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the dream of finding a retirement community of affordable small cabins keeps coming up "zero" ... where could such a community (which is affordable for a single woman) be found????
Try the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains such as Sevierville, Maryville, Cosby and Newport.
Where are the children, grandkids, siblings, old school friends? Yep- they are all still up north. See them once a year and soon will be unable to make the long drive every year.
Do not give up loved ones for weather. Nothing replaces those you care about or who care about you. I would go back home in a heartbeat, but would have to go without hubby.
From north Georgia to Michigan would be about a two-day drive, would it not? Not all that long, really. Why do you figure you "soon will be unable to make" that drive?
At 68 I made a solo car trip from Los Angeles through Austin (Texas), Baton Rouge (Louisiana), Little Rock (Arkansas), Kansas City, Denver, and home (just to give the basic route). No problem whatsoever, and I'll probably do some version of that trip again after turning 70 but before another year has passed.
From north Georgia to Michigan would be about a two-day drive, would it not? Not all that long, really. Why do you figure you "soon will be unable to make" that drive?
At 68 I made a solo car trip from Los Angeles through Austin (Texas), Baton Rouge (Louisiana), Little Rock (Arkansas), Kansas City, Denver, and home (just to give the basic route). No problem whatsoever, and I'll probably do some version of that trip again after turning 70 but before another year has passed.
Everybody's health situation is different. I used to make the trip from CT to FL straight though. Now I would stay overnight somewhere. Lots of people tire more easily or their bodies suffer more from being cramped up in a car for hour after hour, there are varying degrees of eyesight. You are probably in really good health and you say your work out so maybe that accounts for some of it, but there are others with various health problems that could easily limit them from doing the drive.
Ask yourself, if you want mountains "Do I really want to live in the mountains or do I really just want to see the mountains from my home at the bottom?" We get ice. Your reaction time may be fine when you're 60. How will it be when you are 70?
This is especially for you flatlanders (like in Florida) who think the mountains are so pretty and just want to move a little bit north. We get ice on flat roads, too, but less of an issue.
It's not the same as when you vacation in the mountains in the summer and spend a lot of time at the cabin/lodge/motel and go into town maybe once or twice a week. If you are not going to seal yourself off from the rest of the world, you will be up and down those mountains and hills a lot to do basic things like shopping, doctor's appointments, activities, etc.. Fine in July. Not so fine in January. The roads are narrow, curvy, some very curvy besides being up and down. Think curvy with ice. Do you really think some isolated mountain road is a road crew's or a power company's priority?
If you or your spouse should die or go into the hospital for an extended period, is the spouse still at home going to be isolated or have trouble getting around for basic needs?
As a relocating retiree, really think about living some place where you can see or visit the mountains, easily, rather than living in them.
Ask yourself, if you want mountains "Do I really want to live in the mountains or do I really just want to see the mountains from my home at the bottom?" We get ice. Your reaction time may be fine when you're 60. How will it be when you are 70?
Interesting that you brought this up because I had thought about responding to Escort Rider's post about a friend of mine. She is 68 and in great shape - she jogs every day, does lots of floor exercises, and takes care of and rides her two horses. She lives in a medium sized mountain town and can drive over the mountains to see her daughter each month - a distance of 2-3 hours. Can drive in all kinds of icy road conditions and snow. Does not have a problem with long distance driving as far as I know. But I am noticing that her driving skills are starting to deteriorate. As soon as she gets in a larger city and has to drive in heavy traffic, especially on the freeway, she is starting to sort of freak out. Has problems changing lanes, merging and exiting, general difficulties in maneuvering. Has trouble with all the traffic lights, signage about lanes ending, etc. And these are just cities with 200K people or more, not huge cities.
Ask yourself, if you want mountains "Do I really want to live in the mountains or do I really just want to see the mountains from my home at the bottom?" We get ice. Your reaction time may be fine when you're 60. How will it be when you are 70? ...
I see your point about mountains. You are right.
I would be very hesitant to live in mountains.
As it is we are on flatland ourselves. We do however really like forests, rivers, and lots of wildlife. We were fortunate to find a great retirement location that has these things. [and avoids mountains]
Ask yourself, if you want mountains "Do I really want to live in the mountains or do I really just want to see the mountains from my home at the bottom?" We get ice. Your reaction time may be fine when you're 60. How will it be when you are 70?
