Need retirement location in US - pls see criteria
May 5th, 2013, 08:29 AM
#21
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Thanks so much for all the replies. I had initially thought of San Diego, but thought I couldn't afford it. I don't want more than one residence, there is just me, and I want a large travel budget in retirement as I have to factor in visiting my 2 almost-grown daughters who will live elsewhere as well as "fun" travel.
I do have to crow about something though - I was accepted for long-term care insurance, which I didn't think was going to be an option for me as I have several chronic health issues. So, in addition to looking at a future retirement HOME cost, I also need to factor in NURSING home care cost, as unfortunately that becomes a real probability at some point.
Jubilda, I will definitely get in touch with you, but we are leaving for France at the end of the week and will be gone till Memorial Day.
I did not mention that I am a progressive Democrat and the thought of Arizona or Texas politics makes me nervous.
I do have to crow about something though - I was accepted for long-term care insurance, which I didn't think was going to be an option for me as I have several chronic health issues. So, in addition to looking at a future retirement HOME cost, I also need to factor in NURSING home care cost, as unfortunately that becomes a real probability at some point.
Jubilda, I will definitely get in touch with you, but we are leaving for France at the end of the week and will be gone till Memorial Day.
I did not mention that I am a progressive Democrat and the thought of Arizona or Texas politics makes me nervous.
May 5th, 2013, 11:07 AM
#23
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I live in Minnesota - a pretty blue state. We have found a huge contigent of ex-pat-Minnesotans in Arizona. Although you may not run the state, I think you will find like-minded citizens and your politics will be secure.
May 5th, 2013, 11:11 AM
#24
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BTW: I don't think you should rule out anywhere because of your budget. Its not as if there are no homes for sale in San Diego for under $250,000, its just that you may have to compromise on a few things. With a simple web search on one real estate site, I found 13 pages of single-family homes for sale in the San Diego area within your range. Are they mansions, probably not, but there are homes you could call your own.
May 5th, 2013, 05:20 PM
#25
It might not quite fit your weather requirements but the Pacific Northwest has a lot going for it. Mild to moderate climate year-round. I'm in Seattle, but Portland is similar. Even in the city you can still buy a small older condo in a decent neighborhood at that price. Or a small home if you are willing to live a little further outside the center. It's also right up your alley politically/philosophically.
May 5th, 2013, 06:27 PM
#26
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Suze, I have never been to the Pacific NW, it's supposed to be beautiful, but I have heard it rains a LOT. That definitely wouldn't be conducive to my arthritis, I would like to viist that area, but want to know how I would fare in that climate. Thanks!
May 5th, 2013, 10:32 PM
#27
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I can only tell you from my own experience.
My Mother had arthritis. I moved her up to Seattle to live with me. Her arthritis got so bad in that beautiful rainy city that her fingers swelled to three times and she could not open bottles. Her knees swelled up so she could not even sit comfortably.
After watching her being in such agony for a year, I finally moved her down to the Los Angeles area and she did much better. Her fingers and knees became normal size and she became pretty much functional as any normal person. For about the last twenty years of her life, we moved her to Silicon Valley to be close to my sister. She did fine also in the Bay Area weather.
I would suggest that you visit each area that interests you, if you haven't done so already, and see how functional your joints will be in each area.
Good luck! It's a difficult choice but you do have any number of good choices!
My Mother had arthritis. I moved her up to Seattle to live with me. Her arthritis got so bad in that beautiful rainy city that her fingers swelled to three times and she could not open bottles. Her knees swelled up so she could not even sit comfortably.
After watching her being in such agony for a year, I finally moved her down to the Los Angeles area and she did much better. Her fingers and knees became normal size and she became pretty much functional as any normal person. For about the last twenty years of her life, we moved her to Silicon Valley to be close to my sister. She did fine also in the Bay Area weather.
I would suggest that you visit each area that interests you, if you haven't done so already, and see how functional your joints will be in each area.
Good luck! It's a difficult choice but you do have any number of good choices!
May 6th, 2013, 06:05 AM
#29
The blue state in between Texas and Arizona is New Mexico.
Check out Las Cruces.
Oregon and Washington do have dry sides east of the Cascades.
I retired 8 years ago and moved south of Bend.
I'm planning on becoming a snowbird for a couple of months next winter. I enjoyed Yuma AZ and Silver City NM last February.
Check out Las Cruces.
Oregon and Washington do have dry sides east of the Cascades.
I retired 8 years ago and moved south of Bend.
I'm planning on becoming a snowbird for a couple of months next winter. I enjoyed Yuma AZ and Silver City NM last February.
May 6th, 2013, 08:08 AM
#30
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I think the usual suspects have been hit on. San Diego would be great, but so would parts of LA. I would look at Austin, too, and maybe Dallas or San Antonio.
