Where Did You Not Retire To?

[imnontrad]

Paulz, I bet if you just "happen" to move near Walt Disney World/ Universal Studios, you will see all your grandkids - and the quality time of several days in a row will be more than you get in visits now.

 

[cranberryjoe]

In our late 40's we went on a hiking trip to Glacier National Park in Montana. Loved the park and the nearby areas, thought we might want to retire to one of the nearby towns. When we got home we checked into the winter weather in Montana and never gave that idea another thought.

Recently we gave serious consideration to New Mexico or Arizona. But in the end we decided we would "downsize" to a new home in a suburb of our current city.

 

[meleana]

We really wanted to retire to VT. But politics, taxes on retirement income, including SS, drove us to NH instead.

We did consider some western states but too far from our only child who lives in NH and other family and friends in NY and Connecticut and PA. Don’t like the idea of desert and water worries or wildfire risks either.

We thought about the southeast, but haven’t been to most any of the states there except Florida, and too hot and no mountains and crisp, cool lakes. Hurricanes, huge bugs and gators . Nope. Plus no connection to it.

 

[friar1610]

We really wanted to retire to VT. But politics, taxes on retirement income, including SS, drove us to NH instead.

We initially retired to VT but after 8 years we moved to MA, primarily for family reasons. But the taxes are high in VT. We got a nice raise when we moved to the Bay State as neither SS nor Federal (military) pensions (our primary income sources) are state-taxed.

 

[bluelight]

We didn't move from Northern NJ to southeast PA / MD border. My sister and most of my family is in northeastern MD and we wanted to be 1/2 hour to an hour away from them. Close but not too close.

Then the grandchildren arrived and everything changed. We retired to the north shore of Long Island, NY. It's expensive but we are now a 20 minute drive to the grandkids. Five mile drive on country roads to the LI sound. 250 acre state park preserve in my back yard. Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine living here. Now I can't imagine not living here.

 

[Montclairbobbyb]

IF A FEW MORE PLANETS ALIGNED, we would be in northern Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont. Wife and I love the cool (and cold) weather, and the great northern mountains beckon... I know, not for everyone; and that's fine with us... Actually we're loving our awesome standard of living in beautiful (rural) Hunterdon County NJ (f you can believe NJ has beautiful rural sections... Well it DOES)... STILL, the vast northern wilderness is where my heart is. Financially we're ready; family obligations keep us here for now... So I'll keep dreaming.
..

 

[linnemj]

My company moved us from Pittsburgh to Mississippi when I was 50. We had to take the move to protect the pension. I retired 7 years later and we started to look at where we wanted to live. The grand girls were outside Philly and had no desire to move there. My son is also in sales and moved a few years later from there. Considered Hot Springs Village (too far from family) and Asheville NC (too expensive). We settled in Eastern TN outside of Knoxville. We love motorcycling, kayaking, hiking, and recently pickleball.

 

[ychuck46]

Not where we were living

The wife was already retired when we left NY for good, and I kept working another four years, joining her when we were both 60. Did our DD or would never retire in high cost states like the Northeast or the [mod edit] Coast. The South beckoned us and we have had a great 11 years so far.

 

[ychuck46]

Eastern TN as well

My company moved us from Pittsburgh to Mississippi when I was 50. We had to take the move to protect the pension. I retired 7 years later and we started to look at where we wanted to live. The grand girls were outside Philly and had no desire to move there. My son is also in sales and moved a few years later from there. Considered Hot Springs Village (too far from family) and Asheville NC (too expensive). We settled in Eastern TN outside of Knoxville. We love motorcycling, kayaking, hiking, and recently pickleball.

We moved to the Crossville/Lake Tansi area 11 years ago. Absolutely love it. We are Harley riders but the wife is winding down her riding; too many ailments and the bike is getting harder for her to control. Otherwise it was the best decision we ever made to move to TN.

 

[isisdave]

Just the opposite. Thought we'd stay in CA where we've lived for all or most of our 70 years, and DW's family has been since 1776.

Our only son moved to Indiana, Covid and the RE bubble came along, and POOF! Here we are...

 

[klscaz]

We seriously considered retiring to San Diego CA and for many years we fully expected to retire to Mystic CT. Real estate/COL, taxes, future water issues (CA) or winters (CT) changed our minds. For those who expect to substantially relocate (another state?), any significant changes in retirement relocation plans like us?

