Pick My Retirement City!!!

[meierlde]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREd Many places in the south might fit the bill (except perhaps for the wine thing). Perhaps somewhere around Houston, Atlanta, or Charlotte, NC.

Actually west of Austin and northwest of San Antonio you find the hill country winery area (centered around Fredricksburg but does go east to Johnson City). Here is a link to a site about hill country wines: Texas Hill Country Wineries
Of course there is also one winery near Lubbock but then its a long way to the sea (10 hours by car, and Lubbock is only 200k in size, and flat flat flat), but it does have Texas Tech.

[MRG]

Eastwestgal,
Nice write up on Harrisburg, I grew up 85 miles north of there up the river. While I'd never go back to the town I'm from, Harrisburg sounds interesting.

Brings back a bunch of great memories. One is fishing the river in February, off TMI (we didn't eat any thing we caught). I fell for my future DW at Hershey Park. I'm ready for a plate of scrapple now.
MRG

[Gunny]

I'm headed for the Georgia Mountains north of Atlanta. Forests, fly fishing, lakes, rivers. Atlanta is a bit further of a drive than you specify (1hr+), but it has professional sports and culture. No state taxes on most retirement income, moderately conservative community and very quaint small towns. A couple of wineries as well. Georgian Merlot, anyone?

[daylatedollarshort]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shabby I am researching a bunch of these areas you guys suggested!!!! Here was a list I have worked on prior to asking the question: Sonoma or Napa - perfect except for the house prices Delray Beach, FL - great, but no mountains or trees Pinehurst, NC Tampa, FL - again no trees Jacksonville, FL - again no trees New Orleans Denver - can I deal with no ocean? San Diego (North Solano Beach) Arizona-Phoenix Charleston SC - cute, but not near major city or sports

Sonoma County was #2 on our ever changing retirement list. Orange county came out #1. San Diego would probably be right up there, too. But today we took walk along a stream in a Redwood forest and it never gets old. I am not sure it is something I am ready to give up for milder winters, warmer beaches and less expensive housing further south. We weren't in Sonoma County today but there are some pretty spectacular parks and Redwood forests there. Plus to the west is the coast, to the east is Napa Valley and San Francisco with all the museums and entertainment options is to the South.

(Correction for Sonoma County)

[Huston55]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shabby I am researching a bunch of these areas you guys suggested!!!! Here was a list I have worked on prior to asking the question: Sonoma or Napa - perfect except for the house prices Delray Beach, FL - great, but no mountains or trees Pinehurst, NC Tampa, FL - again no trees Jacksonville, FL - again no trees New Orleans Denver - can I deal with no ocean? San Diego (North Solano Beach) Arizona-Phoenix Charleston SC - cute, but not near major city or sports

[QUOTE=Shabby;1456448]As I edge closer to my ER, I think after 10 years here in Seattle, perhaps a new location is in order. All opinions are welcome and encouraged.

Thanks in advance!

Scenario:
1. Late 40's couple due to ER in 2 years - no kids
2. Lived in upstate NY, OH, South FL, San Fran and WA so far
3. Retirement house will be purchased for $600k or less
4. Household income should be $130k
5. Most likely will work part time

Requirements:
1. Within a 10-40 minute drive to a city with sports teams, restaurants, performing arts, and concerts IS AWASH IN COLLEGE & MINOR LEAGUE SPORTS AND CHARLOTTE (PRO SPORTS) IS 1 HR
2. Weather not extreme in the winter. YEP, ALSO NOT EXTREME IN THE SUMMER
3. Trees and forests near. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT

Ideal:
1. Fairly conservative YEP
2. Within 40 minute drive to an ocean or large body of water 3HRS TO OCEAN BUT HUMONGOUS LAKES ALL AROUND
3. Cute, quaint towns are nice YEP
4. House has .5 acres or bigger lot AND THEN SOME
5. Near wineries or where wine grapes can be grown YEP, YOU'D BE VERY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THE QUALITY OF KY/TN WINERIES[/QUOTE]

OK, despite the fact that DW and I love the SF Bay Area and are relocating there for retirement (our criteria are different than yours), there's way too much west coast focus here IMO.

Your list at the top gets close to what would be ideal but, not quite there. I suggest you try the Greenville-Spartanburg, SC area.

[Shabby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastWest Gal moved to south central PA for a better work life balance 15 years ago--allowed fore FIRE due to low cost of living--and we love it here.

Thanks for the input. Which town is the cute, quaint one in that area?

[timo2]

I just noticed this 'map my retirement' place from Prudential

Prudential - Map My Retirement Tool
Prudential - Map My Retirement

[nuke_diver]

Pardon my ignorance but why would the politics of an area determine why you would or would not move there. In a long term situation the political climate could change as could yours.

