I'm coming up on the end of a 30 year career with the government in a few years and I'm starting to think about where I'm going to live when I retire. I may simply stay put, right here in eastern NC. But, I'm just not sure.
How about you? Where and why?

I probably will end up staying right here in Wyoming.

My real passion is hunting and I can do that pretty much year around here I also like the mountains.

The main reason is that my kids and grandkids all live here. I couldn't imagine not being close to them.

If my wife gets to make the decision, We would probably retire close to a beach. I really wouldn't mind that but I doubt I could hunt as much as I do here.

My suggestion would be to go somewhere that you can do what you really like to do.

Wingmaster

Thinking about Boise
I visited Ashville a few years back. Ashville would be tough to beat.

I'm coming up on the end of a 30 year career with the government in a few years and I'm starting to think about where I'm going to live when I retire. I may simply stay put, right here in eastern NC. But, I'm just not sure.
How about you? Where and why?

Right where I am. Spokane was rated the #1 place in the NW to retire. That's one of the myriad reasons I chose to move here 4 years ago.
I'm eligible for a pension and full health care in November so I'm right where I want to be when the time comes.

Moved to FL - still no income tax; housing a LOT less than northern NV, good gun regs, NO SNOW to shovel,

Downside - I DO miss all the open public land quail hunting..........about it though.

Before you move anywhere, rent in the city or area you are thinking about. Sometimes, locations are not want you think they are after a few months. Grass is not always greener elsewhere. To many times, people visit or vacation somewhere, sell there home, move there and then ...........................What did we do?? Study this carefully.

Consider; Do you like the climate, the cost of living, the hobby & entertainment available, the closeness of friends & family. What other things are your greatest considerations.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I was not born in NC, but I grew up here. With the exception of eight years military I've lived and worked here all of my life. I love NC but I'm burned out on the coastal areas of the state. I hope to retire to the mountains. The heat and humidity on the coast is horrendous, and the population is rapidly increasing with no end in sight. The research I've done (as well as family vacations I've taken) seem to indicate a cheaper cost of living in the western part of the state, and property is cheaper (I've taken up hunting and can't afford to hunt where I currently live. Fortunately I have friends who invite me to hunt with them occasionally.)
P.S.- Montana would be my second choice. It is the most beautiful state I've been fortunate enough to see.

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Support Israel!

What he said...

jscheck, I'll bet there aren't a half-dozen people on this site that know what "momicked" means. ;-)

Regarding the mountains, I have an employee who is from the Hendersonville/Asheville area and he's fed up with the mountains much as you are the coast for pretty much the same reasons - that being a huge increase in population and associated congestion with no end in sight.

My wife can retire next year after having been an elementary-school teacher for 30 years. We married after other relationships that didn't work out, and we have been together for eight terrific years. She wants to continue to work as a substitute after the mandatory six-month hiatus required by the public school system in North Carolina. I support her in that, since it is what she wants to do, and while we do dream of retirement locales, I suspect we'll stay here in the Tar Heel State for several more years. I'd be happy with that, as except for its politics it is a fine place to live and the state closest to my heart.

I personally doubt if I'll ever be able to retire myself. I'll probably croak at my desk one day, and some of the folks I work with will have to endure having to deal with having a dead guy in the next cubicle until EMS carts me off. Can't say I'd be too upset about that, either!

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

Reality - Make a list of MUST haves for you and your wife - maybe it is medical, weather, fun stuff, whatever..........

Then make a list of must NOTS for you and your wife - again, might be weather, traffic, snow, heat, whatever.

compare the list - start looking, do your due diligence. For ME, it was about taxes, snow, and overall cost of living trumping that quail hunting I previously mentioned. If I could afford TWO places, then I would have the best of both.

If it were just me, it would be Texas. Where exactly, I don't know. It is not, however, just me and that will affect where, if anywhere, I go.

Tennessee is nice as well, for the most part.

All of that being said, I know a number of people who have moved to NC, especially the Charlotte area. My son moved just across the line in SC, and that's pretty nice as well. He picked SC because of taxes, cost of living, and cost of housing.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Just finished my 51st year at the same job. Never going to retire. Everything I want in life is inside the gates at The Battery Oaks.

If it were just ME, it might not even be in this country; the current politics, deficit, racial discord, crime in certain areas, animosity, etc., there are happier places on this earth...............

And that is not something to overlook; International Living has a lot of info if that is also a consideration.

I hope to be able to move back to Texas when I retire. I haven't decided exactly where in Texas, probably somewhere near San Antonio. I'd like to move back to Midland, but it's just too expensive there.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

As of this moment, we will probably stay here in SW VA. It all depends on what happens to the 80+ acres across the road. They've have been cow pasture since we've lived here. It's owned by an elderly couple and the husband recently passed. You can put way too many 5 acre lots on it. Can't imagine going from no neighbors within a quarter mile to as many as 16 out the front window.
If not here, maybe head west to the wide open spaces.

Dave, S.A. isn't cheap any more either.................

