Moved after Retirement and Happy with your choice

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by PhxBarb

I know there are college classes in some communities that are something like Lifelong Learning or something. Its a grant funded program. I read about it but don't know which states have it and can't remember the name of it. Help? Anyone? In AZ I can't find anything like that. Besides, ASU is too far from my home and Phoenix is nothing but sprawl. You definitely cannot get anywhere here without a car. Looking to leave AZ.....

Barb - if you google "Lifelong Learning", several pages of '.edu' sites come up.

[Steve Bagu]

Good question from the above poster. I can give my own experience that may relate to others here on C-D.

The family thing for me was not that good. My kids were all married except for the youngest (now 50) who will never get married. Another son is in Northern Calif (retired) and a third who is in Ariz still working and now a grandfather. The one daughter in LA is estranged from the family (her problem). Lost my oldest daughter to cancer two yrs next Sept (no children).

What was I to do. Was in business for 36 yrs (now a widower for many yrs) hardly see the kids and grown up grandkids and with coming health issues decided to leave Calif for Baja mexico. Bought me a lot over looking the ocean...built my own home...mortage free...cost of living on SS income allows me the avg comforts what a single person my age needs. Health care is close by in San Diego (VA Hospital) for my Medical/surgery needs etc. 29 miles and 45 min later I'm at the border.

I have no complaints. Weather is nice with NO snow/rain/smog.humidity... just WARM temp like today in the low 70's. Yes, we did feel the earthquakes of late but only a small nudge and rolling effect for about 30 secs, nothing broke.

About 14,000 Americans living in this Rosarito neck of the woods.

I am originally from Ont Canada so do know the snow. Lived in Mexico City for three yrs and have driven all over Mexico. There where a couple of nice places down in the mainland that would be nice for a person w/o special medical needs or responsibilities state side.

Mine is just one story of 14 yrs in this home with a few more yrs left barring complications.

I did help two couples (via info) from the west coast who moved down here and there is another person seeking some info...all thru C-D.

Steve

[Tesaje]

Moving more than once in retirement doesn't mean you made a mistake, altho if you move then move back in 6 months it probably is. One place can be good for awhile but a person can want a different place at a later age. A place can be a great experience for a while then another place can be right at a later time.

I want to move too but I have a lot of sprucing up to do on my house and the market will probably preclude selling it for quite a while anyway.

[SCBaker]

Originally Posted by PhxBarb

I am in Arizona and sick of the desert and all the houses that look the same. I am tired of the summer heat, wishing I could be somewhere where there are 4 seasons, a little snow, rain, and some cold. Wish I could find a college town that has senior courses, especially related to my history passion and historical houses. No foo foo classes. I have taken all of them. I know how to watercolor, make bread, get spots out of laundry, faux paint, sew a quilt, etc. Am SICK of it all. I know there are college classes in some communities that are something like Lifelong Learning or something. Its a grant funded program. I read about it but don't know which states have it and can't remember the name of it. Help? Anyone? In AZ I can't find anything like that. Besides, ASU is too far from my home and Phoenix is nothing but sprawl. You definitely cannot get anywhere here without a car. Looking to leave AZ.....

I certainly understand your feelings concerning Arizona. We moved to Arizona from Michigan in 1972. I lived in Tempe for 26 years and then moved to Peoria, AZ for 7 years. For many years, it was a quite a nice place to live. A very slow laid back pace of life. In the early and mid 70's Price Rd. (101) was a dirt road. The Superstition Freeway (US60) was only 2 lanes and ended at Rural Rd. from Phoenix. Many orange groves & Japenese flower gardens along Baseline Rd. Chandler had only one small subdivision around Knox & Country Club (Arizona Ave.) the rest of Chandler was mostly cotton fields except for the small downtown. They were just beginning to build Awautukee. The skies were clear and blue and the night stars very low hanging and bright. The heat wasn't much of an issue, because for years it really began to cool off in mid September like clockwork. Then came the astronomical growth. You know the rest.

