Finding That Goldilocks Place To Retire: Year Round Living, Part 3

Jarvisburge NC...we bought here because we like the beach, yet we are not on it. We are 15 minuted to Kitty Hawk beach. The outer banks have things going on year round. One can volunteer at a lot of events. At 65 how much shopping do I need to do. The area has all the shopping I need. I live on the bay side so I can have a boat if I decide to. There is plenty of good fishing....salt and freshwater. Oh yeah....there are more restaurants than any one needs. Everyone asks...what about hurricanes? What about them? The people have been living on the outer banks for a long time. They're still there. Yeah ...a house here or there gets taken. They are usually right on the water. You only go around once. Here today...gone tomorrow . Live your dream before it is too late. John...from Gardiner NY

Originally from PA we moved around(CO, KY) eventually spending 30 years in Central FL. I wanted to retire further north, looking for milder, shorter summers. My husband wanted to stay in FL. He hates the cold. We ended up in Bluffton, SC. The summers are just as steamy as FL but don't last as long. Winters are mostly mild though we're expecting temperatures in the low 20's the next few days. We still have a condo in Cocoa Beach which is only 4.5 hours away. We're closer to our family in VA. We're close to Savannah and the airport, Hilton Head and Beaufort. Bluffton is growing. There are restaurants, shopping, medical care for all the retirees. Golfing, classes at USC Beaufort across the road from our gated community. Our neighborhood is new within the past year. We all moved with the same goals of enjoying retirement. Everyone is open and fun loving.There is almost too much to do!

Greetings Pigeondude!
My sentiments exactly! Looking for cost of living in your area but can find no information. How do you find it?
Thank you!

Has anyone retired in Rapid City South Dakota? I am pretty sure after looking at other places and the cost of living, this looks like a place we would like. I am from Minnesota so anyplace would be warmer, I do like the change of seasons and dislike hot humid weather.

Don't rule out Williamsburg,VA...fast becoming a retirement destination of choice. Here you'll find history, William & Mary for continuing education, fabulous shopping and dining opportunities, great healthcare, a moderate cost of living with pretty low taxes, friendly people and many rental and purchase options for baby-boomers.

We're 1 hour from the ocean...minutes from river beaches...2 hours from DC...45 minutes from Richmond...and enjoy mild winters with little or no snow.

Come check it out!

How about coming up with retirement places based on rentals. I am single and don't want the headaches of ownership anymore. I will be selling my home within 2 years and that money will be my "living" along with minimal SS and pension.

We moved to SE Tenn. 8 years ago for work and are getting ready to retire. Financially, this is a good place but we cannot wait to get back to New England. We have never settled in and have had enough of the heat and humidity. I don't mind watching it snow if we don't have to shovel out any more :-) Would love to hear from anyone in New Hampshire or Maine.

Bend Oregon is a thriving community in the High Desert of Central Oregon with 81,000 residents. Spectacular scenery and recreation year round. Within 20 minutes from Bend is Spectacular Mt. Bachelor, one of the top places to ski, snow board, or sled in the USA. Snowshoeing, dog sledding, cross country skiing, ice skating, hiking, hot springs, fishing, bird watching, snow mobiling are within easy reach. The Cascades Lakes drive is amazing. Sisters & Sunriver are a couple of the great small resort towns to visit. Crater Lake is within an hour and a half. The Deschutes River divides the city with a lovely active downtown full of restaurants, shops, and theaters. We have a beautiful library and walking trails nearby along the river. The Old Mill District & Amphitheater compliment the downtown and also ties in the river. We get 4 distinct seasons of weather with a dryer climate. 4 year and 2 year college that offers so much. Microbeweries everywhere. 3 hours to Portland. Well worth a visit and a long look.

My wife and I moved to Santa Fe, NM from East Texas when I retired last year. Love it and would not think of retiring anywhere else. We love the climate, the culture, the food, and the plentiful outdoor activities. I even found a part-time job to keep me busy the rest of the time!

