Thoughts: Where to Retire To?

[RUSSELL5000]

I think the members of this forum are, in general, above average in common sense and collectively have a wealth of experience. So, I thought I'd ask for some opinions and gather some input beyond my actual experience.

I am planning and hoping to retire in another ten years or so. My thoughts are turning toward where I may like to retire to. One thought I have often had is to retire out west (I grew up in northern New Mexico). On the other hand, I just spent a couple weeks in the New River Gorge area of West Virginia and really liked that area.

My vague plan is to see if I can't buy some rural property and build a home (and very large garage) for when I retire. I am just puzzling in my mind where that may be.

I have lived in three different regions of the country in my life: grew up in the southwest, lived and worked in the northern midwest and now in the northeast. I have never lived in the south/southeast; I have visited Florida, and I visited Alabama once over thirty years ago, but know next to nothing about the south/southeast.

What thoughts occur to others?

Thanks.

 

[jgillott]

I'm going to start this post by saying I don't think that I will ever be able to retire. So, my thoughts are simply a pipe dream at this point.

I never pictured myself as one of those FL Snowbirds, but we find ourselves spending quite a few weeks a year there recently. Now granted, we currently have the large rural property, so I really don't want to do this again. Friends of ours retired last April and kept their PA property and purchased a really nice condo at the Villages near Orlando. Their place is amazing. Golf, tennis, no maintenance, etc. I think if we are ever able to, that is the direction we are going to go and then just pay someone to take care of this place when we are down there.

 

[EGroeneveld]

Honestly ten years is a long time from now.
I'd just try using your RV trailer and go see the world for a year or two. I know several that went on the RV road for a while and just loved it.
I work as a CPA and I've had several people sell their homes, buy a new house in AZ and then be bored because friends and family are not there. Soon they are coming back. Now I always suggest renting for at least a six month period in a new area before the big commentment.

Also don't save everything for retirement, to many die or have health issues before they hit retirement. I'm 39 and travel as much as possible. 50 nights a year camping is usual for us. My dad pasted from Colon Cancer at 52, never got to do anything they planned to do at retirement. I'm not waiting for retirement to travel and have fun.

 

[jgillott]

Also don't save everything for retirement, to many die or have health issues before they hit retirement. I'm 39 and travel as much as possible. 50 nights a year camping is usual for us. My dad pasted from Colon Cancer at 52, never got to do anything they planned to do at retirement. I'm not waiting for retirement to travel and have fun.

Great advice if I may say so. My mother had her first stroke shortly after my father retired. She is still with us, but after several more major strokes over the years, is a shadow of her former self and requires full time care. They have not been able to enjoy any of the plans that they had. It's really sad when you think about it.

 

[SnoKing]

Hook the trailer up and start scouting out the various regions. We moved out of the greater Seattle area three years before I retired. I was able to work from home for those three years and wife retired as we moved. We wintered in Arizona for 5 winters and will return to that when I am thru the yacht club chairs. It is nice to get up to sunshine in the winter. Right now we are setting in a bay on our boat in the San Juan Islands. Hard to get much better!

 

[GAmes]

I say look for the area that has the most potential for you hobbies/interests. For me, that is bass fishing, and TX has the best managed fishery of any state I have ever lived in. After spending my youth in the NW, I get tired of rain in a short period. Nothing east of the Mississippi has any attraction to me. Another consideration is taxation, either overt like state income tax, or covert like expensive license plates.

 

[BIGNASTY]

In our case it was never a matter of where we would retire but when. We got to retire early mainly because of investments that were made for us by my Father-in-law.

There use to be a man on here Harvey Barlow, he told me one time that I might not want to retire to Montana because of the cold, I said (then) wont happen. I have to say that Harvey was partly correct in that. Last years winter was a record breaker. It kicked my butt pretty good, mostly because of my inability to stay indoors at times. I have never been one to stay in a cage of any kind, im just not built like that. Our family took the FIL's bus to Las Vegas NV for about a month during one of the worst parts of last years winter. It felt Great to get to a place that a person didn't feel like a 7 layer bean dip with all the layers of clothes that are normally worn when its -40*

Las Vegas NV was great lots to see (entertainment shows) food, shopping, spas, Gambling if your into that (we are not) great weather for the most part in the winter months. Penny and I thought about buying an RV, we are still kicking around several ideas (we procrastinate excessively) one of which is rather than buy an RV rig to drive to places like Las Vegas, FL, TX, CA (when I can go back) and spend parts of the winter for a month at a time and then come home and go back again when it gets kind of hard during the MT winters.

