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10 Places to Retire with Great Weather

Category: Best Retirement Towns and States

November 8, 2012 — Weather is a critical input in the retirement happiness quotient for most people. Back in September we provided a list of resources where members could research the best weather conditions to fit their personal tastes. This month we’ve taken a different approach — we’ve selected the top 10 places to retire based on our own weather criteria. And because there are lots of good choices, we’ve also included a few honorable mentions. Note that although our choices are numbered 1 – 10, the choices are so subjective it is better to view them as all good choices rather than one is better than another. This article was prepared in cooperation with WSJ MarketWatch, who published a beautiful slideshow version of the 10 Best Places to Retire for the Weather.

The places on this list all offer good weather, which we define as a combination of relatively low amounts of rain or snow, fewest number of days below 32 or above 90 F., most days with sunshine, and low humidity. In addition to our own research we relied on 2 great sources: the “Camelot Index” (remember the Jay Lerner song from Camelot which includes this lyric: “…The climate must be perfect all the year…”, as well as the Milken Institute’s Best Cities for Successful Aging project. (Thanks to member Ron M., who turned us on to this great resource).

Thoughts about our selections
We tried as hard as we could to offer some geographic diversity to the list. Although we managed to find finalist on both coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico, retirees looking for good weather destinations in the midwest and northeast will be disappointed – it is just too cold and/or wet in those places. We focused on towns and small cities rather than large cities, figuring more folks are interested in the former for their retirements. We also concentrated our picks on towns that we know to be attractive to retirees.

The top 10 Great Places to Retire for Weather
1. San Luis Obispo, CA. Here on central California’s Pacific Coast the average January low temperature is in the low to mid 50’s and the average July temperature is in the high 60’s.  From December to February you can count on at least 4″ of rain monthly; the rest of the year is quite dry. San Luis Obispo offers the attractions of a college town (Cal Poly), great beaches, as well as several active adult communities to choose from. We chose San Luis Obispo but the fact is almost any California city would qualify as a great weather retirement destination, notably San Diego (the one place in the country where the weatherman can always be right, since the sun is always shining). The Milken Institute also included Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Santa Rosa in its top 10 rated weather cities.

2. Las Cruces N M. One of the best things about towns like this in the southwest is that their higher altitudes (Las Cruces is 4,000 ft. above sea level) moderate the year round climate. The dry climate is also a plus, which makes Las Cruces especially appealing for people who hate humidity. The town is #17 on the Milken Institute list for weather (Small Metros), which combines such “perfect” weather conditions as heating degree days, cooling degree days, humidity, rain/sleet, and days of sunshine. Locals boast the sun shines 350 days a year in Las Cruces. Plus,attractions like New Mexico State University liven things up and help make it a great place to retire.

3. Medford, OR. The stereotype about Oregon is that it is so rainy that people wear WD-40 instead of sunscreen. The reality is that the state is a series of climate regions. The farther you get from the coast the dryer it gets. Located in the south central part of the state in the Rogue Valley, Medford is #12 on the Milken Weather list for weather. The climate is great for fruit too, as one of the big local industries is Harry and David of mail order fruit fame. On the negative side, there are complaints about winter fog.

4. Carson City, NV. The capital of Nevada has an elevation of 4,700′, situated as it is in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The amazing beauty and recreational opportunities of the mountains and nearby Lake Tahoe are a big plus, as in the absence of a state income tax. (#19 on the Milken list).

5. Sequim, Washington. Airline pilots gave Sequim its nickname, the “blue hole”, because they kept noticing it was the only cloudless spot in this region. Even though it’s on the incredibly wet Olympic Peninsula, it gets just 14″ of annual rainfall, about the same as Los Angeles. Outdoor recreation is outstanding, as is the boating on Puget Sound.


6. Key West, FL. The southern-most city in the continental U.S., Key West is also the only frost-free city in the lower 48. The all time low temperature was 41 degrees. Yet even in summer the temp range is in a very small band – the highest temperature ever recorded was 100, and that was in 1886! Key West ranked 10th on the Camelot Index (but don’t come here if you dislike summer humidity!). By 1860 Key West was the largest and wealthiest city in Florida (and the wealthiest per capita in the U.S.). Its stock of perfectly preserved Victorian homes and its island atmosphere are two of the city’s many attractions.

