wheatonFJR
...
Interesting idea there...
"Hire the re'tahr'd. We'll be dead before we can sue you anyway."
Sounds fine to me!
Maybe someone could wordsmith that just a little for me before we go to market.
Best Place To Retire Early
- Thread starter Pterodactyl
- Start date
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yanktar
Over the hill--and going faster!
I've been surprised at how much better NJ is as a place to live than I imagined. Been here 23 years now when we moved back North, and it has its ups and downs. Taxes, especially property taxes ARE high but our local schools are among the best, so it's good for my kids. There are parts of NJ that aren't talked about that are amazingly beautiful, and, if you know where to go, there are some nice riding roads not too far, both here and over the state line in NY.
Unfortunately, every governor but one since we've been here has been an idiot, including 3 Democrats and 2 Republicans. The only one who was any good was the Acting Governor who stepped in twice when the Governor quit (one to serve in Washington, the other to keep from serving in jail). That was before we had a Lt. Gov.
At least the MVC (formerly the DMV) finally works pretty well. Anybody who thought the North was faster than the South never stood in a line at the old DMV!
Of course, the best pizza, bagels, Italian and Diner food can be gotten here, just like NY. There's actually all kinds of good food in the area, but you can't get good Southern barbecue (damn!) or decent grits.
But our retirement's gonna be in the Bahamas. Small beach house there on a quiet beach on one of the Family Islands. A "Cold Snap" there is 60 degrees!
Unfortunately, every governor but one since we've been here has been an idiot, including 3 Democrats and 2 Republicans. The only one who was any good was the Acting Governor who stepped in twice when the Governor quit (one to serve in Washington, the other to keep from serving in jail). That was before we had a Lt. Gov.
At least the MVC (formerly the DMV) finally works pretty well. Anybody who thought the North was faster than the South never stood in a line at the old DMV!
Of course, the best pizza, bagels, Italian and Diner food can be gotten here, just like NY. There's actually all kinds of good food in the area, but you can't get good Southern barbecue (damn!) or decent grits.
But our retirement's gonna be in the Bahamas. Small beach house there on a quiet beach on one of the Family Islands. A "Cold Snap" there is 60 degrees!
HotRodZilla
GOD BLESS AMERICA
bigjohnsd
2021 BMW R1250GSA
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Abercrombie FJR" data-cid="1287815" data-time="1455042175"><p>
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Big Sky" data-cid="1287808"><p>Winter does keep the riff-raff out, though.</p></blockquote>
<br />
With a great economy and lots of available jobs, winter does not keep the riff-raff out of North Dakota any more. I dislike the increase in population and crime it has brought with it.</p></blockquote>
From the overloaded pickups with Texas and Oklahoma plates I see heading South down US 85 lately, I'd say change is in the air in North Dakota.
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Big Sky" data-cid="1287808"><p>Winter does keep the riff-raff out, though.</p></blockquote>
<br />
With a great economy and lots of available jobs, winter does not keep the riff-raff out of North Dakota any more. I dislike the increase in population and crime it has brought with it.</p></blockquote>
From the overloaded pickups with Texas and Oklahoma plates I see heading South down US 85 lately, I'd say change is in the air in North Dakota.
bigjohnsd
2021 BMW R1250GSA
Stay the hell away from here, to fricking many Californians have already shown up.
Pterodactyl
Well-known member
We pay for their gas if they keep on moving thru MT.
hppants
Well-known member
BION - I've been studying this issue. I thought about selling our current home and getting a much smaller home - at a minimum, this is going to happen. Our current home was bought to raise kids and now that they are gone, it is WAY TOO MUCH to keep up.
One idea is to wander every summer. Pick a different place to stay from May - September. Then come back to south Louisiana for our mild Fall/Winter. Then try somewhere else next summer. My problem with that is I want my crap with me (tools, gear, boat, etc.). My wife wants her crap with her too. I'd have to pack and move our crap twice a year - that seems like a lot of work.
So another idea is to find a place with a more tolerable summer, but not TOO MUCH winter. I can handle 2-5 snow days a year. 10 or more does not seem appealing to me. When I look at the climatology data, the Interstate 40 corridor keeps sticking out. Much above I-40, too much winter. Much below I-40, too much summer.
We need to be mindful of the fact that our parents are getting older. We'd like to be able to be within a day's drive of south Louisiana so if they need us, we can come.
I need a forest playground to camp and hike. I need some water to fish from. I need twisty motorcycle roads. I'm not interested in forfeiting my retirement income for property taxes. A city of about 15,000 - 20,000 seems to be about the right compromise between the availability of services/commodities, traffic control, cost of living, etc. But it can't be a tourist trap town that boast only 15,000 residents, but during the summer, it turns into a 75,000 people mess.