We chose Shallotte, NC. It is centered between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach for major city needs. It's only 20 minutes to North Myrtle Beach. While still a small town in population, it has many major needs like Home Depot, Lowe's, major drug stores and popular restaurant chains. It's only a 25 minute drive at most to 3 local beaches. The beaches are less crowded than SC as there are no high rise buildings allowed. It's still country like living with easy access to the beach.

You are missing a bet I if you do not look into Brewton, Alabama. We retired here about five year about five years ago. Brewton is about five miles north of the Florida state line and fifty miles north of Pensacola. The people are very friendly, taxes are low (Social Security and pensions are not taxed in Alabama) and the climate is great. You can play golf all year round. Our home is located in a Golf Course community. The course was designed by Jerry Pate. Housing is very reasonable as are country club dues. We recommend this area, it's great.

Holly, My wife and 2 adult kids live just outside of Manchester NH. The winters are cold but the summers are nice. The home taxes on about a 2500 SF house are about 7200.00 that includes 5 acres of land. Its getting to the point where I can't afford to live here. By the way my wife and I still work full time

My wife and I moved to Southern Mississippi Coast in July last year. After living for 20 years in the Hill Country of Texas, we were ready for a change. We love driving down Beach Blvd. Forty miles of unobstructed ocean views. The summers are hot and muggy, but so is everywhere else in the south. The cost of living, except for insurance, is very low here. There's always a festival going on, and if you get bored you can always go fishing, boating or go to a casino. There are 12 here along the coast. I can't imagine living anywhere else. However, I haven't experience a hurricane yet. As soon as an H appears in the gulf, we are gone.

Since some of us are not a "we" how about a list of good locations for singles? Also possible locations with good rental homes.

I agree with several other comments. How about good locations for singles. I'm also done with buying. Rentals?

we are seriously considering retiring in Ocala, Fl. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. It seems like it wouldn't Beas hot and would seem more seasonal to us since we will be moving from Ohio.

We purchased in AZ. 13 miles west of Surprise you will find Del Webb's Sun City Festival. We bought a new build in March 2011 and retired this June living here full time. Several residents in this community started out as "snowbirds" and came to the conclusion why do we keep leaving Festival, why not live here as a "rounder" (live year round). As such I highly recommend a person do a "stay-n-play" as Festival and see for yourself what living in a resort atmosphere is like and good chance you just may become a "rounder" when you do. When you contact the sales office ask for Elaine Ransom (928-252-6521), great sales person and then via her you can look me up. We can have dinner at the on site Indigo Grill can you can ask more questions about living here. Two of my co-workers did just that and now they are "rounders" as well.

Debbie, We have been visiting the banks are for 10 years now. I never found it to be over expensive in an one way. I come from the Hudson Valley area of NY. Crazy high taxes,gas and everything has a price tag on it.. My taxes went from $4200 in NY to $450 on my home down here. No heating cost down here and A/C almost runs as much up there as here. I don't pay for my bags of trash down here. And I don't need to buy a dump permit sticker. But anyway I would contact the Currituck Chamber of Commerce for some direction on cost of living there. If you are looking at living on the banks like Kitty Hawk and Nags Head are then contact the Dare chamber. John

Pigeondude = $450 Real Estate Taxes on the Banks. Wow, sorry but I find that very hard to believe. What town exactly do you reside in?

No...earlier I said we loved the beach but we didn't buy on the beach. We are 15 minutes to the beach . I am up in Jarvisburg NC. When someone says , I bought this at Ace Hardware on the beach, people would know you meant in Kitty Hawk. Here's an example; a 3 bedroom, 2 full baths beach box in Kill Devil Hills. Taxes are $1250. Up here in NY where I live this would be $7000 in taxes. But I am retired and don't need 3 bedrooms. I downsized. So I have 2 now and one bath. Here is another. # bedroom ,1 1/2 bath ranch in Jarvisburg. Taxes about $578. Another,3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath 1850 sq. ft. , 40,000 sq. ft. lot....taxes $1131. Jump in your car and you will be standing on the sand in 15 minutes...I know. I timed it.

Have you considered Lafayette, Louisiana? Gets high marks for the food. (And I live for three things: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.) Louisiana is famous for low property taxes (they tax oil companies). And if you don't want a state income tax, you're not too far from Texas, which has none.

