Looking for paradise to retire

[IAM Rand]

Okay, so my wife and I are looking for the perfect place to retire. What are we looking for???? Paradise. I know, sniffing too much glue.

She wants to be close(r) to the beach with mild temps. Me, I want a, um, better political climate that is more pro 2A. No hurricanes or humidity.

I know, I am dreaming............right?

 

[yaktamer]

Plenty of places come to mind that meet one or more of the criteria. None I can think of that meet them all.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

When my wife and I decided to relocate to AZ some asked "Why not Florida?"

Easy answer...FL has humidity...AZ doesn't. FL has hurricanes...AZ doesn't (but does have the occasional dust storm and summer heat...but low humidity).

Lots of plus and minuses to any potential locations...political climate...tax policies...weather...lots to consider. It's actually not a bad problem to have.

 

[GypsmJim]

I used to travel to AZ on business. Dry heat, yeah right. 108 is still 108. Not for me.

 

[BAM-BAM]

If you stick with the "T" of Pa. [excludes Filthydelpha and the Burgh] you've got Alabama attitude without the summer humidity!



We're on a lake in the Laurel Highlands near the WVA/Maryland boarders where 80+ % are Trump republicans.

I hear the N Carolina mountains are a nice compromise.

 

[jeffrefrig]

My sister & BIL bought a place down South Car. by Charleston. A place called John's Island. Prices are high in their area; their place has gone up in value by around $80K, but it's a nice area. (I would've moved inland more, away from HOAs.) Too humid in the summer, but these past couple years with Mother Nature going through the "change" they've been fortunate.
I'm in the same boat as you as far as recently retired and wanting to move but I'm staying in PA, just out of Pittsburgh. The county (Butler) is in our sights because of the way things are. Just one story house is necessary. So. Car. is a heck of a nice place, but I don't like the heat South of the Mason-Dixon Line; plus critters too small to shoot that can kill you & wrap you in a web. And reptiles. Good luck looking for Paradise! (Look beside your dashboard light).
"If you stick with the "T" of Pa. [excludes Filthydelpha and the Burgh] you've got Alabama attitude without the summer humidity!"
Exactly why Butler Co. is a preferred destination for us! Plus, we still have people here.

 

[yaktamer]

I used to travel to AZ on business. Dry heat, yeah right. 108 is still 108. Not for me.

When I moved to Arizona 32 years ago I LOVED the heat --hotter the better. But the last few years I've had a tough time tolerating the summers. Not global warming -- just old(ish) age. Looking forward to retiring to a cooler climate, or at least snowbirding.

 

[Chuck24]

Beaches and hurricanes kinda go together

 

[yaktamer]

Only problem with the beach -- too much sand.

 

[twodog max]

Sand and salt water do nothing for me whatsoever. If the wife would go for it and she won't I would either be in Wyoming or the western part of South Dakota.

 

[Mercury]

For those of us not familiar with the region, where is the T of Pennsylvania?

 

[IAM Rand]

My mother spent her summers in Kennett Square. Drove through there on the way to Gettysburg. Nice but, not sure PA is for me. Let's just say that my um way of thinking is a little different from some of those in PA.

We have done Gulf Shores and Gulf Port and loved them to varying degrees but, those dang big windy watery twrilly things. Boo, hiss.

One of those areas that hit most of the marks is Kalifornia but, heck no. Get hives just thinking about the Left Coast.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Eddie Money had two tickets to there.

 

[wood714]

My area of Florida has been great since moving here in 2001.

I originally moved to St. Augustine, and lived on Anastasia Island, but after 4 years of dealing with tourist traffic I had a house built 20 miles south. Now I'm about in the middle of St. A and Daytona, but zero tourist traffic. I'm a couple miles inland, but it's only a 7 mile drive to the nearest beach access with parking, bathrooms, and showers.

This area hasn't had a direct hit from a hurricane since 1963, we have been spanked a few times thou.

As far as heat and humidity, around August get pretty warm due to the winds coming from the SW. Rest of the year the wind is off the ocean which cools things down a lot. I've said it before...I've yet to experience a hot and humid summer here like the ones I lived thru in Cincinnati.

 

[CH4]

Eddie Money had two tickets to there.

But did he ever arrive?

 

[Bald1]

You can have everything you want including Beach but it will be freshwater not the ocean or gulf. Find a lake in the south. Ozarks come to mind. Lots of lakes in Carolinas and Tennessee

 

[Golddollar]

If you stick with the "T" of Pa. [excludes Filthydelpha and the Burgh] you've got Alabama attitude without the summer humidity!



We're on a lake in the Laurel Highlands near the WVA/Maryland boarders where 80+ % are Trump republicans.

I live in PA on the other side of the Appalachian Mountains from Bam-Bam. They keep the lake effect snow away.

