Gene where do you want to and plan to retire in USA?
Posted by paperatic@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 758 comments
FL is not an option now due to insurance and hazard. I can’t imagine evacuating house in 80s.
So what is your idea?
I went to check Raleigh and honestly it is a bit boring.
Charleston? I am Asian so I am not sure for places with very small Asian population. Am I welcome there?
Atlanta? Not sure more stuff to do but a bit too busy.
Or stay in metro DC but too cold.
Ideally San Diego or Hawaii but where is the money?
Any thoughts? Appreciated!
Chemical_Butterfly40@reddit
I feel like the DMV is a decent place to retire. Access to healthcare, many activities, a few sports teams, and good public transportation.
reneeruns@reddit
Our current plan is to move to coastal DE. No way in hell I'm moving to a red state and I also don't like the heat. We'll get 4 seasons, low taxes and a lovely beach close by.
Odd_Praline181@reddit
I'm in Maryland and would like to end up out there. I'm solo, though, so I am hoping there are senior communities there
reneeruns@reddit
We vacation there every year and it seems like a great place to be a senior! Since we go in the off-season we're usually there with the locals and we see tons of older folks riding bikes and walking.
Odd_Praline181@reddit
That sounds very promising! I should start taking small trips up there to scope it out, thank you!
reneeruns@reddit
You should! If you go outside of tourist season you can get a better idea of what it's really like. The food scene there is actually really great. We've gone every fall since 2014 and it's a really lovely area.
Odd_Praline181@reddit
Aww, this gives me hope! If you have any recommendations, and don't mind sending me some, I'd love it!
I have been in MD for so long but have never gotten to do a whole lot, until now, so I'm pretty excited to finally get out and explore
reneeruns@reddit
Some of our favorites are Shorebreak Lodge and Dogfish Head brewery in Rehoboth. Great burgers at Dewey Beer in Dewey Beach (there's also one in Harbeson but we haven't checked it out.) Honestly, if you go there outside of beach season, you can't go wrong. There are so many places we haven't tried yet and we've been going there since 2014!
I'd suggest checking the area out in the early fall or late spring when the weather is nice but the kids are in school. We rent a house because we go with our dogs but there are some cute hotels right on the beach or a few blocks away.
Emergency_Bike6274@reddit
Department of Motor Vehicles?
HCCSuspect@reddit
Good idea. With all of the senses that worsen with age parallel parking’s going to be a bitch. Living at the DMV will help me keep up my skills.
Emergency_Bike6274@reddit
The wait for the bathroom will suck, though.
ChrisBourbon27@reddit
DMV = Delaware, Maryland, Virginia peninsula
Fritz5678@reddit
That's the Delmarva.
ChrisBourbon27@reddit
Oh man. Now my head is spinning. 😆
tommyalanson@reddit
DC, Maryland and Virginia
husbandbulges@reddit
I agree but the cost of living in certain parts of the DMV is not ideal.
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
I was going to say this. Housing can be ridiculous in this area, especially as you get in closer to DC, but there is constant expansion and more condos, townhomes, and 55+ living spaces being built every year, which of course comes with its own problems. We're in the DMV, but we're not looking to retire here. If we do, we'll move into the extremities of MD or VA.
Otherwise, I'm not actually sure. Omaha is equidistant to my 3 kiddos (no grandkids as of yet, maybe never), who have decided to live across the country to vex me. But I have a sibling who lives there, so that is a viable option. I also love northern Arizona (Williams, Flagstaff, etc.) but I've not looked into actual COL yet.
husbandbulges@reddit
Definitely.
I've been visiting some southern parts of Maryland lately and enjoyed some of those towns too. I suspect we'll stay here in NC but if grandkids come along, that'll play a factor too.
Omaha sounds like it might be a good fit for you. I don't even know anything about Omaha except the College Baseball World Series is held there each year and Warren Buffet. But I mean hey those are both good things!
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
😅😅 Thanks!
Fritz5678@reddit
We'll get out of NOVA someday, too. Just don't know where. I just don't want to be too far away from a decent city with decent services. My folks are in the middle of nowhere and the doctors suck. Though, they do have a 1 level house and a pool.
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
Tradeoffs everywhere we look, right? *le sigh*
21stNow@reddit
Especially residential senior care. I lived in Maryland and wanted to move my mother from Georgia to memory care in Maryland, but it didn't make sense financially. I moved to Georgia instead. I'd like to go back to Maryland, but it doesn't make sense since I'm getting older, as well.
swissmtndog398@reddit
I'd never heard this. My wife's best friend and family live there and I always heard them call it DelMarVa.
davdev@reddit
My wife has Irish citizenship. Our retirement plan has always been to go there. If I were to stay in the states, I would just stay in the Boston area where I currently am.
