<p>FF - thanks for posting that link. I spent a lot of time there, and it was excellent. </p>
<p>Wis75, when we retire I think we should go where we want, for whatever reason we want. So go for it! Frankly, I’m looking beyond retirement: I’m excited about being around 80, with no one at work to set expectations for. I plan to say what I think and do what I want. I may not join the Red Hat society, but I’ll be living the life. Aaaahhh, can’t wait.</p>
<p>We just returned from Colorado where we learned that construction costs are so high that we can’t afford to build our retirement house! We are going to sell our lot and build in Tennessee. I’m actually glad- I think it is better for us to be in TN. We can still go to Colorado- maybe even have a condo, but I don’t want to be as cut off as we would have been. Being near family and friends has gotten to be more important to me in the 8 years since we bought the lot. Plus, in those 8 years H has had cancer surgery and I have broken my leg skiing! Changes your perspective a little. Our lot was 3 1/2 hours from Denver and I was afraid no one would even come to visit us. H could live the rest of his life without seeing another human being and be perfectly happy, but I’m not like that. He loves Tennessee, too, and as long as he can build his dream house (he has done a lot of the design work and wants to general contract it himself), he will be happy. He admitted to getting worried about the long winters in Colorado, even at only 6100 feet.
So- gotta stay flexible.</p>
<p>Had to laugh about H who can live without seeing another person- give them high speed internet and a library card and they’re set! H could live in a high rise condo, but I need my gardening/landscaping fun. We both want nice restaurants (not steak-and-potatoes places…), etc. I don’t have longevity genes (never knew 3/4 grandparents, H never met my mother) so I don’t know about the 80 bit, but then, my H tells me only the good die young…</p>
<p>hayden,</p>
<p>I have another town for you to consider - Fredericksburg, VA. It was featured in this month’s Where to Retire magazine. It is about 55 miles south of DC thus escaping the suburban sprawl of the DC area but is on a train line into DC. It also has relatively easy access to Williamsburg. It has a college (Mary Washington University) and lots of Civil War history if you are into that.</p>
<p>FF - that’s a great suggestion. I’m going to look into that one. I’m into American history in a big way - member of the DAR, etc. [How many liberals can say that ?] I really like this suggestion - thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>hayden:
How about Hagerstown Maryland? Cost of living is low. About two hours from DC. Lots of beautiful areas around…Antietam is close by. Very cool. We went to a fantastic orchestra performance at the Maryland Theater. Biking and hiking trails on the Potomac.
The WV panhandle has some opportunities too. I love Shepherdstown. Great restaurants, lots of natural beauty and a small college so there’s an art scene. Most certainly not what you think of when you think WV.
The Woods Resort is near Berkeley Springs in WV (love the healing mineral waters in those big roman tubs - cheap too). The Woods offers vacation homes, retirement homes. Golf ,spa, tennis, restaurants. Prices are not bad. A bit remote but VERY quiet and near some great hiking spots. 2 hours from DC - and only a half hour to Martinsburg where you can get a train into DC. As I said, also close to Berkeley Springs and a fabulous restaurant - Lot 12 Public House. Tari’s and Panorama are also fantastic. Great weekend trip at the very least…</p>
<p>Roanoke, Lynchburg, Harrisonburg are all good towns in VA and much less expensive. Also much cooler in summer being more in the mountains.</p>
<p>This thread is a hoot. Everyone dreams of something different. I’ve enjoyed it immensely.</p>
<p>It’s very doubtful I’ll be retiring but …if it could happen I’d be happy moving our homeplace a few more miles west (maybe an hour, an hour and a half).</p>
<p>To be worth moving I’d have to have live water, on a 12 month creek or small rock bottom river. (My 10 month creek is now more like a 7 month creek). Maybe someplace on the San Saba. A few more oaks would be nice as would a few less juniper. I’d like it to have a couple more deep dirt spots for plowing down by the creek. </p>
