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Tesaje- Great article - Doesn't this just pi-- you off? How did this happen?
The bit on Intentional Communities sounds too much like cult living.
Where do you plan to go?
Oh yeah. The collapse of our financial system right before I plan to retire is not what I wanted or worked for.
I think some of the article was just making assumptions based on those communes in the 70's even tho that a small minority of boomers doing that.
I had my eye on the Portland, OR area but the jury is still out. No real decisions for me until I can spend some serious weeks there to test it out. Or, I might just stay here indefinitely until the economy turns around. I might get lucky and this area will come back sooner than the rest of the country due to the massive govt. spending projects. Or not.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Originally Posted by Wisteria
Janb, thanks, I'll check into that co-housing information.
Careful, don't confuse cooperatively owned housing with co-housing, they are different (tho sometimes co-housing is cooperatively owned, it is usually condoed)
The links were for some funding and assistance in the getting a cooperative owned project off the ground.
In general Co-housing is a bit more 'commune' type, where as cooperatively owned housing is run as a non-profit business, and there is often a draw of being purposed as a 'team' and less 'exclusionist'. (JMHO, & observation) While I like both concepts, I don't think I can deal with the usual social agenda of cohousing. Life is getting too short to get back on the battlefield. If I could find a rural but close in cohousing farm WITHOUT a dominant 'jam-it-down-your-throat' agenda or 'boss' I MAY be interested. I may need to head to international destination, I'm not very 'American'. (little to no TV or shopping)
Knox, thank you for all the good info on condos in your city. I really would like to come for a visit. That's the best way to get an initial feel for a place.
JanB, My lifestyle is very much like yours, as is my take on co-op living and co-housing. I just don't have the energy to get into mediation, negotiation, and "pitching in" in those situations. I have a friend in co-housing and she thrives on all that stuff. I don't mean to sound cynical. but I've raised 4 kids and done so much over my lifetime for others (family, friends, students, etc etc) that now (or never) it has to be time for me. But for sure, I do not want to be isolated or feel alienated, which is why I hesitate to move to a totally new area. Some kind of reinvention of the "welcome wagon" for women our age would go over big now!
The tough thing to decide is whether to stay put (ride it out) or make a change now before lower energy levels and health issues make moving to a new place totally undoable. That's what I mean when I suggest downsizing, selling, resettling closer to 60-64 than to wait till 63-70 to do it. I for one know that with every year that passes, I'm less likely to have any nerver left to make ANY kind of move, even to the next town over
And, I probably would stay put excpet for 2 main factors: rapidly rise in cost of living where I am (esp prop taxes) and inability to stand the long cold winters like I used to. Those are the main reasons pushing me to look at other places. I don't really want to leave my grown kids, sisters, and friends behind. I know only too well how hard it is to network all over again at this age, but I know of a number of women who have done so. So...that's my thinking on this whole matter. I still think that someone like Orman could make a bundle by hosting a national conference on this for women!
I've reached the painful conclusion that this "recession" will last many years. The elephant in "our" room is that several of us will not have many years to ride this out. Some of us, like Knoxgarden and LiveContent, are happily settled. However, most of us, are not. Bummer. I am reminded on almost a daily basis how quickly time is flying. Seriously, I feel this incredible sense of urgency to move on with my life. Is anybody else experiencing this urgency? (My sisters and friends aren't feeling this, so I'm wondering if it's unique to me.) I want my new place to have a warm climate, inexpensive housing and friends living in my neighborhood. That about sums it up.
I know what you mean - I try to accept that I will just be patient and ride this out but I feel like a litte kid that's trying run and not getting anywhere cuz mom has a hold on the back of my pants (get the image?).
I also don't want to waste my life - waiting. What's a girl to do?
I've reached the painful conclusion that this "recession" will last many years. The elephant in "our" room is that several of us will not have many years to ride this out. Some of us, like Knoxgarden and LiveContent, are happily settled. However, most of us, are not. Bummer. I am reminded on almost a daily basis how quickly time is flying. Seriously, I feel this incredible sense of urgency to move on with my life. Is anybody else experiencing this urgency? (My sisters and friends aren't feeling this, so I'm wondering if it's unique to me.) I want my new place to have a warm climate, inexpensive housing and friends living in my neighborhood. That about sums it up.
I do not think that this is now a recession. It is a economic depression that be far more difficult to many people. That is because these people today has expectation of a more extravagant lifestyle. That which were luxuries, yesterday, are now necessities. These type of people will never learn to live with less, be satisfied with less and be happy and content with less.
We are now in a time where expectation of these types of living styles cannot be sustain and certain people will not accept a "no" to their constant demands for more. There will be violence and an upheaval of the society. These people who started the turmoil with their desires and greed will be silenced and many will be killed. Free market capitalism is now being questioned, and will continued to be restricted with the eventual change of the economic system to a more socialistic controlled economy.
With that achievement to a more socialistic market system, we will be able to have a healthful, happy and sustainable lifestyle for all in a society where resources will be equitable shared. We will go through some problems; the system will not be perfected immediately but it will evolve into a better economic system.
All we have to do is wait and it will happen. American Capitalism is dying and it will not be revived, in the way we know it today. So those of us who are seniors may say that we do not have the time to wait for recovery--that is probably true. That does not bother me; as I will be happy just to see the beginning of the end, of a very, bad, greedy economic system and know that the future will be better for others.
No I do not have a sense of urgency because I am just waiting, watching. I know I can survive with much, much less and still
livecontent
Last edited by livecontent; 03-07-2009 at 10:05 PM..