Trish 1/7/15- I am also looking for 55+ Senior "Conventional" Apartment rentals - in Henderson, NV/Las Vegas, NV &/or Reno/Sparks, NV areas. I currently live in FL and am looking to move 5/15. Does anyone have information on specific apartment communities (not mobile home communities) to rent. Barbara W.

Regarding pigeondude's riff on taxes on and near the Outer Banks, $1,250 in taxes annually for a nice sized house in Kill Devil Hills is a bargain...although not as big a bargain as his $600 in Jarvisburg. But for those who would like to walk to the beach or take a quick bike ride, the $700 difference, or $60 per month, is well worth it. In fact, before gas prices dropped, you probably would have spent that much on 15 trips per month to the beach from Jarvisburg. (Side note: Kill Devil Hills, like many communities, assesses both a town AND city property tax. Make sure you search local records for any home in which you are interested.)

Pigeondude,

I was delighted to read your post. Both because you've found a destination that suits you so well, and also because you're from Gardiner.

Most people reading this will not realize what a lovely area Gardiner is with its wooded hills; and small (maybe i should say tiny), sweet town. Minnewaska State Park is my favorite hiking grounds.

Two questions. Don't you miss the woods and hilly terrain, and aren't the summers just too hot?

Many thanks!

No not really...It's time to open a new chapter in life. I've spent my whole life in the woods of Gardiner. Nothing there is going to surprise me unless someone says they found bigfoot living up in the Pallamagut. I worked at Minnewaska when the ski slope was there. I would groom all the trails you hike with the powder maker for the cross country skiers. I've had frogs, lizards, snakes ,raccoons,skunks, crows and other birds for pets. I've train hawks ,owls and falcons. I fish ,I hunt. But...the people are changing in the area. Guns is a bad word...everyone wants no one on their property. I grew up in the fifties and sixties. I had a 22 rifle hanging out of the basket of my bicycle when I was 14 years old. Too many rule and regulations. My life will slow down in a matter of years....not that many away. I never could imagine myself sitting on the porch looking down through a majestic Catskill mountain valley with a lawyer living up the road a mile and a lady that writes childrens books about bullying up the other way. Time for some down earth people and beach and ocean. Lots of fishing where I don't have to ask permission to fish. Dress for summer and most of us adapt to weather. Basically...New York is pushing me out. Everything about it ,isn't me anymore.It's politics ,it's people and its laws. This country boy doesn't live in the country any more. Well....did I piss and moan enough...yes...but now you know why I'm leaving. Bye NY!

Kudos to Pigeondude....& Congrats....
Hit the road and never look back. Good luck in your new surroundings.

I hear you loud and clear Pigeondude. I have lived most of my life in the Los Angeles metro area. There are way too many times that the regulations and politics just make me cringe.

But I have a question for pigeon dude. What is your property insurance per year? Aren't you in the Flood Plain and do you have National Flood Insurance? What about Wind Insurance?

pigeondude,

Your growing up and later years sound idyllic to me. I've lived in the wilderness for a few years of my life and have never been able to return for more although i've always longed to. I am leaving NY for all the same reasons (aka Andrew Cuomo), however a book on bullying doesn't sound too bad to me. (You were probably a kid who could hold his own!)

I do love the ocean, so back to the weather - isn't it way too hot for way too long?

Many thanks and congratulations for a life well-lived (present-tense).

Does anyone have any more suggestions on great Year Round retirement spots? We would love to hear them.

I believe my property wind hurricane insurance is around $1250. No I'm not in a flood zone, though I'm only 300 feet from the water. The ? about the heat. I am an outside person. So I adapt. If you stay inside a lot then go out...yeah I will feel hot. I go down to the water in the sound with my black lab and the kayak or to the beach. The rest of life is going to and from your car and stores. Big Whoopy that's nothing. Go biking in the morning and evenings. To be honest with you...I haven't found it so oppressive,yet, to shut me down.

