Where Did You Retire?

We retired to Cocoa Beach, FL, which is more of a small-town atmosphere than many areas of Florida. Because I don't want to be in the heat (or the hurricane zone) in the summer, we go to a college town up north in the summer, to a rented apartment. We also feel free to travel the world and stay in various places for 2-3 months in the fall. Destinations are usually a month in duration, and we have gone to Poland, Paris, and Stockholm in Europe and St. George, UT, Prescott AZ, and Santa Fe in the U.S.

Mick, which college town up north do you moved to in the summer? You seem to have a lovely flow to your retired life. Did you ever consider moving to Geroge, UT, or Santa Fe, New Mexico?

We made plans, then husband was diagnosed with Parkinsons and everything moved a little faster. He worked until he couldn't. With the grown children scattered, we bought a new, smaller, house before he actually left his job, on disability, then sold the big house in SE Tenn (worst place we ever lived but the $$ was good) and RAN north to cooler climes. We are now 3-1/2 years deliriously happy in SE Maine. The state is beautiful, the town adorable and everything is at our finger tips. Medical is terrific and close to home. We are much happier in the cooler weather - the heat and humidity was killing us! No, Maine is NOT more expensive. Yes, the house has cost a little more but everything else seems to be cheaper!

Two years ago, my husband and I moved to Playa del Carmen, MX. We had vacationed in this area for the last 20 years so it felt comfortable and familiar. Our main criteria for settling here was the warm weather, beach access, numerous activities to keep us busy and forty minutes to access a large International airport. The pandemic of course put a stop to traveling the world we had enjoyed and hopefully that will come back one day at a safer time. We are fortunate to have family living in Reno, Denver and the higher elevations found in the mountains of Montana. When we get tired of the uncomfortable heat and humidity here in the summer months, we head up north to visit family getting us back to cooler temperatures and lower humidity.

Three years ago retired in Albuquerque, NM and still unsettled...the health care is poor, crime high, folks have long time friends and I haven't felt an openness to newcomers.
Didn't figure on the altitude issue, and the weather's tougher than it looks on the charts...winter is cold, summer hot (both increased intensity due to altitude) and spring is very windy and short as is fall.

There are lovely homes, more reasonably priced. But at least in my area neighbors stay to themselves. There may be other areas that are more friendly.

Was thinking of Tucson, but worried about the heat and increasing heat with climate change. Have a daughter in Issaquah, Wa. but very expensive and very gray...and as a single woman it would mean living in a small town if affordable...and am concerned about isolation and good health care.

So... chewing on all that, but time's passing so feel the need to figure it out. COVID quarantining delaying that.

My wife & I retired to Saddlebrooke Ranch north of Tucson 1 year ago after 32 years in Ohio. Amenities are excellent, the community is rapidly growing, and the neighborhoods are well maintained. The climate is outstanding. Summer is hot, but the low humidity makes all the difference. Arizona is a spectacularly beautiful state that is most conducive to outdoor activities. We are quite pleased with our selection.

When we were younger & still in the work force, my husband & I dreamed of retiring to the Carolinas - at that point we hadn't narrowed it down to North or South. We both love the warm weather & thought this would be the perfect environment for us having lived in New England for decades. We wanted to escape having to deal with blizzards, but still wanted to stay on the East Coast. Our family is small - only had one child. Now that our son is married & we have a granddaughter, our plans changed! Ultimately family is top priority, and we just couldn't imagine moving hundred of miles away! Last fall we purchased a condo in RI (in a 55+ community) just 20 minutes from our son & his family. It was the best decision we could have made. Since we were in the middle of a pandemic (and not "allowed" to cross state lines) we were able to form our own little "bubble" with our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. None of us were in the work force, so we were able to self-isolate and could visit each other on a regular basis. We haven't made alot of friends yet in our new community since many are still socially distancing, but under the circumstances, we know this is where we belong.

We retired to Sacramento Ca. after 35 years on Maryland. Yes, California. Why retired to the most taxed and fees state in the union - family.
Sacramento has great weather, an international airport, high quality medical services, entertainment and 2 hour drive to beaches or mountains. If you are a progressive this is heaven. Taxes, homeless, bad drivers and recent spurt of housing expansion is a sore spot.