7. Lake Charles, LA. Water is a big part of Lake Charles’ appeal since it is Located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River in southwestern Louisiana. This booming city boasts warm winter temperatures and a #20 rating on the Milken list, the highest ranking of any city in the central or eastern U.S. High humidity is one of its few weather drawbacks.

8. Prescott, AZ. Arizona towns don’t rate quite as high on weather parameters as other places in the west, mostly because of scorching summer temperatures. But places like Prescott, Sedona, and Flagstaff that are higher above sea level in the northern part of the state aren’t quite so brutally hot. Prescott, which was the capital of the Arizona Territory, is a fun place to live and popular place to retire. Whiskey Row and the courthouse are local hot spots. (# 27 on the Milken list).

9. St. Marys GA. We like the location of this up and coming area. Being near the coast moderates temperatures a bit year round, plus you can always escape to the beaches and Georgia’s Sea Island. St. Mary’s is in very southern Georgia, just above Jacksonville (FL) and not that far from Savannah. It shares similar weather to nearby Brunswick, #33 on the Milken list. Home to a U.S. Navy submarine base, St. Marys is especially popular with military retirees.

10. Asheville, NC. We chose Asheville for this list because it is ideal if you want to retire in a place where you can experience the 4 seasons – in moderation. There is a touch of winter from its location in Carolina’s western mountains, but that also makes it cooler than the rest of the state in summer. Asheville is also the perennial most popular retirement spot at Topretirements. The average July high is 84 and the average January low is 27 (the average high is 46). The wettest month is March (4″).

Honorable Mentions [Rank on Milken list shown in ( ) ]
Blacksburg, VA (#46). Blacksburg, home to Virginia Tech University, is in western Virginia west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Myrtle Beach, SC or Wilmington, NC. (#50). Both of these towns on the Carolina coast have a moderate climate, great beaches, and plenty of places to live.
San Angelo, Midland or Odessa TX (#32-34). These towns in western Texas near the New Mexico have some of the best weather in Texas. Plus they are quite prosperous thanks to their oil wealth.
Florence, SC (#55). In addition to some pretty good weather the city has a successful downtown redevelopment project along with a diversified economy.
Hattiesburg, MS (#70). This “Certified Retirement Community” is home to 2 colleges and a huge historic district of Queen Ann, Victorian, and Greek Revival homes.

For further reference:
References for finding places with the best weather
Camelot Climate Index
Milken Institute Small Metros Ranking for Successful Aging (General)

Comments?
What is your ideal weather for retirement? And what places are you thinking about retiring to for the weather you like best? Please let all of us know by posting in the Comments section below.

Comments on "10 Places to Retire with Great Weather"

John says:
November 8, 2012

"Blacksburg, home to Virginia Tech University, is in western North Carolina along the Blue Ridge Mountains."

Uh, no, it's in western Virginia.

Editor's Note: Whoops, our mistake. Thanks for the correction (now made).

John Taylor says:
November 8, 2012

You left out the Hawaiian Islands. No better weather anywhere.

Aloha

Ron M. says:
November 8, 2012

No hat tip to Ron M. for telling you about the Camelot Climate Index back in September?

Editor's Note: Thanks Ron.M. You sure did, and it was one of the best tips ever! Our apologies.

Barry says:
November 8, 2012

No San Diego, no credibility.

Editor's note: You are right Barry and John Taylor. San Diego's weather is about the best in the country, as is most of Hawaii's. But in this list we were trying to get a little bit off the beaten track, we didn't mention them mostly because our concentration was on smaller to mid-sized cities. Bottom line: if you want the very best weather and don't care about city size, go to San Diego or Hawaii.

Heading south says:
November 9, 2012

My dream retirement site would be like a beach vacation, all year around. But it seems like most beaches are not good year around homes, humidity and
hurricanes, etc. I cannot afford 2 homes. Would like to swim year around.
Maybe a lake community in the Carolinas?

