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I thought this thread was about me. I WAS a city boy, all my life. Always lived in or around a medium sized big city. Also did some time in Detroit, but that was only for a year.
Now that I live in Small Town America, I can't imagine leaving. No sirie bob. This is it. I have found Paradise and it is Minnesota. Any one of these small towns would do. I love every moment here. I felt welcome from the get go - even though you could tell the locals were slow to accept us. It doesn't take any time at all if you aren't here to make waves...
At age 50 I moved from a small city, 250,000 to a smaller city,65,000 surrounded by rural areas. Did a little homework in advance, found a good, full time job and purchased a small, 900 sq ft ranch home cheap, have since purchased 40 surrounding acres with a private, very nice campsite and 3 miles of trails and lived 13 miles and just under a 20 minute drive from my job in the 'city'. All that for way under $200,000. I viewed retirement as just around the corner and wanted a small home to reduce and simplify maintainance and didn't need or want extra rooms which I probably would have just filled up with 'junk'
I assume your home is paid, or nearly paid for since your considering investing (although I don't consider purchasing an annuity an investment) the equity. You can live frugaly on $30,000 (net) today, but doubt you'll be able to do so 20 years from now. Why tie up all your life savings in a contract? Now is a good time to buy into other securities and will leave your nest egg more liquid.
What city are you in and what 'rural' area are you considering? Sounds like others might believe your in the midwest, but I don't see any other indication of that.
Do your home work in advance. Some rural areas have few good jobs, others may have many in whatever field your in or may be compatible with your education, experience etc.
Why not start job hunting areas you might consider, sell your house and take an apartment where you are until you find an area and job, preferably with a good retirement plan, health insurance, 401k etc. They might pay your moving expenses as my new job did for me and, since I'm now retired their retirement plan pays 60% of health insurance for life.
I thought this thread was about me. I WAS a city boy, all my life. Always lived in or around a medium sized big city. Also did some time in Detroit, but that was only for a year.
Now that I live in Small Town America, I can't imagine leaving. No sirie bob. This is it. I have found Paradise and it is Minnesota. Any one of these small towns would do. I love every moment here. I felt welcome from the get go - even though you could tell the locals were slow to accept us. It doesn't take any time at all if you aren't here to make waves...
Apparently there are two paradises. I found it here too. Not much difference between upstate NY and Minnesota.
Hi Catalmm, just wanted to let you know I'm in the same position. I bought myself a small vintage travel trailer with the idea of living in it and moving around every now and then. However, I have come to the conclusion that I will still need some sort of home base to come back to when money gets tight. I'm still undecided about everything and to make matters worse, I'm still burdened with a mortgage and truck payment. I also wrote to a small town in Maine asking about land up there and never heard anything back. take care, h
me too, sold the high maintenance house ($8600 property tax, 5400 ho ins, 450/month elec bill), move to small town larger house on 20 acres (1100 prop tax, 340 ho ins, 60/month elec bill). a lot easy to breathe with the down size(expense), up size(living space).
Quote:
Originally Posted by sadieogrady1
Hi Catalmm, just wanted to let you know I'm in the same position. I bought myself a small vintage travel trailer with the idea of living in it and moving around every now and then. However, I have come to the conclusion that I will still need some sort of home base to come back to when money gets tight. I'm still undecided about everything and to make matters worse, I'm still burdened with a mortgage and truck payment. I also wrote to a small town in Maine asking about land up there and never heard anything back. take care, h
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