ydoc

Hi all

We are planning a two week + vacation for the last week in July and the first week in August. We have been trying for sometime to figure out where we would ultimately like to retire. It seems we have narrowed our options down to the southwest or the northwest. (I would love to visit the SW but I don't think my husband wants to live by the ocean... cost, hurricanes, humidity.

Can anyone give me specifics on Idaho versus Montana. What cities are preferred, is there a certain area where more "baby boomers" seem to be retiring to.

Our children will be grown by time we relocate and my concerns are how to make a new home and new friends without children to bridge meeting people.

Are there new communities popping up in these states?

We love all that the outdoors has to offer. But would not want to live in a remote area but if there are new planned communities popping up, I would assume they would be in growing areas.

Thank you for any feedback1!

Michael

Do you like the snow and cold? If not, stick to the NW coast (Portland, Seattle). It might be chilly but it probably will not be as cold as Idaho and Montana.

sportychick

People seem to really like Bend, OR for a beautiful place to retire -- and it's growing.

ydoc

We had originally thought we would enjoy this area of the U.S. in the summer and in the winter we would hopefully be able to afford a condo/etc. in a warmer part of the U.S.

beachbum

People seem to really like Bend, OR for a beautiful place to retire -- and it's growing.

No kidding... And all those people moving into Bend have driven its housing market to being one of the most over-priced in the country. If you can afford a house, it would be a great place to retire, though. If not, have a look at Boise.

The choice here in the PNW is either mild temps with lots of rain, or more seasonally extreme temps and lower precipitation. The Cascade Range is the dividing line.

...my concerns are how to make a new home and new friends without children to bridge meeting people.

You asked for feedback, so here's mine. Why would you want to move away from a home and relationships that you've worked years to build?

Ag3046

Living in the SW does not mean next to the ocean to me (cost, hurricanes, humidity). I think of Arizona, New Mexico as SW. SW California coast does not get hurricanes and humidity is rarely a problem. The climate is quite wonderful, in fact. It's just the cost.
Bend is very expensive for what you get, and I always feel very isolated there. Long way to an airport. There was a recent article in Money magazine about retirement locations. St. George Utah is quite popular, and a nice climate compromise.

ydoc

Thanks for the suggestions

To Beachbum: We have many wonderful friends but here in the midwest in this particular area, many end up either in Florida... Naples most often, California or Arizona.... Lots of snow birds here now and then they retire to that destination.

We would probably be the minority (within our friends) still living here in the next ten years.

christy1

The southwest does not have hurricanes or humidity. In fact, most of the southwest is not on an ocean.

Rese

I live in Boise. (love it btw) But what is growing with many new communities is Eagle, Idaho. You may have to check it out. Your near all outdoor activity, rivers, mountains, etc.

Rese

http://www.cityofeagle.com/ Thought this might help a bit.

ydoc

Thanks for the Eagle information, I will look at it.

1JAR

We recently went thru a retirement/relocation for my Dad who had lived in the PNW specifically Olympic Penninsula all his life to Cody WY.
Here are some things we considered: healthcare---clinics and hospitals very nearby, airport--- family and Dad to get in/out easily with reasonable fares, weather ---my Dad wanted sunshine after a lifetime of cloudy/rainy Seattle area weather, hobbies--- my Dad loves to watch wildlife and loves having outdoor space. (He has 360 acres where the deer and antelope roam amoung other wild critters every day out his window and on the property.)
Check on state income/sales tax. FYI Washingtom does not have a state income tax but the resale tax on selling a home is alot in PNW Sequim.
Check on teh towns senior servcies like transportation..

Alot of people are moving to Sequim Washington (the "banana belt" of sunshine on the Pacific Coast and it is growing.)

Alot of people are moving to Cody Wyoming (another area with growth close to the Yelowstone park)..for those that like the outdoors,sunshines almost everyday but really hot in the summer 90s and 100s, really cold in the winter 0-20s alot. Billings weather would be similiar and frankly no offense to Billings but not a very cute town..

Also look for a college town..seem to have more things to do...

ydoc

Thanks 1jar

I have been to Cody,WY and thought it was cute but very touristy. Maybe I was there at the wrong time. We were there at a dude ranch up the road towards Yellowstone in July. I'm glad your dad loves his ranch. Is he able to make friends on such a large parcel of land?

It's funny... Originally back a few years ago when my husband and I began to talk about retirement/relocating, we invisioned owning a couple hundred acre ranch somewhere with horses, etc. But now, I don't see how we would make as many friends without some sort of a planned community to live in.

Also, I will look into Sequim, WA, it's nice to be able to do so much research on the internet.

boom_boom

Another area to consider is California's high desert or the Reno/Carson City area of NV. In CA, if you go the Eastern Sierra you have lots of sunshine year around, snow in the mountains and reasonable access to Los Angeles area. Neveda is booming, so housing prices are probably high. I lived near Billings, MT for several year and it does get cold. Not as much snow as say Missoula, but more cold and wind. The Yellowstone River Valley between Billings and Livingston is a more scenic area than the immediate Billings area. Also, consider Spokane, WA. Good Hunting.

EnricoIV

Wherever you decide upon, forming a new circle of friends will depend on the effort you put into it. Join a club or volunteer. Or check out a group like MeetIn.org (www.meetin.org) which has groups in many cities, with all kinds of events scheduled. Their intent is NOT as a dating service. And with the number and type of events, you'd be sure to find something that interests you.

Some of the smaller cities in Oregon's Willamette Valley might be attractive to you. Places like Corvallis, Eugene, McMinnville. I see that both Salem and Eugene have MeetIn groups.

ydoc

What great suggestions, I really thank everyone for the feedback as it's so much easier to get a mental picture of a place when someone has actually lived there.

1JAR

ydoc,
Glad to be of some help..surprisingly my Dad has made more friends (and I do mean friendly friends) since his move onto 360 acres...he previously lived in a very, very nice retirement community in Port Ludlow, WA.
The people in teh community were always fighting about choping down trees, views and property taxes...
I always thought (and for the most part still do) PNW people were friendly...but the Wyoming people really are amazing.

For some 360 acres might not be the best option..for my Dad it is a lifelong dream come true.
I use his experience as a highlight in my speeches to healthcare workers...never assume you (healthcare worker) know what is best for someone ..always ask and listen carefully.

My Dad loves his ATV..and his Dog..I am happy he is happy in his final years... hope teh best for you too!

azzure

If politics matter at all to you, you should know that Idaho and Montana are "red states" while Washington and Oregon are "blue". Of course, east of the mountains both Washington and Oregon tend to be Republican strongholds as well. And there are pockets of "blue", particularly where wealthy people/film industry folk live, in Idaho and Montana.

5alive

My inlaws have done a variety of things since their retirement. One thought is that while you might be in great health now, consider that you might want to be somewhat near an urban area should you need specialists, a full hospital, etc. in the future.

ydoc

Thanks for all the suggestions!

EnricoIV, thanks for the Corvallis suggestion. Our son plays football and is obsessed with it. Seeing where the beavers play (I think they are the Beavers) might be interesting to him. I guess my husband has been out there on business before and says it is very nice.

The decision where to retire is a difficult one but fun at the same time to try and narrow the field down. A cousin of mine wants us to visit Tennessee. There's so much to see everywhere!