Retirement Location (Columbia, Charleston, Greenville: house, unemployment rate, university)

[FisherOne]

Greetings any and all who will listen,

I want to escape the cold and snow. It's June 4th and low temperature in Michigan last night was 38 - so much for global warming. The oak leaves are not even fully blossomed yet.

Anyway, I am looking for recommendations on an area of South Carolina where like minded retirees are settling. I am most interested in the upland areas, like Columbia and northward. I like to fish, bike, walk and just laze around. Ideally it would like a bike friendly community with a good community college offering senior programs.

I am concerned a little about the summer humidity, but realize they should be made up for easily by the longer spring and falls and easier winters.

Any suggestions are deeply appreciated and please,please,please don't resent another "damn yankee" looking for a better life.

[myrc60]

Will you bringing a job with you or are you retired? The state unemployment rate is almost as high as it is in MI at this point but here in Greenville it is around 10%. Let us know so we can better advise you.

[FisherOne]

I am retired, I would be spending my income in SC, not trying to take away jobs from local SCarolinians who might be hardpressed.

[Skyliner]

You may really enjoy beautiful places like The Cascades at Verdae and The Woodlands at Furman, located in Greenville County. Furman University has a great lifelong learning institute. Furman has a stunningly beautiful campus, and is located along the brand new Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail. The cycling and walking opportunities are great on campus and on the trail. Verdae is called a "city within a city," and is very pedestrian and bicycle friendly. It is partially built and currently under development, but there are plenty of roads and sidewalks already open, plus a gorgeous park.

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by FisherOne

I am retired, I would be spending my income in SC, not trying to take away jobs from local SCarolinians who might be hardpressed.

If I had read your post more consciously I would have seen that My mind thinks one thing and my fingers type something completely different

Your money will go farther down here since you are on a fixed income. Come down to visit a few times.

[scyogi]

Some sweet spots....Greenville, Summerville/Charleston area, Aiken, and Greenville. All great spots located in 4 different areas of SC. SC is a great little spot...enjoy your retirement search!

[Lone Star Rooster]

I like the Anderson area...slower pace of life than in Greenville, less expensive, small/mid-size city feel, yet you're only 30 minutes away from the attractions and amenities of Greenville. I believe Tri-County Technical College there has some pretty good continuing education opportunities. Plus, Anderson is exactly midway between Atlanta and Charlotte, in case you ever want/need to get away to a big city for a day trip.

[Tinabean]

Hey Fisherone. Congrats on deciding to make a move that will enhance your quality of life. So many folks just stay with what is familiar and complain, complain, complain rather than doing anything about it. I have never lived in Anderson so I am commenting based solely on what I've read and heard but it seems like a rather dangerous place. Also, there have been issues with low lake levels (all over SC really, but Anderson seemed to be hit hardest). Lake Greenwood, which is an hour South of Greenville has several high-end retirement communities. Now that the economy has tanked, I think some really great bargains can be had. I LOVED a new development called the RETREAT when I went through it. They have a FANTASTIC master plan that is all natural. Other retirement communities on Lake Greenwood are Grand Harbor, Newport and Stoney Point. Push really, really hard for a deal and I bet you can score a $400,000 house for around $275,000. Greenville is terrific, too. Good luck wherever you land!

[Sheri Sanders]

You will love it here in the Upstate of South Carolina! There are lakes, mountains, and just about anything else you could ask for!

[plasticman]

Coming from Michigan, you'll find that Columbia is very hot in the summer. The upstate can get very hot as well, but not as often, or as severe. There are separate sub-forums for each area that you can explore to get more specific answers.