Retirement in Southwest Virginia (Roanoke, Salem: rental, house, community college)

[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 Virginia where like minded retirees are settling. I am most interested in the central to southwester areas with fair access to mountains. 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.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by 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 Virginia where like minded retirees are settling. I am most interested in the central to southwester areas with fair access to mountains. 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.

My parents retired from Ohio to Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford County. The address is Huddleston. They actually just listed their house at the lake! (Shameless plug...) You could also look in Franklin County. There is access to the mountains and of course fishing.

[PaperTrail]

Originally Posted by FisherOne

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

For what it's worth, I'm an Indiana native and am received with open arms in my rural Virginia community. I haven't noticed that being from the Midwest carries any real "Northern" stigma. So no worries for you!

I live 20 minutes from Smith Mountain Lake, and if you can afford the area, it is absolutely the place to be if you're a retiree!

[roanoker 4]

The azaleas, apple & cherry blossom trees, crepe myrtle, forsythia, dogwood,
rhododendrum were glorious this year in Va. We had a mild winter in the Roanoke area with only a trace of snow or ice. Presently, we are in a very wet spell with too much rain. Roanoke is completing its greenways and already many use them for walking and biking. If you like a smaller town there are many in this area. May I suggest Salem? Smith Mountain Lake is only a half hour away where I recently caught a striped bass. There are many fishing guides there as well as rental boats. This region of VA is probably the best place in the state for a retiree! Good Luck on your move!