Although we haven't seen goldilocks yet, we have found the locals to be very friendly to us Midwesterners in our first week of retirement here in eastern TN. We swallow hard when pay for 7 a 9% tax on everything we buy. In MN there is no tax on food or clothing or shoes. We purchased a used vehicle; and they think anything with less than 100 k miles is gold, but they don't use salt on their roads, so the vehicles look better, even with all the miles. We heard that the closer you get to FL, the better the car deals.
So, we call for the insurance, only to find that costs double what we pay in MN. They tell us there are too many uninsured motorists, and they haven't passed '"no fault " here.
This was recently a "dry" county as well, therefore the price of a bottle of wine is double what we are accustomed to.
Now, for the fun part......when we left MN last week, it was way below zero, and still is! It has been cold here too, but not near that bad! Even though it is kinda brown, there are still some green trees and grass, and we still think the scenery is beautiful. We love our small 900 sq ft rental on the water, and are looking for an early spring! We went for a walk today!
I guess everything is relative.

Wine = When we moved to Carlisle, Pa (to be near the kids & GC - 1st mistake) I discovered that my favorite brand of wine in the Pa State run store would now cost me $12.00 per btl. In Fl (wine is also sold in Publix Groc stores and the ABC State store) the same wine cost me $7.50 (Merlot) on SALE and Usually $8.50. No, It's not Ripple/lol but my favorite.

RE taxes and School taxes are out of sight as is just about everything regarding cost of living compared to what we left. Yes, I made a "wrong turn" and heading back as soon as my house sells. I sound like a broken record BUT DO YOUR HOME WORK VERY VERY VERY WELL BEFORE MAKING A MOVE. I did not and I let emotion govern a decision that required more than that. By the time I move back to Fl I will have lost somewhere in the vicinity of $25,000 - an amount that could have totally been avoided. Caveat Emptor = After rereading this = need a glass of wine.

Caps,

Happy retirement! So glad you're enjoying your new life. As for the $, at least you've saved a bundle living in MN all these years. Enjoy!

Thanks Ella,
Hubby's friends told him it would take about 15 minutes to get 'used to" retirement . Seems to be about right.
Property taxes are about half what they are in MN. Nor, do they tax regular income. So, all that should help our bottom line in the future.

I forgot to mention, we went to Knoxville on Saturday for shopping and dinner. I'm not sure what's happened In the last three years, but we spent lots of time in slow traffic, and without reservations, the restaurant waits were 30 - 60 minutes. That has been the scenario there for the last couple of years. We were so hungry, we ate some of our groceries on our 40 minute drive home instead.
It seems like the cities with any size to them have the same traffic snarls on the weekends. It has been the same situation in MN for over 25 years!

Caps, your move sounds exciting! You mentioned that you are living in a 900 square foot rental. Is that a rental that you stay in year round? My husband and I are thinking of the Knoxville area but 30 minutes or so away. We will also be looking for a rental. Have you found that to be easy to find?

Caps-where did you decide to rent?

Shirl, We have been looking at Ocala for the past year. We have visited both new construction and with a realtor sold out 55 communities. We seem to keep going back to Del Webb Stone Creek. We will be doing a explorative stay and play next week to see what the atmosphere is during the in season. Ocala is not as hot as the areas further south in Florida and while not cold does have more seasonal weather.

Just moved to Lake Monticello. VA ,18 miles SE of Charlottesville, VA. Cville as it is called,has a first rate research hospital (U of VA hospital) and all of the amenities one would find in a University town. The "Lake" is located in Fluvanna county which is rural. Has only one traffic light. The "Lake" has about 11,000 people and is a gated community with an 18 hole PGA golf course and a large recreational lake. Housing prices are relative to the SF you want. 1800 sf will be around $220 k with lakefront and golf course lots/homes higher. .Taxes are low,89 cents per 100. Weather is seasonal and some winters are without snow. Come on down or up depending on UR location.

George sent in this comment and we have added our link to Arkansas towns and communities.

