I'm currently living in central NC, probably try to live here throughout my career, and hopefully retire to the NC mountains... but, retirement is a good 40+ years away for me. I'm currently in college.
I'm 57 so retirement planning is getting moved up on the priority list. Currently I am looking at a little town called 84 [as in 84 Lumber Co. fame] in SW Pennsylvania near I 70 and 79 in Washington County. Low RE taxes as compared with Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) but still close. Easy drive [2 1/2 houps] to visit grandson [Columbus, OH] About same to Cleveland, OH Also about same to visit the Western Maryland scenic RR in Cumberland, MD, Sandpatch, Altoona, Horseshoe Curve, Cass Scenic RR. About four hours to Washington D.C., Baltimore and Timmonium and M.B. Kleins. Western PA trolley museum is close by as is excellent medical facilities. Plus PA has senior citizens as primary beneficiaries of its lottery game. if I win that I will be retired immediately.
I'm I'm quite a few years away from "marking off", but I've thought about several places I wouldn't mind spending my last coupla decades: OKLAHOMA Most specifically, the area around Grand Lake of the Cherokees in NE Oklahoma. I've cought many a crappie and catfish out of that big ol, lake, helped friends run trotlines, swam in a couple of coves, helped Dad paint houses near Bernice......great place to just get your boat & head to a cove & just fish.....plus, the BNSF (ex-Frisco) mainline is just a few miles north (runs thru Afton, Fairland & Wyandotte) and the UP (ex-MKT) runs a few miles west, thru Vinita, Adair, Chouteau and Pryor. Got state taxes, and the nearest hobby shops are in Tulsa. Weather ain't too bad, and life is laid-back. My luck- real estate will be thru the roof (you pay to live on the lake). I lived there from April 1973 to June 1979, and my family's still in the area TEXAS Got friends there, don't have to deal with state income tax (unless the Democrats finally force-feed one). Most likely I'd live in NE Texas- still puts Dallas-Ft. Worth about 2 hours away. The area around Grand Lake is much like the area Charlie refers to in N. Arkansas- the Ozarks. The "start line", if you will, is in Ottawa County, OK, and it changes starkly from flat farmland to stands of scrub oak. Oh yes, my home base is now just east of Grand Junction Colorado, in the shadow of 10,600-foot Grand Mesa (Earth's biggest flattop mountain) I wouldn't mind living here, but too many people are thinking Colorado is a great place to move to, and real estate is flat-out ridiculous. There's a word the long-timers use (I'm not one, BTW) that describes what's happening to the Centennial State, but it's offensive to my friends west of Nevada, so I refuse to put it here. SUffice it to say the Grand Valley is getting too crowded, and it's time to head for somewhere with more elbow room. [ 01. August 2002, 07:01: Message edited by: friscobob ]
I currently live in Southeast Florida but in 482 days (yes I am counting) I will retire and be moving to Mt. Home, Arkansas. Two big lakes to fish when the weather is great and railroads to build when indoors is best. I'll have to shop by internet but thats where I get 80% of my supplies now.