Noone has reported on how the idylic Central American and Island sites fared
in hurricanes.

With rising sea levels we definitely need to stop building right on the coasts.

Ginger says:
November 9, 2012

I too would like to swim year-round. I had been looking at retirement communities in Arizona (willing to trade the HOT summer for nice winter), then discovered that most of the communities close their pool in the winter! Although it is warmer than NY, apparently not warm enough to swim all winter! Now I am looking at Florida where I believe it is more likely to find a place with pool open year round. Or the other option is to focus on places with indoor pools. the whole swimming thing is a challenge!

Marian says:
November 9, 2012

Frankly, I'm not sure I'd like to live in any of the places mentioned. And definitely not in Hawaii; or San Diego -- though the weather IS great there, if you like that kind of weather all year round; which I don't. For some of us, once a four-seasons person, always a four-seasons person. I could not live without a real spring, and the fall color change and wonderful fall skies and brisk winds. And for that matter, I don't mind winter. Here in the Niagara Peninsula of NY we have relatively moderate winters -- much less snow than Buffalo only 30 miles away (and Rochester, et al). We have no floods, no fires, no earthquakes, no mud slides, no tornadoes, no hurricanes (though sometimes extra rain and some winds from East Coast hurricanes). We DO have wonderful scenery, lots of water, we on the border with Canada, have a very moderate cost of living, moderate real estate prices. We're in a corner here where we miss the lake-effect snow from both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario -- but have the scenery and recreational benefit of living near those two Great Lakes. We've been looking around for quite a while re: places to move when my husband retires. We're on the verge of deciding we've got a much better situation here than we'd find anywhere else we were looking, despite not being near family. This area is a well-kept secret.

John Taylor says:
November 9, 2012

The Big Island of Hawaii (Hawaii County), near Mauna Lani and Mauna Kea Resorts has the most perfect location (for us) imaginable. Seems winter is when it gets down to 65 and summer is when it gets up to 85. For different climates, we go to Kamuela (30 minute drive) and it will be cooler and Mauna Kea even has SNOW in the winter. A drive to the active volcano will give anyone the spine tingling chills, along with some of the most beautiful scenery on this rock.
Each to their own, but Heaven is where you find it, and Paradise is in the middle of the Pacific.

Aloha

Mary Ann says:
November 12, 2012

I think you missed a good bet by ignoring Bellingham, WA. Less rain than Seattle, more moderate temps. 4 seasons, coolish summers (90's rare), low humidity, on the bay, close to mountains, 4 yr Univ. great artists in residence, casual living at its best. Truly good example of "wool sox and Birkenstocks" crowd. The City of Subdued Excitement is our motto.

says:
November 14, 2012

I moved to Las Cruces, N.M. from N.Y.C. last year. The weather IS beautiful but there are other considerations.I am retired & signed up for medicare & a supplemental ins.My doctor will Not accept assignment from medicare & my Insurance because he says that Medicare doesn't pay enough. Now, I have to pay for medicare, Blue Cross AND the doctor.He says I have to make up the difference to what he thinks he should be paid.He says that 50 miles away ,in El Paso ,Texas , he can get paid 25% more. WHY aren"t all states treated equally? There are so many things we don't know about until we get to where we move.Many of the good doctors are leaving .I lost my mother here this year because of a different SUBSTANDARD doctor, who appeared to have good credentials( THE geriatric specialist). it took a few monthes to find a doctor.Now I am afraid what will happen to me if I get sick.
How do we know about these facts until we live here ?
The food here is priced higher than in NYC.Gas is lower.

cherie says:
November 15, 2012

This situation with doctors and Medicare is just ONE reason that many experts recommend renting for a month or two in a city that seems attractive. You will be forced to buy groceries, gas and shop for things that interest you and see what is available. Hopefully you can also find residents close to your own age and ask questions about medical care, etc. and perhaps the person you rent from will be able to give you information about real estate and taxes. In your case, lcrdrnr, this doesn't really help but I was told similar tales about Asheville and the answer seems to be to talk to other residents who are on Medicare and find which doctors they use. If there's a senior center in Las Cruces or an agency that assists seniors that might be a valuable resource. Apparently befriending a resident who is a long-time patient of a particular doctor and dropping their name when you inquire about him/her is an acceptable and widely used practice! As the song says, shop around!

