<p>Alwaysamom which plantation do you live in? Our favorite is Palmetto Dunes. We go to HHI twice yearly. I’m always amazed at the number of new restaurants to try every summer. We’ve been going for so long, that our kids know the island like the back of their hands. </p>
<p>Emerald, believe me, if you dare as much as look at a deer, they are gone in an instant. LOL. They would never attack anything other than the, uh, salad bar you might unknowingly plant out front for their enjoyment. Just sayin’.</p>
<p>Alwaysmom: Yes. which plantation? Do you have a realtor or real estate company you can recommend? You can contact me with a private message if you want. I have been looking on-line at Sea Pines; Port Royal; and Palmetto Dunes or Hall. Many of the Sea Pines houses are dated and need renovation. Many are being sold furnished, and after being on the short term rental market the stuff is worn out. In any case the design is not usually what we like. </p>
<p>Costa Rica looks attractive.
Our kids will never live in the same city as we, so no restrictions here. </p>
<p>I watched a real estate show about Costa Rica homes. One of the homes had bars on every window and door. Another home had a tall fence with a string of razor wire on the top. I am not sure what to think about Costa Rica as to safety.</p>
<p>Bigdaddy and tsdad, I’ll PM you!</p>
<p>PM me as well, please</p>
<p>Comments on posts since mine.</p>
<p>Emeraldkity4- stay put. We considered WA state and love Seattle. Bellingham is not that far from you and has many more big city amenities available. Our son moved from Wisconsin to Seattle the year after we came to Florida. About as far apart as we can be. You can drive the distance easily. IF son becomes a permanent resident of the area I can see a summer home in the Pacific NW.</p>
<p>Costa Rica- has a high cost of living, great place to visit. Noticed people are not great book readers- also knew someone from there who lived/worked in our up north town.</p>
<p>Florida. We live in a great part of Tampa- where people would evacuate TO in case of a hurricane, lots of conservation areas and city amenities. Far less Cuban influence than the Miami/east coast area. Sunsets on the beaches which are not that far. PM me if you wish- we also have space for visitors.</p>
<p>Many places in the southeast work if you are standard church going white Americans. The “Bible Belt” would be disastrous for us- I’d be trying to convert everyone… We also wanted to escape any type of cold winters.</p>
<p>No one place fits all. H’s Indian roots make Florida weather good- plus the large numbers of south Asians and grocery stores nearby. Not many close family ties to keep us in Wisconsin but it is great in summer and for schools.</p>
<p>Has anyone retired to Virginia, or know enough about the state to comment? We were thinking of one of the towns with a state school. Thanks. </p>
<p>My parents retired to VA after they discovered that NC would tax their whole portfolio and VA had some attractive tax breaks for them. That was more than 10 years ago and things may have changed. My Dad is still in VA beach and likes it there. </p>
<p>We live in VA. Places like Charlottesville are becoming very popular retirement places. It is driving the prices up but folks like it. Good facilites, entertainment from UVA, good meidcal care. </p>
<p>Just saw an ad for Williamsburg, calling themselves one of the top five retirement areas. Not sure top five of what, but it’s a really nice area.</p>
<p>Wis75, thanks for your hometown perspective. A good friend from here just moved to Tampa. Interesting to know that it is sufficiently multiethnic. </p>
<p>D had an Americorps post in Bellingham a few years back. She spent much of that year with folks in my demographic, mostly moved there for retirement. Quite the unassuming retirement destination. I had a great time talking with new retirees when I visited. If one of the offspring were still there, I’d move to Washington in a heartbeat. </p>
<p>I love where I live (Charleston) so I’m planning on staying here for retirement . I would like to sell my house though and get something smaller with less maintenance. In my dream world, I would have a second house near Asheville and spilt time between the beach and mountains. Unfortunately, real estate in both locations is rather pricey relative to salaries in this area. </p>
<p>From personal experience I would recommend comparing the difference in taxes in your current state and those of the state you are thinking of moving to. More importantly a lawyer can help with what we considered the more important tax, estate tax. We have a home in Connecticut (NOT tax friendly) and bought a second home in SW FL ( NO state income tax). The tax savings per year pays for our home in FL which is a 4br 3.5 bath house on a golf course. BUT the difference in our estate tax was unreal. We would rather leave that money to our kids than the government! Yes we had to become FL residents and spend 6+ months in FL but financially it was a no brainier, and we get to enjoy the best of CT and FL. People often forget about estate tax implications if they live in a high tax state. </p>
<p>Yes, my mom had friends who would migrate to warmer weather HI during the winters and then back to where family lived the rest of the year. They eventually settled to be near her grown kids and growing grandkids. She misses them and the H wasn’t happy to have to sell his business and uproot.</p>
<p>I believe there are specific requirements as to what state the will require for you to be considered a resident (she couldn’t spend more than xxx months or days in HI or she would be considered a resident and have to pay HI taxes). You are right, Mary, there are many considerations in choosing where best to settle.</p>
<p>Irishmary raises a great point. Many states accept the federal tax cut off for estates (I believe no estate tax unless estate is more than $5 mm.). But just to pick one state, ( I think) NJ taxes an estate that exceeds $625,000. </p>
<p>^I am impressed if a 675K estate cutoff would matter to many people. We’re just figuring on not costing our kids money–we shouldn’t run out, but I can’t imagine having that much left over!</p>
<p>Me, too. Just shows how wide the range in salaries and assets is with the folks on CC.</p>
<p>We’re talking NJ here. Someone who bought a Hoboken condo 30 years ago and dies this year could come close. </p>