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I live on a small farm outside of Raleigh. The weather here is never a real problem now that I have retired and can do things any hour of the day. When I worked it was difficult because the early summer mornings were cool yet very humid which was difficult for chores or riding, and the evenings were hot and less humid but the effect was the same. There always was a sweet spot an hour before dusk, though, but it was too short. Now I find the best times for exercise in the summer are maybe 8:30 to 10:30 and 6 pm until dark. The rest of the year is beautiful, even the winter is not a big deal, unless there is ice (maybe 2-4 days a year) in which case driving is risky because of the way the roads are banked. Otherwise our slogan is that if you don't like the weather one day just wait a couple days and it will change for the better.
Development in my area has been a constant theme over the last 10 years, so even though better shopping was 10-15 miles away originally, it will soon be only a mile or so away, largely because of a new toll road and new schools being built. So I just plan on staying put while I can and having the best of both worlds, nature and town-burbs. Being in the Triangle is good for medical care in general, because of the big teaching hospitals nearby.
New arrivals though have a hard time here if they want to buy a house with an acre or so, as those places are few and far between within 15 miles of the job centers. But there are tons of new and nearly new developments, plus some older areas with lots of shade. Unfortunately in my view is the fact that builders need to overbuild their little lots to make their profits, which means 3500+ sq ft homes on less than 0.2 acres is the norm. That or townhouses and cluster homes.
I live in a small community in Virginia right outside the Naval base where I worked until retirement. It's pretty quiet here - I can walk to the river, see bald eagles flying overhead, drive 15 mintues to a nearby beachy resort town, etc. Yet just a mile and a half away on the main highway the county is developing a major commercial shopping area, the major one for the entire area. We have four nice seasons, decent medical care in the historic town of Fredericksburg (about 40 min. away), and are finally beginning to have real restaurants available locally. I've been here 12 years now and have too much invested in my old house to move - not that I want to anyway. Love the house and the area (just hate the booms from the base, although I should be used to them now).
I've been reading the thread thoroughly, too ... This is one of the best threads on retirement that I've read anywhere, and with so many varied opinions and observations, anyone preparing to retire and not paying attention to all the posts on here is doing themselves a real dis-service.
I'm actually past retirement-age, but am still working full-time until my wife is old-enough to retire - maybe another 3-4 years. So, I'm doing a lot of reading about costs-of-living in certain areas, standards-of-living in other areas, amenities, proximities to recreation, medical care, shopping, etc - ad nauseam ...
At this "stage of the game," I don't have a whole lot of "opinion" about anywhere-specific to make plans for, but did want to say "THANK YOU" to everyone who has 'opined' on the thread.
I'm truly enjoying reading about all the different places (pro and con), and also about the what, why, and when factors in everyone's situations ...
THANKS! ... TC ...
Thank YOU! Especially the "information" about your "wife."
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,725 posts, read 58,067,115 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomchard
I've been reading the thread thoroughly, too ... This is one of the best threads on retirement that I've read anywhere, and with so many varied opinions and observations, ...
At this "stage of the game," I don't have a whole lot of "opinion" about anywhere-specific to make plans for, ..
I'm truly enjoying reading about all the different places (pro and con), and also about the what, why, and when factors in everyone's situations ...
THANKS! ... TC ...
Each situation is different,as are the 'era's of life'..
for today (early retiree)
All my choices are rural / view homes. (farm kid) PNW west Columbia Gorge (pretty and 20 min to PDX / Portland colleges works for 100 days / yr. Hill Country TX (< 1hr to Austin or SA) works well for the 200+ days / yr it is drizzling in the PNW.
Both places have 'renters' to keep them positive cash flow, mow the grass, feed the critters, as well as provide a free place for us to live. Separate 'guest home', private entrance, GREAT (happy) renters who travel a lot too!