My wife and I have decided to retire to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. It is a great active adult community, the largest gated community in the U.S. We found this community by accident on a motorcycle trip last year. A very low cost retirement alternative. I have not seen anything in your correspondence re Arkansas??
Arkansas appears to be a well kept secret.

http://www.topretirements.com/active_adult_communities/Arkansas.html

Watch out in Florida, Ocala or where ever. Florida is rife with sinkholes that have already happened or are waiting to happen

We are renting for three months in North-Eastern TN, while we search for property. We are about 40 miles from Knoxville, in the Cumberland valley. Someone recommended we have "America's Home Place" build us a home on a bare lot. Has anyone had any experience with this builder? We had never heard of them.

Caps,
Are you building in the community you had planned to live (and build) in? Are have you decided to move somewhere else? Just asking because if the first, certainly the folks there can recommend good builders.

Sending you my warmest wishes.

All of Florida is prone to sinkholes but some areas are more prone than others, like the Tampa area. Here's a website from the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection that will give you an overview on the topic. http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/geologictopics/sinkhole.htm

Sometimes a lively city with nonstop activities can trump weather, given common-sense precautions on icy or snowy days. Try Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Vicki,
we really loved stonecreek but were concerned about the area in terms of crime. Seem like health care providers seemed a little scarce. Please let us know how you make out? Our stay was enjoyable good luck.

Virginia,
Sorry, I forgot to address your question.
We found the current short term furnished rental by driving around last fall looking for a home to purchase.
The owners usually only rent out their villas during the warmer months for approximately $2k a week. We are their first and only winter tenants and got a much better rate than that.
We saw some other options by checking the Knoxville area Craigslist. There are also some "TN Lakes area " vacation rental websites. "Home Away" and "Norris Lake vacation rentals " were some other sites we checked.
I hope that helps.

George,
I checked out the website on Hot Springs Village, I was really surprised how reasonable this community is and all it has to offer. They have rentals at great prices also. I checked the weather averages and it seems like the winters are pretty mild. Thanks for the information, I will add this to my list of places to visit. This is why I like this site, I don't think I ever would of thought of Arkansas.

Vicki,
In your post from Jan 13th you mentioned you were going to do a stay and play visit at Del Webb Stone Creek. How did that work out? I'm curious as to what draws you to Stone Creek over other 55+ communities in the area. I really like the model homes at On Top of the World but I need to pay another visit to Stone Creek. I visited Stone Creek a couple of years ago and saw the models and amenities but think I'd also like to do a exploratory visit. I like the general Ocala area because as you mentioned it's not as hot as it is further south and it's not too far from Tampa and Orlando. Retirement is a couple of years away for me so I'm not in a hurry to make a decision. Thanks for your input.

My wife and I are looking for an affordable lakefront community with lots of amenities and decent healthcare in the southeast. So far we've only found the Fairfield Glade area in Tennessee to be affordable (nice lakefront homes in the $250K range) plus golf and lots of clubs and organizations. Does anyone know of any other affordable communities that offer the same. Appreciate any input

Shirl and Alexander
We did our second explore Del Webb a couple of weeks ago. We did one about 2 years ago but it was during off season. Stone Creek continues to grow but is not as large as some of the other communities we have visited. For us On Top of the World is to large. This time we were able to be there while they were having an event (Musical performance) and got to see how many people participate in the programs. Shirl if you decide to stay make sure you request an ambassador. They will take you to dinner and possibly plan activities for during your stay. Alexander, my husband has several medical issues so we will be definitely checking that out more before we would sign on the dotted line. As I said before we just keep going back there. It is like "Honey, I'm home".

"The recreation oriented people would probably love a town in the mountains of Colorado where you can ski in the winter and mountain bike in the summer. But then all these outdoorsy types probably aren’t that diverse, are they. I think for diversity newer towns or resorts that draw in a mix of people are good. Folks from somewhere else meet the people who have always lived here. Can be interesting." We have our Colorado version on the East coast in Vermont, there is few mountains towns where you can ski in the winter and mountain bike in the summer, is more convenient as there is many others exciting things you can be involved in.