My wife and I retired to Milton, DE in Sussex county. Near all the beaches and attractions. Rapid growth going on here as many from MD, PA, and NJ are primary new comers no doubt because this area is popular for vacationing from those states. We came from Buffalo, NY and really enjoy the restaurants, many state parks, beaches. Shopping is easy. This area is pretty much characterized by small shops and services versus the large national retailers. There are a few Walmart’s, Home Depot’s, and Lowe’s, but not many. There is also a Tangerine Outlet mall and “touresty” shops for the vacationers. Major towns in the area here are Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Georgetown, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Fenwick Island. Ocean City MD is about a one hour drive. Great place to live!

We retired to Tucson, AZ 3 years ago and we really love it heat and all. Medical care is good here and we are pretty close to shopping but will still have to drive as we age. Lots of art and things to do here. My only gripe is the state of politics in this state. Moving to. red state takes some getting used to for a Massachusetts liberal.

About 6 months ago we finally pulled the trigger and purchased a home in Colonial Heritage 55+ development in Williamsburg Virginia. Had some reservations at first, but now...none! Never had such wonderful friends (neighbors) in our lives. Seeing things finally open up post-vaccination and the town has absolutely everything we need. So much to do and see and if we want the ocean and beaches, VaBeach is close! Some days I want to pinch myself to see if this is all real! Greatest non-mistake we’ve made! Now, we’re not really hoping for a stampede of other retirees, but it’s too great of a secret to keep! Love our choice!

oh well, I retired three years ago, but an investment property I have in NY keeps me here ; the tenants are such whiners, I am afraid to live 1,000 miles away. So, what I do now (and I know it's only temporary), every afternoon I sit on the patio on a big comfortable lounge chair with a bottle of bourbon. I pour myself a nice size drink and think and dream of South Carolina....when that drink is done, I pour another, and before I know it I am in Florida...by the time I get to my fourth drink, I have been to North Carolina and Texas. The next day, my mind travels to Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, and then Alaska (I actually got "brain freeze" just thinking of Alaska). I know when the bottle is empty, I will be forced to travel Route #25A to the liquor store, on a New York heavily rutted and pot-holed roadway, dodging all the lunatics in their big big SUVs (are they preparing for the Armegedon ?), yapping on their cellphones, and creating havoc on the roadways. Oh well, maybe tomorrow me and my foggy mind will make it to Arizona, Utah, Las Vegas and the Dakotas !

We retired in Gilbert, AZ after leaving my professor job in Elko, NV. I had also retired in 2000 from my job at Mesa, AZ. My son lived nearby and since we retired, our daughter moved back to Arizona from Colorado with her family. The climate is okay, although it seems to be getting hotter longer each year. There are many options to keep busy and the cost of living isn't too high. Taxes are better here than in some states, although we do miss not having to pay state income taxes when we lived in Nevada. The major negative is.... (the politics, which I don't agree with).

We lived in northeastern Ohio for 25 years and I retired here five years ago. We stayed because my wife was still working here. I’ve lived in Boston New Jersey Pittsburgh New Mexico Denver in Los Angeles. And I’m looking at all the other places to retire I’m beginning to think Ohio may become a Mecca. The weather for me is almost perfect usually between 50 and 80°. I love a rainy day, we have enough of them but not too many. The snow for the past few years has been minimal we have everything we need and the weathers nice. Plenty of great hospitals around and very low cost of living. I don’t have much incentive to move. Love it here. As my son says if you live on either coast you spent 90% of your time in traffic at 90% of your money on housing. It’s not that crowded here but there’s more than enough to do. My sister retired to Tucson and must leave for 1/2 of the year because the heat is intolerable. The heat and humidity in the south east is intolerable for almost half of the year. So far we’re happy in ohio

Still researching and now home prices have skyrocketed out of reach! Where are homes for people who don't want a mortgage for $350,000 and up or a condo with an HOA over $400/month?
We have lived in Tucson area too long (20 years) and too darn hot too many months of the year - don't move here if you think the 80's are uncomfortable and don't like the 90's. I like the sun, but the heat is unbearable for outdoor activities over half of the year. Then there's the monsoon season when it's NOT dry and the roads are flooded because no one bothered to put drainage pipes in. The city has a lot of traffic and poverty which keeps creeping north. We had to buy far out of town which makes it necessary to commute distances to attend any events. Some parts are nice. But even if you are inside all the time, friends/ stores/ companies don't run the A/C like you wish they would so you're still uncomfortable. Think carefully and check it out in a month when the sun is a hot oven.

