NOW I see why retirees move to Florida!

[HFWR]

Way too true. Below was a very sad event:

New owners won't discuss plans for the razed double lot | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

This is my hope for the future. I'm in a mid-80s sub-d of modest homes by today's standards. But, I'm close-in compared to all the new homes, with a larger-than-postage-stamp yard. Maybe I can sell my house for a [-]nice premium[/-] teardown...

I see a fair number of 50-ish women with guys who look to be the right age for a son, but unless we are in a D.H. Lawrence novel they are definitely not sons.

These women usually appear to be clothes and body conscious, hair colored and styled well, and all around sexy looking.

I take it they're not looking for "old, fat, and drunk"...

 

[ziggy29]

I take it they're not looking for "old, fat, and drunk"...

They could be in the market for a new sugar daddy, though!

 

[Orchidflower]

Moemg, my good friend I email says "Sarasota" all the time to me. I say "price, price, price of that location, location, location!" Damn! but it IS pricey!!!! It must be mecca!
haha, you are speaking of a Cougar (older women who dates younger men). Been there. Done that. Thru with it.
Ziggy29, just did homework on Llano County, Texas. Lots of geezers.

By the way, the Wall St. Journal has a big article today on some huge condo being built in Houston next to small cottage homes. The lack of zoning there is giving some fits. Ahhh...Houston...home of the true big thinking entrepreneur!

 

[Sandy]

Orchidflower,

Sarasota is one of those areas of Florida that had a hugh price run up and is now seeing a significant reversal. There are also immediate surrouding areas which are less pricey, but offer many similar amenities (Manatee and southern Sarasota counties)

 

[ziggy29]

By the way, the Wall St. Journal has a big article today on some huge condo being built in Houston next to small cottage homes. The lack of zoning there is giving some fits. Ahhh...Houston...home of the true big thinking entrepreneur!

Houston is an enigma in that respect. Almost any decent neighborhood in the city limits is deed-restricted.

Few people like having an HOA telling them what they can and can't do with their homes, but in Houston they are mostly seen as a necessary evil. Because there's no zoning, there's practically nothing to stop a neighbor from converting their home into a noisy, high-traffic business without deed restrictions in the subdivision. The key is to find a subdivision with reasonable but not excessive deed restrictions. Or as more of the well-to-do prefer, especially those with school-aged kids, live out of the city proper (and in a different school district).

 

[Moemg]

Venice Florida! A Paradise on the Gulf of Mexico, Venice Florida Home Page

Orchid Flower ,
Here is the perfect location below Sarasota ! Less expensive and home to many older singles ( think active ,healthy and financially sound ) !

 

[Dawg52]

Then the place for you if you ever considered Florida would be Gainesville home of the Gators and in Florida golf courses are everywhere .

I'm a Miss State grad. If I do the small college town thing it will be there. I use Florida for vacations.

 

[tomz]

Venice Florida! A Paradise on the Gulf of Mexico, Venice Florida Home Page

I've heard some good things about Venice. It was on someone's top places to retire recently. I also heard a joke about Venice. To wit: "All the old retired folks live in Sarasota and their parents live in Venice."

According to Zipskinny (a cool site that gives you census demographics by zip code), the median age in Venice (based on 2000 census) is 67.9. In Sarasota, it is 59.2.

 

[W2R]

I've heard some good things about Venice. It was on someone's top places to retire recently. I also heard a joke about Venice. To wit: "All the old retired folks live in Sarasota and their parents live in Venice."

According to Zipskinny (a cool site that gives you census demographics by zip code), the median age in Venice (based on 2000 census) is 67.9. In Sarasota, it is 59.2.

To me, that is too old. Sure, I want to have friends in my own generation, but it's not like younger people are lepers or something.

 

[Orchidflower]

Thanks for the help, folks. I, too, have read good things about Venice.
Hard finding just the right place isn't it? Don't want too many little kids or too many old and feeble, don't want too hot or cold, don't want all married when you are single, blah, blah, blah. I feel like getting an RV, living in it, travel around...and call it a day sometimes. This has become like a second job for me (finding the right place, that is). I thought it would be easier to do than it has become. Is this what they mean by: Old age isn't for sissies? And I am not even that old...

