Would you?

[bssc]

Foreign service brat so did it as a kid. Have continued to do so.

[ChrisC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha My idea is that you should probably stay where you are, or keep your eyes open for rent controlled apartments, or almost anything to let you continue living the life you are used to. $150,000 over what's left of your life will likely make no difference anyway. The 2nd best is Florida. If older people in your current location move to Florida, where do they go? There is a real social difference between the Gulf Coast and South Florida on the Atlantic side. Last, a fishing pier can be a easy low cost way to get people into your life. Many guys go to their pier almost every day. Ha

I had to laugh at that one. Finding and keeping a rent control apartment in New York City these days has about the same chance as winning the $500 million lottery. You don't find a rent control apartment! If a rent control apartment is vacated by the rent control tenant the apartment loses its rent control status. We have a rent control tenant in our 4 apartment building in NYC; she's a family friend and has been living there since 1964; she's 92 years old, and pays $242 in monthly rent, Comparable units rent for $2000 monthly.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisC I had to laugh at that one. Finding and keeping a rent control apartment in New York City these days has about the same chance as winning the $500 million lottery. You don't find a rent control apartment! If a rent control apartment is vacated by the rent control tenant the apartment loses its rent control status. We have a rent control tenant in our 4 apartment building in NYC; she's a family friend and has been living there since 1964; she's 92 years old, and pays $242 in monthly rent, Comparable units rent for $2000 monthly.

Whoops!

[Birchwood]

Thanks for response. This is a ER forum, so I assume folks understood, that we are moving to retire, and not being transferred by military assignment or company business.
We are in the upper midwest(rural) and plan to move to Colorado! near Ft. Collins. Yes we, with my wife. Reasons:
1. Hobbies- I'm into Photography, and there are 2 big Camera clubs.
2. I like the outdoors- Hiking, biking and walking.
3. It's near Denver for culture, & shopping.
4. Near schools CSU and UC, for intellectual activities, libraries and lectures and concerts.
5. Good public libraries.
6. We can join the Catholic church and it's activities to make friends.
7. We'll check into ball room dancing- my wife likes dancing.
From our visit, it looks OK, but we don't know anybody there and it may be daunting but an adventure for us. My only Daughter lives 8 hrs away in NE.
I may get a dog as hiking partner and loyal friend.

[Marita40]

I did it several times for school and work--and always found a built in community rather quickly. Although I'd like to try living in other parts of the country I would not move now, especially once retired, unless I had a spouse with me (I don't). I'm more an introvert than an extrovert and think it would be very hard to find friends/community. It is even difficult here as a single in a very family-oriented city--and after 25 years.

[Badger]

Growing up in a military family I enjoyed the frequent moving and seeing new places but I have been at my present home for a few decades now. Starting about 5-6 years ago I began researching places we might want to retire to but the more I looked the more I realized we were already there.

The question is difficult to answer because we already live in a place that has everything we want. We live a couple of blocks from the ocean in a small residential town in Florida. It's like having a private beach in which to swim and surf fish. Home is 3 miles to a military base (wife is retired military) so we have access to commisary and health facilities including a free fitness center and olympic pool. Wife plays tennis at a number of nearby courts. Library is 2 miles away. Numerous restaurants, shopping areas, hardware stores, etc. A large city is only 15 miles down the road with all the advantages of a city including a university and a number of colleges. For travel there is an international airport. And the weather is pretty good year round.

Cheers!

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Absolutely not...

"These rattlesnakes, scorpions, fire ants, feral hogs, hail storms, droughts, tornadoes walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That's Texas institutionalized."

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obgyn65 Yes. I have done this twice in my life already. Not for the faint-hearted.

Ditto, except that I have done it several (4-5) times, including two international moves, all by myself, to further my career.

[Sesq]

I did it 3-4 times for school, once for work.

Since then I have moved several times but I usually have at least on contact.

The first time for work I was 23, fresh out of college, no job, a few bucks in my account, all my possessions in the car. Drove to Dallas (big city, low cost of living, growing economy in the early/mid 90s), checked into a motel 6. Found an apartment that would let me sign a lease based on cash in the bank vs employment, got a phone installed (pre-cell) and THEN was able to start looking for jobs.

Found one within two weeks, whereas I had been looking for months in New England at that time. It was kind of fun, lonely at times though since I am on the quiet side. A year later I lept again for work back in New England when my network let me know that a Big Six accounting firm was looking for me.

[MBAustin]

I did it twice while single and we've done it twice as a couple, all 4 times for a new position. The key is to find something to get involved in quickly (church, recreation, local charities, whatever) and build those connections.

FWIW, DH's sister lives in Ft. Collins and loves it.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREd I moved twice all by myself, and twice with DW. But, as in Alan's case, DW travels so much that I pretty much had to fend for myself in all cases.

These comments remind me of that old Rodney Dangerfield joke:
"My parents moved a lot when I was a kid, but I always managed to find them..."