Women retiring alone to a new city/state -- where will you go and why? (beach, weather)

[Carolina71]

Originally Posted by plantlover

Please, do tell us what you like about Alabama. I am open to all options!

I'm back ! I'll give you some good reasons to consider Alabama:

The largest City is Birmingham . . . once of fire hoses, today a series of cute, cute, cute villages for shopping, eating, a section that belongs in Beverly Hills, dowtown lofts and the most precious bungalow neighborhoods where everyone knows your name.

We have a great Art Musuem and zillions of Art Galleries, beautiful Botanical Gardens and Zoo, lots of happenings.

I'll Start with the Botanical Gardens and Art Musuem:

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is Alabama's largest living museum with more than 10,000 different plants in its living collections. The Gardens' 67.5 acres contains 25+ unique gardens, 30+ works of original outdoor sculpture and miles of serene paths.

CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP AT THE BBG


EARTH DAY AT THE BBG


CREPE MYRTLE'S ON EARTH DAY - HAVEN'T BLOOMED YET




WALKING TRAILS GALORE !


JAPANESE GARDEN


GREEN HOUSE








GIFT SHOP, LEAF AND PETAL, AT THE BBG: (THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR RETIRED HELP !)


DO YOU SEE THE CAT VISITING THE BBG?


CHRISTMAS TREE:


EVERY FEW YEARS WE GET SOME OF THIS & EVERYONE BECOMES A CHILD FOR A FEW HOURS -- THIS YEAR WE WERE GIFTED !









THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY -- I'LL BE BACK WITH OTHER JEWELS OF ALABAMA !

NEXT -- DOWNTOWN AND "THE VILLAGES" .....

bye ladies !

[Carolina71]

Oh, a few I missed -- I've been gathering photo's from a friend to share !

Still Botantical Gardens -- such a serene place, take a walk, take a book, take a sketch pad. Divine !






A FEW FROM THE CAHABA RIVER (you can join the Cahaba River Society !)

CAHABA LILIES

[Carolina71]

Wow, I have a night to myself -- unusual so I'll post some more while I have a chance.

The "over the mountain community of Birmingham", before you hit the real suburbs, is a series of Villages.

Mountain Brook Village -- charming. Expensive. Listed as one of the top 10 wealthiest communities in the United States this year and also the dubious pleasure of being one of the communities hit hardest by the economy. Quick ! You can still get a deal ! Still something to see.

Walking Trails, "Tot Lots" for the children, it's own school system and government. High taxes and the best Piggly Wiggly ever ! (Piggly Wiggly? Small southern supermarket chain -- everyone shops the "Pig").

The only city in the United States who can claim the fame of having a Rolex Clock Tower -- about 15' high.

HERE'S A LITTLE STARTER HOME (i'm kidding about the starter part -- it is in Mountain brook, not England ! )



I love this home -- yes someone really lives in it and yes, it floods periodically. Known as the Mill House --





HERE'S THE ROLEX CLOCK !



GREAT SHOPPING OR JUST A STROLL -- the commericial village is quite large, this is just a small segment.





PHOTO OF 'VULCAN' A STATUTE ERECTED LONG AGO ATOP 'RED MOUNTAIN' (which divides the City of Birmingham from the close in suburbs) . A symbol of what brought the city prosperity ~ mining iron ore.



THERE'S A SECOND VILLAGE IN MOUNTAIN BROOK -- CRESTLINE:

Smaller homes (still pricey). Crestline has small bungalows, many that have been enlarged and remodeled. Also has it own town center, shops, school, Piggly Wiggly and tot lot. Cute, Cute, Too !



Crestiline has a Town Clock as well but, sigh, it might be a Timex



THIRD VILLAGE IN MOUNTAIN BROOK - ENGLISH VILLAGE - sits at the peak of Red Mountain, overlooking the City of Birmingham:

Cute shop (I was in there one day and a lady drove straight through the window !!!! - made a mess.)



BEST BAKERY IN TOWN AND LADIES DO LUNCH ! CONTINENTAL BAKERY



CURVE IN ENGLISH VILLAGE -- CONTINENTAL BAKERY IS PART OF IT . . .




OKAY, THAT'S REALLY IT FOR THE NIGHT.

YOU CAN TELL ME TO SHUT UP ANY TIME BUT I REALLY CAN'T WAIT TILL WE HIT THE MOUNTAINS IN THE NORTH THEN MOBILE AND THE COASTLINE !