 

[W2R]

Thanks for the help, folks. I, too, have read good things about Venice.
Hard finding just the right place isn't it? Don't want too many little kids or too many old and feeble, don't want too hot or cold, don't want all married when you are single, blah, blah, blah. I feel like getting an RV, living in it, travel around...and call it a day sometimes. This has become like a second job for me (finding the right place, that is). I thought it would be easier to do than it has become. Is this what they mean by: Old age isn't for sissies? And I am not even that old...

Orchidflower, here's something else to confuse the issue. I really believe that there are quite a few places that would be just perfect for you, or for me (though they may not be the same places!)

There are probably great things about some places that we never thought to look for because we never thought we would value these attributes. I moved to New Orleans for the job, and never realized that I would love it so much (well I did until Katrina, that is). The European flavor of the city, the architecture, art, and culture down here were attributes that surprised me, nicely, and got into my heart.

I don't think it is a good place for an older person these days, but it isn't the only place I can treasure.

 

[Orchidflower]

My biological father lived many years in Naw'Lins, so I know that area. How much did I love that city? Well, I was planning to move there for a few years when I got out of here (thru eldercaring). @#$%^&* NOW there is no N.O. to go back to hardly...unless you are into toxic fumes.
The food, the architecture, the attitude...just live in a low crime area is what you would have to watch. But what a city! It is such a pity, but, I am afraid, it is gone forever. I know, I know...I am the prophet of doom and gloom, but I am thinking with my left brain now and don't see it possible to rebuild much. I, personally, don't have the guts to stay where the levees won't hold the entire French Quarter and it might soon go all down the drain for good. (I would have lived in the CBD, probably, tho)
I LOVED New Orleans, and am so thankful I got to live there for a few months once.

But, I DO get your point about the feel, the atmosphere of a city that can't or isn't put in any of the statistics you read. That is a right brain function after I narrow the left brain facts down..haha!

 

[W2R]

My biological father lived many years in Naw'Lins, so I know that area. How much did I love that city? Well, I was planning to move there for a few years when I got out of here (thru eldercaring). @#$%^&* NOW there is no N.O. to go back to hardly...unless you are into toxic fumes.
The food, the architecture, the attitude...just live in a low crime area is what you would have to watch. But what a city! It is such a pity, but, I am afraid, it is gone forever. I know, I know...I am the prophet of doom and gloom, but I am thinking with my left brain now and don't see it possible to rebuild much. I, personally, don't have the guts to stay where the levees won't hold the entire French Quarter and it might soon go all down the drain for good. (I would have lived in the CBD, probably, tho)
I LOVED New Orleans, and am so thankful I got to live there for a few months once.

But, I DO get your point about the feel, the atmosphere of a city that can't or isn't put in any of the statistics you read. That is a right brain function after I narrow the left brain facts down..haha!

LOL!! Same here. I think the FQ is probably not going to be washed away, but it is a better place to visit than to live in for a number of reasons. The rest of the city seems very unsafe from flooding, moreso than before Katrina, and crime and corruption are even further out of bounds. The mold and toxicity can't be healthy, and the death rate is way higher than before. Although previously I had planned to live my life here and to take my last dying breath here, now I would prefer living someplace that seems safer, like Springfield, as I age.

Before I moved here I was hoping to find work in Houston. I am so glad that I didn't. I had no idea that the type of charm that New Orleans had to offer (then) even existed. How lucky I was to have had the opportunity to live here for so many years before the storm! I forgot to mention the history that surrounds one here - - the area is just totally steeped in history and more four dimensional than many places in that respect. And the history here is fascinating, not just textbook battles and such. Who knew that would be a plus? I was never that crazy about history in school.

I know that these attributes (European charm, culture, history, architecture) are probably not going to be part of my life in Springfield. Maybe there will be other attractive facets of life there that I haven't yet thought about, though.

Some qualities are hard to quantify, like natural beauty (which is a Big Deal to me and could make all the difference in my satisfaction with where I choose to live). The Ozarks are beautiful, but are they beautiful enough for me? Guess I will find out.

 

[Moemg]

Are there certain areas were you already have friends ? This usually makes re-location easier .

 

[W2R]

Are there certain areas were you already have friends ? This usually makes re-location easier .

Nope! Like many people, I have lived all over the country in 7-8 states. Most of those where I might still know someone, are too expensive to consider (and really, I have not kept in touch very well). My dear friend Frank plans to move to Missouri with me, and we will set up separate homes there. So, I will know someone.

