Best Places to Retire study

Orchidflower · 08-24-2007, 02:06 AM

I hopes this helps someone out there. It did me...especially the section on Best Places to Retire.
Your Move: Make it Count. - The Top 5 Lists

Then go to: epodunk.com. This will give you the area of the State the city is in, the demographics on age of residents, singles vs. marrieds, housing, educational level of residents and so forth.

Between this Best Places to Retire and finding the city on epodunk.com, you can get a pretty halfway decent idea of the demographics and if the city you are looking up is really for you. Personally, I found this Best Places to Retire pretty helpful, so am passing it on to the board. Hopefully, it assists someone else in their search for Mecca.

Orchidflower

tightasadrum · 08-24-2007, 09:33 AM

Orchidflower,

I've never quite "gotten it" about the fairly common practice of moving to some unknown, far away place to retire. Most people can count on one hand those they can really call friends. I would neve want to loss those connections even with the options of making new ones. I'd like to know the attraction.

happy2bretired · 08-24-2007, 10:01 AM

After reviewing those "places" from my state....very very strange. I'm not moving there. I would be bored stiff.

Getting short · 08-24-2007, 11:27 AM

I've only heard of one of the "cities" in my state, and I travel quite a bit for w**k!

**Want2retire** · 08-24-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tightasadrum

I've never quite "gotten it" about the fairly common practice of moving to some unknown, far away place to retire.

I'm not so sure that is really as common as it may seem. The U.S. Census Bureau did a study on state to state migration: http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/censr-10.pdf According to this study the percentage of people moving to another state in a five year period was actually less for the age 65+ population (18.8%) than for the ages 5-64 population (19.6%). The percentage from age 55-64 was 21.4% so that does reflect a slight increase but perhaps nothing to knock your socks off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tightasadrum

Most people can count on one hand those they can really call friends. I would neve want to loss those connections even with the options of making new ones. I'd like to know the attraction.

Different people with different life experiences have different motivations, but here are some thoughts that I had. I think that many people these days, especially those at higher income levels, spend their working lives moving where ever the job takes them in order to make a bigger income and to have a brighter future. As for friends, some people with long hours and frequent moves don't develop close friendships outside of work. When they are finally retired, the possibility of actually having a choice about where to live is intriguing. Many factors such as cost of living, crime, climate, and/or the pace of life in another location may come into play.

Jake46 · 08-24-2007, 12:23 PM

Unusual list. I spent 20 years in Oklahoma, 35 in Texas and live in Colorado. Never heard of any of the towns listed in those three states.

Moemg · 08-24-2007, 01:33 PM

View from my deck in Sarasota,fl.

Orchidflower · 08-24-2007, 02:10 PM

Totally agree: I never heard of any of those towns either; but, when I took the trouble to look them up (just a few as I did not have that much time), many were close to major cities like Dallas, Chicago, Portland, but had a huge proportion of retirees there (like 35% or more). Now, I would find that attractive, personally, as a boomer looking to relocate.
As for the attraction of moving, I think Want2retire said it SO WELL that I do not need to repeat it. She "gets" it totally.
Worked all the time with crazy hours, and how many friends do you really think you can accumulate? The unfortunate side effect of working so much is that you do lose friends along the way. Sad, but true.
As for old friends you have a special connection with, that's why God invented cell phones. Just had an old friend from Houston call me from San Francisco today, and yesterday another old friend called me from Michigan. My old friends are moving around, too. We just reach out and touch someone as the Bell ad says. And email, of course.
I doubt as if I am unique in this.

haha · 08-24-2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower

As for old friends you have a special connection with, that's why God invented cell phones. Just had an old friend from Houston call me from San Francisco today, and yesterday another old friend called me from Michigan. My old friends are moving around, too. We just reach out and touch someone as the Bell ad says. And email, of course.
I doubt as if I am unique in this.

This works until you really need a hug; or are in the hospital, or home sick and need some help. Or just want some pals to hang out with; to breath the same air so to speak.

Ha

**Want2retire** · 08-24-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha

This works until you really need a hug; or are in the hospital, or home sick and need some help. Or just want some pals to hang out with; to breath the same air so to speak.

True, but it seems to me that a lot of people these days are working ridiculously long hours and don't seem to have a huge base of close, long time friends outside of work. Sometimes life is like that.

