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I know you do great where you are. But, as an older single woman, what I translate from the above is - getting out to where the generator is and getting it started, making sure there's a stash of gas/oil to run it, pouring the fuel into it, cranking it up, etc.
And wood doesn't split itself or store itself somewhere warm and dry - meaning, you either are chopping kindling or paying someone else to do it, but you'll have to have somewhere to store it and you will have to go out in the snow or ice or rain to get it, keeping in mind it might have spiders in it, carrying it inside, starting a fire...
I'm just saying that all of the above requires good physical health and a willingness to deal with the hardships. I love wood heat. I'm just not up to the physical requirements of using it anymore, or willing to put on layers of clothes and face the weather to go out, slipping and sliding and freezing and get more wood and chop more kindling or wonder what bugs I just brought into the house with it, let alone the mess.
Again, I enjoyed it for a while when I was younger for sure. Love the sound and smell and heat from a wood fire. I just also remember all of the work that went into it. God, we even went into the forest with permits and cut the wood in the forest and hauled it and split it, whew, so much work.
Our generator automatically goes on when the power goes off. It is on a tank. We live in Asheville. Snow never lasts long. Apparently we don’t lose power as often a Organic Donna. And when I was looking for our retirement home, I was careful to not get a drive that was too steep. No problem moving the garbage containers.
I don’t lose power only in the winter, winds and rain knock trees down too. And we have had a major problem with the drinking water. It’s brown and full of sediment. I am using only bottled water.
Last week Asheville had the third highest rainfall in history. Many houses in my neighborhood were flooded. We have creeks here that can rise quickly.
I don’t lose power only in the winter, winds and rain knock trees down too. And we have had a major problem with the drinking water. It’s brown and full of sediment. I am using only bottled water.
Last week Asheville had the third highest rainfall in history. Many houses in my neighborhood were flooded. We have creeks here that can rise quickly.
Wow sorry to hear that. I have seen the news about the brown water in some parts of Asheville since the bad rains. I understand it has to do with the older infrastructure. We are fortunate that our community well system doesn’t have that problem. We also are situated so we do not flood. If we did, at 3000 ft elevation, I think we would all need an ark. I can see why you might be down on Asheville.
I am not down on Asheville at all. But some people have suggested it, and there are things to know about before you move here. I have lived in four different areas in Asheville and they all have similar problems. I left one neighborhood after two months due to high crime.
You might be high enough to not flood, but you have to worry about landslides. Several years ago a house up the street slid off its foundation, it went all the way down the mountain.
I am not down on Asheville at all. But some people have suggested it, and there are things to know about before you move here. I have lived in four different areas in Asheville and they all have similar problems. I left one neighborhood after two months due to high crime.
You might be high enough to not flood, but you have to worry about landslides. Several years ago a house up the street slid off its foundation, it went all the way down the mountain.
No landslides near our house. Could happen on the roads after leaving our neighborhood though. Our home is 36 years old, in a flat area on top of a knoll, no mountainside against it. we do not have a “cliff hanger.” We were very careful finding it. Sorry you have had such a problem after living in four different areas. We have had none of the ones you have mentioned. We can’t be that unique.
People just have to do their research of the area. Flood areas are not hard to figure.
And, there is always the chance that the small town will attract people from the big city, making it more and more like the big city that you left.
In Prescott, the charm of "Everybody's Home Town" is quickly disintegrating as many people from California are fed up there and are moving here. The roads are getting crowded, the downtown square is filling up and the crime, although minimal, is rising.
The big dilemma for me is the lack of doctors, and forget specialists. You have to drive 2 hours to Phoenix to get really good medical care. There are pluses and minuses for everything !!!
Im concerned there will be (if not already) a water issue up there... A lot of building going on in the area with little or no discussion about how to bring more water in...
I do. I could probably go no higher than $230,000. I've never been to Asheville, but it keeps popping up. People love it there! I should have written I want to be near a major airport if possible. I have to drive 2 hours to get to Pittsburgh. I'd prefer to be closer.
Maybe Pittsburgh works for you, but City Data gives some stats that many of us would not welcome: twice the crime rates, lots of snow, very little sunshine even in the summer months, unemployment is high and the population has been on the decline for decades. What part do you like?
Re: Pittsburgh as a potential retirement destination.
Some things I'd personally find attractive:
1. Good hospitals
2. A lot of cultural facilities and parks. Symphonies, ballets, museums, theater, a wide variety of things to do. If you like sports, there are plenty of teams to root for.
3. The country side nearby is very pretty, and the city itself has a beauty that I find appealing.
4. I like the people I've met from there, and I've met many over the years. Although you're bound to meet all sorts of people no matter where you go, there are a few qualities that seem characteristic of Pittsburghers, and they're qualities I like.
5. If you want walkable neighborhoods and good public transportation, Pittsburgh has several neighborhoods that would work well for you. If you like having a neighborhood pub or a grocery store down the street, Pittsburgh just might be a good choice for you. Also, if you enjoy walking in interesting neighborhoods, Pittsburgh has that in spades. I especially enjoy the stars all over town. The hikes that tour the city stairs are a unique thing to do that I personally really like.
6. Biggest reason: affordable housing. You can sell your pricey house in a more expensive city and live like a king there. Spend your money to travel rather than on housing.
7. High percentage of fellow retirees there.
8. Declining population has been mentioned as a concern. Personally, I think it can be a good thing. I've lived in areas with high growth, and boy did living in those areas become a PITA. You're always get a new tax to build new schools. Traffic is an ever increasing hassle. Etc. As long as the decline isn't extreme, I prefer cities when the population has hit a plateau or is declining a little. It really depends on the reason for the decline. If this strikes you as a concern, I recommend reading the Pittsburgh forum, they discuss this issue regularly. It doesn't seem like a reason for concern to most of the people there.
Some things I'd find unattractive:
1. Weather is very grey. You do get a fair amount of snow and it can be tricky to drive on some of the hilly roads there when a storm hits. Seriously, spend a week there in the winter before you decide to move there. It's the big reason we decided against it, for what it's worth.
2. Distance to other cities. Pittsburgh is a little bit isolated, if you like to do day trips.
3. Insularity? YMMV on this one, but I've heard it can be challenging to make new friends it a town where there are a lot of people who have lived there all their lives. Where I live there are always new people moving in, and I think that's one reason it's extremely easy to make friends here.
4. It's great to have an international airport, but there really aren't that many flights going to places I'd like to visit.
5. No ocean nearby. Not a big deal for many, but for us this was a deal breaker. I don't need to be in a beach town but I do need to be within an easy drive of one.
Some things I don't personally care about, but someone else might:
1. Hard to get a high paying career there. My career days are over, so I couldn't care less. But other retirees might want to take that into consideration. It's not hard to get a lower paying job, of the sort that many seniors get. But your pay will be low, maybe very low.
2. Crime. As long as you pick the right neighborhood,this may not be a big concern for you. In other words, there are some neighborhoods that have most of the crime problems. There are others where I feel extremely safe. Move into one of the safer neighborhoods, and use common sense and you'll be fine. (In other words, lock your car, don't go out for long walks after 11 at night, etc.)
Last edited by Piney Creek; 05-31-2019 at 09:48 AM..
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