Retiring on a literal shoestring: support group (Louisville, Omaha, Pittsburgh)

[DreamingSpires]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Mpls is on my list as well. Do you know of any neighborhoods you can name specifically where a car would not be needed? M2CO was kind enough to take me around when I visited and I saw many great neighborhoods.

It's been a long time since I was in MSP and I don't know the entire area. My guess is, most of St. Paul and a great deal of Mpls (within the borders of either city) would qualify.

In St. Paul, off the top of my head I would single out Mac-Groveland, Crocus Hill, Highland Park, and Merriam Park, and anywhere around the perimeter of the U of M.

Local knowledge is always the best, so ask your friend, or go over to the Minneapolis discussion forum. These kinds of questions are discussed all the time on the regional forums.

[newenglandgirl]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Mpls is on my list as well. Do you know of any neighborhoods you can name specifically where a car would not be needed? M2CO was kind enough to take me around when I visited and I saw many great neighborhoods.

I'm curious to know, if you're older (say over 50 or 60) you're up to braving the long cold winters up north (MN)....have you ever considered lower midwest? Or is it that MN is particularly good for seniors with great services, healthcare, etc?

[triciajeanne]

APologies in advance for my cut and paste on quote/I'm not completely savy as yet on all ins and outs of city data threads...stealth rabbit's post looked so nice....

Excellent point by her on the co-housing/intentional community/condo living most scary aspect - the natural dictator in many that rises to the top and then invokes the new world order on the rest of the residents - I've followed many groups over the past few years/attended some work shops on co-housing/followed threads of aspiring communities and the like and something that always keeps me somewhat at bay is exactly the rules/regulations/the bickering/the subtle but ever-present demand for group-think. It, of course, makes you wonder if people can co-exist under any circumstances, respecting differences and laughing their way thru difficulties. If everyone would just listen to me, i could make it work (ok, that was supposed to be funny )

i suppose the best set up for doing anything in any sort of group effort/loosely-structured most likely/would be similar to a marriage of convenience. The parties involved (known hereafter as the party of the first part and the party of the second part cuz life should be a perpetual party) acknowledge the pros and cons of doing whatever the effort is/agreeing on the acknowledged outcome or goal. For me, the benefit of combining resources of sorts (talents, finances,etc) involves survival and community both. That is probably a driving force in many people (I'm being careful to avoid "most" or "all" as I haven't met everyone in the world and don't wish to appear dictatorial)

AARP or someone had an article some years back about retirees and quality of life issues. The over-all point was that a person living on 1100 a month was looking at a fairly meager existance in most parts of the country. Combining resources to secure living arrangements etc with 2, 3, 4 people with similar income took the monthly income from 1100 to 2200, 3300 (i'll leave the higher math to others). The point of course was that the type of housing, location, etc was significantly enhanced by this combining of resources, leaving each person more resources for their personal use while also giving them a circle of people that could provide additional security/support/etc. Like I said, somewhat a marriage of convenience. Benefits for all, with the acknowledged caveat that with any arrangement, there are pros and cons.

I can tend to be utopic in some ways. I don't get real hot and bothered by much, generally figuring that life itself is a give and take situation. I see a lot of humor in most things, although i can get pretty pissed inside when they are going on. In retrospect, they always seem funny in some manner. So I could be somewhat simplistic here but ultimately, i think what makes something like this work is a simplistic approach. Having lived in virtually every living arrangement there is (well, sort of / kind of) , I have found that getting along with others in some manner/respecting individuality is a given, whether you are living in the same house, the same neighborhood, the same community, whatever. I doubt i will ever find myself in anything highly structured because I will either end up in charge and having to shoot some of the people or I will be plotting the mutiny on the bounty. However, there does seem to be some of the most delightful people on this thread and on the women retiring to a different city thread and I think i could likely live with most any of ya.