So when you plug all of it into the algorithm, the Ozarks keep coming to the top. Harrison, Russellville, Bentonville, Hot Springs Village, maybe Mountain View, etc.
We've decided that we will not sell the house at year one. We will board it up for the summer and give somewhere else a try.
Every time I think about it, I get a little tickled inside.
One idea is to wander every summer. Pick a different place to stay from May - September. Then come back to south Louisiana for our mild Fall/Winter. Then try somewhere else next summer. My problem with that is I want my crap with me (tools, gear, boat, etc.). My wife wants her crap with her too. I'd have to pack and move our crap twice a year - that seems like a lot of work.
So another idea is to find a place with a more tolerable summer, but not TOO MUCH winter. I can handle 2-5 snow days a year. 10 or more does not seem appealing to me. When I look at the climatology data, the Interstate 40 corridor keeps sticking out. Much above I-40, too much winter. Much below I-40, too much summer.
We need to be mindful of the fact that our parents are getting older. We'd like to be able to be within a day's drive of south Louisiana so if they need us, we can come.
I need a forest playground to camp and hike. I need some water to fish from. I need twisty motorcycle roads. I'm not interested in forfeiting my retirement income for property taxes. A city of about 15,000 - 20,000 seems to be about the right compromise between the availability of services/commodities, traffic control, cost of living, etc. But it can't be a tourist trap town that boast only 15,000 residents, but during the summer, it turns into a 75,000 people mess.
So when you plug all of it into the algorithm, the Ozarks keep coming to the top. Harrison, Russellville, Bentonville, Hot Springs Village, maybe Mountain View, etc.
We've decided that we will not sell the house at year one. We will board it up for the summer and give somewhere else a try.
Every time I think about it, I get a little tickled inside.
Cav47
Adventure Seeker
Pants,
Motorhome pulling a big toy hauler. Problem solved.
Motorhome pulling a big toy hauler. Problem solved.
SLK50
Well-known member
Man, talk about baggage.
Abercrombie FJR
Well-known member
That looks like my winter dream home!Pants,
Motorhome pulling a big toy hauler. Problem solved.
Cav47
Adventure Seeker
Kevin,
If I could convince my wife to do something like this when we get older, I would do it in a min.
Summers in the Rockies, Fall in the Appalachians, Winters in the Southwest,Gulf, or Carolinas, and Spring pretty much anywhere.
Have a home base that the kids live near is a winner to me.
If I could convince my wife to do something like this when we get older, I would do it in a min.
Summers in the Rockies, Fall in the Appalachians, Winters in the Southwest,Gulf, or Carolinas, and Spring pretty much anywhere.
Have a home base that the kids live near is a winner to me.
OK cost of living is MUCH lower than TX. AR's is lower (I just don't thing it's MUCH lower). There's no state tax in TX but the property tax is higher than in OK. I don't know if it's a complete wash since it would depend on your income
wned-**** ratio.
I read Pant's first 5 paragraphs and was thinking AR before he said it. If you can handle living around a higher density of rusted out pickups, rednecks, and barefoot-tube-top-pregnant girls (I'm not stereotyping since I see them all over the place every time I go) then you're good to go. If you're a make-your-own entertainment type, then you're also good to go. Outside of Little Rock and Memphis (neither of which would be my anchor point if retired) external entertainment isn't as plentiful if you discount the old-entertainers-graveyard that is commonly known as Branson.
Fayetteville and Memphis an active blues scene that tempers the country stink.
wned-**** ratio.I read Pant's first 5 paragraphs and was thinking AR before he said it. If you can handle living around a higher density of rusted out pickups, rednecks, and barefoot-tube-top-pregnant girls (I'm not stereotyping since I see them all over the place every time I go) then you're good to go. If you're a make-your-own entertainment type, then you're also good to go. Outside of Little Rock and Memphis (neither of which would be my anchor point if retired) external entertainment isn't as plentiful if you discount the old-entertainers-graveyard that is commonly known as Branson.
Fayetteville and Memphis an active blues scene that tempers the country stink.
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Abercrombie FJR
Well-known member
The wife is already convinced and pushing hard for a toy hauler but I am a couple hundred thousand short for a rig like that.
SwollenRaccoon
Well-known member
OK cost of living is MUCH lower than TX. AR's is lower (I just don't thing it's MUCH lower). There's no state tax in TX but the property tax is higher than in OK. I don't know if it's a complete wash since it would depend on your income
I read Pant's first 5 paragraphs and was thinking AR before he said it. If you can handle living around a higher density of rusted out pickups, rednecks, and barefoot-tube-top-pregnant girls (I'm not stereotyping since I see them all over the place every time I go) then you're good to go. If you're a make-your-own entertainment type, then you're also good to go. Outside of Little Rock and Memphis (neither of which would be my anchor point if retired) external entertainment isn't as plentiful if you discount the old-entertainers-graveyard that is commonly known as Branson.