ChungHamilton@reddit
Housing and health care in Ireland are very expensive (if you want to live anywhere near one of the larger cities). Services also aren't great. It's a fun place to visit but more challenging to live there.
Sea_Marble@reddit
What do you mean by “expensive” healthcare? Because US healthcare is potentially bankrupting. Are we talking $100K to have a baby like in the US or something else?
ChungHamilton@reddit
Well taxes are very high, assuming you aren't working in Ireland though then your taxes will be less. However, everyone who can afford it, gets private insurance. Even with private insurance though the resources just aren't there and waitlists and significant travel times to major hospitals (if you're not in one of the big cities) are a thing. Waitlists particularly are an issue. Private care is popular if you can afford it.
davdev@reddit
Well thats good because housing and healthcare in Boston is expensive as fuck too. We will be dramatically downsizing our housing so will easily be able to take what we sell for here and buy something smaller there. We will also have a few million $ in Pensions/401K and other assets along with maximum Social Security payments for the two of us. We will be OK.
And I am perfectly happy living in a smaller village like Killarney and have zero interest in Dublin. Right now there are plenty of places in Killarney that are listed for less than half what we would sell our house here for.
ChungHamilton@reddit
Killarney is an excellent town, great choice. Just know though that it gets very small, very fast outside of tourist season. Also Kerry Airport in Faranfore is growing but you're still going to Cork or Dublin for many flights.
Good luck!
percybert@reddit
And the definition of “near” is getting longer and longer by the day.
And the weather sucks
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
Can you adopt us so we can go too?
poppinwheelies@reddit
I can adopt you but our plan is to move to Australia (wife is a citizen). Will that work for you?
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
My spouse is a deadhead, as well, so he'd probably approve of that plan. LOL. Are there any not freaking hot places in Australia?
Meng_Fei@reddit
Plenty. Tasmania is the obvious choice, nothing between you and Antarctica so summers are cool and winters are cold.
Most of Victoria stays cool for a significant portion of the year, and only gets really hot in summer, but that is moderated if you're near the coast. Southern coast of NSW is likewise - generally considered to have a great, cooler climate. Even Sydney is cool for the majority of the year if you stay near the coast, but of course that can be expensive.
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
Dropping some cool kuh-nowledge on me. I like it. For some reason, Hollywood just likes to show us the blazing hot and dry parts of Australia, and we all believe it.
Meng_Fei@reddit
No problem.
It certainly CAN get hot here. For example once or twice a year, Sydney will hit 40 deg C for a few days and everyone will run to the beach. But most summer days are high 20s or low 30s - basically Southern California weather.
There's lots of nice places that (beyond a few days of heatwave in summer) have very nice temperatures most of the year. And you don't have to deal with snow or ice like people in the northern US do.
This map is pretty useful when it comes to understanding what parts of Australia get reasonable temperatures versus what feels like the surface of Venus mid-summer.
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
❤️❤️
Copperman72@reddit
Southern Tasmania?
srslytho1979@reddit
My husband has Irish citizenship. I’m hoping to move there, as well. It’s my favorite place.
pocketdare@reddit
From what I've read, the housing market in Ireland is pretty crazy ATM!
davdev@reddit
I live in Boston. I am used to crazy housing markets. We will be easily to sell our existing house and use that towards anything in Ireland, especially since we will be dramatically downsizing when we do so.
mapoftasmania@reddit
I am British-American and will probably go back to the UK. But the tax implications of taking my US social security payments and 401k/IRA while living there are quite significant. Free/cheaper healthcare offsets it somewhat, but it’s still a factor. You guys should definitely look into how to handle this before you make the move.
TyrBloodhand@reddit
If retirement is ever even a possibility I will be satisfied.
PinkSasquatch77@reddit
Chicago.
MoodDisastrous3936@reddit
Staying in Chicago, weather is consistently getting milder, tons of great medical care access and amazing stuff to do all year round. Not leaving, but moving closer to the lake!
pilken@reddit
If our taxes would stop going through the roof without an increase in services...I'd agree. I need to get somewhere where the taxes aren't so opressive.
GraceBlade@reddit
Would it help balance things out that Illinois doesn’t tax any type of retirement income? Seriously want to know if that would make up for higher property taxes (which I heard can be capped for seniors???)