I never felt at home in Arizona. I missed the Great Lakes, the four seasons and just simply the way of life I had in Michigan. I thought I would adapt as the years passed, but it never happened. In 2005, after 33 years in Arizona, I was finally able to leave. Nothing to keep me there anymore.

My daughter accepted a position in Southern Ohio and asked me to accompany her. I retired and we left together, first to Ohio and then to Pittsburgh. After a time, I realized I needed to have my own home and life. So, I began an extensive internet search for a new area for myself. My search led me to the Tri-cities area of Tennessee. I made a physical visit to the area last September and decided this was the place for me. I love the people, the beauty of the area and the activities that are offered here. In my small condo development, I am surrounded by mountains and abundant wildlife. The Greenbelt Walkway along the Holston River and the beautifully restored downtown are only minutes away. Daniel Boone began his trek to find the Cumberland Gap just up the road. What more could a amateour photographer and history buff ask for?

[TuborgP]

Originally Posted by Escort Rider

I am one of the above, and I have never regretted my choice. When I bought my townhouse four years before retirement, it was with the intention of staying here; it is convenient to everything and close to my volunteer activities, close to my part-time paid projects, and close to a few dear old friends.

But of course there is absolutely nothing wrong with moving after retirement and this has been an interesting thread. I would like to ask a question on the general theme of the OP but with a slight twist: Why did you move after retirement? Some of that has been briefly touched on here already, I know. It seems to me some of the common (and excellent) reasons are:
--- to be closer to children/grandchildren/other family
--- to get out of the snow and ice during winter
--- a desire for more rural living (escape from congestion, etc.)
--- a desire or need to reduce living expenses in retirement

Would anyone care to expand on this list? Confirm the list?

One of the things people don't consider about reducing living expenses is that your retirement resource acquisition was based on a higher salary base than where you are relocating to. I have heard financial advisers in high income areas say the best thing you can do for your retirement is to move. Especially if you have a pension and investments both of which are based on how much you earn. If you put away 15% of your money from the beginning you will have much more if you averaged $100,000 over your career compared to $75,000. Same with pensions that are based on salary which would be higher in the high cost area if compensation reflected that higher cost. Even the eventual equity will be higher if the same rate of appreciation is applied to a more expensive home. What might be a tight budget while working can leave you very comfortable once retired and relocated.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by MadManofBethesda

Excellent post, Laura. Although tbh, I have no idea what "foo-foo retiree classes" are and why they are bad.

Foo-foo retiree classes (and I'm just making up these titles but have seen similar titles offered in one town's retiree program):

The Zen of Being Me
Those Swinging Sixties (as a history class offering)
Colors and Moods
Discover Your Inner You

It's not so much that classes like that are offered but it's when most of the retiree class offerings are those kind of things that makes it foo-foo, in my opinion (others may disagree). I think when some retired professional/highly skilled people see those kind of class offerings, they are probably more likely to enroll in expensive college classes instead of cheap-by-comparison retiree programs.

In contrast ---

This is an 8 session class I have this afternoon:

Selected Research Topics On Land-Atmosphere Interactions (lecture presentation by different local people from The National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and here are 3 examples of different weekly topics in that class:

1. Describing the Soil-Plant-Environment Conditions Using Field Measurements and Mathematical Formulations
2. Thunderstorms and Their Production of Lightning, Wind, Rain, and Hail
3. Weather and Climate Prediction Models: How do They Work?

(Keep in mind that my town has a lot of retired scientists and engineers)

One of the best/most interesting classes I have taken was:

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) taught by a someone from a local company that makes an important part for them.

Other good ones:

Homeland Security Research (different speakers from the national laboratory in town made presentations)

My Town's Police Department (different officers and detectives made presentations: Police Chief overview, drug enforcement, K-9 teams who actually brought drugs and a drug sniffing dog to class to show us how they find the drugs and explain how the dogs are trained, animal control, neighborhood watch, etc., and a ride-along with the police was offered)

The FBI (the local agent in charge taught a three session class, He was involved in the FBI anthrax investigation after 9/11).