KLFulf says:
November 15, 2012

Cherie: I just visited the Asheville, NC area and walked away w/mixed feelings. I'm just curious as to the "similar tales" for this area that you are referring to. I was unable to speak w/anyone that had recently located (5-8 yrs) so, if I were to consider this area, I would need to definitely need to rent!!!

cherie says:
November 16, 2012

KLFulf, I would be interested in hearing about your "mixed feelings" of Asheville! We attended the annual Creative Retirement Exploration Weekend there last May.(Held every Memorial Day weekend at the University of NC @ Asheville) We were kept very busy with workshops, some taught by recently relocated individuals, and attended some evening events where we were paired up with these relatively new locals. They were extremely informative and helpful and didn't pull any punches in their answers to our questions. I came away liking the vibrancy of the town and its artsy feel. I also liked the slightly liberal leaning of the populace vs the conservative feel of the rest of NC. We were told the medical facilities were top notch but one couple related an experience after just moving there that a few doctors she approached were not taking new Medicare patients because of "low reimbursement rates." This concerned us as I will turn 65 in a few days. Other locals repeated similar stories but gave us tips on how to find good doctors that were willing to take Medicare patients. I believe this is a problem almost everywhere when a relocation is involved because of the huge numbers of boomers entering the Medicare system. My family doctor here in PA with whom I have an established relationship is not likely to refuse me but a doctor in a new location who is a stranger to me and my family might. We will be spending the entire month of March in Asheville to get a better "feel" for the city and surroundings. We're pretty good at insinuating ourselves into new activities and groups, plus we will hook up to the UNCA Lifelong Learning Institute, so we're hoping to get more detailed inside information!

KLFulf says:
November 16, 2012

Cherie: I'm familiar w/CREW and am giving that some consideration for 2013. I have lived and worked in both SF and DC - Asheville is the SF of the East Coast. The area was beautiful and extremely busy wk of 10/14 because of the leaves changing colors. Took the trolley for two days to see and get a feel for the area....went to Biltmore...walked the downtown area...found great places to eat....everyone was friendly and it was extremely pet friendly which impressed me...BUT between the artist community and the well-heeled, I just didn't get a feeling of being able to find a fit. You need to have a car to get around even though I did see a bus and driving is something that needs to be considered for the future. Understood the area was superior for medical but, after reading your comments, this needs to be a consideration as well. Asheville's cost of living is above the natl average - something else to think about...it's liberal, I'm middle-of-the road and I'm single which can/does add to the burden of relocation.

D says:
November 16, 2012

I have also been looking at Asheville for a possible move. I am a few years away from Medicare but being single I was hoping for a walkable town with activities to find to keep busy. I have a few other towns I am also considering but find this all so confusing. Currently I am in DC but have a good bit of travel experience and find most places have wonderful perks but deciding which of the 'wonderful' place I want to spend the next phase of my life is difficult.

KLFulf says:
November 17, 2012

D: I, too, am looking for a walkable town w/activities - could you share the names of the other towns you might be considering?

Ursula says:
November 17, 2012

I was talking with a lady who has relatives here in Prescott. She was here from Kentucky. I started asking her all sorts of things, e.g., how is the humidity in Kentucky, how is the climate in general, etc., and she indicated that life there is great, compared to Arizona. She said she does not have problems in Kentucky like she has in Arizona, such as her nose getting stuffed up, her eyes bothering her, her skin looking like alligator skin, her throat feeling dry, etc. I live in Prescott, Arizona and I have all the problems this woman described, but always thought it was just "me". I have to use nose spray every night so that I can breathe (I do fairly well in daytime), and I have to use eye drops and even eye ointment constantly.