My wife and I have been doing the research of where to retire for the last 5 years. We are still 3 years away, but we have finally decided. After looking all around the country, we've decided to stay in Texas, closer to the kids. We have picked Denton, Texas, where there is a 55 and over community, Robson Ranch. Denton is in the northern part of Texas, where you get some seasonal changes, which was key for my wife. The amenities are first class, with 27 holes of golf, indoor/outdoor swimming, softball, basketball courts, workout facility, dance area, pickleball courts, and over 75 clubs. It is close to the DFW airport, and has major sports and concerts halls which we are both interested in. We're excited to start the build process, which we plan to start in about 16 months.

My husband and I retired to a community in Port Charlotte, FL. We've made so many friends here and love it from October - April. Beaches are nearby and there's many things to do. We now would like to be around people in a community on the East Coast where there are people nearby. Has anyone considered buying land and building there own cottage community? The prices if many if these communities are crazy.

We haven't retired yet, and thanks to Covid-19, remote work, and limited travel opportunities at the moment, there has been ample time to reconsider the options. Every time we travel, I view the place with the question of "would I want to retire here?" I've narrowed the list to the Florida panhandle, Texas Rio Grande Valley (where I grew up), Arizona/New Mexico area, and the Big Island of Hawaii. But also high on that list is our present location of Portland, Maine. Portland is among my favorite cities, and the house we've lived in for many years is pretty much perfect for retirement. It's a great place to come home to after traveling overseas for period of weeks or months, as is our plan for the future. We don't have hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, or wild fires, and the winter snow storms are easy to deal with if have a guy to plow the driveway. Needless to say, we're still undecided, but for the time-being Maine's not a bad place to be.

We haven't retired yet, but we are already set. Although I'm originally from New York, we bought a house in San Diego a couple of years after the financial crisis, which we have been renting, and will spend our early retirement there. If we like it, we'll stay. We also have family in the Tampa area, and most of our extended family has migrated from New York to different parts of Florida. So we did a 1031 exchange for a house in Tampa, which we are renting out, but which is the finest home we have owned. Tampa is also centrally located to visit different parts of Florida. So at some point, we may move to Tampa. Common themes between both locations: warm climate, urban area but not in a megalopolis, beaches and sites are close, and not in an over-55 community. We don't have any problems per se with an over-55 community, but we like being around diverse age groups, and don't like the extra fees involved in those communities.

We retired to a small college town in central Ky. After finishing college in Utah, my career had me living in several states with the last 38 years being in Southern California. We enjoyed California and while it has a lot to offer, the crowds, traffic and expenses can be overwhelming. Also if you are not near the coast, hot summer weather can be challenging.
Over the years we visited KY periodically to see my parents until their passing. After retiring I went back in the fall to visit my sister. It was then we decided to make the move. It was so beautiful. We were able to have a house built and down size. We had forgotten how beautiful the state is and how great it is to have four seasons. The winters are mild compared to some of the northern states we lived in. We are so happy we made the move. Almost everything is less expensive. People are friendly, drivers are courteous and people in the medical profession actually have time to care for you. We could not be happier. Lexington is 25 miles away and offers everything when we feel like visiting a larger city. With Covid starting to lighten up, we are looking forward to traveling this side of the US for a change.

Retired 3 years ago after 43 years of teaching in Alaska. Spend our winters in Tucson with our RV and love the area during the winter. Traveling through the southwest is enjoyable and the adventures are rewarding. Canada is a little demanding right now with regard to traveling south. We are also involved in many organizations that we can donate our time in helping out. We enjoy our travels through Canada when returning or leaving Alaska. We are seriously considering a move to the 'Lower 48' because Alaska is rather remote if you drive out every year. We are leaning towards Arizona somewhere in the Prescott and Flagstaff areas as a new home base. The colder weather is a lot shorter than in Alaska and will not bother us. The problem is that when we visit a new area, we like that area as well. All in all, I think Arizona has it all for us-warm areas in the winter (Tucson) and cooler areas in the summer(mountains). I hope everyone has a wonderful retirement experience.