My County's history (we have unique unrelated to each other history - coal mining history including union issues and a disaster, a futuristic model town built by the TVA to build a dam, a well-known school desegregation incident and a town that was built in secret to work on the atomic bomb. Each session lecture was by a different person who injected their own stories in with the history to make it interesting.)

Reptiles and Amphibians (The instructor brought snakes to class to enhance the lectures)

Prosperity and Depression in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s

My Town's Municipal Operations (included a trip to the building to see how traffic lights are programmed, sewer and water, vehicle maintenance, sign making shop, electrical operation)

The Brain and Behavior

Beginning Photography (this class got me interested in joining the town camera club) taught by a local area professional photographer.

I also had a class taught by the head of Pharmacology at the University that had to do with how a new drug is researched, tested, funded and marketed but I don't remember the name of the class...maybe New Drugs.

I'm told a class on Robotics may be offered in the future. We have a local business in the area in that field.

Those are just examples and I happen to prefer science, history, local info over literature, music, finance/economics, travel, medicine, religion and art classes. There are good ones offered in those areas, too.

When I was researching schools for retirees, before I moved, what attracted me to look into the one in my then prospective new town, was a class that taught retirees how to look for turtles and gather data on them for an area study that was going on at the time. (I was not yet retired.) At the same time, there was also a class offered on Quantum Mechanics (not that I would take it). It was a "Whoa!" moment as I had never seen a retiree program with those kind of classes. That's when I began to research my town on other aspects for relocation in retirement.

I started by subscribing to the local weekly newspaper and reading the daily newspaper online. Five months later I made a visit.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by flipsideoffifty

In another thread someone provided a nice summary of their retirement choice. They had moved from New England to a Nevada 55+ community and were very happy. I would like to hear from other retirees that made the choice to move to a new community. Where did you move and are you happy with your choice? What made this a good fit for you? Did you move into a 55+ community or are you living in a city environment? I would appreciate any suggestions.

I have lived all over the country over the years but I think I always had it in the back of my mind that I would end up back in my hometown when the time came. And that's what I did. I don't think I'd be happy living anywhere else at this point in my life, although I've always been happy wherever I lived, but family is here. Family is very big with me. And as long as my mom is here I will be too. Actually, I love it here and always have, so it's no surprise that no matter where I have lived, or for how long, I've always ended up back here! IF I ever DID decide to move again it would be back to the mountains of AZ.

[AZgarden]

Thanks Gandalara for the tip.
What I was looking for was OLLI -- the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute which is affiliated with 121 colleges and universities in the US. Courses for senior citizens, and includes social groups and other activities. Funded by Bernard Osher . Very low cost and alot to do.

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by donsabi

Most people will make a move and swear it was the best decision of their lives. They could move to the depths of hell and tell everyone their home is warm and no more snow to shovel. The truth is that about 60% of seniors move after retirement and move back within six months. If you read many of these posts you will find boat loads of people who retired to FL and now looking to move elsewhere. Then there are those that move to be close to their children and sometime after they settle in their children move again.

One fellow that retired at the same time I did moved to central FL. He swears he loves it there and spends everyday on the golf course. Then I talked to his wife and she says he does golf regularly in the cooler months but when the heat and humidity hits he doesn't leave his house for six months.

I have moved several times since retirement and I have learned that there is no place called "Perfect."

LOL that is so true...people in FL tend to BS about the great weather, the truth is for many months it is so hot and miserable that you become a prisoner of A/C....it is known as the Florida Winter.

You don't see anyone outside unless they have to be.

[nancy thereader]

I know there are college classes in some communities that are something like Lifelong Learning or something. Its a grant funded program. I read about it but don't know which states have it and can't remember the name of it. Help? Anyone? In AZ I can't find anything like that. Besides, ASU is too far from my home and Phoenix is nothing but sprawl. You definitely cannot get anywhere here without a car.

You are talking about the OSHER classes which are in many many colleges and are just terrific.