This is especially for you flatlanders (like in Florida) who think the mountains are so pretty and just want to move a little bit north. We get ice on flat roads, too, but less of an issue.
It's not the same as when you vacation in the mountains in the summer and spend a lot of time at the cabin/lodge/motel and go into town maybe once or twice a week. If you are not going to seal yourself off from the rest of the world, you will be up and down those mountains and hills a lot to do basic things like shopping, doctor's appointments, activities, etc.. Fine in July. Not so fine in January. The roads are narrow, curvy, some very curvy besides being up and down. Think curvy with ice. Do you really think some isolated mountain road is a road crew's or a power company's priority?
If you or your spouse should die or go into the hospital for an extended period, is the spouse still at home going to be isolated or have trouble getting around for basic needs?
As a relocating retiree, really think about living some place where you can see or visit the mountains, easily, rather than living in them.
A few years ago, in a retirement magazine, people were interviewed and some mentioned the same as you said.They bought a house ..IN..the mountains and after the first year or two realized that was a mistake and sold it and moved to the edge of town ........close.....to the mountains.They did so before failing health was a reason. They stated the constant hassle to come into town in winter wasn't worth living there.I really like it when people point out their mistakes and are willing to share them. We can all learn from past mistakes ...........whether our own or others.
A few years ago, in a retirement magazine, people were interviewed and some mentioned the same as you said.They bought a house ..IN..the mountains and after the first year or two realized that was a mistake and sold it and moved to the edge of town ........close.....to the mountains.They did so before failing health was a reason. They stated the constant hassle to come into town in winter wasn't worth living there.I really like it when people point out their mistakes and are willing to share them. We can all learn from past mistakes ...........whether our own or others.
I have always dreamed of returning to my hometown when I retired, but as retirement gets closer, I am seriously considering if that's a good idea. It's not in mountains, but it's hilly and very snowy. The small local hospital was destroyed by flooding a few years ago and has not and will not be replaced. I'm not sure if there are still doctors in town. The nearest veterinarian is 25 miles away. While there's a supermarket, a dollar store, a Valu, feedstore, and numerous other small businesses, the nearest Walmart (which I don't shop at) is 20 miles away, and "real shopping" (a variety of different stores) is about 30 miles away.
That's not a big deal for me most of the year, but it is in the winter, even now. So, I am re-thinking my options. I may stay where I am because all the conveniences are here. I may move about 30 miles north to another small city or 25 miles west to a small town. Both offer more amenities than my home town plus proximity to Lake Erie, easy access to I-90, and somewhat less snow.
Ask yourself, if you want mountains "Do I really want to live in the mountains or do I really just want to see the mountains from my home at the bottom?" We get ice. Your reaction time may be fine when you're 60. How will it be when you are 70?
My parents bought 28 acres in NC that bordered the Smokies years before they retired. They had a travel trailer on it and would take off after work and drive 12 hours to get there over the years. They retired and had an Appalachian style log cabin built and they did a lot of the finishing work themselves. It was one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I've been.
Dad had back surgery a few years later (probably from all the clearing and hauling logs for firewood). He realized Mom was up on a mountain with a half mile long drive. Within a year or so they sold, bought a condo in Asheville, eventually sold that ended up back in the area where they grew up and had left in their 30's for better work opportunities.
The point is though, they lived their dream and their fondest memories are of that place on the mountain. I still remember my parents happily planning all this while I was in high school.
Buying a place to look at the mountains may be prudent for some, but for others who want to live the experience, it would not be the same.
How mobile you are and personal health issues largely determine whether a 4-season environment will be right for you. Only you can answer those personal questions. You can, you understand, always rent an apartment in a warm climate for a month or two each year ... to get away from the harshest of the winters. In Minneapolis, where I lived/worked for a while ... heavy snowfall was the challenge. In Chicago, where I am now ... it's the sometimes bitter coldness in the Winter. I'm probably 2-years away from retirement and I'd thought I would probably relocate to someplace warmer year-round ... but I've sort of changed my perspective because I enjoy the change in seasons, the easy access to first-rate medical and other services, and because I have family and friends here and I know the area well. Nothing new to learn, no new life to construct. Best of luck with the planning process.
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