This question came in from Linda. Can anyone help her out? Our thoughts are that it might be time to move into an independent living or CCRC facility where you don't need to drive, and you can get the services that are needed as we age.
--

We are native of North Carolina. We moved to Florida for four years and loved the weather and fun. However, my husband just celebrated his 85th birthday and we knew last year it was time to come home. He is an active 85 year old but we realize it would be easier to be close to home and family as time moves on. We are in Charlotte, our home town. The situation I am asking our help with: Charlotte is wonderful and we love it. Unfortunately many others have also found it to be great and moved here in the four years we were away. It is now so crowded with newcomers and heavy traffic that it is very hard for seniors to deal with. The traffic is a daily nightmare and the road system does not help. We were back many times during our four years away but not until we were here on a daily basis did we realize this situation. We are hearing from many people that they have the same problem. I have looked on your 55 communities site to get up todate on what it out there. We would like to find a small town close to or near a 55 community that will be close to conveniences and medical. However, they mostly are out away from the neighborhoods and require a lot of driving to get those services. We will be open to looking at most any area in NC that would be workable. As you work with so many communities and neighborhoods, do you have any suggestions? We are looking for a small ranch/ cottage type home. Thank you for any information you can send.

my wife and i have been looking in preparaton for our exit from NY. we are mid fifties and looking forward to some form of retired life. concerns we have about coloraado are the pot heads and leagalized marijuana....we are NOT in favor of that and think that has definately contributed to a degrdation of the state and its appeal. I have read that there are many pot heads moving there to get their free and/or easily accessable weed and make shift pot towns are poping up and crime is on the increase because of this. is added revenues to a state really that important that residents must sacrifice their own best interests and allow such questionalbe behaviors as legit. I dont see colorado moving in a positive fashion especially for thos who may want to retire there....very sad really

I'm with you on that, Jeff.

Linda,

Joining in the the web administrator, you may want to check out www.HighlandFarms.com in Black Mountain, NC just to get a feel as to what a community like that is like. (Sorry for the redundancy.) There are such communities all over the country, many for less money. I would imagine they exist in the area you're considering.

My friend lives in Highland Farms and is very happy there. I would imagine he's about 85 now, but i'm not sure. Haven't seen him in many years as i live in NYS. Hope you find just the right place.

Regarding my previous post, i did a little digging and have learned that Highland Farms is a Continuing Care Retirement Community. (Many of you probably knew that.) Sorry about my ambiguity; i'm learning as i go!

I must applaud Colorado for taking a step in the right direction! While I do not smoke marijuana or use other drugs, I am so happy to see signs that the U.S. is finally lightening up on its oh so restrictive drug laws. In countries where drugs are legal, there are not the huge crime problems associated with illegal drugs. We are filling up prisons and spending vast sums of money trying to incarcerate drug users and dealers! What a waste. Many statistics indicate that if drugs were legalized we would not suddenly have more users. Non-users are not waiting for drugs to be legal so they can start using. The only thing that changes is crime stops. I think Colorado is moving the rest of the country into the 21st century.

The NC DOI has a guide to CCRC communities...it is a 99 page 2013 reference guide. I remember that it had a lot of good material. Not at home and device to small to for me to be sure it was the same one. http://www.ncdoi.com/SE/Documents/CCRC/Continuing%20Care%20Retirement%20Communities%20Reference%20Guide.pdf

Ginger,
I agree that the penalty for smoking pot should be drastically reduced, but legal? Have you ever smoked pot? Have you ever been surrounded by stoned people? That's not a culture i want to live in. If you do, more power to you.

Jeff, I don't think that is an accurate picture of what is happening Colorado. I think you will see more and more states taking the step to legalize marijuana. Even the most conservative states are making a push to legalize pot for medical use.

I am with Ginger on this, and I think that CO is getting a bad rep. Ok, the legalization of pot is something new, and we have to get used to the idea. Truth be told, I rather someone smoke pot around me than getting drunk and obnoxious, not to mention the medical benefits. So why not keep an open mind?
It is certainly not something that would deter me from moving into an area.
When we first moved to TN, we wondered about choppers flying overhead (rural area), soon to find out that we live in an area that is prone to the manufacturing of illegal substances, moonshine and meth to be specific.
That holds true for VA, KY, TN and even the Carolinas. So please think about that vs a bit of legal, and therefor regulated, pot.
So, to sum it up before getting off the podium, make a list...good vs bad...and realize, there is no paradise here on earth. We have to weigh what is important to us against what we can live with.

