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And don't forget Peak's Island off the coast of Portland! My favorite place in the world! A short boat trip to downtown Portland. The best of both worlds' artists, privacy and the city all in one. We once considered retiring there but we both realized we cannot do winters anymore.
Have you checked into towns/cities say within 1.5/2 hrs drive to NY city? The cost of living is significantly lower than in NYC. I don't know what is your definition of affordability but there several towns with wooded areas, arts/cultural activities and more liberal atmosphere such as Woodstock, Cragsmoor, Rhinebeck (Bard College area) in NY, the Bershires in MA and Kent in CT.
You can start with by looking for art galleries in those towns, go and visit the places to have a feel for the towns, the wood and the people and the housing cost.
Granted that with few exceptions, the arts and cultural actitivies in those small towns as not as high quality and varied as in NYC but since NYC is within an hour or two of train ride or car drive, you will not be deprived of the big apple
's arts & atmosphere.
Remember that some areas of the country, the Northeast for sure, have a serious tick problem (re: Lyme disease) in the woods/grasses, spring through fall. If you have pets and/or hike a lot, you may want to check out areas that don't have these.
Have you checked into towns/cities say within 1.5/2 hrs drive to NY city? The cost of living is significantly lower than in NYC. I don't know what is your definition of affordability but there several towns with wooded areas, arts/cultural activities and more liberal atmosphere such as Woodstock, Cragsmoor, Rhinebeck (Bard College area) in NY, the Bershires in MA and Kent in CT.
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In Mass, the Berkshires in WMass was just cited as an area where SS is likely to go the farthest in living expense.
I have a close artist friend, who lived in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn for over 20 yrs. When her arthritis got to be too bad for her to walk up so many flights, carrying groceries, she and her husband moved to Beacon, Ny. Just about an hour by train to the city. She is very active with the artists there in Beacon. I believe that the cost of living is quite a bit less.
I forgot to add that I am an artist who lives in the woods, on a mountain in Asheville, NC. The cost of living seems low to us. Real estate is getting expensive--but not by ny standards.
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