<p>A view ain’t hard to get out here but I’d be sure I had a good one (maybe a 360) and of course, I don’t want to see a structure not my own. We have pretty dang good motorcycle roads and out farther they’d just be even better and I don’t need much in the way of people contact. We can ride for hours and see 2 cars. (10 pick-ups mind you. But only two cars. ;)) The occasional riding buddy would be plenty. W would like me to chip and seal the county road (she did this last time).</p>
<p>Medical care, cuisine, what some of y’all would consider required entertainment - all those things will be a few hours away. Not a big deal to me. Politics? Religion? Smile and nod. Just smile and nod. The way I figure it it’s a small price to pay for living the way I want to live, where I want to live. And anyway - whathehell fun would it be to be in the majority?</p>
<p>Edit: Chances are we’ll just stay put. But it’s nice to think about. We tell the girl that we’ll be living with her in her “doctor condo”. She doesn’t see the humor in it. ;)</p>
<p>DH thinks it depends on where the Ds settle but I don’t think so. They may need to move due to spouse or their own work. Our finances will have to dictate where to a great extent.</p>
<p>It has to be cheap, that’s for sure! Years of living in the highest income and property tax state has turned me into a miser.</p>
<p>Seriously open to Tucson area or New Mexico. Can only dream about CA or HI.</p>
<p>I am with ya cur! I grew up simply and plan to go out the same way. Give me a backyard BBQ with friends and family over a $100 pp meal anytime. Intellectual-I’ve spent a career there and look forward to “quality” time with new friends on the links, travel with the frau, keeping Amazon busy so that I can curl up in front of the fireplace evenings and resume old pleasures like hiking, fishing and kayaking(the new canoeing). I think I will pass on the camping though!!</p>
<p>And we are meeting with a realtor the get the lay of the possible new land in a few weeks to begin the process officially. Winding down cur.</p>
<p>Looks like we’ll stay put longer than I hoped. My d is talking military academy for college and it’s better if she applies from her home state…or so I hear.</p>
<p>Looks like no one wants to move to Houston, TX.</p>
<p>Ha,ha, wis75</p>
<p>“I’m too old to die young; I’m too young to die now.”</p>
<p>Warren Zevon</p>
<p>I think of that line a lot.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if this was brought up earlier on this thread; if it was, send me to the posts and I’ll shut up. But on the off-chance it wasn’t:</p>
<p>Bethievt and others in VT, NH, etc. – How is it spending the entire winter in northern New England? It’s always been my dream to move there, and DH is having reservations. Opinion? </p>
<p>(Note: I’m from the Northeast --first, NJ; now, CT – so it’s not totally foreign to me.)</p>
<p>Hubby and I just added an attached garage and other comfort features to our house, including 2 gas fireplaces, to prepare for our early golden years. At some point, we may need to move to a retirement community, but I’ll bet we’ll stay in VT. The weather does get to be more of an issue, especially the ice, but we love it here. It’s become home. My parents are in a retirement home in Madison, WI and find it very liveable.</p>
<p>Forgot to mention the hot tub. As long as I can hobble out to that and climb in, I’m good. Looked like a full moon tonight.</p>
<p>Bethie: Will you be able to do your own snowblowing/shoveling in your later years? Or will that become an issue?</p>
<p>I wholeheartedly support the attached garage. My goal in life (unrelated to where I retire to) is to have the attached garage on the same level as the kitchen. Not thinking about that was a mistake when we bought our current house.</p>
<p>I might add that living in a place that your grown kids (and grandkids) can get to fairly easily is a big plus. Also a place that’s fun to be once you get there. We found northern NJ (where we grew up) not so fun to go to to visit once the kids got older. (except going into NYC which was great). Hopefully since we’re in Fla. they’ll want to come here once in awhile!</p>
<p>I figure if we’re within two hours of Boston, we’re visit-able.</p>
<p>agree with DKE…my inlaws retired to a resort (beach) area thinking that we would all (H has 3 siblings) be rushing down to see them all the time because… hey…it’s a free place to stay at the beach. Apparantly it never occurred to them that the 6-7 hour drive was going to make it virtually impossible for us to just jump in the car and dash over for a visit. They (and we) are really regretting their decision now that they are in poor health and could really use some help.</p>