We've got 5-8 years left to figure it and are trying to spend 3 to 4 weeks a year exploring. Having lived in the NW forever we've tired of the cold dreary winters and are drawn to warmer and drier areas. Currently the Palm Springs area, west side of Phoenix and north of Tuscon around the Catalina Mountain area have made our short list. Planning for some more explanation this fall!

I just love the fact that people's retirement choices are literally all over the map! Goes to show that there is not one perfect place to retire. I took early retirement to support my mother and currently live in Bucks County, PA. Though beautiful, living expenses will not be sustainable for my budget long-term. I am looking down the road to the Piedmont region of the Carolinas for housing affordability and warmer winters. Thank you all for sharing your journeys and thought processes as they help us with our considerations. Keep the conversations going and thrive in your retirement.

Like Karen, I love hearing from people who have actually retired, where they chose and how they feel about their choice. Great to see the Williamsburg, VA comment. I really, really want to head to VA for our final phase, but with a grandson in TN, we will have to see. Please if the contributors here have more comments about VA, please know that I will really appreciate it! Thanks so very much.

I too would like more comments about the Williamsburg, VA area. My husband and I visit there often from Virginia Beach and just love the area! In fact, we are headed there for three days this afternoon. Have observed that housing prices are high, and we are constantly on the lookout for affordable areas. Any insight would be appreciated.
Sharon

My husband will retire in less than 2 yrs and we decided on Ovation 55+in Pahrump Nevada. A very small unincorporated town 45 min from Las Vegas. It is growing rapidly and new homes are being built by lots of national homebuilders.
Our house is being built now butbuilding is slow now and wont be done for 10mo!. After that hope to rent out as its a 1031 exchange.
We traveled to Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho and Nevada and toured and stayed at many 55+. In the end Nevada has so many advantages for keeping more money in your pocket!
Just so ready to get out of the dreary& rainy months in Washington. We will come back in the summer to enjoy the nice weather.

I retired two years ago after moving from New England to Northeastern North Carolina. The friendliest people that we’ve ever met.

We are an hour from the Outer Banks and frequent it once or twice a month. We live on a large river that we could never have been able to afford up north.

Very large developments have crossed the Virginia state line and real estate on or near the Outer Bank is now out of sight. Living in the Inner Banks could still be a viable and affordable waterfront option.

I retired in a great little town in Florida and love it. But as I age I realize it might not be the best long term choice for me. If there is a hurricane it is hard to evacuate from. Good quality medical care is several hours away. Now I am thinking about moving to St. Petersburg, Sarasota, or Delray Beach for the last part of my life.

My wife and I retired to Pinehurst a few years ago. We had thought we would retire to the beach where we had a second home for 15 plus years. But not wanting to deal with hurricanes any more and poor health care options we are very happy we choose Pinehurst. It's very easy to make friends here and there is a lot more than just golf here.

Dear fellow Readers - This site is great for sharing ideas and experiences.
However, one must be careful not to provide too much details about oneself, i.e. your full name and the city where you live. With just that much information, one can see where you currently live, previous addresses, your relatives, phone numbers, your email, your age, single or married, etc. In many cases, there are satellite photos of your backyard too.
For your safety, use just your first name and possibly last name initial or your nickname. Scammers love older people.
Comment from Admin: Really good advice Roland, thank you!

Unlike many who want to move to Florida, I want to leave. Having been born and lived here my entire life I want to retire in a different location. I will be putting my house on the market soon and will miss the large yard, vegetation and wild animals that abound due to being near a state park. Bears roaming the neighborhood, deers, eagles and even an alligator walking down the sidewalk is common. What I won’t miss is the unbearable heat that started in February this year and will continue through October. Or the traffic as a result of a failure to have an infrastructure to meet the demands of growth and vacationers, high taxes, and lack of activities for mature retirees. Although I’ve not actually visited places on my list I have been researching and know that I want to reside in an active 55+ community possibly in South Carolina (Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Greenville). As a single woman what is important to me is the availability of good healthcare, low taxes & cost of living, access to an airport and the ability to participate in a variety of activities that are offered in the large active 55+ communities. I know some will think the weather will still be hot and humid in SC, but it won’t be as hot as Florida!