I lived in Colorado Springs from '89-'92, and in 2013-2014. I rely on public transportation ; at a city bus stop in 2014 when I asked about routes from a friendly man, he asked if I was one of the thousands who were moving to CO for marijuana. I said "no," but he proceeded to tell me of his related illegal activities in NY and and how, due to previous convictions, he would stick to rules in CO. He said I could get a dispensary license (wrong-tree barking), and told me how money would go to schools (I had just seen news reports saying most of it will actually go to rehab and drug-associated costs and had lived in a place where the lottery was supposed to fund education, but didn't, so I was dubious). I have no desire to get into the politics involved, but from my tiny bit of research and what CO friends told me, an outside organization had a great deal of strategic influence, first getting non-resident students voting rights and then getting it on the ballot, apparently as part of a national strategy. Even those who believe legalization is good may not see the unintended ramifications, which are far-reaching. Small example: some think since it is legal, smoking it is ok anywhere, not just in one's dwelling. But it is restricted to medical use within COS city limits. The management of my nice apartment building had to hire an attorney because a lot of pot smoke was often present in public areas; they had to tell residents it was a violation to smoke it in public areas, since laws related to pot are not as well known as cigarette smoking and some people believe pot smoke is healthful. There was definitely a change in the cultural atmosphere, as compared to my previous residence in COS, and perhaps a change in the type of business which thrive in the economy.
Having said that, I need to also say I love Colorado and its wonderful people and scenery. I enjoy COS weather (it can feel warmer there at -5 F and no wind than in the UK with 35 F, wind, and damp: perhaps a dew point issue). My circumstances changed, but what I loved about CO did not. It is wise to consider the ramifications of the change, though.

Legalizing pot has been successful for Colorado. As with any new programs there are details that have to be worked out but certainly nothing like the above poster suggests. Now meth is another story. You are right Godsgirl all of these rural areas in the south have a huge problem with meth.

Does anyone have any comments good or bad about Cordova at Spanish Wells in Bonita Springs Florida. It is a gated community and any comments on Toll Brothers Builders there? If I am on the wrong thread, please forgive and redirect me. Year round living in Florida sounds a bit too hot and humid and I have read many thoughts on that however a family member is ready to trade all the snow and ice of this year for the humidity of Florida.

Easilyamused, I am glad to have your perspective. There are many ways to define success, depending on which economic or other factors are highlighted, and depending on one's point of view. I guess that is true for most items on the "Goldilocks" checklist. For example, there are many affordable housing lists that include TX cities without factoring in the need for a car for basic errands, high costs for property tax and insurance, utilities, etc. I lived there for many years as well, so I have noticed that. And even when searching for the perfect climate, stats for temperature and rainfall do not tell the whole story. I am glad to have the benefit of others' firsthand knowledge given on this website, since it helps give a more complete picture.

I've lived in Colorado all my entire 65 years of life. Legalizing another drug, although less harmless than alcohol in many respects, is not a good thing for our state, and we'll have to wait and see if it is a success. There are many scientific test results coming out presently that show marijuana to be harmful to adolescence brain development, lack of concentration skills in adults, and a diminishing of work and study initiative; not to mention that it is a gateway drug to many that are worse in that culture of drug use. In addition, your neighbor can legally grow up to six plants (yea right) on his property, and believe me it smells like a dead skunk, so you never know what or who is going to move in next to you and all the ramifications this entails. The tax money is nice, but is it really? Money doesn't answer all of our state's problems caused by drug use. Our schools are drowning in mediocracy due to a large percentage of kids who don't give a flip about our country or education (taught middle and high school for 28 years).

Gregg,
I'm with you. And to all: I wonder why Americans (and others) need to chemically alter our awareness with drugs and alcohol. Is life that bad that it must be fixed with a fix??? If we're unhappy, why don't we alter our lives, rather than our consciousness(es)?