 

[Telecaster]

Spend a month or two at the beach, and get it out of her system. It gets boring really quick.

 

[Onomea]

If you can afford it, try out different areas of potential interest. Use AirBnBs or rentals.

The advice about beach living above is good. It's not for everyone, for sure. Visiting somewhere for vacation is very different from living there full time.

Good luck!

 

[Rustyt1953]

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DEy6EuZp9IY[/ame]

 

[biku324]

If you can tolerate a real change of scenery, the Philippines are just wonderful - beautiful, low-priced beaches, American stuff in most places, wonderful people. Medical care is US quality at 10% of the cost.

Typhoons suck.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

Do NOT come to Florida . Between homeowners insurance and the politics , the state has turned in to a wasteland . This is coming from someone born here , 65 years ago . I've seen the good and bad over the years ,and there's not much good these days .

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I thought I had found paradise about 50 years ago, and we invested our lives together in Colorado working for the future.

Now the future is here and I don't want to live here anymore.

I want to move back to America, but no one seems to know where that is these days. Please let me know if you hear any rumors.

 

[locolobo56]

Not many places that check all the boxes. Lifetime Texan here. Moved from N.E Tx to S.E Tx 49 yrs. ago for a job. Wouldn't go back north come he!! or high water. I Hate Cold!. That said. the past 2 winters have been the coldest of my time here. Down in the low teens. And the past 2 summers have been the hottest in the same time span Then there are the droughts in the same time period and the hurricanes. 4 have hit this area since I've been here. None have done much damage. Now that I've said all that. It could get worse on every side, or better. No one knows what the weather, politics or God has in store for us. It's all a **** shoot.

 

[Harrison]

Southern Arizona would be perfect for you.

 

[LVSteve]

When my wife and I decided to relocate to AZ some asked "Why not Florida?"

Easy answer...FL has humidity...AZ doesn't. FL has hurricanes...AZ doesn't (but does have the occasional dust storm and summer heat...but low humidity).

Lots of plus and minuses to any potential locations...political climate...tax policies...weather...lots to consider. It's actually not a bad problem to have.

AZ and NV are similar in that there is a huge difference in the climate between the north and south of the state. That said, my wife used to live in Mesa, and she says the heat in Vegas isn't even close.

The biggest thing to consider as you get older is ready access to medical care. Finding yourself in the "perfect" spot 100 miles from a proper hospital is pretty easy out West.

 

[SMSgt]

I thought I had found paradise about 50 years ago, and we invested our lives together in Colorado working for the future.

Now the future is here and I don't want to live here anymore.

I want to move back to America, but no one seems to know where that is these days. Please let me know if you hear any rumors.

House next door is for sale...

 

[Xfuzz]

EZ find...It is right next to the...

Fountain of Youth.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

have thought about that for a long time and to tell the truth, I kinda like right where I am. Every place has its' warts but I've got pretty much what I need and can travel for vacation to get some strange every now and then.
Places that are nice but would get old.
Key West
The Carribbean.
Texas( actually Texas, specifically the Clearlake area or along the gulf coast down to Corpus would be high on the list).
Dallas is absolutely out of the question-can't change my mind on this one/
Pensacola.
Alaska.
Hancock County in Mississippi(south of I-100or Mandeville/Madisonville Louisiana are probably as close as I would come to a move in.

 

[URIT]

I use to do retirement counseling, and would encourage my clients to read books by John Howells. He's written many more books since then. I read Where To Retire, Retire in Mexico, and Retire in Costa Rica.

My wife and I opted for Costa Rica. We spent ten years living there after three exploratory trip of 17 days, 17 days, and 4 months before agreeing to sell our home. We agreed to move down for at least two years before committing to staying until we neared 65 years old. We stayed.

You don't mention how deep your pockets are to support your move, so it's difficult to give good advice. Also, how tied are you to your current community and family or friends. We'd travel back to the USA for one month every six months.

We moved to the greater Phoenix AZ area when we moved back to the US, and later to coastal NC after my wife developed chronic dry eye syndrome.

You can go to a bookstore and read Howells' books; then, go on line and do additional research before actually spending $$$ to vacation/explore your options.

I miss being able to make a 2.5 hours drive from our rented house in Escazu to south beach Jaco to boogie board or south of Uvita to body surf in the Pacific. Or, drive 5.5 hours to the Caribbean and enjoy the golden sands of Punta Uva.

My daughter lives in Emerald Isle, NC and walks on the Atlantic beach most mornings. There will be climate issues no matter where you decide to live.

I left my guns behind when I moved to Costa Rica. You, a Gringo, do not want to spend 6+ months in prison waiting to go to trial on a weapons charge -- so no 2A.

You don't need to stay in one place all year long. Planning retirement options together with your wife can be an adventure - ENJOY!