Thanks everyone.

I think Tryon, Weaverwille, and Brevard will be too small. We have to see - alot depends on the feel of the place and just how close to a larger place.

Right now in our town we can walk to town, go to the bookstore, amble down to a restaurant, get a coffee afterward at Starbucks, then stroll to the waterfront to see what concert is going on in the park on the water. Walk back to our house and stop in some art galleries along the way. There's lots there and lots going on, but it's only 20K people.

We also have to be very close to a good hospital, which makes me think being IN Asheville might be our only choice. Our town has a hospital - it's very small, but it's only 10 min from our house. Complicated cases would go to a town 30 min away or to Boston - 45 min away.

My huband has a heart condition, and also asthma, and I've had a few times where I've had to race to the hospital in the middle of the night to bring him. I'll tell you - 8 miles feels like 800 in those situations.

You sound very much like you should retire where you are--honest injun. Or perhaps look in charleston, which interestingly, I have not seen on your "to do" list.
Have you quit on Hendersonville? Brevard really is a wonderful little town that has a world class music camp in the summer and a healthy artist "colony". And the Pisgah Forest right next door for all kinds of natural wonders of hiking and fishing. Now I'm thinkin' why didn't WE buy a place there when it was affordable!!!
Asheville does indeed have good medical coverage--I believe in conjunction with Chapel Hill.
I haven't been in Asheville for a good while but to duplicate anything like what you are relating from your hometown I think you would need to be very near the downtown area. Someone more knowledgeable can check that statement.

We would retire where we are if it were not for the snow, cold and ice for @6 months of the year and the sky-high real estate prices... we have a VERY tiny little "half-house" (literally a house cut in half) that is barely over 1,100 sq ft and is valued at 375K+. We saw newer homes in Chapel Hill that were over 2K sq. ft and in the low 300Ks.

Hendersonville certainly is still on the list, as are all the others I mentioned - can't tell 'til you see 'em!

We are not trying to duplicate what we have here, just want a community with lots going on, a great downtown (as opposed to malls and strip malls) a hospital in town or VERY nearby.

there are actually 2 hospitals in/near Hendersonville - Pardee and Park Ridge. The latter is run by 7th Day Adventists and is pretty small. I think for more complicated issues most probably go to Mission St. Joseph's in Asheville but in an emergency those hospitals would be close and could certainly stabilize him and transport to Mission if needed.
Waynesville also has a very nice hospital - Haywood Regional with an excellent Wellness facility featuring indoor walking track and pool. For loads of restaurant recommendations check out chowhound.com
I think Hendersonville has a very nice downtown and has lots of activities and even some good restaurants though the vibe is more geared towards seniors. Asheville is totally different. Waynesville has a nice little downtown with lots of galleries and shops and a growing area in some reclaimed shops/warehouses near the train tracks but a lot seems to shut down in the winter.

Thanks leahinsc - great info!

Someone asked me about Charleston. (I believe they meant SC?) We've been there, and loved it, as well as Savannah, but both too big for us, too hot/humid and too expensive.

We will check out sometime next year - the NC coast. Never been, and hear it's beautiful.

If not for retirement, would just be a nice trip. We've read much about Edenton, and New Bern, and I would like to check out Wilmington, but the crime there seems really, really high (859 vs 327 for US avg).

We're really looking forward to our trip to Asheville first, though. Thanks for the chowhound recommendation!

Humidity can be a concern--anywhere in NC. As for "too big". Charleston definitely has the "feel" of smallness--and some lovely places to live across the river in MT. Pleasant. I would venture to say that the Chapel Hill Triad area is MUCH larger and certainly more spread out. No, the Battery is not where you will find a house!!
You might do well to explore it more carefully because it has a LOT of what you say you like in your home town--and more. OR--go up the coast a bit and look at Georgetown, or down and look at Beaufort. The sea breeze does a lot for humidity.

When I retire I would love to be in Charleston or Georgetown. We got married in that area. I'd like to be back long before retirement years of course.

I think you have some great towns to look at and choose from Wanderer. I'm not sure if you attend a church or not. But, in some of these towns you are looking at that is how ppl socialize most often. So you may want to attend a service or two in those areas. Just to see how you feel about the community.

Boone is one town you could walk to get coffee. Also Blowing Rock and of course Asheville. BUT the thing is you would have to have purchased close to town.

