Retirement moves: if you're moving, please list your top 5 places and why (55, weather)

[RiverBird]

So many retirees looking to move, but specific places are rarely mentioned. Curious to know what your top 5 are, and why, and when you'll decide.

[Pitt Chick]

Only one place in the running right now.
Downtown Pittsburgh, because of the many things to do within walking distance, in 5 to 10 years.

[Vic Romano]

From Inland Empire, CA to:

1. Reno/Sparks/Carson City, NV. Less traffic, a little cooler, more distinct seasons, close to fishing spots, lots to do (casinos, Lake Tahoe, hiking, bowling, car culture), proximity to Sacramento (major airport) and Bay Area, no state taxes, one day to Salem, OR (in-laws), Las Vegas, Southern California. Housing prices have increased significantly recently.

2. Sacramento foothills (Grass Valley/Auburn/Placerville, CA). Somewhat less traffic, quick drive to Sacramento, more diversity nearby. Weather not much cooler than So. Cal. and still dealing with CA taxes and government. Can have air quality problems.

5. Prescott/Prescott Valley, AZ. Less traffic, more distinct seasons, lower COL. Nearby Phoenix has unbearable heat in the summer. Somewhat less diverse. Two long days drive to Salem. Seems like less to do there.

5. Eugene/Springfield, OR. Wife likes Oregon, reasonable housing prices, great scenery, mild summers, outdoor activities. But too gray, Interstate 5 traffic can be bad to Portland, high taxes, wacky government, Oregonians can be a different sort (no letters please, I'm not the only one that says this).

5. Kennewick/Richland, WA. Reasonable weather (less gray than I-5 corridor), a river runs through it, lower COL, no state taxes. But somewhat isolated, no major airport nearby.

Still looking for another dark horse...

All are decent sized cities but not too big. Originally I thought I would decide late summer 2017 for a spring 2018 move, but the decision may be made sooner due to circumstances with rental property. That doesn't necessarily affect the move date...it's fluid right now.

[NYgal1542]

So far all the places I have thought about I have crossed off my list.

Reason being too large, too much traffic, too hot, having to learn my way around again, find the shortcuts I love to use when I find them. Having a doctor I like (I've gone through a few of them). And of course, the friends I have here, at least one of them, I'm not sure I want to move away from. A nice comfortable friendship with another woman can be hard to find. I'm not saying we don't have ups and downs, just the ups are more than the downs. So far no eligible men in sight. hahaha

I am still considering a look at New Hampshire. I haven't been there yet but hope within the year to visit. I want a small town, sidewalks, coffee shops, library, grocery and pharmacy. Within reasonable driving distance of a large city for whatever might interest me there. I love trees and water and wildlife. Nice parks with a place to sit and read or just watch whatever is there to watch.

I have a nephew in northwestern part of VT and I love it there. I also have thought about the more remote areas of northern NY state.

Guess I have not helped much, but these are my ramblings. At 74 and being alone, I am not sure how much longer I have to make anything like this happen.

[AlaskaErik]

We didn't pick a top five. We evaluated locations and then did a scouting trip. Some of the important requirements were warm climate, Second Amendment friendly, relatively homogeneous population, no motorcycle helmet laws and a nearby military base. We checked out places in South Dakota, Utah and Arizona before finally settling on Arizona.

[grampaTom]

Originally Posted by AlaskaErik

We didn't pick a top five. We evaluated locations and then did a scouting trip. Some of the important requirements were warm climate, Second Amendment friendly, relatively homogeneous population, no motorcycle helmet laws and a nearby military base. We checked out places in South Dakota, Utah and Arizona before finally settling on Arizona.

Same here. We have settled on eastern Tennessee just south of Knoxville. Tax friendly, low COL, 4 seasons and lots of outdoor activities to keep me happy.

[Hemlock140]

We are in a small city east of Seattle where the median family income is over $150k, the median home is $835k. We have no real need for 3,000 sf any more, and the taxes are up to almost $7k/year, but we want to remain close to the kids and grandkids. For less rain, lower cost, smaller house but more land, decent distance to Seattle and to medical care, our top 5 list (all in WA) currently is:

Camano Island
Port Townsend
Mt. Vernon
Kingston
Poulsbo

We spend time in all of them different times of week and year to get a feel for them before we have to decide in 3-4 years.

[MaryleeII]

Why do we have to move? Just stay put, one place is about as good as another

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by MaryleeII

Why do we have to move? Just stay put, one place is about as good as another

That couldn't be farther from the truth. One place can be very different from another. That, I would imagine, is the primary reason people relocate.

No one has to move just for the sake of moving, it's a choice. But some of us have no choice.

Had I stayed in my former city, Portland, OR, where rents were increasing anywhere from $100-$300 a month as was the COL in general, I would have been on the streets. I moved to Cleveland where I am very happy in my ability to be able to afford a nice life and not stay awake nights worrying about money.

I have some savings that can continue to remain "saved" and I have just what I was looking for. The hard part is making new friends but I'm working on it.

[gemstone1]

If weather is a factor for you in choosing a retirement location, use this web site to narrow down the options based on temperature data points you enter.

Property taxes or general tax an issue ? Go here

Tax on retirement income an issue ? try this web site

Regards
Gemstone1