We were going to retire in Lake Wylie, SC. It is a large lake 20 min outside of Charlotte NC. We live in CT so we thought SC was a good compromise as I don't like the cold and my husband can't tolerate high temps.

The worst financial decision I ever made was buying a condo there and renting it out as a long term rental. It was hard to find a good property manager and I ended up with a tenant that I specifically told the manager not to rent to. It was a nightmare and I ended up selling it for less than I paid for it. I soured on the area due to the experience of dealing with males who seemed condescending to women. Probably irrational but that is where I am it.

Anyway, now that my husband has had a few health issues, we realize the importance of having a supportive family near us. We do not have any children and in a few years will move to either Rhode Island or New Hampshire to be near family.

 

[travelover]

I thought I'd retire in Michigan where I'd lived my whole life, but my second wife has family in the PNW and I had little to keep me in Michigan. The winters really started to bother me and Michigan is so gerrymandered that a minority runs the state. So, no regrets at all in heading West.

 

[wildsun]

We aren't retired yet. I'm pretty sure I'm retiring this fall at 69. My wife is 65 and still working in a lucrative job.

I grew on the coast of CT, lived in Boston for 2 years, traveled Mexico & Canada for year, and settled with friends I had met in Mexico at the age of 25 in Taos NM. 4 years in Taos, 4 in Santa Fe, 11 in Albuquerque. I started missing the ocean really badly after 19 yrs in NM.

Got married while still in NM and 11 months later moved to Portland, OR so my wife could take a new job, where I have been for 27 years. I was self employed so it didn't matter where I lived. Big change moving from desert to the quasi rain forest of OR.

Being deprived of sunshine all the time was hard after living in NM for 19 years. But Oregon is lush and green with mild winters and the coast, 75 miles from Portland, is too beautiful for words. Bought a couple of vacation rentals to rent out in Netarts, OR on the Three Capes Scenic Route, just so I'd have an excuse to go to the coast and do "maintenance."

I thought when we retired we might move to the S Oregon Coast, or N Calif, or Central Calif. Someplace more rural, ON the ocean, with warmer winters and more sunshine, punctuated by fog banks rolling in from the Ocean.

But we are in Portland, and so far the kids are too. Hard to tell if there will be grandkids but if there are, I can't imagine we would leave Portland if thats where the grandkids were. Hope the kids don't move around as much as I did, but it happens.

Anyways - its not time to decide yet, but I've decided I would like to not be in the heart of Portland, but anywhere in Oregon is fine if I can go to the beach and stay in one of the other houses on the beach whenever I want. And if it ends up working out to live a quieter life on a warm coast somewhere that would just add to the bliss.

Wife wants to stay near Portland due to personal connections, and I understand that. Doctor says I should live somewhere dryer. My bottom line is ocean nearby, mild winters, not too far from a good size city, and it works for the family as best as it can.

 

[HunterAdvisor]

We retired to Mexico in 2010, absolutely love it! We are 1/2 north of Puerto Vallarta, we have a townhouse condo 40 steps from the beach and a 7 minute walk to the Marina. Loads of restaurants, cafes, live music an film. We have a terrific pickle ball community there and hubby has taken up paddle board surfing. We visit the US in the summer and see kids, grandkids and friends.

 

[Ronstar]

Had a snowbird condo in Scottsdale Az for 17 years and always wanted to move there full time. But the summer heat and lack of water in the desert sw have changed my mind somewhat. And the Phoenix sprawl is too much.

And I considered Asheville. Until I went there. Too much like a big city.

So I'm looking for somewhere with mild winters, mild summers, mountains, and not too many people.

 

[HunterAdvisor]

We gave some serious thought to retiring to Mexico for around 5 years, but just couldn't pull the trigger.

Curious what stopped you? We have lived in Mexico since 2010, retired here to the beach early.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Curious what stopped you? We have lived in Mexico since 2010, retired here to the beach early.

We thought the same a Dtail, but have not really pulled the trigger either. My main concern is healthcare as it is difficult to get good insurance when over 65. I have health issues that need access to a good cardiologist. The affluent counties in Florida have outstanding healthcare, especially where we are.