I'm staying in S Indiana. If I want to dodge winter there are plenty of dog friendly places to rent in Fla panhandle.

Some places I'd consider if I had to get outa town would be high desert s of Prescott Az or Georgia mtns

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Arizona. I'm home now. P

Two of my favorite places........

i retired in 2002 and still in the local area.....family and friends are close...favorite stores, medical, restaurants are convenient.....and i'm used to the four seasons.....

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There's nowt so queer as folk

Have to stay close to my granddaughters so I have 10 acres of East Texas piney woods with cheap taxes in Liberty county and guess that is where I will end up. Good fishing pond and deer and hogs wandering around sometimes but still close enough to Houston and everything it has to offer that it won't be like I am moving just driving a little more. Would stay where I am at but the city has surrounded me the last 42 years.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Rural northern Michigan, an outdoorsman's paradise.

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SWHF #448

When we moved out here to a small town in the mountains of West Virginia, we intended to retire here.
It's beautiful out here with hiking trails, biking trails, river access, camping areas, a shooting range and lotsa other outdoors stuff.
Sometimes it's nice just to sit on my front porch smoking a cigar.
Speaking of cigars, I have a coupla of the town's Mayor's cigars in my humidor, his wife doesn't like him smoking cigars.

There's festivals, parades and events to attend. On October 7th, if the weather cooperates, we're going to go to the annual "Apple Butter Festival" in Berkeley Springs WV. I just hope we get there early enough for the parade.

You just need to keep your ears open for banjo music.
'Specially if you're going on a canoe trip.

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Keep on Chooglin'

If I could talk the wife into it we would be in AZ. soaking up the sun. we spent 4 winters there in RV and loved it. She won't leave her family here in MI. Sister depends on her when times are tough. Brother doesn't know we are alive. Still we stay.

Will be right here where I am. I moved back in with the parents a bit over ten years ago. Since I never married and my sister was doing the military wife, raise the kids thing I figured it was my job to take care of them. Dad passed about 4 years ago and when Mom is gone the house will be automatically changed over in my name. We live in a really small city between Sugar Land and Houston. The police force is large for our 1 square mile size and we do not have much in the way of crime. Response times to a emergency call of a minute or two, tops. Lots of stuff around us in the way of food and entertainment. Good parks, both local and state, within 30 minutes of us so I can go outdoors when I want. The only thing I really miss is some private land where I can shoot. While structured public ranges allow me to get some shooting time in, there are too many idiots and gangster wanabes for my taste.

I'm already retired.. guess I'll just stay here..

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Nationality: Confederate

Well, I'm born and raised in Wyoming and I spent my entire career here, first in the northern part of the state and then the southern. My kids all live in Wyoming, my grandkids all live in Wyoming, the hunting and fishing is great (though not as good as in the "old days"), and the gunlaws and taxes are good. Reckon I'll stay right where I am.

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Everybody could shoot

I left California with the high real estate prices, high taxes, and loony gun laws and went to Minden, Nevada, just South of Carson City. Relatively low real estate prices, reasonable property taxes, no State income tax, no loony gun laws, no loony other types of laws, and although I am in a rural area, I am not too far from stores and medical facilities in Carson City. I am not tempted by the gambling, so no money goes there. I'm happy here.

I spent a total of 34 years with the Coast Guard (20 in uniform 14 civilian) about 25 of that in Washington DC. When I finally retired I moved back to Washington state, the wet side for those of you who know what that means.

For you I would not recommend it. The climate is totally different from NC. (been there several times) Since you like it there, stay there. You probably won't be happy anywhere else. Just move somewhere in the state to your liking. The mountains are really nice. Ashville is especially nice. As you said, the coast is just too hot and humid.

I think you answered your own question!

All kidding aside, when I read the title for your thread, the first thing that came to mind was "somewhere in western North Carolina". I love the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the towns over in that part of your state: Little Switzerland, Maggie Valley, Marion...all beautiful places.

Between the taxes, crime, and gun laws here in the Peoples' Republic of Maryland, I would move in a heartbeat if I could. And North Carolina is near the top of my list of places I'd love to live...

A friend and co-worker of mine retired several years ago after a 32 year career with the Baltimore City Fire Department. He'd had enough of Baltimore, and Maryland, and the taxes and social problems and crime...so he chucked it all.

He bought six acres of land on a mountain near Fayetteville, West Virginia, cleared a little more than an acre of it, and built a beautiful home. If you look at his place on Google Maps, there is nothing but woods, for several miles, to his north, east, and south, and to his west there are just a few homes on the road leading to his place.

When he and his girlfriend sit on their deck in the morning and enjoy their coffee, they hear nothing except the sounds of nature. He's adapted well to the different lifestyle of that area, and he loves it. Every time I visit him, I understand why...

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I inherited 123 acres of land that my Grandparents owned and lived on. The house has been abandoned since 1968 when Grandpa died and is pretty dilapidated. It wasn't much to start with. 3 rooms, no running water in it. It's always been my dream to build a nice house there and live on that land. Now I'm pushing 70, living on a military retirement pension and SS. Doesn't look like it's gonna happen.

