We are 2 midwesterners in our mid 50's. We are thinking of retiring soon and we are looking for that perfect spot. Requirements are:
1 - weather - never above 80 degrees - we are used to seasonal climate but we are definitely tired of the extreme heat and humidity
2 - small town - with fairly easy access to larger cities on occasion
3 - my husband likes to play golf, I like to garden & shop
4 - We would like to buy - not rent and I would say that price range is in the upper catagory
5 - I'm sure this isn't the correct forum to place such a message but this seems to be the most informed board - if you can direct me on to a more appropriate web site please help
Thank you

This strikes me as fairly paradoxical. Few parts of the nation are "never" above 80 degrees. Those places are NOT known for the seasonal opportunities to play golf, nor garden - - except for having SHORT seasons for both.

Having said that, you can do either in just about every county in every state of the union.

Best wishes,

Rex

San francisco Bay area. Cool temperatures, warm summers, low humidity, mild cool winters

LOL! Here in the southern part of the SF Bay area, the temp has been in the high 80s --> low 90's F for the past several days. Not DRY heat either because remnants of the Texas hurricane circled through here. Headlines of the local paper have highlighted the heatwave. Better go somewhere else. Scotland maybe? They seem to golf there and it's pretty far north, so should be cool, weather-wise.

Would you consider Ireland...seems just about right..when it gets too cold travel.

The East Neuk of Fife seems spot on to me

If you could move to Canada, Vancouver Island (particularly Victoria and environs) might be perfect.

Hello Midwesterners, You may already be in your "perfect spot". You simply have to adapt. Begin activities very early, rest during the heat of the day, do late evening things like dinner and theater. Is your home air-conditioned? Actually there is probably no "perfect spot". People with enough money move about with the seasons. Northern Wisconsin can be a kind of paradise as it offers many activities for each season. Let us know what you decide.

Cygnet Tasmania

Hi Jan,
My parents live in Northern San Diego.
They retired 3 years ago (fron the S.F. bay area), and love it!
Golf all the time at one of 20 local courses. San Diego has something going on when they want, and just beautiful weather when they stay home.
They would sell you on N. San Diego in a minute. Love it, and have no intention of ever leaving.
Try looking at the area. I can't tell you how nice it is to live there. They're very happy and are still in their 50-60 age range too.
Oceanside and Carlsbad. Check it out.
Melissa

Maybe San Jose, Costa Rica--sometimes called the city of eternal spring. It is humid there, but it is noted for high temperatures consistently in the upper 60s and 70s year round. 80s are considered a heat wave there.

I second Vancouver Island.

Hi Jan,

I'll throw a pitch for the other side of the country from the others - my parents retired to a small town in New Hampshire specifically because my mom doesn't like the heat. It does get in the 80s in the summer but it is usually not very humid, and it cools down at night so that they don't even have an airconditioner.

They live between a lake and a golf course with 5 acres of land, my mom has a lovely, big garden, and they are about 1 hour from Manchester, NH and 2 1/2 hours from Boston.

NH has no state income tax and property taxes are reasonable. They are not rich but live comfortably and have a nice sized house.

So - consider New England! NH, Maine, Vermont, MA are all lovely.

Good luck!
Karen

Thanks to all for such helpful replies. You have given me some great ideas. We are going to do a little research and try to visit a few of the spots mentioned. If we don't actually settle on a spot we will sure have great 'cool' fun trying. Thanks j

Ireland is one of the few places where the temp rarely passes 70.Average summer temp is 60F and winter is 40 with perhaps one day`s snow some years.San Francisco for comparison is 63 in summer and 50 in winter.It rains for 6% of the time in the east side of Ireland and 9% in the west.Little fog,no earthquakes.Thousands of Americans live there.Houses expensive but not bad in small towns.The dollar does not go far any more in the shops though.Once you have bought a house the yearly tax is only about $200.Lots of cheap flights to Spain etc in the winter if you want some extra heat.The country has hundreds of golf courses costing $20-300 dollars to play.I met a couple who lived in County Clare who has retired from California to see Europe and play golf.Private health insurance (BUPA or VHI) available for a few hundred dollars a year but one must join before age 65.Lots of flights to America-20% of the population of Ireland visit the U.S.in a year,often for short breaks as many of them have relatives or friends there.

My three choices have all been mentioned:

1) Bay Area, Northern California - since I live here, this is my favorite place in the whole world, even tho we have had a bit of unusual hot weather lately

2) Vancouver Island or somewhere thereabouts in British Columbia

3) Ireland, and my choice would probably be Dun Loaghaire (Dun "Leary&quot very near Dublin

What a happy position to be in - seeking a place to retire in! Happy hunting!

I honestly cannot imagine anyone moving from the US to Ireland for the weather...much less the poverty and political upheaval, but if the heat is THAT bad and you haven't "adapted" after all these years maybe you should consider it!

Let me suggest Bellingham, Washington. In the past year it has been rated one of the best places in the U.S. to live by Money, Forbes, Outdoor and AARP magazine. Approximately 2 hours from downtown Seattle and 1 hour from downtown Vancouver. Right on the ocean and about a one hour drive to skiing on Mt. Baker. Lots of golf courses. A small town but growing quickly because of the natural beauty and evidently hard to resist by people traveling through. Also located here is Western Washington University. Some winters there is no snow or even frost but there can be snow at times. The only thing you have to learn to live with is a fair amount of rain but that fluctuates also. The price of homes has been rising fairly quickly with the population increase but we are still a small town with some really lovely homes.

Come to Texas...you haven't experienced heat until you do!

94 at 9:30 last night!

US

Uncle Sam! People have been asking about you since you disappeared.