We were considering Florida (The Villages), but now days Florida has been invaded by Pythons and Boa Constrictors, and many other exotic animals. I was told by the representative that The Villages are too far north
to be affected by these animals. My response was, "when they learn how to hibernate like other reptiles here they will get there after a few generations. I will not risk the lives of my grandchildren to such a horrible death. Myrtle Beach, SC if fine.

Neither will I go to a state where people smoke Pot. That is also very dangerous.

godsgirl,
I have a close friend who was born and raised in Paducah, Kentucky, and she has warned me of the hazards of living in a rural area (in the south) increasing the possibility of being close to a meth lab. Her brother owns 40 acres and guess what? Right next door.
I am trying to be diligent and am attempting to avoid such a situation if possible. But that doesn't mean i want to live in a state in which pot is legalized. For my retirement years, i'd prefer to compare good and better. Not bad and worst.
I'm glad, despite the helicopters, etc., you do enjoy your new home!

Vicki,
Thanks for your update on your stay at Del Webb Stone Creek. I'm guessing that the musical event you attended was a good time. I do want to attend events or participate in activities when I visit to get a better feel of the place.

Greg,,,Ela

well said and I am with you.....

pot heads do not make overall good citizens who contribute robustly to our society but however, do provide patients for many entitlements and even feed the minimum wage work force which the libs like to tout as part of their constituency.
Minimum wage jobs were never intended nor should they be for a career move,,,,same as pot should not be masked as the next great solution to government revenues (which are far to often wasted) or perpetuated as an "I care so much about you" smoke screen which if anyone uses their brains, knows it is simply a way to dub down and already and all to often clueless young America, much lie Obama care.

There are some extremely strange and irrelevant posts showing up lately. Can we get back to talking about retirement?

Hello,
I've noticed a few others inquiring into options for those of us going it alone and preferring to rent. I currently own a home with a big yard and truly look forward to not having to maintain all and would like to create more of life for myself having worked hard as a conscientious single older mom for the past sixteen years. Any ideas for those of us that are looking for something simpler to make the most of retirement. I live in Canada but have tired of the winters and humid summers.

ella,
I live in South Central Kentucky and the town that I live in does not have a meth lab around every corner. Yes, I suppose there are meth labs in the boons or even in certain places.However Ky is like any place else you have to look at the neighborhood before you move there. Any state city or town any where in the world will have bad areas and Ky is no different. I have lived here for most of my life and have not had any problems. Matter of fact the town that I live in has a lot of nice places for retired people to live and some very nice neighborhoods for everyone. We are also within an hour of Nashville if you want to go to the city to shop. Many of the people that live here are from other places and have moved here to go to school or to work.

Angie,
I'm sorry if i offended you. I am absolutely not saying that there's anything wrong with Kentucky. I find it a very appealing state. What i was saying is that my friend, who was born and raised there, and has many family members still living there, has warned me to be very careful about where i choose to live in Southern rural towns. Her brother does own 40 acres, and there is a meth lab next door. (And if you remember, i was responding to a post in which local problems with meth labs in the [TN] area were referred to.)

If i wasn't so phobic about being far away from the coast, i would definitely consider KT as a retirement option. I would, however, be careful; as i would in ANY place i am considering.

Enjoy your beautiful state. I hope, one day, to visit.

Hi John V,

A friend recommended that we take a look at Greenville since her daughter was living in the area. Around the same time, it showed up on one of the lists (Forbes?) as a desirable retirement destination. I took one trip on my own and then we moved from Houston and rented for awhile in Greenville before buying our current home. We have an older home with 7 acres -- I know, I know, we are a bit cuckoo but this is something we needed to do after living in a small house in Houston for 5 yrs! We are enjoying the peace and quiet, knowing full well that this will not be our last house. We are semi-retired in that hubby will go back to work in a contract position; I may also look for a part-time job once my SC license is approved. I forgot to mention that the area has 2 large health care systems within reasonable driving distance, although finding a PCP that accepts Medicare can be challenging. I'll be happy to answer any more ?s that you may have - I usually check the site daily although I can't always bring up all of the discussions.