Fayetteville and Memphis an active blues scene that tempers the country stink.
I AM a "make your own entertainment" kind of guy, and I can't think of any better make-your-own-entertainment than being able to ride Push Mountain Road every day, or as often as I want. As it is today, I have to ride 700 miles to do that, which limits my opportunities.
hppants
Well-known member
Eastern OK is nice too. I'd consider that. I'd also consider places farther east and just north of I-40 (Tennessee, North Carolina).
We don't need to much for entertainment. We need a movie theatre, about 10 good restaurants to cycle through, a gym to work out, a local grocery with a butcher and a deli, a Doctor's office and hospital, a liquor store or somewhere I can get a real bottle of beer, etc. My wife needs a place to read and shop and with the invention of the Internet, she's pretty good to go anywhere. With a milder climate, she will be much more inclined to tag along with me outdoors.
To be clear, the summers in the Ozarks are hot. But the overall duration of heat is shorter, there is an occasional cool front that breaks it up, and it gets bearable in the early mornings and later evenings. Down here along the Gulf Coast, from May 15th through at least October 15th (FIVE FRIGGIN MONTHS), it will be oppressive at best and unbearable at worst 24 God blessed hours per day. I just can't do this for the rest of my life.
Little Rock and Memphis are also out of my question, but having them an hour-ish away for "big city needs" is a plus.
We don't need to much for entertainment. We need a movie theatre, about 10 good restaurants to cycle through, a gym to work out, a local grocery with a butcher and a deli, a Doctor's office and hospital, a liquor store or somewhere I can get a real bottle of beer, etc. My wife needs a place to read and shop and with the invention of the Internet, she's pretty good to go anywhere. With a milder climate, she will be much more inclined to tag along with me outdoors.
To be clear, the summers in the Ozarks are hot. But the overall duration of heat is shorter, there is an occasional cool front that breaks it up, and it gets bearable in the early mornings and later evenings. Down here along the Gulf Coast, from May 15th through at least October 15th (FIVE FRIGGIN MONTHS), it will be oppressive at best and unbearable at worst 24 God blessed hours per day. I just can't do this for the rest of my life.
Little Rock and Memphis are also out of my question, but having them an hour-ish away for "big city needs" is a plus.
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TomInPA
Well-known member
Retirement sucks! Just keep working and paying Social Security taxes so those of us with no sense or desire to work can continue to get by.
LittleJon
Farting Brisket Sprinkles
FYT.
Sorry, Bob.
Sorry, Bob.
The problem with that is the part of eastern OK that's nice riding is mostly "Little Dixie" (SE). NE gets you near Tulsa and more congestion (and one of the 2 highest costs of living). Riding (or visiting) Little Dixie can be fine but living there's another thing. Meth is a problem as is abject poverty and the crime that tends to be its companion. Pot farmers still "aggressively" protect their fields and will continue to do so until the state (and Fed) take the wind out of the black market's sails.
hppants
Well-known member
Bounce - hearing this kind of info is helpful. You can't get this at the Chamber of Commerce website. I'll also admit that in my travels, I likely have looked at places through a rose-colored helmet shield. Passing through is not the same as living there.
I'd like to hear similar info for smaller cities in Eastern Tennessee or Southeastern Kentucky. The winter there looks to be milder than even Western North Carolina, where the mountains run all the way to the border.
Petyl - I've jacked up your thread, cut me off if you must.
I'd like to hear similar info for smaller cities in Eastern Tennessee or Southeastern Kentucky. The winter there looks to be milder than even Western North Carolina, where the mountains run all the way to the border.
Petyl - I've jacked up your thread, cut me off if you must.
Keep in mind that the biggest hurdle (finding a good paying job) is not a concern with a retirement check coming in. That means you're already head-and-shoulders better off than many of those in the smaller communities of Little Dixie. The rest is sometimes a matter of who you associate with.
OKs big contribution is that the people are friendly and open; much more so than WA state (who can be very cool unless a mutual friend introduces you). After going to school in WA and having a brother live there for 20 years, I do have some exposure to compare the two.
Rural MO can have friendly people but many parts of St. Louis will cop an attitude based on perceived social status.
AR, LA, and MS can be as friendly (to strangers) as OK and TX.