I know how you feel wanting to be near a hospital. I grew up in a rural area of NC where the closest one was 20 miles away. I knew too many ppl growing up that didn't make it b/c the ambulance couldn't find them (rural roads mind you.)

I now live where I am walking distance to three hospitals and I really don't ever want to be that far from one again. I also have to have a grocery store that is open late night. Restaurants that deliver. On and on.

We leave tomorrow for Asheville-4th time in 2 years. It has to be one of my fave no-city like cities.The Art Deco architecture is fabulous. Great art and gallery scene, and the food. Some of my faves-Salsa's, Tupelo Honey, Picnics (come on in Dolly)Fig and Market-a little more expensive but worth it, Early Girl but mostly for brekkie, and the Asheville Brew and Movie House-where else can you see a flick for 2 bucks. For the ultimate experience-Gabrielles. It has been mentioned here in a fave place to eat in US, won numerous awards and excellent, innovative cuisine and killa wine list. Aint cheap, but hey you cant take it with you.Cafe on the Square is good for people watching and drinks and Doc Cheys for Oriental. Love the Lobster House (? Market, Trap Lobster something)just for the lobster mac and cheese.We always stay at the Grove, club floor. It is pricey, but we figure with the amenities it offers, we come out even. No matter what your travel parameters are, Asheville can definitely satisfy!

There's humidity, and then there's Charleston humidity. Two words for you: Africa hot.

I have no idea what one poster means by writing <Hendersonville is basically the Asheville airport>

The airport is in Fletcher and it is about 20 minutes from Hendersonville. Hendersonville has a beautifully restored Main street it is in convenient e proximity to Asheville, Greenville, Blue Ridge Parkway. Once you venture beyond main street, and urge you to do that, you see there is no zoning, lots of run down structures and plenty of trailers, little malls everywhere. Traffic is horrible, billboards overwhelmed any views and development of new subdivisions is going on around every corner. Soon there will be no trees left in Henderson County. If you sensitive to soking you may not like it there. Many Drivers are horrible, not only drive while talking on a phone but they never use signal lights. Climate is nice but hrricanes have a big effect on a weather in the area.

Mama -
Thanks for the info. What did you mean "sensitive to soking?" And hurricanes in Hendersonville?

In response to the hurricane comment, the NC mountains often get the remnants of east coast hurricanes. This can bring heavy rain and flooding to the area.

My remark about Hendersonville and the airport was only to say that it is near a pretty well served airport. Not that it is a runway or anything else.
But reading on in your post, you "dis" Hendersonville a lot more than that! What is "soking"--can't figure that out.
What Betsy said about hurricanes--just BIG rains sometimes. Maybe with some wind.

I wouldnt consider Brevard a small town, it really is very charming and has quite a lot to offer. My parents retired from Chicago to Brevard for many of the same reasons you have and are in love with Brevard. They live in a community called Connesstee Falls which is a bit outside of Brevard but still carries the postal address. We love to visit as there is much to do in the area for all ages from 2 to 85.
If you dont have lunch at The Grove Park Inn at least take a walk through the hotel as it is a stunner, especially the beautiful fire place. You will really enjoy Asheville, it is a beautiful town.

It should be SMOKING

Come on Gretchen. Give me a break. You are assuming. I simply did not know what you had in mind while stating about Hendersonville as Asheville airport. That was it.

I don't think I "dis" Hendersonville, I just wrote how I receive Hendersonville. That's it

BTW, wanderer, many section of Hendersonville and Henderson County get flooded often. This is a big problem and before you decide to buy a house or condo you should do your research.

Friends of ours live in Hendersonville and love it but because of his health they have to move. They will be selling their condo soon.
Good luck with finding your ideal spot. They are there you just need to look carefully.

Brevard is really lovely. It is a small town but very lively. I would chose Brevard over Hendersonville and that's my personal preference

Didn't mean to offend. I honestly couldn't figure out the word as someone else also mentioned. I knew it had to be a typo, but there was absolutely no context for "smoking" to be inferred in your post!

What does that mean about a smoking problem in Hendersonville?

It is hard to avoid smokers and many majority have no-smoking sections separated from smoking only by invisible partitions.

Oh what a difference a single omitted letter makes. Add me to those who really didn't get the smoking reference. I actually thought maybe you mean "soaking" due to your reference to hurricanes and my summers at Flat Rock were filled with a lot of rain.

I considered "soaking" also because of the hurricane reference!
Now, what is a "majority" that has no smoking sections. Sorry.