I guess I plan to retire again in about eight years (already retired once) right here in the place I have lived for the last 33 years. It is a small town (about 2000--maybe 3000 in the metro area ) people in a beautiful part of the country. I don't quilt, but there is a new Quilt Store that opened recently. I'm sure the senior center has its share of quilters because the county fair doesn't lack for quilt entries. I am very well supplied as far as model railroad projects are concerned (probably for the rest of my life), but I can always buy off eBay or from BLW (No flaming, please) should I so desire. I also know of some other good sources for supplies that are within a day's drive if I find myself really in need of a "fix." Our community recently spent over 7 million to remodel the local hospital, and I expect that will bring more medical expertise to settle in this area--supplimenting the already fine doctors (mostly family practice) that we have here. As has already been stated, Oregon has no sales tax; which is nice if you spend a lot of money on hobby items. As long as you don't smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or play the lottery you don't have to pay our high "sin" taxes; which leaves you more money to pay our income and property taxes. Charlie, I would love to have someone of your kind and inclination decide to settle in my area! A round robin sounds like a great idea! I just had an old friend (well not too old), known on Trainboard as akrrnut, just move to this area. I expect to have some great times with him in expanding and enjoying the railroad I am building and the future one I know he will be planning as well. You'll come now, hear? (BTW, Charlie, thanks for inviting me over to your house, giving me the chance to see your layout and meet some of your group while I was in Chicago about two/three years ago.) [ 02. August 2002, 01:11: Message edited by: upguy ]
I'm in much the same situation as Charlie (living in the Chicago area, taxes and cost of living WAY too high) My timeline is a bit shorter; 5 years (but who's counting!). The one thing I dislike about the area is the weather - not unusual to go from heating to AC in 24 hours. And Spring? What Spring? Right now we're looking at TN, Clarksville area. Main requirements are reasonable property taxes, affordable housing, and climate. And houses with basements. BIG basements. Not shared by garages. I don't have any particular requirements as far as LHS or groups, I'm pretty much a loner anyway, just not a social animal I guess.
Thanks for all the posts and direct emails. I will summarize them when they start to taper off (hopefully not for a while)..... Charlie
Ideal retirement location: 78 degrees F daytime 50 % relative humidity 55 degrees F nighttime infrequent rain decent local folks reasonable and affordable cost of living land has a lot of hills and forestry; lots of shade trees no earthly calamities - which includes hurricanes, tornadoes, landslides, earthquakes, pollution, excessive rain, free from dangerous and poisonous animals, low crime area i.e. Mayberry Hear that Andy and Barney? Steamguy is loooking for a new place to live...... Ken "Steamguy" Willaman
I've been giving retirement location a lot of thought. When I lived in the San Fransisco Bay Area, I knew I didn't want to retire there; too expensive and too crowded. Then I was transferred to Denver. Nice place, but still too crowded. Now I live in SE Washington. It's a possibility. Many of our neighbors moved here years ago and stayed when they retired. No state income tax, but high sales tax. Portland isn't far and no sales tax there. Maybe this is the place. Maybe. Not easy for the kids to come to for the holidays. I may be transferred to Las Vegas in a couple of years. That would be central to our children and good prices on airfare. Don't know about the heat, though. There is enough triple digit days here in the Washington desert. We will retire somewhere in the Rocky Mountain states or west.
Charlie, You should think about moving on down to North Carolina! We are one of the fastest growing "retirement" states in the U.S. with a temperate climate.... We have lots of train clubs, as well as major train action on the NS, CSX, and other short lines. Whoever wanted "Mayberry" can find it in our state (supposedly that is what the T.V. series was based on) as well as the fast pace of our own "Silicon Valley" (Research Triangle Park). I have traveled many places in the U.S., but have chosen to stay here, and hopefully will retire here too Harold
Charlie: Retirement is within 10-15 years for me. Especially after the way the market is going now. I live in No. VA, moved here from NY 5 years ago. I intend to retire here for the following reasons Taxes are reasonable. 4.5% sales tax 4.2% income tax Car insurance reasonable 1.08 per 1K for property tax. Homes are pricy near DC but reasonable 40-50 miles out. The point is retire someplace close to cultural things if that is important to you, has great options for travelling, is convenient and desireable for friends and family to visit you. Make sure that medical facilities are above average. Teaching hospitals etc. A good Hobby store is important but mail order is ok. And there is an abundance of good modellers around (NVNTRAK). Washington DC is a great place for diverse interests. Email off board if additional information desired. Respectfully, Jerry O'Grady
Hi Guys, being 49 I'm not quite planning on retiring yet. I've visited America and Canada and there are surely some beautifull places out there,however I live in Scotland which has it's faults ,too much rain, rotten government,(mind you if you find a straight politician anywhere let me know ,you'll have found an as yet undiscovered species,they are ALL garbage), But the land herself is small and beautifull and for such a small country extrememly varied in it's scenery. Wild horses wouldn't pull me away from this country. DAVY