Orchidflower · 08-24-2007, 02:36 PM

I totally get your point about how hard it can be when you need a hug or are in the hospital etc. etc. etc., but...uh...has nobody ever thought of keeping the old friends and making some new ones where you move to?
If I stayed in the same place and never made any new friends, what would I ever do when the old ones start dying one by one...and then I am really left alone (assuming I outlive them)?
I've already seen all my grandparents, a parent, all my aunts and uncles die. One reason you keep making new contacts is to refill your close contact basket (or whatever you want to call it), isn't it?

youbet · 08-24-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire

True, but it seems to me that a lot of people these days are working ridiculously long hours and don't seem to have a huge base of close, long time friends outside of work. Sometimes life is like that.

It doesn't take a huge base of close, long time friends. Even a short list makes a difference for me. But I do agree that in today's world, it isn't easy to maintain/nuture friendships over long periods of time.

**Want2retire** · 08-24-2007, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbet

It doesn't take a huge base of close, long time friends. Even a short list makes a difference for me. But I do agree that in today's world, it isn't easy to maintain/nuture friendships over long periods of time.

Well, if you just have one or two, what do you do when THEY retire elsewhere?

Frank and I are going to retire in the same location, but it really doesn't have to be here.

Rich_in_Tampa · 08-24-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moemg

View from my deck in Sarasota,fl.

Nice photo. I was just down there last week giving a lecture. Looks like the view from near the Selby Gardens.

I like Sarasota a lot. Lively but peaceful, great waterfront.

**Want2retire** · 08-24-2007, 03:07 PM

I absolutely adore Sarasota. My family used to go down to Longboat Key frequently when I was younger, back in the 1950's and 1960's. The whole area was, and probably still is, just beautiful.

It's not for me, though, at this time in my life. I really, really need to live away from hurricanes for a while.

Moemg · 08-24-2007, 03:31 PM

I enjoy the area but I would never move here now. The cost of living is too high plus there is a certain snobbery that drives me crazy .I was just playing with my camera & resizing images so the picture was just a test to see if I could do it .
About friends ,It's scarey when you are first living alone & not knowing who to call if you need help but little by little you make new friends .

youbet · 08-24-2007, 04:16 PM

[quote=Want2retire;549773]Well, if you just have one or two, what do you do when THEY retire elsewhere?

Not really sure. Never had a list that short........ Although, during my career peak, when I was putting in lots of hours and traveling, I admit to being guilty of "friend-neglect" and the list was looking a little tattered! Now, one of the things I enjoy most about RE is having time to spend with friends......

What would I do if everyone packed up and moved away? That's unlikely and hard to hypothesize, but I'd just have to deal with it in some way I guess.

Leaving close, long-time friends/relatives in this area would be a negative, but not a total stopper, to relocating.

Orchidflower · 08-24-2007, 08:03 PM

Youbet: What does your dots and dashes say at the bottom of your posts? Just curious if you do not mind revealing.

dessert · 08-24-2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchidflower

Youbet: What does your dots and dashes say at the bottom of your posts? Just curious if you do not mind revealing.

Orchidflower, I'll cover for Youbet until he returns.
It's morse code for ........FIRE

Dog · 08-24-2007, 09:51 PM

Hmmmm....would require having a sizable portfolio to retire in the towns/cities mentioned for Washington state.

08-24-2007, 02:06 AM	#1
Orchidflower Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Il-Ia. border Posts: 1,027	Best Places to Retire study I hopes this helps someone out there. It did me...especially the section on Best Places to Retire. Your Move: Make it Count. - The Top 5 Lists Then go to: epodunk.com. This will give you the area of the State the city is in, the demographics on age of residents, singles vs. marrieds, housing, educational level of residents and so forth. Between this Best Places to Retire and finding the city on epodunk.com, you can get a pretty halfway decent idea of the demographics and if the city you are looking up is really for you. Personally, I found this Best Places to Retire pretty helpful, so am passing it on to the board. Hopefully, it assists someone else in their search for Mecca. Orchidflower Last edited by Orchidflower; 08-24-2007 at 02:19 AM..

08-24-2007, 09:33 AM	#2
tightasadrum Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: athens Posts: 512	Orchidflower, I've never quite "gotten it" about the fairly common practice of moving to some unknown, far away place to retire. Most people can count on one hand those they can really call friends. I would neve want to loss those connections even with the options of making new ones. I'd like to know the attraction. __________________ Can't you see yourself in the nursing home saying, " Darn! Wish I'd spent more time at the office instead of wasting time with family and friends."