BTW, are you in NV. We like it there too. Love the Marina district and the Bay of Banderas.

 

[HunterAdvisor]

Mexico

We are in La Cruz De Huanacaxtle just north of NV. We have both private insurance in Mexico and Medicare in the USA. There is really great medical care tab the new hospital In Bucerias. Mother who is nearly 90 has a cardiologist in Vallarta as well. I schedule much of my medical when back in the US and have a good list of specialists in Mexico. So far it’s working well. Ideally having two homes available at all times one there and another in the USA.
Love the Bay of Banderas!

 

[Out of Steam]

We’re rather settled here in PA. Good friends, son and soon to be wife are nearby, tax friendly state for seniors, ample healthcare resources, etc…

The tax friendliness of Pennsylvania for seniors was a draw for me, as well as being within a day trip of family. But the areas we liked within an hour of Philadelphia proved too expensive, and the areas we could afford would be uncomfortable socially.

 

[Out of Steam]

We were living in a suburb of Baltimore, MD (Baltimore County) when I retired from the military. My “second career” jobs were reasonably accessible from there and my wife had a job she liked in Baltimore City. When she finally called it quits it would have been easy to remain there. We liked the area well enough, it gave us good access to BWI Airport and to cultural and sporting events we enjoyed in both Baltimore and DC, we had doctors, repair men and all the other support we needed in place.

Easy access to BWI Airport is one of the things we will miss most about leaving Maryland, though it's been largely irrelevant because of the pandemic.

 

[EastWest Gal]

South central PA has worked out well for us. Near city, near rural, two competing hospital systems (UPMC and Penn State) if needed. Low taxes, no tax on SS, pensions, or IRA withdrawals after 59-1/2, including RMD from inherited IRA. Harrisburg has a nice airport, and we’re 90 minutes from BWI, Dulles, and Philadelphia airports. Property tax isn’t bad here, as it is closer to Philly. Socially it’s fine-there are people all over the political map and lots of colleges and theater groups to keep us entertained. Three large CCRCs in our area too.

 

[Flyfish1]

We seriously considered retiring to San Diego CA and for many years we fully expected to retire to Mystic CT. Real estate/COL, taxes, future water issues (CA) or winters (CT) changed our minds. For those who expect to substantially relocate (another state?), any significant changes in retirement relocation plans like us?

Interesting. We considered keeping a home in NJ and our summer home outside of Mystic, CT. Love the Mystic area. We have decided that is insane and will sell the NJ property and relocate to Mystic next summer when retirement begins.

 

[Flyfish1]

IF A FEW MORE PLANETS ALIGNED, we would be in northern Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont. Wife and I love the cool (and cold) weather, and the great northern mountains beckon... I know, not for everyone; and that's fine with us... Actually we're loving our awesome standard of living in beautiful (rural) Hunterdon County NJ (f you can believe NJ has beautiful rural sections... Well it DOES)... STILL, the vast northern wilderness is where my heart is. Financially we're ready; family obligations keep us here for now... So I'll keep dreaming.
..

Not that I'm staying here in Hunterdon ...but keep it quiet...don't want too many people to know how beautiful it is here...

 

[Ronsbusa3]

Not that I'm staying here in Hunterdon ...but keep it quiet...don't want too many people to know how beautiful it is here...

I grew up in Hunterdon county. Holland Twp. So I know how beautiful it is. Your secret is out. Lol

 

[Letj]

We were going to retire in Lake Wylie, SC. It is a large lake 20 min outside of Charlotte NC. We live in CT so we thought SC was a good compromise as I don't like the cold and my husband can't tolerate high temps.



The worst financial decision I ever made was buying a condo there and renting it out as a long term rental. It was hard to find a good property manager and I ended up with a tenant that I specifically told the manager not to rent to. It was a nightmare and I ended up selling it for less than I paid for it. I soured on the area due to the experience of dealing with males who seemed condescending to women. Probably irrational but that is where I am it.



Anyway, now that my husband has had a few health issues, we realize the importance of having a supportive family near us. We do not have any children and in a few years will move to either Rhode Island or New Hampshire to be near family.

No you’re not irrational. Depending on which part of the country you live, that’s a real thing dealing with certain males.