[SemiDriver]

Hello,

I am wondering if MI, Lansing area or Grand Rapids, would be a good place to live.

I am currently a commercial truck driver, and make good money.

I am 66, my wife is 60. I have an income of about $46000 per year w/o working?

I have a 42 yo step son who is mildly retarted who lives with us.

My wife is a heart patient, has diabetes, and a condition called blephrospasm. Medical facilities are very important.

We rent now but would like to buy if possible and not expensive.

We live on the Texas Gulf Coast now. Hurrican alley sometimes.

Richard

[suydam]

It's cold in the winter.
Holland has been mentioned as growing in popularity for retirees lately.
I'd look there.

[SemiDriver]

Thanks, I have been to MI in Winter several times as a trucker.

[SemiDriver]

Basicly looking at MI as cost of living seems low enough that I can make it with out working if I want to.

[Joanie B]

Well, I'm biased but Michigan is a wonderful place to retire - it's our choice.
We love Holland and everything it has to offer.
We think the cost of living is more than manageable.

If close access to a lot of different medical facilities is important, Grand Rapids would be a great choice too.
Still close enough to the Lake Michigan if you want to take advantage of that.

Housing is very inexpensive right now and it's a great time to buy.

There's a lot of great information such as cost of living, crime, etc. on this website for just about any city you're interested in.

Just click on the cities you're interested in.
Statistics for Cities in Michigan

If you'd like to see available housing, you can browse the MLS here: Realtor.com

Hope this helps. Come to Michigan....you'll love it!

[Wingnatic]

You can get some pretty good deals in Tawas/East Tawas on Lake Huron . Lake front places go for more , but off the lake are some pretty good deals . The housing started to get cheaper before the economy took a dive when the U.S. Government closed a Air Force Base in nearby Oscoda a number of years ago . Both city's border each other , and it would probably take 5 minutes to drive through of them . They have a hospital in Tawas (Tawas St. Joseph) you can google it .
Tawas City, Michigan 48764 - InfoMI.com

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by SemiDriver

Hello,

I am wondering if MI, Lansing area or Grand Rapids, would be a good place to live.

I am currently a commercial truck driver, and make good money.

I am 66, my wife is 60. I have an income of about $46000 per year w/o working?

I have a 42 yo step son who is mildly retarted who lives with us.

My wife is a heart patient, has diabetes, and a condition called blephrospasm. Medical facilities are very important.

We rent now but would like to buy if possible and not expensive.

We live on the Texas Gulf Coast now. Hurrican alley sometimes.

Richard

This would be quite a change for you -- we get no hurricanes of course but quite a few tornadoes, and the weather is pretty eccentric -- you might get a week of 70-degree weather in January and then a foot of snow in late May, but I promise you it's never boring.

Human services (if your stepson needs them) are pretty good in that part of the state, as far as I am aware. You'd be close to all the city amenities but could potentially still live out in the country. And of course right now you can buy a really nice foreclosed-upon place for the price of a new motorcycle.

[allbusiness]

Money Magazien ranked Holland, Michigan as one of the top of retirement cities in 2006:

Money Magazine: Best places to retire 2006: Holland, MI snapshot

So did US News & World report in 2008:

Holland, Michigan: Best Places to Retire - USNews.com

See the new video too: View Holland on Video! - Home

[Coldjensens]

Michigan Cost of living is lower than many places.

Medical care is better than in many (most?) places.

Entertainment, shpopping and indoor activities are somewhat limited.

Outdoor activities abound.

THe four seasons are exciting.


The cold months are - well cold. ALso you get depressed from the lack of sunshine during some winter months

Lots of water for fishing, and more golf courses per capita than anywhere (I think, or did we lose that title? Anyway lot nad lots of golf courses.

[MICoastieMom]

Montmorency county has a growing number of retirees. They also have an active network of group homes for independent living for mentally disabled persons. I have a cousin who lives in one as his parents were no longer able to care for him, but they could still see him regularly- they are in their ninties. He is quite happy and has many friends. Just a thought for further on down the road.