

I know they are building a Meijers west of Williamsburg which is west of Kalkaska. I was talking to someone recently and they said "oh no, not Grawn". IDK a thing about Grawn, Kingsley, Buckley, Thompsonville or Kalkaska. I don't want to live in town, but want to be near something. Closer to a small grocery store, cable, internet maybe (good luck there).

When I was in Nebraska I worked on the extreme south side of Omaha. I could pick up a lot of stuff at the big stores and chains after work. I lived 13 miles south of work near a little town that had a small grocery store and a pizza hut. Good enough, I didn't have to go to Omaha over the weekend.


Anyone?

[chh]

Grawn is fine, I wouldn't retire there though, it's mostly unremarkable ordinary ranch houses. I'd say look around the southern part of the Leelanau penninsula around Greilickville, it's very nice there and is relatively close to Traverse City

[michmoldman]

Lake Ann, Interlochen, Kalkaska are all real nice. Look just West of TC around the Long Lake area. It is absolutely beautiful around there, close to TC, but still feels like your not RIGHT there in all the craziness that is TC. Personally, I think Interlochen is perfect. It has everything you need but still only 10-15 minutes from TC.
Thompsonville, Buckley and Kingsley are all nice, but Kingsley is probably the nicest of the 3 but none have a hospital and are a bit of a drive to traverse.
I live in Honor which is a very nice...quiet little town 25 minutes SW of Traverse, and we love it here. If I were to live closer to TC it would either be Lake Ann or Interlochen.
Oh, we get a LOT of snow up here but towns just East of Traverse like Kalkaska will get more because they are in the bigtime snowbelt.

[leebeemi]

Originally Posted by michmoldman

Lake Ann, Interlochen, Kalkaska are all real nice. Look just West of TC around the Long Lake area. It is absolutely beautiful around there, close to TC, but still feels like your not RIGHT there in all the craziness that is TC. Personally, I think Interlochen is perfect. It has everything you need but still only 10-15 minutes from TC.
Thompsonville, Buckley and Kingsley are all nice, but Kingsley is probably the nicest of the 3 but none have a hospital and are a bit of a drive to traverse.
I live in Honor which is a very nice...quiet little town 25 minutes SW of Traverse, and we love it here. If I were to live closer to TC it would either be Lake Ann or Interlochen.
Oh, we get a LOT of snow up here but towns just East of Traverse like Kalkaska will get more because they are in the bigtime snowbelt.

x2

I lived in Interlochen & worked in TC. It was a relatively easy commute, even in winter. Long Lake area is really pretty. Back 10 years ago, the little grocery store in Interlochen was really nice. I liked the small town living, and the amenities of TC close by.

[Giesela]

To clarify a bit, I'm hoping to buy a small acreage where I can attract wildlife. Most of any activities I participate in will probably originate in or around TC. I would hope to do the majority of my shopping at one of the Meijers. But wildlife acreage close to TC is hard so the small town would be for intnernet access and smaller grocery store trips.

I feel a bit more drawn to the east of TC without having spent enough time there. It just feels more connected to state forests and I wonder if that means more wildlife. Its also a little more convenient to 75 for driving north and south. The Manistee of course has tons of wildlife but I don't think I want to live in Cadillac.

[zthatzmanz28]

Have you looked at the Honor / Frankfort / Benzonia area?

[michmoldman]

Originally Posted by Giesela

To clarify a bit, I'm hoping to buy a small acreage where I can attract wildlife. Most of any activities I participate in will probably originate in or around TC. I would hope to do the majority of my shopping at one of the Meijers. But wildlife acreage close to TC is hard so the small town would be for intnernet access and smaller grocery store trips.

I feel a bit more drawn to the east of TC without having spent enough time there. It just feels more connected to state forests and I wonder if that means more wildlife. Its also a little more convenient to 75 for driving north and south. The Manistee of course has tons of wildlife but I don't think I want to live in Cadillac.

All around Traverse there are woods, water and rivers so wildlife is plentiful wherever you decide to go.
I just came back from the Long Lake area just West of TC, and let me tell you...it is GORGEOUS over there! I have lived up here 2 years now but just now seeing how amazing the Lake Ann/West TC area is, but of course it as ALL amazing up here. Even here in Honor on the Platte River, we have several houses around us but still get lots of deer, turkey, Bald Eagles, and even a few bear. We also hear a lot of owls and some coyotes in the distance, so you won't have any problems not seeing wildlife. Like the previous poster said, you may want to check out this area too. Benzonia, Honor, Frankfort...they are all just incredible little towns full of beauty. We are actually moving to Gaylord within the next month, mostly because housing is WAAAY too high priced up this way. My wife got a job at Ostego Memorial in Gaylord, so we are pretty excited. Not real excited to leave this amazing area, but excited because Gaylord is a very nice place and closer to the U.P which we LOVE!!!!
One day I would really like to move back over this way and maybe build a house in the area I mentioned earlier just West of TC...We'll see, we may not want to leave Gaylord! We are just real happy to live Up North Michigan!!

[Giesela]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

Have you looked at the Honor / Frankfort / Benzonia area?

No. I'm looking for info.

I like the idea of being over by Kalkaska because of travel too. I stayed at a cabin by Lake Ann and it is beautiful but I didn't really like the commute around the end of Long Lake.

[michmoldman]

Originally Posted by Giesela

No. I'm looking for info.

I like the idea of being over by Kalkaska because of travel too. I stayed at a cabin by Lake Ann and it is beautiful but I didn't really like the commute around the end of Long Lake.

I really like Kalkaska too! It is a beautiful area, but remember...they get a TON of snow. If you like snow go for it! I could easily live there because I LOVE snow! lol

[rtg143]

How about something like this? 29 acres = $54,900 North of Buckley