In TX they will turn off the friendly at the first sign of condescension. They'll sniff out a carpet bagger in a heart beat. Respect them and they will return that respect. An example would be the couple who moved here because the husband's company (IL) offered him a relocation instead of just firing him. He was very nice but she was something else. When I was first introduced to her, I casually asked her how she was doing with the move. I can assure you that her response of, "It's okay but it's hard to get used to hamburger when you're used to steak", is NOT the way to keep your neighbors friendly.
MS has friendly people but it crushes my soul when I see so many rural people doing without what so many other people take for granted.
NM is another option if you can adapt to high desert life. The people are very nice, the politics are a little more liberal than my taste, cost of living can be high in certain areas because it became attractive to the CA glitterati a while back so it drove up housing prices near places like Santa Fe. But there's always the Trinity Site nearby to go a visit when it's open to the public. Keep your homeowners insurance paid up in the event of attack from giant ants or other children-of-the-atom.
Your tolerance for well meaning rubes will affect your happiness. If hearing (or reading) someone say, "I seen it", doesn't cause you to grit your teeth, then rural life in the more remote areas of these states is do-able.
I learned a lot of this from either living in some of those states or spent a lot of time in their capital cities as part of one of my jobs. It allowed me to spend loads of time with my co-workers who were (more often than not) locals with great tips on how to see the less touristy places. I've always sought out the activities and places that "locals" frequent over the tourist traps; even when I was in Korea. In other cases, time there for work brought me back on my own time to get out into more rural areas.
Personally, I'd LOVE to live in MT or WY but the winters would drive me nuts. Back in the day, what kept me away was the possibility of finding work in a place that has such a low population density but it's that low density that made it so attractive to me. I'm not Richy Rich enough to have a summer and winter house.
Of the 5 state region I supported (AR, OK, LA, NM, TX) during my tenure at that one job, AR and TX would be long term options. LA and NM are visit places. Meanwhile I was born in OK. Whenever I go back and happen to see people I used to know, they don't appear to have changed their lot in life one tittle in the past 45 years; still living hand-to-mouth and without prospects (or maybe without the motivation to seek prospects). I know that may be there choice and they may be content but it hurts to see it so I wouldn't choose to live there and immerse myself in it full time.
OKs big contribution is that the people are friendly and open; much more so than WA state (who can be very cool unless a mutual friend introduces you). After going to school in WA and having a brother live there for 20 years, I do have some exposure to compare the two.
Rural MO can have friendly people but many parts of St. Louis will cop an attitude based on perceived social status.
AR, LA, and MS can be as friendly (to strangers) as OK and TX.
In TX they will turn off the friendly at the first sign of condescension. They'll sniff out a carpet bagger in a heart beat. Respect them and they will return that respect. An example would be the couple who moved here because the husband's company (IL) offered him a relocation instead of just firing him. He was very nice but she was something else. When I was first introduced to her, I casually asked her how she was doing with the move. I can assure you that her response of, "It's okay but it's hard to get used to hamburger when you're used to steak", is NOT the way to keep your neighbors friendly.
MS has friendly people but it crushes my soul when I see so many rural people doing without what so many other people take for granted.
NM is another option if you can adapt to high desert life. The people are very nice, the politics are a little more liberal than my taste, cost of living can be high in certain areas because it became attractive to the CA glitterati a while back so it drove up housing prices near places like Santa Fe. But there's always the Trinity Site nearby to go a visit when it's open to the public. Keep your homeowners insurance paid up in the event of attack from giant ants or other children-of-the-atom.
Your tolerance for well meaning rubes will affect your happiness. If hearing (or reading) someone say, "I seen it", doesn't cause you to grit your teeth, then rural life in the more remote areas of these states is do-able.
I learned a lot of this from either living in some of those states or spent a lot of time in their capital cities as part of one of my jobs. It allowed me to spend loads of time with my co-workers who were (more often than not) locals with great tips on how to see the less touristy places. I've always sought out the activities and places that "locals" frequent over the tourist traps; even when I was in Korea. In other cases, time there for work brought me back on my own time to get out into more rural areas.
Personally, I'd LOVE to live in MT or WY but the winters would drive me nuts. Back in the day, what kept me away was the possibility of finding work in a place that has such a low population density but it's that low density that made it so attractive to me. I'm not Richy Rich enough to have a summer and winter house.
Of the 5 state region I supported (AR, OK, LA, NM, TX) during my tenure at that one job, AR and TX would be long term options. LA and NM are visit places. Meanwhile I was born in OK. Whenever I go back and happen to see people I used to know, they don't appear to have changed their lot in life one tittle in the past 45 years; still living hand-to-mouth and without prospects (or maybe without the motivation to seek prospects). I know that may be there choice and they may be content but it hurts to see it so I wouldn't choose to live there and immerse myself in it full time.
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