(oh, quick caveat - my comment about not wanting to go out west is not anti-west - i am amazed at the beauty - spent some time in eugene this past winter and could have almost made the jump - i'm just rooted to be somewhat southern and i have a ton of stuff that is a part of what i do so moving but so far becomes undoable. My kids are all in virginia/my folks as well/old friends and friendly enemies are here and so there is that sense of needing to be within a day's journey that persists for now - perhaps that will ease with time but for now it does provide some bounderies)



stealthrabbit quote below:
I'm game for one of these types of concepts if we can keep the 'bossy' people out It seems each group I visit or consult with has a 'self appointed leader'. Too bad, but it usually takes independent thinkers to fill the community, yet someone will go overboard and become a dictator of sorts. If that person leaves, someone else takes over. Just like the pecking order in a hen-house[/quote]


The West is not for everyone, and I would like a place in your region (TN / NC) for fall and winter. Maybe 'shared equity' with someone who wants spring and summer there (or a B&B or farm with guest qtrs). I need to look into 'fractional ownership' as an option. I know folks who have done that for vineyards in France. 4 folks each buy 1/4th ownership, and they stay for 3-6 months / yr depending on availability / demand. The vineyards usually come with a caretaker & house, as well as a main house and an additional guest house, or barn with apartment. ( I stayed in several - agritourismos in Europe) Agritourism World: world-wide directory of agritourism on the Internet USA folks found it less expensive than buying a vineyard in Napa Valley, OR, or WA.

Here is a site for intentional communities.
Intentional Communities - ecovillages, communes, cohousing, coops

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Minervah

I can't say anything about Washington but you don't want Oregon unless you have vast amounts of money. That is why I am planning to move away from there.

When we were stationed in Bremerton Wa for 5 years, we toured all over Wa, down into Or and up into BC, looking for a retirement property to purchase.

We came to the same conclusion as you.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by DreamingSpires

It's been a long time since I was in MSP and I don't know the entire area. My guess is, most of St. Paul and a great deal of Mpls (within the borders of either city) would qualify.

In St. Paul, off the top of my head I would single out Mac-Groveland, Crocus Hill, Highland Park, and Merriam Park, and anywhere around the perimeter of the U of M.

Local knowledge is always the best, so ask your friend, or go over to the Minneapolis discussion forum. These kinds of questions are discussed all the time on the regional forums.

Oh yes, I have done all these things but I like to get as much input as possible. From your post I thought you might have specific neighborhoods in mind. But it's good to hear one of my choices in cities being recommended.

[Minervah]

It would be my choice, check out their hobby shop and indoor underground parking (For bikes AND cars). It also has a gorgeous interior and grounds. Sometimes a long waiting list for 2-3 bedroom units, but take a single unit and you will get first dibs on 'upsizing' (plus you will have less junk to move )

Sounds great. I wonder how much it would cost to buy in for those who are "shoestringing" it. I like that it is near public transportation so I could still be able to get to a part time job if I lived there. My parents owned a co-op for nearly 20 years and it was a much better deal than a condo.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by plantlover

No mention of allowing pets......

Not allowing pets would be a deal-breaker for me. Although it sure sounds nice!

[macreply]

Any input on best areas to retire on a shoestring near Charlotte or Durham, NC? All input welcome. Thanks in advance.

[Minervah]

Sorry to be a thread hog. I wanted to answer everyone so it was either on big long one or several short ones.

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

I'm curious to know, if you're older (say over 50 or 60) you're up to braving the long cold winters up north (MN)....have you ever considered lower midwest? Or is it that MN is particularly good for seniors with great services, healthcare, etc?

I am originally from Chicago so I know about cold weather although I understand that Mpls is colder. I have a dislike for continually sunny weather. I have always preferred the winter although fall is my favorite.

I have heard and seen that Mpls is good to Seniors. When MN2CO showed me the area, we saw a retirement community in Edina that had various types of housing for Seniors as well as a shopping center with all the necessities within walking distance.

Google Minneapolis Seniors and you will find a host of good websites for Seniors.

Some other places on my list would be Knoxville TN, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and maybe Boulder CO.

[brightdoglover]

Boulder on a shoestring? Sure would like to know how that could be!
My observation of intentional communities in the Northeast is wildly expensive (of course, a lot of housing here is like that).
I'd vote for a trailer home in a 55+ park. My father owns one, very very modest, and lives on his Soc. Security. He doesn't keep a car (can't see well enough) and walks to everything, including a train to Philadelphia and Atlantic City. I think his Soc. Sec. is about $1300, but it's less after Medicare comes out. He has no other income. People have cats there but no dogs allowed.