In a way, this gives me a huge degree of freedom to choose based on other factors more related to what kind of place I would like to call home, rather than who lives there.

 

[kcowan]

We also love NO and mourn its passing. It offers a unique cultural charm not found anywhere (maybe Quebec City but better in NO IMHO). We have experimented with Florida and found South Beach, Key West and Ft Lauderdale all attractive for our lifestyle. We have also tried San Diego and Phoenix.

But so far we would not relocate to any of the above. We like where we are but would like more sunshine. For the reasons that we like NO we are considering Mexico.

 

[unclemick]

My biological father lived many years in Naw'Lins, so I know that area. How much did I love that city? Well, I was planning to move there for a few years when I got out of here (thru eldercaring). @#$%^&* NOW there is no N.O. to go back to hardly...unless you are into toxic fumes.
The food, the architecture, the attitude...just live in a low crime area is what you would have to watch. But what a city! It is such a pity, but, I am afraid, it is gone forever. I know, I know...I am the prophet of doom and gloom, but I am thinking with my left brain now and don't see it possible to rebuild much. I, personally, don't have the guts to stay where the levees won't hold the entire French Quarter and it might soon go all down the drain for good. (I would have lived in the CBD, probably, tho)
I LOVED New Orleans, and am so thankful I got to live there for a few months once.

But, I DO get your point about the feel, the atmosphere of a city that can't or isn't put in any of the statistics you read. That is a right brain function after I narrow the left brain facts down..haha!

I haven't told this one in a while - fresh out of the UW working at Boeing Seattle we were getting New Orleans transfers as Apollo Space Program(late 60's) was winding down 'New Orleans the arm pit of the universe - hot, humid, mosquito's, shell dust, etc, etc - Hunstville, AL a close second - reneck boondocks, etc. Ah - God's Country - Seattle and the Pac NW, mountains, sking etc.

Forward to the 70's(Space shuttle) transferred to - badda bing Huntsville/New Orleans - 'had to take a transfer to yucky Seattle to keep my job - cold, grey, rain, grumpy people, etc - thank God I made it back down South to Paradise - Huntsville vs New Orleans having further dsicriminators - aka da City is not Huntsville. 1974 - 2005 including maybe 1 1/2 yrs total tdy in Huntsville early on.

I made the mistake early on of posting a topic on 'the perfect retirement spot' naively thinking it was the same 'cheeseburger in paradise/Jimmy Buffett mythical location - Wrong!

People are different.



heh heh heh - probably visit New Orleans again for Christmas.

 

[Orchidflower]

I've lived in D.C., Chicago and Houston (plus overseas). Glad you made that point: people ARE different in different areas. That is something the statistics don't tell you at all.
Honestly, the appeal of living in an RV and traveling the country or just taking the car and moteling across the country is getting more appealing by the month. At least, you could get a better feel that way of the intangibles--which turn out to be more important than the statistics when you live there.
For instance, I chose Houston by doing the numbers in the early 1980's...and HATED all 22 years there. That is no way to live. Maybe if I had chosen another area of the city it would have been better? But Bellaire--Dr./lawyers ghetto with all marrieds--was really not a fun place for a single mother with a business. The people all were professionals, so there was no socializing at all in my neighborhood. I thought it was maybe me...until others on the street made comments over the years. Sucked...so much for strictly going by the numbers and statistics.

 

[W2R]

Huntsville vs New Orleans having further dsicriminators - aka da City is not Huntsville.

Frank and I visited Huntsville a little while back, but decided it is not where we want to retire. It is a nice city and all, but just not what we want. Da City is definitely not Huntsville.

Frank works as a senior engineer out where you worked, and did back in the 80's as well. He doesn't like it any better now than he did then (some things never change), but came back for family reasons. Hopefully the fact that I am here might have been a factor as well.

 

[W2R]

For instance, I chose Houston by doing the numbers in the early 1980's...and HATED all 22 years there. That is no way to live. Maybe if I had chosen another area of the city it would have been better? But Bellaire--Dr./lawyers ghetto with all marrieds--was really not a fun place for a single mother with a business. The people all were professionals, so there was no socializing at all in my neighborhood. I thought it was maybe me...until others on the street made comments over the years. Sucked...so much for strictly going by the numbers and statistics.