So now I have something else to think about :lol: Does anyone have any input about Kentucky?

As for Asheville, I sent off for loads of information a while back and I loved what I read and the pictures I saw. Then I spoke with the cousin of a friend of mine who loves there, and she said she cannot wait to get back to Reno, Nevada .... she said the mosquitoes eat you alive, the many bugs are huge, and the trees are so thick that you cannot see the sky and you feel very claustrophic. So after hearing all this, I ruled out Asheville :eek:

CB says:
November 18, 2012

KLFulf, I have not tried this website (walkscore.com), however they say to enter the city and the site will give you the distance to places you can walk to, such as book stores, eateries, and so on.

cherie says:
November 18, 2012

I check out www.walkscore.com every time I find an interesting city! There's also a bikescore.com website. In all my investigations, I've only found 2 cities, altho I'm sure there are more out there, which rated a 100 (out of 100)and they were Toronto and (drum roll..) Lewisburg, WV! I spent a few days in Lewisburg last week and it's an adorable little town. Voted coolest small town in US. I have added it to my list! As for the interesting comments about Asheville, I was there in May of this year for a week and got way more bug bites back home in PA. Also, I guess it depends on what you are used to, but the trees in Asheville are beautiful and the mountain vistas certainly would not make most people feel claustrophobic. I would pay a visit before writing it off. I will admit it's considerably different from Reno but in a very positive way!

Heading South says:
November 18, 2012

Glad to read I am not the only one overwhelmed by all the choices and decisions. Hawaii sounds great but Is it not very expensive and
Is it not expensive flying back to see the kids or for them to visit
me? I feel one could probably find small towns in Hawaii with a
walkable lifestyle.

D says:
November 19, 2012

I also like Lewisburg, WV BUT it is way too small for my consideration but it is a sweet little town.
I am driving myself crazy trying to choose a new location. To KLFulf I have on my list Asheville, Cary and Chapel Hill (Carborro) NC, Athens, GA, Nashville, TN and on/off Rehobeth Beach area of DE.
Thanks for the walkscore.com website I will enjoy checking it out.

Roberta says:
February 20, 2017

Hawaii is very expensive.......not affordable tomany retirees.

Roberta says:
February 20, 2017

Would love to hear from anyone with any knowledge of Osprey cove, St.Mary's , Georgia.
Also, anyone living in the Fairhope, Ala area?

Jeff says:
February 21, 2017

After 5 years of fairly focused retirement location searching, we found a house under construction in Fairhope, AL in December and bought it. We found the city by accident on our way back from a vacation on Fort Morgan on the gulf coast 5 years ago. We purposefully visited the area during all seasons and, coming from Atlanta, understood the general weather issues as we monitored the area on a weather app and spoke to many local residents during our visits as its location has implications on insurance depending on house age, insurer and proximity to Mobile Bay and other water areas. Hot and quite humid at times for those unaccustomed, heavy downpours at times, risk of severe storms are present in a package of overall weather loved by residents given the city itself, the friendly people and it's many activities. As things stand now, we will retire there in June after 30 years in suburban Atlanta.

tom says:
February 21, 2017

There is a place vary much like Hawaii in Mexico. Ajijic is an international community on a 50 mile lake where it is always Spring. English is spoken and prices are 50% of US prices. Everyone meets at the Ajijic Community Center for cheap lunches and free books and videos. There are 2 community theaters and first run movies.

Richard says:
February 21, 2017

Roberta,

My wife and I visited Osprey Cove several years ago and spent two nights in the community.Really loved it; saw great affordable houses too. The town and surrounding area are not appealing at all. Osprey is pricey to live in particularly since we'd be spending most of our time there and need, at least, a social membership. It's the nicest community we've seen in our 7 year retirement odyssey throughout coastal NC,SC,GA and FL. We haven't completely ruled it out but are focused on Amelia Island and Jacksonville FL.

Brian says:
February 21, 2017

A warning to those who want to avoid having to deal with snow. Some of the cities on your list can get significant levels of snow each year. For example, Carson City gets an annual average of 21 inches of snow and Asheville gets an annual average of 13 inches. If, like my wife and I, you are also looking to move to somewhere that does not require that you take your shovel with you, then adjust the list accordingly.