The idea was buying a property, we looked outside the USA but with all the BS going on in the world we don't want to leave our boarders right now. Las Vegas has been in a Slump with housing really!! taking a dump.For just about the same amount as a NICE RV rig a person or person's can buy a house or condo. We have taken a family poll about this and asked if everyone went in on the property it would be very inexpensive for EVERYONE, kind of a time share within the family if you will. Take weeks or go as a family (we go most every place together anyway) Mileage to Vegas from our place is around 950 not a bad days drive with a car or even if you book a flight and fly we get car rentals for less than $10.00 a day if we keep a balance in one of our accounts at the bank???

We will never leave MT as our retirement home, but Harvey was partly right when he said it was cold, it sure was nice to get warm in the winter OUTSIDE the cage

 

[Grizzly]

Anywhere along the Rocky Mountains. You grew up in Northern New Mexico, so you know we don't have the humidity they do in the Midwest, East and South, which is a big plus.

I love Montana and Wyoming in the summer, but they have severe winters so that leaves Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, if you want to retire in the Rocky's that is.

george

 

[Dl5treez]

It doesn't rain that much in Washington....especially eastern WA. It just rains often....a little bit at a time, a lot of times. The average rainfall for Seattle is lower than many other "dry" cities in the U.S.

No state income tax here, "fair" tax rates and cost of living (some locales are higher than the national average, some are lower, etc etc etc) depending what you want for recreation or modern conveniences you can be a couple hour drive from anything.

For the west (wet) side, Sequim is quite arid and nice. Pronounced "squimm" it's up by Port Angeles on top of the Olympic Peninsula...kinda isolated from the big city stuff but pretty country.

Down around Morton, Elbe, Mineral, is beautiful, but you are a long way from anything. Gateway to Mt. Rainier National Park on the Paradise side.... and it snows...a LOT.

 

[Wayne M.]

RUSSELL5000, May I ask if you're considering relocating in penna as an option?
I too think that I will never be able to fully retire. ever. In 3 years or so, I will begin a new life when I "retire" from my misery here in NYC. I have not ever traveled west of the Appalachians, but have been almost the full length of I 95. My favorite place in the world right now is along the I81 corridor. This would include drawing a line down into the smokies. I have in-law family in the York pa area, and I am mostly happy with what I see when I visit there. I will probably wind up around there to start a new life doing something similar. I love my seasons, and a visit to Disney in August just ruined Florida for me. My Wife wants civilization within a 15 min drive.
I desire privacy, a nice single level house having a view with a nice shop similar to member crazy horse's, modest cost of living, a Catholic church, plenty of race tracks of all varieties, and people who tinker with antique tractors, steam engines, old cars, diesel engines, etc,etc.

 

[GCroyle]

How about something around the Smokies? Eastern TN, Western NC or VA?

 

[Wayne M.]

Come to think, a friend just relocated to NW Virginia somewhere along the start of the blue ridge parkway. I'm waiting for the signal to visit. The vistas I see when I travel there makes me wonder how the first settlers and explorers reacted when they first saw it.

 

[crispyboy]

The big "R" word is at least 18 years away for me, if ever.......
You need to fire up the truck and travel trailer and make a few trips to several places. I would look at factors such as taxation, amount of sunshine. average temperatures and humidity level. As my wife and I get older we realize that we want to go someplace with a lot more sunshine and less humidity than what we presently have.
Will you get bored leaving family and friends? Maybe two places. My aunt and uncle spend 6 months in Florida and 6 in Northern Ohio and seem to like the lifestyle. Now they are reaching an age when it is doubtful they will go to Florida and need to stay near family but they have had 15+ years of travel and enjoyment.

 

[BIGNASTY]

This post has made me think,

Our choice of places has not changed, Penny brought up in conversation about this post if we didn't have our Childern and Grandchildren around us like we do would you still want to be here?

I stated to think, she said your thinking Gail that's not a good sign!! We raised our Childern to be able to stand on their own two feet when the time came. They both left the house shortly after graduating from College. Being the tuff guy Dad, I felt (seriously) that I as a Dad had done my best with them they are both educated, have careers not just a 9 to 5 gig. Its time for them to show the world what they have to offer.

When we retired I was so busy with everything that, I didn't forget them, but they were not at the forefront of my thoughts as when we were a family all living under the same roof.

Daughter was in the Air Force, working her fanny off and happy.

Son was a Fireman/Paramedic in So Calif budget cuts came and he was a low man on the pole. He called and voiced concern about what he was going to do and started to Beller about this. I being the hard nose said quit your bellerin and find another place. He brought his Newly married bride up for a vacation and they fell in love with this place, its not like he hadn't been here many times before. Long story short he found a job at a hospital making more $ than what he did in Calif, they moved. They had a Child, I again am the hard nose Gramps, But I cant last to long without being the WWF Wrestling Champ with my Now 2 year old Hulk Hogan Grandson, he and his now newborn Brother are the sparks that make me young again when I see them. Son and Family are now running the North end of the cattle buissness that he and his Grandfather are building together a FANTASTIC thing to see as a Father.