EasyBit2319@reddit
It does help. Dont listen to the people who say the taxes aren't worth it. Most states get you somehow. At least in Chicago we will have fresh water when the ultimate shite hits the fan.
Dark_Shroud@reddit
My family has lived in the Chicago suburbs since the mid 50s. My Grand parents lived in the actual city.
My nephew is the forth and last generation that will be born out here.
I'm packing up and taking most of the extended family with me. Because the taxes just keep going up.
I'm going to check out Pacific Northwest next year to see if I like the climate.
EasyBit2319@reddit
Well, you will be shocked at how expensive the PNW is if you think Chicag is bad. Maybe do some research or something.
NerdyComfort-78@reddit
This is what is preventing us from moving there. I grew up in Chicago. I miss it but I don’t want to go broke from taxes.
EitherOrResolution@reddit
Right? Was thinking about the south, but I can’t sweat like that anymore. It’s Chicagoland for me. Whatever. 3rd coast
thadarknight67@reddit
The Gulf Coast is the third coast, not Lake Michigan. Sheesh.
EitherOrResolution@reddit
Third Coast is what people who live on Lake Michigan call it. 🙄 sheesh
thadarknight67@reddit
They don't count though.
EasyBit2319@reddit
We count more than what you call it.
ChokaMoka1@reddit
Have fun with algal blooms making the water a toxic poop bath.
viking12344@reddit
Retire in Chicago? Omfg no. Jesus Christ crime is terrible, climate is worse. Is it true I can get heroin on just about any street corner? Asking for a friend ...
oneKev@reddit
You have taken the kool-aid, I see.
viking12344@reddit
Are you seriously telling me crime is not an issue in Chicago? Because it can't be the climate and I have heard the heroin thing for decades.
And I'm all for hard drugs being legal. Just not being stepped on and sold by the scum doing it now.
oneKev@reddit
Oh, please. I can buy stronger and better drugs in Miami. And crime is worse in the downtowns of half the south. And guess what? There are more illegals in the south too. All trying to make a living picking crops.
viking12344@reddit
I never said you couldn't. Certainly stronger anyway. That was not the point of what I was asking. So you're saying because there is crime everywhere, Chicago is no different. That really wasn't what I was saying either. I think I got my answer.
oneKev@reddit
You’re exactly right. Crime is the same or worse in the southern cities. Our leader is deploying troops in areas that will not make a difference, except to feed his ego. My question is, what happens after he is gone? Who takes power after? What will that guy do?
viking12344@reddit
You really think he's deploying troops for an ego boost? How does that feed his ego? Did he do the same in DC...to feed his ego,? Btw I was not headed here but you brought it up.
GraceBlade@reddit
Live in Hammond, IN. Will stay here if we have to, but both of us want to move to Chicago, say up by Loyola, near the Lake. It would probably be too expensive though. (Won’t have a house payment if we stay here.)
formercotsachick@reddit
I live in Milwaukee but same reason. We used to think we'd retire to Arizona but it's already hotter than the surface of the sun, so nooooo thank you. I'd like to move downtown where it's more walkable so we don't have to drive in our old age.
AgreeAndSubmit@reddit
🎶 Global warming 🎶 As our waters dry up, 🎶 it makes winter easier to bear....
emccm@reddit
Winters are getting much make bareable up here and summers much worse down there. I read a post where someone was asking why it felt hot when the highs hadn’t changed much. Someone explained that the lows were no longer as low. Things no longer cooled down as much overnight so everything felt hot all the time. Reading his o remember when when in summer if you were out super late you’d have a light jacket if you were outside. I remember sleeping with the windows open. It was still warm but cooler. Now it’s AC 24/7.
viking12344@reddit
Your telling Chicago is getting warmer? Are you sure it's not manopause?
Firm-Quote6187@reddit
This is so true! When the low is 80° at 6am with a high of 99° you never get any relief 😮💨 Our coldest temps in winter have also dipped in the last few years, so we have much worse weather extremes than we ever used to and our infrastructure isn't set up for it.
emccm@reddit
Our winters have been milder in general but now we get these weird cold snaps where temps plumit. Will it be 52F or 5F? Who can say. Every day is an adventure.
JoMa4@reddit
But I thought Chicago was a war zone!
gfm1973@reddit
Same. Probably stay in my house until housing rates change to downsize.
auntieup@reddit
Love this plan.
muhhuh@reddit
A shack in Sint Maarten.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
That is not a shack. Must be costly . Beautiful island
fastcatdog@reddit
North Phoenix, Scottsdale lots to do all year.