Roberta says:
February 21, 2017

Hello Jeff...Thanks for your input.

I am in Atlanta almost 40 years myself......congrats on your plans for Fairhope.

I first visited about 12-13 years ago, as I was tour directing a couple of tours that stopped there....of course I loved the town. Went back for vaca...a few years later....just after the last bad hurricane....Marriott Grand Hotel had just re-opened.on Point Clear. The Fairhope area seemed very established...but looking at the real estate updates I get.....looks like there are MANY new subdivisions being built. Any idea what seems to be causing this growth spurt?

Much thanks and appreciate your input.

Roberta says:
February 21, 2017

Hello Richard, Thank you for your response.

Osprey looked very nice to me..and looked like there may be some homes I could actually afford. Heard some good things about Osprey.....but then I saw some sort of chat dialogue which indicated someone had to sell their home for $150,000 less than they paid for it......comments indicating water problems with the county...and some reference to Osprey being over populated with "swingers".......this was just kind of random dialog. It sounded like there were numerous problems with Osprey.

I am sure Amelia is very nice...but have not seen much if anything in my price range.
Good luck to you in making your selection...and thanks you once again.

Linda says:
February 21, 2017

I recently spent two weeks checking out various cities in Arizona for retirement possibilities. Once I came upon Fountain Hills, it immediately peaked my interest. The terrain was so different from the Scottsdale area directly west of it. It was rolling with the mountains as a backdrop; the town center had a lovely little lake with a tall water spout. It seemed far less congested than neighboring communities, and it was close to a Mayo Clinic.

I would really appreciate any information I can get on this appealing area. I thought I might like to rent in order to test the waters (I actually heard that there is a fishing/sports lake in the area.) I would like to be in the town center for a walkable lifestyle. I love to kayak, ride bikes and hike.

Richard says:
February 21, 2017

Roberta,

There are several affordable communities on the "mainland" in Fernandina Beach and Yulee. West of 95 they become very affordable. Good luck.

Richard

Barry Snider says:
February 21, 2017

John Taylor- 11/09.2012.

I LOVED Hawaii & especially the BIG ISLAND during several business trips during 1990-2000. BUT the cost of living.

HOW DOES ONE GET AROUND THOSE EXPENSES. I'd love to live there. BUT $$$$WOW!!!

Jennifer says:
February 22, 2017

Linda,
I have heard from those that live in Scottsdale that rattlesnakes are prevalent in Fountain Hills. For me that was a deal breaker. I, too, was attracted to that area when I doctor fiend of mine retired there from Washington, DC. He bought into a gated golf community of which there are many in and near Scottsdale.

Roberta says:
February 22, 2017

Richard...Went back to try to find the negative comments on Osprey........they really made me STOP.......if you are still thinking about Osprey...you may want to read all this yourself...most of the terrible comments were posted around 2012...so hopefully they may have made a turn around. I read all this on TOPIX......there are topics dedicated to Osprey and St. Mary's. Apparently...some have been forced to sell well below what they have paid. The other big problem is that many have rented to Navy families that enjoy a rather loud and raucous environment.....nothing against the military....I appreciate them...my late husband was a Marine and then flew choppers for Air America. BUT
it rather sounded like I would possibly be getting neighbors worse than the ones I am hoping to move away from.

Would stil like to get down there myself.