I know I should stay out of this but I just had to ask...I am rather apolitical so it seems a rather odd requirement from my standpoint

[Huston55]

Politics is just like any other characteristic of a location. I think people are naturally attracted to places where others share their views. It's not at the top of my personal list but, it is a factor.


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[timo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huston55 Politics is just like any other characteristic of a location. I think people are naturally attracted to places where others share their views. It's not at the top of my personal list but, it is a factor. Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

People that share a reasonable portion of your views will have created an environment you may be more comfortable in. That's about the extent of it. IMO. Just one factor of many.

[Brat]

While all of those 'tools' are interesting there is a point when a retiree looks for a home close to those they love and who love them. That is more valuable than any other factor.

[timo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brat While all of those 'tools' are interesting there is a point when a retiree looks for a home close to those they love and who love them. That is more valuable than any other factor.

Good point. That should be one of the criteria for 'tools' like that.

[Huston55]

Quote:

Originally Posted by timo2 Good point. That should be one of the criteria for 'tools' like that.

Yes, it should be one of the factors. But, it's not the most important to everyone. Some are more influenced by other things.


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[Chuckanut]

Arkansas. Just about any small town within a 45 minute commute to a bigger one.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shabby As I edge closer to my ER, I think after 10 years here in Seattle, perhaps a new location is in order. All opinions are welcome and encouraged. Thanks in advance! Scenario: 1. Late 40's couple due to ER in 2 years - no kids 2. Lived in upstate NY, OH, South FL, San Fran and WA so far 3. Retirement house will be purchased for $600k or less 4. Household income should be $130k 5. Most likely will work part time Requirements: 1. Within a 10-40 minute drive to a city with sports teams, restaurants, performing arts, and concerts 2. Weather not extreme in the winter 3. Trees and forests near Ideal: 1. Fairly conservative 2. Within 40 minute drive to an ocean or large body of water 3. Cute, quaint towns are nice 4. House has .5 acres or bigger lot 5. Near wineries or where wine grapes can be grown

If you can do without conservative population, buy or rent one of the new condos or apartments in SODO.

You live in Redmond. Just try to get to a Seahawks or Mariners or Huskies' game in 40 minutes, door to seats, from anywhere farther away than SODO, or International District or Pioneer Square or maybe downtown if you take the LINK.

From there, the rest is a shoe in. Trees, check. Wineries, check. Right on Elliott Bay, less than 40 minutes to Lake Washington. Cute quaint towns all over- the San Juans, LaConner, Tulip festival in Mt Vernon, summer concerts in Port Townsend, go visit some ships in Bremerton. Even Carnation just east of your present abode. And don't forget ,mountains, Not phony Eastern mountains either, real mountains that rise 14000 feet right off sea level.

Plus distilleries all over town, hundreds of excellent restaurants, Symphony, Opera, Ballet. Art Museum good for West Coast ex LA. Plenty of young gazillionaires to hang with

Just pretend you love Kawana Sawant and talk to your friendly realtor. Even the weather is great. I was walking down the street just after noon today and a very attractive young woman was walking toward me wearing a bikini and flip-flops.

You not likely to find this anywhere else for what you would pay here . Good Heavens, I just reminded myself how wonderful this town is!

Ha

[Turn_the_Page]

+1 on north of Houston. You'd get a mansion on acreage for that price. Can you handle heat, humidity and mosquitoes? TX wine country maybe 3 hours away. Galveston beaches maybe 90 minutes away.

Can you handle traffic? Look at Sugarland and points just West of Houston. Puts you closer to the wine country. You'd have a hell of a traffic mess to get to sports, but that's part of it. You'd be closer to the less populated beaches southwest of Houston (Surfside, Matagorda).

[imoldernu]

The Villages
except for half acre... If it's not there, you don't need it. Built in.. enough culture to last three lifetimes, active sports, Polo?...
Save money on the house, and eliminate the Part-Time.
East, West coast ocean, Chain of lakes 15 minutes.
Try it and fall in love...
... but not for me.
Lie about your age.

[seraphim]

Haven't been there for a while, but we used a site, I think it was www.city-data.com

Extremely helpful with data and forums with helpful residents from each city.


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[seraphim]

The site I posted allows you to choose a major city, and will list nearby cities as well, since that's part of your criteria. It gives median housing,,income and cost of living info as well. Very extensive.


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[kgtest]

Central Cali, Santa Barbara, San Louis Obispo, or anywhere 50miles from there. It my opinion god spent some extra time on that part of the country.

Unless you want sports EVERY weekend...then go cloer to LA...perhaps Ventura.

I've lived in Great Lakes of Minnesota (Brrr, outdoorsman fun), Maui (Beautifully simple, uneventful), Lompoc (gods country), Gulfport/Bilouxi (Slower way of life with dirty gulf coast and humid), San Antonio, TX (hotter then heck)