I'm going to say it: the notion of forgoing Texas (or Arizona), which fits a lot of your criteria and is incredibly affordable simply because you don't like their voting record is stupid. I just don't see how it could possibly impact your day-to-day life to such a degree that it should really enter into the equation. Maybe if everything else were truly equal, but otherwise? I don't see it. You will find friends in any community of any reasonable size pretty much anywhere.
I'm going to say it: the notion of forgoing Texas (or Arizona), which fits a lot of your criteria and is incredibly affordable simply because you don't like their voting record is stupid. I just don't see how it could possibly impact your day-to-day life to such a degree that it should really enter into the equation. Maybe if everything else were truly equal, but otherwise? I don't see it. You will find friends in any community of any reasonable size pretty much anywhere.
May 6th, 2013, 08:12 AM
#31
Well that's not really true (look at annual rainfall charts, lots of places get more rain than we do) but there IS the dampness and gray in the winter... so specifically because of arthritis maybe isn't a good suggestion afterall.
May 6th, 2013, 09:15 AM
#33
Pima County where Tucson is located has voted Democratic the last three Presidential elections. Right wingers refer to the local paper, The AZ Daily Star, as the Red Star. There has a been movement for Southern AZ to secede from the rest of the state, be named Baja AZ. It certainly isn't like NYC or Chicago where I feel totally comfortable but one has to make compromises. The University of Arizona is a nice, more liberal, antidote to all the right wing stuff up in Maricopa CO/Phoenix.
May 6th, 2013, 10:38 AM
#35
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FWIW, only 52.7% of San Diego County voters voted for Obama in the most recent election. If one were to put a political litmus test on a locale, then Southern California would not be a logical place to live.
May 6th, 2013, 11:21 AM
#36
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et: It didn't happen overnight, unless you consider 20 years to be "overnight."
BTW, if trends continue and TX loses its redistricting court battles, it'll be Democratic again in the not-too-distant future. (This just proves you can start a political argument in nearly every thread.)
BTW, if trends continue and TX loses its redistricting court battles, it'll be Democratic again in the not-too-distant future. (This just proves you can start a political argument in nearly every thread.)
May 6th, 2013, 03:56 PM
#38
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Yes, I re-read my post Barbara, I not sure why I said equivalent! We have many Nordstroms (I love the ALL!).
At any rate LBloom, someone mentioned San Bernardino area. I personally think that area is the pits. The housing market is low for a reason. There is a high crime/gang involvment in some of the communities, the smog is unbearable parts of the year, it's more run-down in many areas and bland. You'd have to visit it to know what I mean.
San Diego has a lot of 1 or 2 bed condos on the market now (many remodeled or new) for well under $300,000. You'd have to get into the market quickly as the prices are low but steadily climbing back up.
I have a 2bed/2ba (nicely remodeled) I'd happily sell for $300,000 near a major medical hospital about 15 minutes from the beach!
At any rate LBloom, someone mentioned San Bernardino area. I personally think that area is the pits. The housing market is low for a reason. There is a high crime/gang involvment in some of the communities, the smog is unbearable parts of the year, it's more run-down in many areas and bland. You'd have to visit it to know what I mean.
San Diego has a lot of 1 or 2 bed condos on the market now (many remodeled or new) for well under $300,000. You'd have to get into the market quickly as the prices are low but steadily climbing back up.
I have a 2bed/2ba (nicely remodeled) I'd happily sell for $300,000 near a major medical hospital about 15 minutes from the beach!
May 6th, 2013, 07:44 PM
#39
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Love the way nanabee slams all of San Bernardino County and then in the next breathe promotes her own San Diego area.
San Diego has fleas. That's why one of its long avenues is known as the Avenida de Las Pulgas.
This is what happens when one lists only negatives for any city/area.
LBloom, we're getting a bit off-course here, especially with the political stuff. Frankly, I think it would be better if you were to prioritize what you want from the area that you want to move to - does politics mean more to you than cultural events? Does inexpensive housing trump access to Nordstrom's?
San Diego has fleas. That's why one of its long avenues is known as the Avenida de Las Pulgas.
This is what happens when one lists only negatives for any city/area.
LBloom, we're getting a bit off-course here, especially with the political stuff. Frankly, I think it would be better if you were to prioritize what you want from the area that you want to move to - does politics mean more to you than cultural events? Does inexpensive housing trump access to Nordstrom's?
May 6th, 2013, 08:10 PM
#40
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A very real consideration are state and real estate taxes.
San Diego has some of the highest real estate taxes.
CA State, being broke from "giving" money away to anybody except those that work for a living, is broke and will tax every penny of income you have regardless of where you earn it.
San Diego has some of the highest real estate taxes.
CA State, being broke from "giving" money away to anybody except those that work for a living, is broke and will tax every penny of income you have regardless of where you earn it.