Good luck with your choice......please communicate if you have any more comments on Osprey or other communities

Jeff says:
February 22, 2017

Roberta: To your question on the Fairhope growth, you are correct. We did our due diligence in several other targeted areas (StAugustine, Amelia/Fernandina, Lake County, FL, Ocala/OTOW) and kept watching Fairhope as the measure. In addition, we saw that Fairhope was listed at #25 in one of the surveys released on this site of places to retire/live so there had to be something to that story. It has since dropped as more areas have sprung up for us "boomers." So, the issues you observed in Fairhope have come from: publicity about the area in many venues and publications (much to the dismay of Fairhopians!), the follow-on area reviews by retirees or retirees-to-be like us, word of mouth and the acquisition of certain properties by developers post 2008. That all said, a new mayor upset the long time incumbent in November and brought with her the belief of needing a moratorium on development to construct a broader infrastructure plan which has since been put in place. In our case, we looked at these emerging "developments" during each visit and 2 years ago found a "neighborhood" we really liked. It is in this one we found in December several remaining homes being built in acreage acquired at the back of the neighborhood that had retained the same feel. Given that, with this growth, prices have come back and we found one a bit over our budget that fit most other parameters we had laid out for a home. After a few "sleepless" nights, we moved forward knowing it would not be there in several months when we had targeted making a location decision and the prices were already continuing to move up. I believe this number is correct: 16,000 people currently and it is attempting to retain something of the small town feel. It is hard not to want to talk about the area, and the more who know, the more developments, etc, they believe will ensue.

says:
February 22, 2017

We solved this problem by buying a park model home in SoCal, about 60 miles north of San Diego and at a fraction of the price of San Diego but still within easy reach and keeping our RV so we could bug out when the temps get too hot in the summer. There are creative solutions to the retirement dilemma but one has to decide where the best place will be when one can no longer be as active. Though the traffic in SoCal can be a downside, the ability to play tennis, Pickleball and just generally play outside made the decision for us. Good luck everyone!

Roberta says:
February 23, 2017

Thank you, Jeff....Yes, I guess the word is out on Fairhope.

Certainly hope they do not lose that small town feel. The unique thing about Fairhope is that you have a small town that still has lots to offer in the arts etc.

Yes, I have mentioned Fairhope to many...as I was so impressed with the place. Most people here in Atlanta have never heard of it...they hear " Alabama" and most have a very different conception of the town if they have not been there. Some people at church are actually from Daphne....and they love the area...get back there as often as they are able.

I think the thing I liked the most was " the evening stroll" along the waterfront. People would come out and walk....some with their dogs ...stop and chat...so nice. Also found a great Oyster House close to Point Clear
with great food that we could actually afford :)

Do you know anything about senior activities in the area etc?

Congrats on the new home.

Jeff says:
March 2, 2017

Roberta:

We have not looked into that specifically in total, yet! We have a lot to do to get wheels down with a new house, to furnish it a bit (oooh, shopping!) which will help us scout the area. We know of a lot of local activities but biking and pilates, baseball coaching, photography and just becoming a contributing member of the community in some, as yet undetermined, way are all on the to-do list. As are things we don't even know yet. We have, however, met the neighbors and many people throughout the town. Have you seen this yet? It's only a partial list of things we are aware of. It was on a recent City of Fairhope Facebook page. You will see Panini Pete's mentioned. We enjoyed it and most locals know that Guy Fieri did a show from there for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives several years ago.

http://www.southernliving.com/travel/what-to-do-fairhope-alabama

Richard says:
March 3, 2017

Roberta,

Here's an example of new construction between 17 and 95 in Yulee, the mainland near Amelia Island. New community; depends on your need to be nearer the ocean.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/77204-Lumber-Creek-Blvd-Yulee-FL-32097/104206260_zpid/

Roberta says:
March 6, 2017

Thanks, Richard...good information. I want to be closer to the ocean than I am now ( Atlanta)...but not too close.....several miles away from the ocean would be ideal for me. Did not know anything about Yulee until you mentioned it...THANKS!

Raman says:
March 7, 2017

I have not seen any discussion about Henderson, NV. Has anyone moved there or know anyone who has retired there? Any experience regarding housing costs and life in general.

Moderator Flo says:
March 8, 2017

Hi Raman,
Try looking under the Nevada State Guide for information on Henderson. You can also enter Henderson NV in the search engine for more information. The Forum under Henderson Nevada has a place where you can post questions.
Hope this helps!!

Sherrie Hall says:
March 28, 2017

I remember 11 tornados on the ground at the same time when I lived in Midland.
This was back in the 50's.

 

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