08-24-2007, 02:10 PM	#8
Orchidflower Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Il-Ia. border Posts: 1,027	Totally agree: I never heard of any of those towns either; but, when I took the trouble to look them up (just a few as I did not have that much time), many were close to major cities like Dallas, Chicago, Portland, but had a huge proportion of retirees there (like 35% or more). Now, I would find that attractive, personally, as a boomer looking to relocate. As for the attraction of moving, I think Want2retire said it SO WELL that I do not need to repeat it. She "gets" it totally. Worked all the time with crazy hours, and how many friends do you really think you can accumulate? The unfortunate side effect of working so much is that you do lose friends along the way. Sad, but true. As for old friends you have a special connection with, that's why God invented cell phones. Just had an old friend from Houston call me from San Francisco today, and yesterday another old friend called me from Michigan. My old friends are moving around, too. We just reach out and touch someone as the Bell ad says. And email, of course. I doubt as if I am unique in this. Last edited by Orchidflower; 08-24-2007 at 08:05 PM..

08-24-2007, 03:07 PM	#15
Want2retire Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Orleans Posts: 6,411	I absolutely adore Sarasota. My family used to go down to Longboat Key frequently when I was younger, back in the 1950's and 1960's. The whole area was, and probably still is, just beautiful. It's not for me, though, at this time in my life. I really, really need to live away from hurricanes for a while. __________________ Dreaming of retirement....306 days " - - my greatest skill has been to want but little - - " (Henry David Thoreau, in Walden)

08-24-2007, 04:16 PM	#17
youbet Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,499	[quote=Want2retire;549773]Well, if you just have one or two, what do you do when THEY retire elsewhere? Not really sure. Never had a list that short........ Although, during my career peak, when I was putting in lots of hours and traveling, I admit to being guilty of "friend-neglect" and the list was looking a little tattered! Now, one of the things I enjoy most about RE is having time to spend with friends...... What would I do if everyone packed up and moved away? That's unlikely and hard to hypothesize, but I'd just have to deal with it in some way I guess. Leaving close, long-time friends/relatives in this area would be a negative, but not a total stopper, to relocating. __________________ Over all was the silence of the wilderness - Sigurd Olsen

08-24-2007, 10:01 AM	#3
happy2bretired Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 482	After reviewing those "places" from my state....very very strange. I'm not moving there. I would be bored stiff.

08-24-2007, 11:27 AM	#4
Getting short Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 63	I've only heard of one of the "cities" in my state, and I travel quite a bit for w**k!

08-24-2007, 12:23 PM	#6
Jake46 Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fort Collins Posts: 128	Unusual list. I spent 20 years in Oklahoma, 35 in Texas and live in Colorado. Never heard of any of the towns listed in those three states.

08-24-2007, 01:33 PM	#7
Moemg Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sarasota,fl. Posts: 3,264	View from my deck in Sarasota,fl.

08-24-2007, 02:36 PM	#11
Orchidflower Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Il-Ia. border Posts: 1,027	I totally get your point about how hard it can be when you need a hug or are in the hospital etc. etc. etc., but...uh...has nobody ever thought of keeping the old friends and making some new ones where you move to? If I stayed in the same place and never made any new friends, what would I ever do when the old ones start dying one by one...and then I am really left alone (assuming I outlive them)? I've already seen all my grandparents, a parent, all my aunts and uncles die. One reason you keep making new contacts is to refill your close contact basket (or whatever you want to call it), isn't it?

08-24-2007, 03:31 PM	#16
Moemg Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sarasota,fl. Posts: 3,264	I enjoy the area but I would never move here now. The cost of living is too high plus there is a certain snobbery that drives me crazy .I was just playing with my camera & resizing images so the picture was just a test to see if I could do it . About friends ,It's scarey when you are first living alone & not knowing who to call if you need help but little by little you make new friends .

08-24-2007, 08:03 PM	#18
Orchidflower Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Il-Ia. border Posts: 1,027	Youbet: What does your dots and dashes say at the bottom of your posts? Just curious if you do not mind revealing.

08-24-2007, 09:51 PM	#20
Dog Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 235	Hmmmm....would require having a sizable portfolio to retire in the towns/cities mentioned for Washington state.