Florida is a very large state. Conditions can differ significantly from place to place. We’ve been at our condo in Delray Beach since early February. Yes, there have been a few days when the temperature has reached 90 degrees, but this past week, near the end of May, the high temperatures have been in the comfortable lower 80’s and a good breeze from the ocean has made conditions pretty delightful. The nightly lows are near 70. And the humidity has been under 60%. Our patio is completely shaded and it’s been very nice out there at any time of day, especially after 4 PM. It will, of course, get hotter as summer moves in. During those times we mostly stay in air conditioned comfort or go to the beach, where the water is always relatively cooling. I post this only to point out that Florida can’t be painted with a broad brush, since different parts have different weather conditions and it’s one of the biggest states geographically. Traffic around here is usually manageable if you know the appropriate times to get out. And retirees can usually schedule their time.

To add a bit to my post, I don’t think many people believe the taxes in Florida are high. There is a generous homestead tax exemption granted to all legal residents, regardless of the value of your home or your income. Of course, there’s no income tax - and sales taxes, which differ from location to location, are similar to a lot of other states. Most 55+ communities have many activities and amenities for residents. And, at least here in Palm Beach County, the cultural, dining and recreational opportunities are too numerous to mention and within easy driving distance. It’s true that lower taxes do keep infrastructure and services below what is often found in higher-tax states. But, again, that depends on where you live in Florida.

I would like to explore Florida as a retirement destination , but I am concerned about home insurance rates due to hurricanes. It seems like this is not much of a concern because of the people moving to the state.

Lynn, (the other one). I think that there is a misconception about the heat in Florida. We lived in Maryland for many years. It was just as hot and humid in the summer in Maryland as it is in Florida. The difference between Florida and other areas is the length of time that you get the heat. In Maryland it was usually about four months. In Florida it is more like seven months. SC maybe gets five months. Anywhere along the Eastern Seaboard suffers with heat and humidity...it is just the duration that is different.

@John Hutchins, Generally, insurance rates for condos in Florida are not overly expensive if the condo is not too near the coast (1-2 miles) and is not high-end. The major cost of insurance for the building is usually covered by the condo HOA fees. Owners need to get only contents/liability insurance. For houses, I expect homeowners insurance can run fairly high.

I lived in Florida for 10 years and Maryland for 14 years. The heat in humidity in Maryland is not nearly as oppressive as it is in Florida. The hottest and most humid day in Maryland is a cool day in Florida.

South Florida is very nice but extremely hot and humid! Air conditioners running from February to October! Tourists traffic overcrowding tiny zero lot line property chased me out never to return to Florida! Boca Raton is one of the few civilized areas in Florida but the East Coast snowbirds ruin even the cooler months!
Save yourself the agony vacation in Florida but don’t even think about relocating there!!

Lynn is correct about heat and humidity in MD vs Florida. Many summer days when we are in MD we check the weather in FL and it is not much worse. As Lynn said the duration is the key.

Lynn what you are looking for is important to all of us not just single women. I hesitate with the 55 plus as I know we would not particiapate in the activities as my husband is disabled. I find summer in S Florida close to unbearable. I was born and raised up North and miss fall and spring but not so much winter. Anyone considering moving to Florida yes, be very wary of homeowners insurance unless it is a brand new home. And if you roof is more than 15 years regardless of claims, you will be canceled unless you put a new roof on or run the risk of a 1k annual increase in the premium. Too many dishonest claims, adjusters along with insurance companies not wanting to pay for water and mold claims finding excuses not to pay even legitimate claims. I believe the roofers have something going with the insurance companies right now. Cannot prove it but too many fishy coincidences with my neighbors and neighbor counties happening.

LYNN IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! Between flood insurance hurricane insurance and homeowners insurance you can easily pay 400 a month and up! Many HOA FEES ARE IN EXCESS OF AN ADDITIONAL 400 plus a month plus hidden fees!
Vacation in Florida and retire somewhere else!

Ron:
I Have an aunt who moved down to Naples Florida in 2015 as a year-round resident after having been a snowbird for over 20 years from Indiana. She and my uncle built a new home with a pool off the lanai. It is on a golf course, but the heat keeps them away from most of those activities. I speak with her every Saturday morning and I must say it has already begun, The insurance carrier they had in Indiana canceled their insurance once they became full time and they pay much more now, plus HOA fees. I will not move down to Florida as I like the four seasons and am afraid of slithering creatures that prevail in their sub-tropical climate.