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The culture respects seniors and there's a hospital 15 min. away. The system works well; I've been ambulanced twice now.
Luxury buses go everywhere and taxis are affordable, so no car either.
COL is so low we can afford an annual trip to Europe for the "winter".
So what if I don't speak the language, LOL.
You are fortunate that you adapted to and enjoy the foreign country and culture you relocated to and it having a low COL is a bonus. But for some, and I think I would be one of those individuals that would find adapting completely to another culture even if I spoke the language difficult. And this makes me think of my late great aunt.
My great aunt was from Naples, Italy and met and married my Italian-American great uncle in Italy during WWII. My great uncle spoke fluent Italian as he was a child of Italian immigrant parents who were originally from an area not too far from Naples. Although my great aunt was welcomed into a family who spoke her language and into an Italian-American community that retained much Italian culture despite all that, life for her was still nothing like it was in her beloved crazy Naples and as a result she suffered home sickness for the rest of her life. It wasn't until a couple of years ago when I myself visited Naples that I could fully understand how my great aunt felt, because although I speak fairly fluent Italian and was raised in that same Italian-American family and community my great aunt relocated to, if I had to relocate permanently to Naples I too would face the same home sickness as my aunt did.
For some there is no choice and they have to relocate for financial and other reasons to a different location, but those who have a choice need to really examine how relocating will impact all aspects of their lives because although one may not think leaving behind such things as a church they attended their entire lives, their doctors, their favorite restaurants, etc., they may find if there is nothing similar to fill those voids in their new location they too may face chronic home sickness. And for some if that should happen returning home may be difficult if not impossible.
There are many more things beyond finances that one needs to consider especially when considering relocating to a place that is very different than the one you will be relocating from.
My DH and I put a lot of thought into it. We each made a list, and then we combined them.
His list:
No snow that would actually require shoveling
Not too cold for too long
Low COL/low taxes
Golf community
No desert landscapes
Easy ways to make friends/meet neighbors (clubs, leagues, etc)
My list
No deep south humidity, some is fine, but not >70% at mid-day in summer
No 100+ temps
Low COL/low taxes
Lake community
Must be green from spring through fall color change
Must be near, or in, outdoor areas for hiking, camping, fishing, boating, etc.
Must have friendly people
No city traffic
Most of our ideas were on the same page, but our climate priorities were opposite and, when combined, ruled out about 80% of the country. That left us with a much smaller list of places to scout. I'm happy that we got 100% of what we wanted.
One of the criteria I had out of several was no grass. I'm allergic to grass and after 65 years in Missouri I was done with it. My neighbor cut his grass twice a week so it was always in the air. He was a grass-cutting idiot savant. I now live in the desert and have not cut the grass in six years and never hear a lawn mower. I have plenty of "green" in the five surrounding mountain ranges and the trees in my yard and the bosque forest by the river...but no grass. That was a little thing on my wish list that became a big beneficial thing in retrospect so be careful what you decide to give up.
All the other considerations were discarded and this was the final deciding factor.
To make the post stand on it's own, "this" factor was where one's relatives live. Interesting choice. Most of my relatives live around Atlanta. I never much liked that area and resolved to leave ASAP after college. And I did. The way I put it: "I am not responsible for my relatives' mistakes in picking out a place to live."
Well. Most of my aunts and uncles are dead of old age already. I have a sister still there in the old family home, but we are talking about her moving up here.
To me the physical climate of the Inland Northwest is great, some summer days are hotter than I would prefer, some winter days colder. Occasional snow, but usually not enough to be a nuisance. And it is DRY. I like dry.
Second place from physical climate/weather is COL. Not just low taxes, but general COL. The thing about taxes is that they never quit, same as utility bills. So keeping this sort of thing in check is, IMHO, critical.
Third and really tied for second is a political climate of freedom. A minimum of "nanny" laws, respect for the Second Amendment. And a low enough population density that I can enjoy outdoor activities without rubbing elbows with "citiots" out in the woods or lake.