Houston looks great by the numbers, and it seemed wonderful when I was living in College Station. But the traffic there just gets worse and worse. It's nicer than 90% of big cities, but doesn't make the cut for me when it comes to potential retirement locations. I go to Bellaire a lot for work, and it's true - - everybody there is driving to or from work, and I hardly see anybody who appears to be just hanging out, taking it easy, socializing, or having fun in that neighborhood. I'd rather be someplace that was more low key, for retirement.

 

[W2R]

We also love NO and mourn its passing. It offers a unique cultural charm not found anywhere (maybe Quebec City but better in NO IMHO). We have experimented with Florida and found South Beach, Key West and Ft Lauderdale all attractive for our lifestyle. We have also tried San Diego and Phoenix.

But so far we would not relocate to any of the above. We like where we are but would like more sunshine. For the reasons that we like NO we are considering Mexico.

Some people really like Mexico, and it is certainly inexpensive. It does not have much appeal to me. Maybe I am a snob!! But it does not appeal or seem like home to me. Besides, I do not speak Spanish very well at all. I have enough French to fit in with my Cajun friends down on the bayou southwest of New Orleans. They have their own unique French dialect but it is not hard to understand at all (harder to speak that way after learning Parisian French in school!).

Thanks for the kind words about New Orleans. I feel the same way. Maybe someday I will visit Quebec City.

 

[Moemg]

Orchid Flower ,
One of the most positive things about Florida is the fact that most people are from somewhere else so they are all looking for friends and if you move into a community you will have an instant social life.I lived in one when I was single and it was great . If I wanted company I went to one of the social events or the community pool. I also never felt unsafe in any way .

 

[haha]

Orchid Flower ,
One of the most positive things about Florida is the fact that most people are from somewhere else so they are all looking for friends and if you move into a community you will have an instant social life.I lived in one when I was single and it was great . If I wanted company I went to one of the social events or the community pool. I also never felt unsafe in any way .

So true! Lots of people are moving into many big cities with good employment and high COL. Just not older people, instead mostly 20s and 30s. It is so much easier if there are people around you who need what you need. People are satisficers, not optimizers. If you go somewhere where most in your age group are already fully integrated into social interdependencies, why would they need you? In fact, you could even be de-stabilizing. It is especially hard to make same sex friends in settled communities.

Like Phil Greenspun says, if you are single and retired, don't go to some deserted beach, go on a group tour.

Ha

 

[Orchidflower]

I did run the numbers on the counties west, nw, sw of Austin; and there are many geezers there. But the income level is kinda on the lowish side. Now that will not help me on my quest to find a rich old fart as a companion at all, but willing to check it out.
Las Vegas looks great...then you check on how many have degrees and graduate degrees, and find you will be one of the few that has actually read a book since high school. Delete.
So....will check out Florida. Maybe an area where it is just building up...and people have moved there from other locations would do it.
haha makes a good point of not going to a community where people have been there for years (by the way, I understand Pittsburgh--which they are pushing for retired people to move to--is like that), which makes it hard to make friends. Agree..they don't need me when they have their old pals.
I hear from various gals at the club I swim at where I am in the Midwest (old post-industrial town with hardly any in and out movement) that their biggest complaint is how hard it is to make any friends.
I'm telling you...that RV is starting to look mighty comfortable and fun to me each passing month...ha!

 

[tangomonster]

I agree with what Moemg said about most people moving from elsewhere and therefore looking for friends and new social connections. I live in a small retirement community where everyone (this is not an exaggeration---I mean everyone of 76 homes, with the exception of DH and I who have no family) moved here to be by their kids. There are a couple who moved here less than a year ago and now thet kids may get transferred or voluntarily move, and they are going to be uprooted again, following the kids. And most of them are very involved in their kids' lives, almost raising the grandkids, with not much time or interest for making new friends.

But it's interesting about Florida. Certainly the average age of its residents must have gone way down since about 30 years ago, with Miami being a hot spot. Just today, the newspaper showed a photo of a new IKEA store opening in Sunrise (a suburb of Fort Lauderdale). No one looked to be above 35 or so! There may have been reasons for this (maybe IKEA doesn't appeal to older people and 500 people had been waiting in line since Monday for the Wednesday opening and to be the first 100 in line so they could get a free armchair), but I do think there is more of a mixture of ages than there used to be.

The thing I don't understand is why we don't see more people in their fifties and sixties around, regardless of where we live. If we baby boomers are really as plentiful as we're supposed to be, why is it that I never see anyone older than 40 at Starbucks?