best art towns for retirement (community, state, blogs, retired)

[Clark Park]

If a person is looking to live in a small city or town that has not only an "artist's colony" feel, but also the charm and character of a safe, clean and quaint place with interesting shops and cafes/restaurants it seems to me that those places where gay people have gravitated to will fit the bill:

Provincetown, MA
Ogunquit, ME
New Hope, PA
Lambertville, NJ
Rehoboth Beach, DE
Key West, FL
Laguna Beach, CA
Saugatuck, MI

From my experience and observations, gay men and gay male couples seem to have a "knack" for scouting out inexpensive affordable places that have a beauty and charm and loads of potential. When they move in, they immediately start renovating and beautifying the place. In the suburbs of Philadelphia, two towns that have been "adopted" by gays are Haddonfield and Collingswood, New Jersey, that are seeing even in these troubled economic times a "renaissance" and the property values are rising significantly. Savvy home buyers and real estate investors know this.

[RiverBird]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

If a person is looking to live in a small city or town that has not only an "artist's colony" feel, but also the charm and character of a safe, clean and quaint place with interesting shops and cafes/restaurants it seems to me that those places where gay people have gravitated to will fit the bill:

Provincetown, MA - awesome place but you can't touch real estate there~!
Ogunquit, ME - fairly dead in the fall and winter months--there are arts galleries in summer, and a bit of summer theater (playhouse), but that's it

In New England, established cities Boston and Hartford spring to mind first in terms of high-volume arts cities. All of Western Mass. towns and the Berkshires (Tanglewood, galleries, theater) - especially Northampton (not in the Berkshires) - are really big on the arts too. Summer tourist places like Rockport Mass and Ogunquit, etc. are great in summer (usually art/craft galleries) but are fairly quiet in winter, or at least the arts aren't so prominent then.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

In New England, established cities Boston and Hartford spring to mind first in terms of high-volume arts cities. All of Western Mass. towns and the Berkshires (Tanglewood, galleries, theater) - especially Northampton (not in the Berkshires) - are really big on the arts too. Summer tourist places like Rockport Mass and Ogunquit, etc. are great in summer (usually art/craft galleries) but are fairly quiet in winter, or at least the arts aren't so prominent then.

So true. Northampton MA is best, I think for year round living. Tons of restaurants, shops, galleries, and there is Smith College and four other colleges in the general area. There's a lot going on.

Rockport is very artsy but with its location at the tip of Cape Ann, it's somewhat inaccessible. Nice in the summer and probably very nice in the winter if you don't mind the relative isolation.

[GraysFerryB4]

At least from a local standpoint I would toss in the following in no particular order:
*Rehoboth Beach, DE
*New Hope, PA
*Lambertville, NJ (across the footbridge from New Hope)
*Collingswood, NJ (2nd Saturday Arts Crawl)
*Haddonfield, NJ
*Smithville, NJ (Atlantic county)
* Cape May, NJ
And yes, Clark Park...I think you are on to something!

[katie45]

Very interesting what some consider the best towns to retire in...not sure what their criteria is. However, most of the ones I've seen on the list require substantial retirement income.

For me, the 'best town' is one that I can afford to live in. I'd love to relocate to some of those on the lists, but no can do.

And for those who can...go for it and enjoy!

[GraysFerryB4]

Truthfully, I would never retire in NJ. Pay wacked preoperty taxes in my older years?? Hell no! Rehoboth wins by a longshot, there. Great year round beach town with next to nothing taxes.

[MainerWannabe]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

So true. Northampton MA is best, I think for year round living. Tons of restaurants, shops, galleries, and there is Smith College and four other colleges in the general area. There's a lot going on.

Rockport is very artsy but with its location at the tip of Cape Ann, it's somewhat inaccessible. Nice in the summer and probably very nice in the winter if you don't mind the relative isolation.

Oh my... I just realized that you and newenglandgirl are not the same person!! Boy, do I feel silly!

[horseartist]

As an artist, what I look for in an "art town" is TOTALLY different from what a person looking to have art around them is seeking. Producing artists need a different environment than the professional galleries (think Sedona or Santa Fe).
I couldn't live in either of those places, but produce art that is suitable for consignment to those locations.
I'm looking for the place where I can create my art, and it isn't in either of those locations, or many other "meccas" for art galleries.

So when one makes a list, please know that the reader might be looking for different things.

[Cattknap]

Berea, Kentucky is an artist colony, a lovely college town, historic, lots and lots of shops and galleries.

The Kentucky Guild of Artists & Craftsmen

Artisan Center

Berea Arts Council

Gorgeous Daniel Boone Inn:
Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant | Berea College


berea, ky - Google Search sVKrTpSVIonlsQL3-6mLDw

[KiwiKate]

Door County -- the "thumb" in mitten-shaped Wisconsin -- is a wonderful arts community. Of course, you have to love Wisconsin winters to live there year-round, but it's a gorgeous and thriving area for artists, retirees and tourists.