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We sure could use your help. We are looking for a place to retire and keep seeing North Carolina pop up. We would appreciate hearing from any of you that chose to retire in NC. Magazines and articles can only say so much, now we want to hear from the people who actually did it. You know what I mean?? Why NC and where in the state did you settle? Are you happy with your choice? Can you give pros and cons? Any advice you can give would be appreciated based on your personal experience. We're hoping by hearing what you personally like or not will help us to figure out where we can relate.
Just a little about us; We have lived overseas most of the last 20 plus years so coming back to the states is already a change. We are in many ways beginning our lives all over again needing to make new friends and building a life back in the USA. We thought we had a few more years to go before we had to make a retirement selection, but recently learned we are being brought back to the USA because husband's job is ending first of the year. So its an early retirement for us without much warning. Hope this is all making sense...thank you in advance for responding.
Keep in mind that magazines are articles are there to make money and drive traffic, and often use cherry picked statistics. Nothing wrong with considering the area, but I'm pretty sure those lists are the only thing keeping Forbes in business.
One year ago, We moved to NC from Phoenix, AZ about 2 years into our retirement (also a bit earlier than planned for me).
Our reasons for selecting NC were pretty specific. 1. No super cold winters. 2. Availability within 90 days of residency of health insurance for me to purchase as an individual with pre-existing conditions. NC was one of three states that had both these requirements (AR and AL being the two others).
After a ton of internet research, our original intention was to move to Wilmington. We visited, thought it was nice, but not a place that was a good fit for us (nothing bad about the area at all - just not what we were looking for). We drove two hours to Raleigh and really felt at home. We signed a contract to purchase a new construction home less than a week later.
What we like (in no particular order):
* Our community is geared towards a mature age group. Lots of social stuff and made it easy to make new friends.
* Our community has a country club that was optional. Love the bar and grille, and the social events. (we don't play golf, tennis or wanted to join the pool, and were not required to.)
* Good pool halls (an absolute requirement for DH who plays 4-5 afternoons a week)
* The green trees and flowers (we were used to the desert)
* The diversity of the area. So many different cultures, ethnic restaurants, ethnic grocery stores.
* Many outdoor activities (though we are still getting used to making a Plan B if the weather interferes with Plan A)
* Two hours to the mountains, two hours to the beach
* The people in the area seem more friendly and welcoming than we were accustomed to. More polite as well.
* We joined the Raleigh Newcomer's Club and met many people very easily.
* Many things to do downtown, and parking is cheap. (this applies to Raleigh and Durham)
* We worried a bit that our lack of interest in religion would be a problem here. It has NOT been at all.
* Trader Joe's and Costco are here.
* Outstanding medical care (we've used Duke exclusively, but I've no doubt that UNC would be just as good)
Cons:
*The cost of living is higher than we were used to (groceries, income taxes, real estate taxes). This is definitely not true for everyone.
*We dislike the driving here. Too many 2-lane roads, curving all the time. Not enough street lights. Exits are inadequately lit on the highways. The road system makes no sense at all.
* The winter is colder than we expected and it rains more than we expected. This may be just the 2012-13 year. It is not as humid as we feared.
* State control alcohol system. No happy hours.
I've tried to be objective and have just given you my thoughts. If there is anything specific, let me know.
Why NC and where in the state did you settle? Are you happy with your choice? Can you give pros and cons?
My husband loves to fish, and we wanted to be in a water-access community. We found a lovely community called Mimosa Bay in the small coastal community of Sneads Ferry.
Pros: 1. Housing prices below $100/SF for a large house. 2. Reasonable HOA fees and low property taxes. Just enough amenities without the high cost of a golf course. 3. Friendly people. Lots of kids and younger people are keeping me mentally alive. 4. Low stress and low traffic most of the year.
Cons: 1. Loud noises from Marine base like artillery and helicopters. 2. Long distances from decent medical care, few specialists. 3. Long distances from major shopping and cultural events. I can't get classical music on the radio, so I spend more to get satellite radio. 4. Humidity and bugs make it unpleasant being outside in summer. Weather is decent for 9 months of the year however.
Happiness? I'd rate it about 80%, as I'd prefer more culture. I would have been better off closer to Wilmington. Further, it would be nearly impossible for me to live here if I could not drive. I might need to move to assisted living if I were 80+ and could not drive.
Last edited by goldenage1; 06-20-2013 at 11:39 AM..
We chose Western NC after much research and a couple of visits out here. Like you, we were moving from the desert southwest, and we were tired of the lack of water, the wildfires, the isolation.
We have lived in seven different states, and never imagined living in the south, but on our visits to Asheville area, we were totally seduced by the friendly helpful people, the great outdoor activities, the art and culture that we could experience.