Daughter Had a med problem that prevented her from flying and she came to MT Vets hospital via Indianapolis IN thru a transfer met a guy and they are parents of my best gal in the world, my Granddaughter Sophia. She can do no wrong and will never do anything wrong in my eyes.

Just thinking about this post and your thinking on retirement, You had better be ABSOLUTELY!! sure about things family, before moving away and NOT!! being able to get to them on a regular basis.

Penny read this and gave me a nose tweak and said its not as hard a nose as you thought, is it? :-laf

 

[jeepit]

From our travels I really like Utah for all its beauty. I also like the Kentucky/Tennessee area. We like to travel so I see my wife and I camping around the US taking it all in someday.
Base camp will most likely be where we are now in Wisconsin.

 

[Jim W]

Russell5000,
I would recommend that you retire in place IE where you live. My reasoning is that if you have children and they have children than you and your DW will want to see them from time to time. Now if your children have moved away and live in different parts of our country than this does not apply.

I have had friends who have retired sold their homes and moved either to Florida or some other retirement state only to move back in two or three years. They and the DW were complaining that the grandkids would not come and visit them during Christmas and summer breaks. So they would move back and faced sticker shock over home prices compared to what it was when they left.

We our consistently busy with our three grandkids either babysitting taking them camping and or go to after school activities. Such as football, wrestling and gymnastic and soccer games or meets, thank God they don’t place baseball or there would be no free time for other things.

We do take off and travel this great country but it is usually only two or three weeks at a time. This is all the DW can be away from the grandkids. In fact we will be traveling out east in Sept to MA, RI, ME, VT and NY for three weeks.

Jim W.

P.S. I have been retired for five years now and it seems like yesterday I was working. Where does time fly! I don’t know how I have found time to work in the past and still do all of the things that I am doing now.

 

[rscurtis]

I desire privacy, a nice single level house having a view with a nice shop similar to member crazy horse's, modest cost of living, a Catholic church, plenty of race tracks of all varieties, and people who tinker with antique tractors, steam engines, old cars, diesel engines, etc,etc.

The PA mid-state area is for you! I moved here from LI in 2008 after I got rid of my tool rental business. Smartest thing I've ever done. It's like LI used to be 40 years ago- plenty of room, good roads, and a reasonable cost of living. English is still spoken in gas stations. I haven't seen any potholes, either. Housing costs are 1/3, taxes 1/4, car insurance 1/2, and electricity is less than 1/2. The only thing more expensive is water. There are plenty of tractor and equipment shows in the area, and I'm only 45 minutes from Carlisle. What's not to like about that?

 

[RustyJC]

We will retire here in Texas and travel in the RV from our home base. Some reasons why are that there's no income tax in Texas, no ad valorem personal property tax, real estate property taxes are capped, reduced or eliminated at age 65, etc., so it's very financially friendly for retirees. Not to mention that my wife and I are native Texans - we lived elsewhere for 22 years and made it home (on a company transfer) in time to retire.

Rusty

 

[BIGNASTY]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/halahtouryalai/2012/10/26/the-best-and-worst-states-for-retirement/

 

[Killgore]

Russ, we put the the old farm (hobby farm) on the market six months ago and couldn't get what we wanted. We had plans to become fulltime RVers. Actually, we were planning to Summer in East Tennessee and Winter in Foley, Alabama. Most of our kids live in North Alabama so we would be close enough to see them at any time. Yes, we would run here and there when we took a mind to. Just recently one of the girls who is divorced with two little ones came home to escape a violent situation with her ex-husband. The old house has been taken off the market and we are now readjusting our lifestyle.

Things happen, situations change and the best made plans are subject to revision. You do what you have to do and I suppose sometimes you can't begin to realize what the future holds. No regrets; our purpose and destiny was just modified and better defined for us and we are blessed that we were in the right place at the right time.

I grew up in Florida on the water; too hot during the Summer and too expensive all the time. My ancesteral roots are East Tennessee where it's beautiful and a lot cooler. Foley, Alabama is close enough to salt water for me and the seafood, among other things, is both plentiful and relatively cheap.

Texas? Well, I lived for a while in Houston where I suspect Alabama Fans will be sent to serve their time in Purgatory. I love the rest of the state however.

Being able to hit the road will give you an opportunity to check things out for yourself and make a logical decision, and that's a big part of the fun.

Good Luck, and War Eagle!!!

- Ed