Medical care via Medi-vacations to Asia, (we travel ~ 60 - 70% of the yr via 'Hospitality Guest homes'... $10/ night worldwide, been doing so for 25+ yrs)
After 30+ yrs of caregiving for a parent, I am enjoying a few yrs break (ill spouse / me on the way)
We had moved around a bit (in alphabetical order AL, AZ, FL, GA, MA, MD, NM, NY, PA, SC, TX + Overseas) So I had an idea where I would like to retire. New Mexico was on my list but could not get there right away. I retired while living in PA and a job in the DC area. My wife got a transfer from there to New Mexico. I commuted for a while... She got her retirement in NM after five years and we stayed here. We are happy in NM and plan on staying...
Each situation is different,as are the 'era's of life'..
for today (early retiree)
All my choices are rural / view homes. (farm kid) PNW west Columbia Gorge (pretty and 20 min to PDX / Portland colleges works for 100 days / yr. Hill Country TX (< 1hr to Austin or SA) works well for the 200+ days / yr it is drizzling in the PNW.
Both places have 'renters' to keep them positive cash flow, mow the grass, feed the critters, as well as provide a free place for us to live. Separate 'guest home', private entrance, GREAT (happy) renters who travel a lot too!
Medical care via Medi-vacations to Asia, (we travel ~ 60 - 70% of the yr via 'Hospitality Guest homes'... $10/ night worldwide, been doing so for 25+ yrs)
After 30+ yrs of caregiving for a parent, I am enjoying a few yrs break (ill spouse / me on the way)
Thanks for the comment, Stealth!
I'd consider my DW & I well-below the level of sophistication at which you & yours are living. We have both expressed an interest in getting away from "big city living" with all the plusses and minuses that it connotes. Then I read posts from folks who recommend being closer to Family (in the big cities), so that someone's around when you or your spouse require medical assistance. So, that'll have to "factor-in", too.
I pretty-much have my mind made-up that we'll be unable to afford to be retired, here in North-California; and I wouldn't want to retire where we currently live, anyway. So, relocation - in some way, shape, or form - will likely be on our agenda. Much of my reading has more to do with relocating away from North-California, with all its big-brother-government and political-correctness; not-to-mention encountering wall-to-wall people.
I was raised in a small city, and left Texas from a very small town (Pop. 1368 - if you entered from the South; 1400-plus, if you entered from the North! ) ... Our recent life experiences have given both of us a distaste for living in cramped neighborhoods, with uncaring and anti-social neighbors, just for the sake of being in a place where we can have well-paying jobs. When we finally get to leave, we ain't comin' back!
By the time we actually get to retire, I suspect that the whole "complexion" of retiring will have changed yet-again; costs-of-living will be out-of-reach for us in more places, places where we thought we could resettle will have been built-up to the level of the place we'll be leaving, and none of what we're (still) working for will then be affordable for us, anymore.
That's a pretty dark 'vision', but one that we feel will probably be realistic for our situation ...
As I originally stated, I'm actually encouraged to see other folks' opinions about these "retirement" topics, because they're things that I've begun thinking about, and pondering over ... Again - THANKS, Everyone! ... TC
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,725 posts, read 58,067,115 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomchard
...
I was raised in a small city, and left Texas from a very small town (Pop. 1368 - if you entered from the South; 1400-plus, if you entered from the North! ) ......When we finally get to leave, we ain't comin' back!
By the time we actually get to retire, ...
My small town was pop. 381 from the North and 379 from the south! It is now 421 (40+ yrs of GROWTH!!!)
We did the 'early' retirement, @ pre-age 50 from a career of 'single earner "hourly" income'. (26 yrs night shift work and an income tax free state helped expedite the adios option)
Sooner the better.
Retire early, retire often!
We get to NoCA often ($39 fare to SMF and $49 to SFO / OAK). It is one of those places we enjoy visiting rather than living. (Same with our 'youth-home' in Colorado (Estes Park)).
Our parents tried the 'live near kids', but they came too late (after the kids needed them). They were too far (5 hrs) and the kids were too old and off on their own adventures. (Parents bought a hobby farm in their mid-70's and it nearly killed them to try to keep it up.. it was VERY tough to sell (5+ yrs)). They went directly into 'independent living' but after 2 yrs of 'resting', they were bored and broke, so had to move again (apartment), now 2 yrs later, again!!
