Best For Retirement - Wake Forest or Wilmington (Raleigh, Elizabeth City: condo, how much)

[donsabi]

Which area would be the best for a retiree in general? Subjectively; I am an active senior who enjoys fishing and eating fish. Must have hard shell crabs. Not nuts about just sitting on the beach. The housing prices are the same for both areas for a house that suits my needs. I am not concerned about hurricanes. (I would leave well in advance). I have lived in western NC and I am ready for a change.
Comments appreciated.
Don

[Waterboy526]

Originally Posted by donsabi

Which area would be the best for a retiree in general? Subjectively; I am an active senior who enjoys fishing and eating fish. Must have hard shell crabs. Not nuts about just sitting on the beach. The housing prices are the same for both areas for a house that suits my needs. I am not concerned about hurricanes. (I would leave well in advance). I have lived in western NC and I am ready for a change.
Comments appreciated.
Don

Wake Forest is a nice town with ammenities and very close to all the "going ons" in Raleigh, but if you're just retiring, like to fish, and don't care about hurricanes, I would move to Wilmington in a heartbeat.

If you're semi-retired and want to find a job and still have cultural ammenities nearby, then Wake Forest could be your better bet.

[arbyunc]

"Must have hard shell crabs."


The answer has to be Wilmington, right? Is this a trick question?

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by arbyunc

"Must have hard shell crabs."


The answer has to be Wilmington, right? Is this a trick question?

Actually, I was wondering the same thing. I would choose Duck or Oriental or Nag's Head or Elizabeth City - something up coast f/ W'ton, if crabs were the big thing on my list. But that's just me.

[simplepieman]

Take it from me retirement in the US is a dead end street. Healthcare sucks, prices are too high, taxes on property keep going up, condo rates go up and it takes thirty dollars just to go to the movies. Forget the popcorn it's twenty with a drink.

If you want to support the system that's up to you but as for me...no way. Why should I support the high lifestyles some people live? It's not how hard you work but how much money they can suck out of you.

So, okay what to do……. Leave the country. Believe me all the talk of other countries being bad are way off base. I will let you in on a little secret. South America!! Now don’t go running off yelling what about the grandkids.

My wife and I moved to Lima, Peru and our lifestyle improved the first week. Healthcare? For forty dollars a month…. Yes I said forty dollars a month we have full coverage, with no deductible, in a good hospital. The doctors are as good as any in the US. If I need bypass surgery I go in and it’s done. NO….extra charges. As for dental,,, A cap will cost about $250 not $1,500 as in the US. Glasses? well the doctor and all the tests will cost you $15.00 and at a good place.

We have a four bedroom house and taxes are $500.00 a year and that includes garbage pickup. We have a live in housekeeper that cost us $200.00 a month. Cleans, makes the beds, and does some of the cooking. We go to the movies for $10.00 and that includes a taxi, popcorn (the big one with one refill), and a large drink. The movie house is as good as any in the us and most all the movies are in English with Spanish subtitles. When a new movie comes out in the US we get it here the same time.

Dinner out with a bottle of wine in a good place is $30.00. We don’t do that but once a month, well, maybe twice. Lunch and dinner out most often cost us $5 to $7.00. Food is sometimes as much as 60% less than the US. There shopping centers and malls that look as good as anything in the US.

Now the best part. Grandkids can visit and learn something about the world. We make a trip or two back to the US each year. The internet link keeps in touch. All this because we can afford it now.

Our lifestyle has improved and our overhead has dropped. What’s wrong with that picture?

NOTHING

[arbyunc]

^ Peru, who knew?

Ya got good hardshell crabs down there, do ya?

[lovebrentwood]

I would move to Wilmington.

I just read up on living in Lima. Everything he says appears to be true.

I think it's interesting when people move to other countries (esp Mexico and Peru), they seem to want everyone else to come down and live there, too. I guess so it'll seem more like home with more English speakers.

I guess that's why when people move here, so many end up with family members following.

[kimko]

Hi!! Im from New England , Im sick of crabby people. cold temps, I have lived here all 51 years and I am thinking about Wilmington NC. Im not in need of a job, if anything a part time in retail. Love to meet people and enjoy life, any suggestions ?

[kimko]

Hi!! Im from New England , Im sick of crabby people. cold temps, I have lived here all 51 years and I am thinking about Wilmington NC. Im not in need of a job, if anything a part time in retail. Love to meet people and enjoy life, any suggestions ?