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by riversglow

...- I'm working on putting together a part/time holistically-oriented private practice and/or Center that offers counseling, dreamwork, stress management, feng shui, reiki/therapeutic touch and other healing modalities. I will need to find a more affordable place to live and have been doing some research for the past month or so. I'm looking for a place in nature - sea, river, mountains, etc - because that's where I feel the best. I presently rent a condo directly across the street from a natural river and love it. I've been checking out places along the eastern seaboard and even checked out Vancouver, BC. Would like to live in a moderate temperature zone (don't do well with hot/cold extremes), where people are progressive, friendly, down-to-earth and the environment is healthy. I've even entertained the idea of sharing ownership with other compatible adults in a big house, in a place of nature, but haven't stumbled on anything like this yet. ...

With your talents and desires, consider the PNW (Oregon or WA) I think you would find it appealing and lucrative. The San Juan Islands and neighboring areas would fit. Probably Port Townsend, WA or Poulsbo would be good choices, as well as Bellingham / Fairhaven, WA (Wa= no income tax, potentially high property taxes, unless you shop carefully, or rent or use you house $$ to fund commercial or multifamily income producing property)

Oregon would fit too (high income tax, and poor state financial health, no sales tax) A bit extreme 'liberal' (tolerant) attitudes, but it doesn't bother everyone. Beaches are 100% public which is real nice (I live in WA and use OR for visits ~ 25 min away). I would look to Cannon Beach, Lincoln City, Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, or for drier area, Ashland (inland) or Brookings (beach). There are many more choices too, just need to know your desires and interests.

Come on out and check it out while SWA is flying cheap routes. (I just got a $64 flight to Denver to attend an art show in my home town (Loveland)). East cost was $89 1way last I checked, Baltimore was my destination of choice, tho I think SWA is starting some NY routes (JFK?). If you like sun, consider Colorado or NM. There are some great options in each state. Weather is colder than you desire, but the sun can melt 4" of snow by 10 AM, and you drive around w/o a coat, winter is very pleasant, but brown. The difference with PNW, is that everything in Colorado is SHORT, like they took a Lawnmower to the trees, only 40-60' tall. in PNW we have trees 300' tall (In my backyard), but... hiking and expecting good vistas is better in Colorado. Waterfalls (and moss and ferns ) better in PNW. Green is the color of much of PNW, especially west of Cascade range.

Environmental care is BIG. and Portland is considered the 'greenest' city in USA. (that is not all good...)

Milwaukee is great too, time for a trip while you are 're-inventing'. Stop by Minneapolis too, and might as well do Montana while enroute.

[lenora]

Carolina71,

Lovely photos of Birmingham. Who would have thought?! Hopefully you can describe the Huntsville area, as well. It is one area in AL that is on my list. My daughter recently accepted a position at U of Al Law School and will be moving to Northport next week. I hope to visit her soon and intend to take the opportunity to check out Huntsville and its surrounding areas. Thanks for the photographs and information.

[Carolina71]

Originally Posted by lenora

Carolina71,

Lovely photos of Birmingham. Who would have thought?! Hopefully you can describe the Huntsville area, as well. It is one area in AL that is on my list. My daughter recently accepted a position at U of Al Law School and will be moving to Northport next week. I hope to visit her soon and intend to take the opportunity to check out Huntsville and its surrounding areas. Thanks for the photographs and information.

I will post some on Huntsville/North Alabama lenora -- hopefully tomorow ! Beautiful mountains and lakes.

U of A Law School is rocking right now - one of the best law degrees to have. Top 10 I heard (my son is graduating from BSC (Birmingham-Southern College: One of America's Best Liberal Arts Colleges) in December and is thinking about law school or forensic psychology. Daughter just graduated from Auburn - all I'll say about Auburn is that it's a cute town with a nicer campus than Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa isn't one of my favorite places -- flat, fast food highway but do they love their football team? Wow.

Good luck to your daughter, I know you're proud of her !

[Carolina71]

Fun place in downtown Birmingham:

"The Garages"

Packed full of stuff, junk, good junk ! People come from all over the South hoping for a great find.

It's also a bar and restaurant.

The guy that owns it is mean as the day is long -- cranky. He shows up when he feels like it, he doesn't put a price on anything. You have to ask. If he likes you, you get a better price. If he doesn't like you he tells you to get lost !

Still, everyone goes there in droves.

[Carolina71]

Teaser for Lenora --

North Alabama ~

[newenglandgirl]

Caroina71.

Your photos are not only incredble content-wise--you are an excellent photographer! The one of the stone steps and the ivy hanging over the wall is like a painting, you could submit that to any national photo contest.

I have to admit that Alabama seems way too south for me, as heat and humidity knock me over....but I'm wondering now about senior housing...maybe the place that has the very best will be my destination!

What part of Alabama is this?? What are the home sales like? And do tell about the summer weather....

[plantlover]

What is Spring and Fall like? How long is the vegetable growing season? Do you have good soils? Great photos and thanks for posting them......" Sweet Home, Alabama......"