Thus I keep places with extra living qtrs. (all under $100k)
These are for My caregiver, me, boomerang kids, needy parents, renters, friends... strangers.
I do like being a few minutes (<20) from big city services, yet in the country, and in desirable locations to vacation. I would REALLY like HS internet... Pay-by-the-byte dialup is not EZ to get by these days of 'on-line-banking'.. Only in the USA... my connectivity is MUCH better / cheaper outside of USA.
My weighted 'retirement relocation spreadsheet' did a lot to clarify my 'retirement dreams' (Powell, WY) to reality. (closer to services / airport and ezr place to sell property when needed).
I will not be chasing family. My kids are international wanderers, as they learned well from us.
Fortunately the low airfare / accessibility, still makes it viable to live about anywhere within access to commercial airport. (international and Continental) That too will change in due time.
Long Term planning is pretty open book. Ironically, current is quite similar to what I envisioned when I first retired (age 15, when I left 'dairy farm boarding school').
The unexpected and unpredictable challenge is Health and Healthcare. I have had to write off the USA as providing an affordable solution to this. The USA Gov keeps reducing my options. Premiums up 1000% care services down 1000% from my last retirement (9 yrs ago). ALL of my affordable options are GONE, thanks to USA Gov. (short term thinking... 4 yr plan for politicians)
Last edited by StealthRabbit; 02-05-2015 at 07:00 PM..
I agree. I've lived in south Florida for 40+ years and I feel locked in during the summer. The moment I step outdoors, I feel slapped by the heat and humidity. While working, I had to spend part of my time outdoors. I've had enough of the heat. I can dress warmly for cold temperatures, but what to do for the high temps down here. My home a.c. grinds away day and night for about 8 months of the year.
Yes, the heat does begin in April We are lucky if we get some cooler temps by mid-October
It's not always that way in Florida Summer months. Hot, hot , yes, but if you lived on the water as I did, it was bearable . Five years on a sailboat, full time.
It's not always that way in Florida Summer months. Hot, hot , yes, but if you lived on the water as I did, it was bearable . Five years on a sailboat, full time.
Not everyone can afford a sailboat. That sounds absolutely lovely. But it is correct that you can add more clothes when it's cold, but after you take off clothes when it's hot, the only thing left is skin.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,725 posts, read 58,067,115 times
Reputation: 46190
Quote:
Originally Posted by meo92953
Not everyone can afford a sailboat. That sounds absolutely lovely. But it is correct that you can add more clothes when it's cold, but after you take off clothes when it's hot, the only thing left is skin.
sailboats can be VERY cheap to buy (and expensive to keep).
We lived very inexpensively in the British Columbia Islands on one, but eventually donated it to charity to get rid of it! We wore a LOT of clothes to keep warm! The wildlife was spectacular (water / land / air based!). Daily watching the eagles train their young to fly, and then to hunt (the new ducklings...). Sea Lions / otters / Orca Whales frequently escorted our daily ventures, Our kids loved it! Guess that was retirement 1.5 (between #1 (age 15) and #2 (age 35)).
You can just never retire often enough!
In the winter...the marinas in Canadian Gulf Islands were FULL of European retirees in 'motorsailers' who came down from Alaska to 'over-winter'. I was amazed, there were hundred of boats moored for the winter, and a very international culture in the middle of nowhere! Potlucks were fantastic!
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We have both expressed an interest in getting away from "big city living" with all the plusses and minuses that it connotes. Then I read posts from folks who recommend being closer to Family (in the big cities), so that someone's around when you or your spouse require medical assistance. So, that'll have to "factor-in", too.
) ... Our recent life experiences have given both of us a distaste for living in cramped neighborhoods, with uncaring and anti-social neighbors, just for the sake of being in a place where we can have well-paying jobs. When we finally get to leave, we ain't comin' back! 
(apartment), now 2 yrs later, again!!
