Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hi all! I will be retiring in a little over 5 years. I currently live in VA, but would love to move a little further south for a bit of a milder winter climate. My folks still live here, so I can't go as far south as I'd like. I would love to get them to move when I do, but my mom can't take heat and humidity (more than we already have here) and is probably in the early stages of dementia. I want to move to a small community that has nice safe neighborhoods, that have sidewalks and small lots (I love to walk with my little pup). I'd love to be able to walk to a downtown area to get a coffee or a bite to eat. Or at the very least be close. I live about 20 minutes away from our closest downtown historical area, but I'd really be interested in being closer than that. I don't care about a lot of shopping like a mall. My biggest concern is safety, because I'm divorced and will be a little on the older side when I move. I've thought about three areas: Oxford, Salisbury and New Bern. Really liking New Bern, but I'm very concerned about the safety of all three places. They don't score very high on the safety websites. I've been doing alot of research online, and will be visiting my son in July at Camp LeJuene this summer (he's only there for the summer for some training). I'd like to take a week off of work and do some visiting. That is my plan for the next few years to check out different areas. I don't have to worry about work, since I will be retired. I'm looking for a single story home, somewhere in the 1600-2000 sq. ft. size. Thanks for all the input!
I've thought about three areas: Oxford, Salisbury and New Bern. Really liking New Bern, but I'm very concerned about the safety of all three places. They don't score very high on the safety websites.
I'd suggest looking at Pittsboro and Carrboro near Chapel Hill. They are both smallish towns, but urban enough to have sidewalks. Carrboro has some especially good amenities like public buses and senior communities. Both are close to the excellent medical facilities at Duke University. Pittsboro has a very nice planned community called Fearrington, which has single family houses and townhouses. It has walking paths and other recreation, and is next to a Duke medical center with a pool and fitness facilities.
I also enjoy New Bern, but there are some sketchy areas. There are also some very nice suburban developments. New Bern has a hospital, but you might have to go to Greenville for very specialized medical care.
Last edited by goldenage1; 05-04-2013 at 06:32 PM..
Reason: added though about Greenville.
Thanks for the input. Can you tell me the better areas in New Bern to look for? I'd like to narrow the search area. My son will be at LeJuene, so we are hoping to make a day trip to look around this summer.
5 years will give you plenty of time to visit each area and make notes on what you like and don't like about the areas. A lot changes in a state in 5 years, especially one growing as fast as NC. A lot of advice that might be given now many no longer be true in 5 years.
Specific questions about New Bern should be posed to the Coastal NC forum
Ironically, I was born in North Carolina, but haven't lived there in a while. I would love to live more coastal (I absolutely love to walk on the beach) but I know I can't afford that, plus I'm looking for a single story home. Hurricanes are a consideration also. Key for me is to get a little further south for the milder winters, but as I posted originally, I have my folks still here in VA, so I can't go any further south than NC.
Thanks for the input. Can you tell me the better areas in New Bern to look for? I'd like to narrow the search area. My son will be at LeJuene, so we are hoping to make a day trip to look around this summer.
Trent Woods area...unless you are in a couple of neighborhoods New Bern is a pretty safe place. Great place to retire to.
Why not Little River NC?..Plenty of retired folks there.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