Some random thoughts: First, I believe the only way we got out of the Depression was WW II. I'm no expert, but I don't see what the catalyst would be to get us out of the "recession" we're in now. And yes, the media is definitely contributing -- many people haven't been affected at all (heck, my friend just got a huge bonus at her large company!), yet everyone's natural inclination is to curtail spending because of all the grim economic news.
I am a very decisive person and it frustrates me that I can't do what I want (get outta here; move back to SoCal), because I can't sell my place, because of indecisive "buyers" who keep wasting my time with showings that produce no results.
The urgency factor seems closer every day. Inertia vs. fear becomes a real tension. Sometimes I'm tempted to get in the car and settle where ever I run out of gas. Indecision is my companion. Bah and drat the cowardice!!
Reading others' posts, I see that there is a certain segment of us that is much more stable and fairly well off (even if not rich) and another segment of us who had made a more modest living and faces a more challenging retirement financially. It's hard to compare apples to oranges on this thread, so for me it would be helpful to know who's more in my situation: no current job (other than occasional consulting), no rich spouse, no pension, only SS and savings with a house paid for and wondering whether and where to relocate for better cost of living. If anyone is more in my boat, what's your take on whether and where to move?
Location: Monterey Bay, California -- watching the sea lions, whales and otters! :D
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Quote:
NEG :
Reading others' posts, I see that there is a certain segment of us that is much more stable and fairly well off (even if not rich) and another segment of us who had made a more modest living and faces a more challenging retirement financially. It's hard to compare apples to oranges on this thread, so for me it would be helpful to know who's more in my situation: no current job (other than occasional consulting), no rich spouse, no pension, only SS and savings with a house paid for and wondering whether and where to relocate for better cost of living. If anyone is more in my boat, what's your take on whether and where to move?
These have been very interesting posts, everyone! We're getting to the nitty-gritty of it.
I'm more in your boat NEG. Maybe even sinking a bit!
I have a house, but owe a lot on it because I had to take an equity loan for a new septic and other repairs....thus, I owe a lot (I'm in California, so you can imagine and I doubt if I will recoup it). Therefore, I can no longer look at my house as an asset. If I can get more than I paid, great....but I may not....
I have a small almost 11-year pension (11 years in April). I'll have Social Security....BUT, I have 10 years of zero earnings -- I didn't even know about how it all worked when I was younger, and worked in places that did not contribute to S.S., but also was not at each place long enough to be vested (that was not a word I knew then). Thus, all I can count on is meager S.S. and a small pension of maybe $800-1,000/month (which I am very grateful for otherwise I have no clue what I would do). So, I'm at the bottom of the food chain.
On the flip side, I realize that I don't have much money, or any investments, or any material things of worth. But, at least I used my youth to travel and experience things. I've lived all over the country, traveled through Europe and other places, got my graduate degree, and have known some interesting and whacky people. Considering I wouldn't have those opportunities at this age, I at least try to console myself with the fact that I did do things during those years. I didn't have my daughter until I was 42, so that gave me a good 24 years of independent living and traveling before I became a mother. I left home at 18, started working immediately (I came from a rather poor family), and worked my way through school. In-between, I also moved different places (I've lived in Arizona, New York State, Colorado, Seattle, and California). So, at least I feel like I used my youthful years.
Now, contemplating my age and situation, I'm not so happy. I guess the good news is that in a few years or so, I just might forget everything! And then I won't even realize from day to day how miserable I've become! Haha -- could be, though!
So, my resources are very limited. I, too, am very frugal, and I've managed to make all these moves and travel a lot on very little -- it's amazing what can be done on little money!
But I am feeling really burned out. I am just tired. I would like to keep teaching my art class, or take art classes, and be able to enjoy walking my dog and exploring nature -- I just am tired of a full-time job, a part-time job, and a huge house in the rural wilderness to care for alone. I'm burnt!
I'm looking at Colorado, as MN2CO is doing -- I've also thought of Colorado Springs -- it is cheap, pretty, a little bit conservative (which is my main reservation), and the winters are actually mild compared to the midwest or northeast.
I just got off the phone with a friend of a friend who lives in Las Cruces. He and his wife have lived all over the country. He's on disability, and she's had various odd jobs through the years (she currently works at Wally World - Walmart). He is 67 and she is 62. They have two grown children. They are renting a mobile home (for $500/month) in Las Cruces, and they have been there five years now and said they are not moving from there. They love it! It's not too conservative, and it's not too liberal -- it's moderate. The climate is terrific, and the surrounding terrain is gorgeous, plus those huge, blue open skies and panoramas. It was encouraging talking to him because they have been on a very, very small budget all their lives but have also lived all over the place, including Hawaii. They manage and told me that the rents there are low, and housing is inexpensive, and that it is just a great place to retire. He's an intellectual, and very expressive, so being that he's the more creative sort and into all kinds of things, I trust his word on that. So.....Las Cruces now goes back on my short list! (Sorry MN2CO...)
I, too, feel like getting into my car and just taking off. I need to get rid of this house first, though -- it is like a huge anchor. I feel trapped. I want to get out there and explore during my last years. Geez, who knew this would all collapse now? We, the generation that made things happen! I say we make them happen again. Get organized. I am tired of waiting it out.
So, that's where I stand. If I get something for this house, it will be helpful, if not ... then it's just the pension and S.S. No savings account here -- all my "savings" over the past 19 years have gone into raising my daughter....and I never made enough before that to have a savings account. I sure wish I had had a mentor in the past -- I would probably be in a much better place now. But it is what it is.
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NEG to Knox and JanB
on this thread, so for me it would be helpful to know who's more in my situation: no current job (other than occasional consulting), no rich spouse, no pension, only SS and savings with a house paid for and wondering whether and where to relocate for better cost of living. If anyone is more in my boat, what's your take on whether and where to move?
