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It's been great for me, a single woman. I got lucky and was able to retire on a very good pension (thanks to the smart guys in my union who pushed for $$ to go in to it) and sell my CA home at the peak of the market and move to a rural area. The home and 28 acres that I bought here cost far less than what I'd sold my previous home for.
The dogs love having lots of room to roam and a creek of their own to play in, not to mention lots of horse poop to roll around in.
Biggest down sides for me are that Chinese food is far, far away as is Indian food and so is the emergency vet clinic.
I'm not wild about the colder weather and wish the house was not all electric with a heat pump since overnight lows dip below freezing most night for 5 months.
There are enough transplants here from more metropolitan areas that I am not friendless because I don't belong to any church. In fact I can say that I have more true friends here than back in CA., mostly because I got involved in the local Humane Society and we share a common cause.
At 62 I don't have any major health issues, just the usual aches and pains of getting older and much less stamina but I can afford to hire out some of the honey do type chores that need doing - such as fence repair or installing new storm doors.
For many years I had thought that I would retire in place in Oakland (the thought of packing up all my stuff was the main reason) but eventually realized that a more rural environment was much more my cup of tea.
No kids or grand kids so proximity to family was not an issue for me as it is for so many others.
I feel truly fortunate and the good life now makes up for the last eight or so (out of 28) years that I was miserable in my job when the place was sold and new management was clueless.
We moved out of central NJ to NC a little over a year ago mainly because of the lower COL and the milder weather.
So far back in NJ in the last year, 30" of snow the day after Christmas, Hurricane Irene, and just a week or so ago the October snow storm that left our old neighborhood without power for another few days just like Irene did.
Because of the high unemployment in NC I still have not found any acceptable part time work like I had in NJ but down here I really don't need the job.
For us so far the move has worked out.
We miss our old neighborhood and the great restaurants in NJ but we don't miss the crowded roads, the crowded stores and we certainly don't miss the bad weather.
We are also from NJ - but moved from the northeast part of the state (bergen county) to western NJ, and I love it. Yes, we've had our share of bad weather, but now that I'm not working and don't have to drive in it, it doesn't bother me - I find an occasional day or two hunkered inside is quite enjoyable - get a big fire going and I always find something to keep me busy.
We have beautiful scenery here and much less traffic. We did pick an area that is within 15 minutes of a community hospital, shopping, a theater group, doctors, etc. We're still only an hour away from old friends and larger medical facilities should something major happen, but it's like a different world here - peaceful and serene - and best of all, we're still close to family. I love it here and am glad we made the move.
We are also from NJ - but moved from the northeast part of the state (bergen county) to western NJ, and I love it. Yes, we've had our share of bad weather, but now that I'm not working and don't have to drive in it, it doesn't bother me - I find an occasional day or two hunkered inside is quite enjoyable - get a big fire going and I always find something to keep me busy.
We have beautiful scenery here and much less traffic. We did pick an area that is within 15 minutes of a community hospital, shopping, a theater group, doctors, etc. We're still only an hour away from old friends and larger medical facilities should something major happen, but it's like a different world here - peaceful and serene - and best of all, we're still close to family. I love it here and am glad we made the move.
We didn't move because we hated NJ, we just got tired of shoveling snow and the colder weather not to mention the COL.
If we were financially able I would love to be living in certain areas of NJ. Still have family back there in Warren Co.
Agree that when you don't have to drive in the bad weather it is much more tolerable.
If I could do it I would love to have a home either in Spring Lake or Tewksbury for the spring to fall seasons
and a winter home far South but I don't see that happening.
You can keep the NYC metro area but the rest of NJ is great.
We moved out of central NJ to NC a little over a year ago mainly because of the lower COL and the milder weather.
So far back in NJ in the last year, 30" of snow the day after Christmas, Hurricane Irene, and just a week or so ago the October snow storm that left our old neighborhood without power for another few days just like Irene did. ...
We started the drive north from Philly to Houston the day after I retired. Coming up on one year, we couldn't be happier. Absolutely love the four seasons and walking nearly everywhere. Further, being in a condo means no more maintenance and upkeep. It worked out even better than we imagined - you'd have to drag us back to Texas.
We moved from northern MN to central NC last spring. Miss our daughter and our friends. Can't seem to work up the steam to jump into the social/volunteer life here. Summer was way too hot and humid.
But no regrets. Growing old in MN is a tough gig. Six months of ice and snow. Taxes you wouldn't believe. Income tax, sales tax, property tax... Plus, as welfare programs are cut in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee... people are moving to MN in a steady stream and bringing their problems with them.
Enjoying settling into our new home. Lots of community activities, just need to get with it. Place seems safer. Ask me in a year.
Moved from NJ to upstate NY and love it! Peace and quiet of the country, great new friends, neighbors and within an hour of grandchildren. Spend 6-8 weeks in HI and RV to the Keys for 6 weeks, which breaks up the winter. Happy to leave the congestion and hustle and bustle of NJ for greener pastures. Have never looked back.
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