I knew a fella that sold his business and has places on both ends of US 64 in NC.

Where after retirement. That's 10 years from now. Bought a condominium up the street from where my daughter/SIL and precious g.son live. Rent will pay it off in about 5 years. Nice city. Property tax is about 1/2 what I now pay on my other house. Other house will be what it is now, rental income. Sincerely. bruce.

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<><

Sweden had a great retirement plan, how ever "HAD" is the key word.

Closest cemetery would be my guess

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Jamie wants big boom

I'm long retired already, but the good wife is still working in Beantown so I am stuck here in Eastern MA 3-4 years after I had originally planned to get the heck out of here and move to someplace cheaper and with a little more elbow room. One year ago, we bought some land in central MA with the intent of building our retirement place on it. Things have not gone well so far. In fact, everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong.

Hopefully, our luck will change someday and it will all come together. I hope it happens before I kick the bucket.

My wife is originally from Florida. 30 some odd years ago I told her, live in Texas for a while and I will get us to Florida. Well, this year she said, "don't you think it's been AWHILE?" We moved to Pensacola this summer and we love it! I do love Texas and I suppose it will always be known as home but this part of the country is beautiful, nice weather, friendly people, no state tax and living expenses are comparable to Texas, beautiful beaches, fresh seafood! I did have to get used to the difference in signal lights here, I was used to red meaning stop......

We came to Texas in 1985. We bought a newer home in 2013. We have 2 daughters here and 1 granddaughter that's 1 year away from graduating from high school. We have vacationed in many states and we've talked about moving to something new and different. I believe we'll stay right here in Texas. Time will tell.

Spent 20+ years in Carson - good gun range there; good sporting clays in Gardnerville, Carson and Walker River.

Well we currently have 2 places ....... a home in the "burbs of the Burgh" (1.4 acres) and a family "cabin"(really a small house) and 10 acres in the Laurel Highlands of SW Pa.(90 minute drive/ IMO just a tad to far for day trips.)

Frankly at 60+ keeping up two places is a PITB.... while we live in a great Burb...... with some of the best schools in the state....... taxes are high. Once the youngest graduates in 2018 not a lot of reason to stay here..........

Looking to consolidate.... working on acquiring just over an acre of ground on a 500 acre lake about 10 miles from the cabin.......... build a retirement home on the lakefront lot....... keep 8 acres of the "cabin property" w/ stream at the base of the Eastern Continental divide.......maybe build a simple "cabin" for overnights and store a ATV or two..

10 miles/15 minutes from the county seat ..... and only an hour from the Burgh.

Travel.......... and maybe a few off season weeks at Nags Head OBX

We retired to Arizona 14 years ago. It is a lousy State to live in, nothing good to say about it.....better off going someplace else...........

I spent the first 26 years of life in NJ, the last 38 in Florida. I thank God every day I'm not in NJ. At 64, I'm about 40 years away from retirement. I could die anywhere between Florida and Arizona as long as there isn't 50 miles south to go to run out of U.S. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Where to retire is a decision that requires a great deal of research if you even consider moving. I researched a great deal before retiring. A good book to start your search for answers is John Howells "Where to Retire". A Google search of 'John Howells where to retire' provides you with an opportunity to preview the book online. This book tends to raise many questions you haven't even considered yet. There has been some great advice given on this thread so far but the subject is broader than is often expected. Your interests, health, finances, and life partner will have a large influence on the options to be considered. I worked in a large PD's employee assistance program during the autumn years of my career where I did a lot of retirement counseling. Howells book was always a recommended read. My wife and I choose to retire to Escazu, Costa Rica for ten years; then, 3 years in Buckeye, Arizona; and now, just down the road from MCAS Cherry Point and 3 houses away from the grandchildren.

My family has been in Wyoming since before the turn of the last century

I don't understand uprooting and going somewhere to try and establish a new life or lifestyle when I don't owe a cent to anyone and all of my friends are right here.

I've been a lot of places in the US, but haven't seen anyplace I liked better than right where I am.

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Eccentric old coot

JUST YOU? Want to be near family? Frequent visitors, I hate a long drive back & forth to the airport. Mind driving 30+ minutes each way for a supermarket? Poor cell phone service? What kind of health will you be in? Need to be close to good medical & be able to take advantage of the great hunting? Who's gonna go first? It's a BIG wait-N-see for me. As usual, what I want & what the Boss wants are worlds apart.

I'd love to get out of here,but my retirement plans kind of blew up.If the lottery comes through-I haven't really traveled since I was a kid

Don't own a stick house, live full time in a 39' 5th wheel pulled by a F-450. We live wherever we want to. Legal residents of South Dakota, vote by mail, no state taxes, Medicare and VA healthcare, in the last year we've been in WA, NV, NM, TX, OK, and AZ .
If we DO WANT TO STAY somewhere for awhile we take on part time caretaker jobs or workcamp. weather sucks?? we move LOL