Yes. I lived in one before and liked the clannishness and standoffishness of the locals. It was challenging to gain their acceptance and respect especially when opening a business. The challenge of having to "get" the nuance of the local culture and immerse yourself in it, finding a confident to explain the way it is, is frankly quite stimulating, a challenge to be met in my later years. I look forward to it.
You walk into the local store, everyone turns and stares, they watch everything you do, look at how you dress, how you groom your hair, what type of car you drive, are you right or left handed, they examine your wallet as you pay for things, is it new, is it worn, did you pay cash or credit, how many credit cards and likely no one so much as smiles. The minute you leave you fuel talk for two hours. As I said it is a challenge.
And yet you don't want Grizzly Bears? Hey, consider how they would keep liberals and city folk at least "in their place" and might even provide some Darwin action...
You are fortunate that you adapted to and enjoy the foreign country and culture you relocated to and it having a low COL is a bonus. But for some, and I think I would be one of those individuals that would find adapting completely to another culture even if I spoke the language difficult. And this makes me think of my late great aunt.
My great aunt was from Naples, Italy and met and married my Italian-American great uncle in Italy during WWII. My great uncle spoke fluent Italian as he was a child of Italian immigrant parents who were originally from an area not too far from Naples. Although my great aunt was welcomed into a family who spoke her language and into an Italian-American community that retained much Italian culture despite all that, life for her was still nothing like it was in her beloved crazy Naples and as a result she suffered home sickness for the rest of her life. It wasn't until a couple of years ago when I myself visited Naples that I could fully understand how my great aunt felt, because although I speak fairly fluent Italian and was raised in that same Italian-American family and community my great aunt relocated to, if I had to relocate permanently to Naples I too would face the same home sickness as my aunt did.
For some there is no choice and they have to relocate for financial and other reasons to a different location, but those who have a choice need to really examine how relocating will impact all aspects of their lives because although one may not think leaving behind such things as a church they attended their entire lives, their doctors, their favorite restaurants, etc., they may find if there is nothing similar to fill those voids in their new location they too may face chronic home sickness. And for some if that should happen returning home may be difficult if not impossible.
There are many more things beyond finances that one needs to consider especially when considering relocating to a place that is very different than the one you will be relocating from.
Very good points and I understand. For us, it was a no-brainer, but that is not typical, I realize.
I can't have any "second thoughts" this way.
I look out to the ocean and nothing else really matters. But that's just me.
I don't need to be next to Mass General or the Cleveland Clinic, but I wouldn't live where I currently do if I was older with health problems. I've seen too many people shipped out of the area for what should be treatable in a CSA of 500,000.
You don't need it until you do. I'm 62 miles from Mass General and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I don't need world class specialists now but if I ever I do, it's Uber, commuter rail, Uber in about 90 minutes. The orthopedic surgeon who did my knees and shoulder from skiing injuries is on television whenever a Patriots player is injured on the field and his office is full of signed pictures of famous pro athletes he's worked on. Recently, someone I know was told by the local oncologist that there was nothing they could do. A trip to Dana-Farber and they have it in remission with an optimistic 5 year prognosis which is all you can ask for. The right health care can buy you another couple of decades in some cases.
Cool but not cold weather in winter, warm but not boiling in summer, mountains with trees. Hiking and nature is a must.
Close to a big city with airports and hospitals if needed.
More open- minded live and let live people. Hate the current hyper politics in our nation.
I don't want to be in pain, but I'm also not planning to go to any great lengths to extend my life, especially if it's to be a life of procedures and suffering. I'm more focused on enjoying life while I live. But that's just me! As you say, we each have our own priorities, which is what this thread is all about.
60 is when I would want to live near a big city with a lot of interesting things to do and interesting people with whom to do them.
85 is when I'll be ready to move out to that lonely beach house or offshore island to read books and eat chocolate until I'm dead.
You should have said this in your other thread. Now some of your posts make a bit more sense.
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Hey, consider how they would keep liberals and city folk at least "in their place" and might even provide some Darwin action...