We picked a smaller town (Black Mountain) only 15 minutes from Asheville that is just full of very active retirees with lots of community activities. We have never met so many friends so easily before. We have a small town feel here without the traffic and congestion of Asheville, yet easy access to the hospital, culture, and all the resources in Asheville.
We wanted mountains and less humidity with four seasons. So WNC is perfect weather wise for us. As stated by another poster, I was able to get insured quickly and easily here by BCBS even with pre-existing problems, and my husband found every doctor in Black Mountain willing to take on new Medicare patients.
The Asheville airport is small and super user-friendly, and has direct flights to NYC, 3 places in Florida, Atlanta, and a few others plus connecting flights to anywhere.
Also, easy four hour drive to Charleston, SC which is a really fun and enjoyable town.
We love our decision to retire here. Can't speak for the rest of NC, as we haven't explored much out of WNC.
I was deeply touched to see the time you all spent responding to my questions. I really felt supported and that means a great deal to me. Thank you... and I'm so glad you folks brought up the medical issue because I hadn't even thought about that yet. We've always been covered through the company but now we will need to get coverage of our own. We aren't allowed medicare yet, and I do have pre-existing. So I need to understand what is going on with medical these days in the USA.
Each of you brought up points I could relate to and you've brought up points I hadn't even thought about. You've certainly given me more food for thought and reminded me that I need to ask myself more questions about what I can really live with and what I don't want to live without. And my husband has to do the same.
I'm going to do some reading about these areas you've all mentioned, each one sounds interesting in its own way. I like the idea of living between it all with a few hours to the beach or a few hours to the mountains because I love both environments. And I'm used to living closer to a large city (currently I live in London) so maybe a bit more city with the other areas near by is a good compromise?? Okay, back to some more research and if you don't mind...I'll be back to ask you more questions..thank you
The more I research the North Carolina area the more I like what I see. It seems to offer so much variety and beauty with the mountain areas to the west, coast to the east and easy access to both from the center. We've decided its where we want to retire because it does tick so many of the boxes of wants and needs. Now its a matter of narrowing down what region we want to settle in. What we are beginning to realize is that we need to adjust to being back on American soil first so renting during that adjustment is probably the safe way to go. As silly as it may sound, just going through a grocery store in the USA can be overwhelming after being overseas for a long time, due to the size and all the choices. Its all too much to take in at first. We also need to adjust to driving on the other side of the road again too. We think Wilmington is a good place to start, we prefer to be near water, and we like the lower property taxes in that area too.
We are also beginning to realize we aren't the same people we were when we left the USA. Our experiences have changed us. And we are also getting the strong feeling the USA is not the same either, and if I'm being really honest here...we have a little fear that it may not feel like "home" anymore and that is a bit scary. If that's the case, we're up the creek without the paddle...
we have a little fear that it may not feel like "home" anymore and that is a bit scary. If that's the case, we're up the creek without the paddle...
You have the advantage the the Wilmington area will be full of transplants, many of them military people who have lived overseas. Just start talking to people, and you will find some who understand your experience.
ElizabethRose, I think North Carolina is a great state, however, politically it is a little bit of a tinder box right now with very strong feelings on the right and the left. The right is currently holding the cards in state government. Not sure if that is important to you or not, but thought I would mention it since you mentioned your concerns that the USA might not feel like home anymore.
I hadn't thought about the military families being able to relate, but you are absolutely right. I agree that it will be important to talk to people and reach out. The worst thing I could do during that adjustment period would be to isolate myself. I must say, you sure are nice..I hope to meet people like you.
As to the political climate in NC. One of the things we've starting doing in perparation of our move is read news related to NC area. The political climate does appear heated and I definitely have my own opinions but I prefer not to comment online when it comes to politics. Its like discussions of religion, it has a way of bringing out some real crazy people that I'd rather not hear from. You know what I mean??
As to the Hot and Humid NC summers I keep reading about. That doesn't worry me at all. I lived in the Persian Gulf for 7 years. Now that is heat and humidity to the extreme so I feel like I can handle a NC summer without a problem. I'm flying over to NC in August to start seeing the areas in person so I guess I'll find out soon enough.
Would it be too rude of me to ask what people live on in retirement on a monthly basis? What does it take to have a comfortable life not one with expensive toys and expensive vacations. Just month to month kind of life in NC. I haven't a clue what groceries even cost. I just got back from the grocery store here in London, so I can tell you for example.. I just bought a dozen of eggs and it cost me 3.25 which would be about $4.90. How does that compare? Loaf of wheat bread was 1.45 which is about $2.25.
How about internet? Electricity? Medical coverage? Any advice or input regarding retirement in NC would be appreciated. I'm in total student mode willing to learn whatever you have to teach me.
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Thank you.....