AlfalfaElectronic720@reddit
Asian, what about Washington State? Not Seattle, but maybe other cities
IllustriousEnd2055@reddit
Any caucasian areas?
OrangeSodaGalaxy@reddit
The ten whitest cities in the United States, including white Hispanics, are:
ZaphodGreedalox@reddit
Seattle is nice but it gets gloomy
ihatepickingnames_@reddit
I love the gloomy!
OrangeSodaGalaxy@reddit
Same here. I'm thinking of moving to Seattle or Portland when I retire.
ZaphodGreedalox@reddit
My dad always called it Prevailing Gloom, and it feels like home to me
OkAccountant8179@reddit
Maybe Sequim - it's sunny and charming and not too far away from larger Seattle metro area.
ZaphodGreedalox@reddit
The Olympic Rain Shadow. Port Angeles is a popular retirement community out there as well.
correct_use_of_soap@reddit
Come join us in Tacoma! I love it here.
AlfalfaElectronic720@reddit
Tacoma was nice, had a bad rep back in the day but I always felt safe.
melodypowers@reddit
I lived in Seattle and live just north of jt now. I love it here. I don't ever want to leave.
But I do need to take a sunshine vacation during the big dark.
PashasMom@reddit
I’m moving to Vancouver WA.
JMLobo83@reddit
Eastern Washington has more sunny days, hotter in the summer but not like Arizona, colder in the Winter but not like North Dakota or Wisconsin. Somewhere near Wenatchee, Ellensburg, or Yakima. Walla Walla is a nice town but like Spokane, becoming less affordable.
weenie2323@reddit
I'm in Olympia, WA and plan to stay here. It's lovely and large Asian population.
AlfalfaElectronic720@reddit
Yea Olympia was nice back in the day when I lived in WA.
demona2002@reddit
Rent out the house we own in San Diego and split time between homes in Canada and Portugal.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Nice which part of Portugal?
demona2002@reddit
Porto
ZanzerFineSuits@reddit
I live in New England and intend to stay. I’ve lived here almost my entire life and have solid plans on turning a traditionally HCOL area into a LCOL one.
CodenameZoya@reddit
All of us here in New England want to know how you’re gonna do that swap for the high cost to the low cost lol
labaticus@reddit
Van down by the river.
cubhates@reddit
Matt Foley style!
gcfio@reddit
There’s LCOL areas in New England?
Parking_Pomelo_3856@reddit
Look two hours outside of Boston.
gcfio@reddit
So Quincy area? Lol.
PegShop@reddit
It depends on how you look at things. If you want to be in a big city, no.
ZanzerFineSuits@reddit
Exactly. Get out of the cities. You’ve got to find a middle-ground town between the expensive suburbs near the cities, and the real remote areas that don’t have elder services, good doctors, or convenient grocery stores. You’ve also got to scope out towns that don’t have meth problems as well. I won’t tell you where I’m looking. :-)
Good_Oil2942@reddit
Spill the beans, sir. What's your plan for making a HCOL=LCOL?
Particular_Astro4407@reddit
I live in New England too. How are you turning it into LCOL??
Wormser@reddit
Move to western mass for one
G00D80T@reddit
Shuddup
Particular_Astro4407@reddit
Yeah westerner Mass is an option. Berkshires are nice.
Runny-Yolks@reddit
I’m a New Englander, too and cannot imagine leaving but my partner is Canadian so we are probably going to end up in New England North and move to Halifax Nova Scotia when we retire.
gorkt@reddit
I was in Halifax this summer - it was really lovely!
GraceBlade@reddit
I wish US citizens could just retire in Nova Scotia.
Runny-Yolks@reddit
I’m excited about it!
Excellent-Seesaw1335@reddit
I grew up in mid coast Maine. Way too cold for me!!!!
Freepi@reddit
How soon are you planning to retire? It might not be so cold by then.
Excellent-Seesaw1335@reddit
I left 32 years ago after HS when I went to college. I'll be retiring in about 5 years or so. I go back to visit family but that's it. I'll stay in metro Atlanta.
ImCaffeinated_Chris@reddit
We are in New England and keeping our home. But we might rent an apartment in the south for winters. Maybe try each state a year.
Competitive-Life-852@reddit
Same. I’m a born and raised New Englander and I love the four seasons. (Not the pop group or Vivaldi.)
Electrical_Spare_364@reddit
Yes, it's possible to live here on less!
McGruffin@reddit
Same. I live in New England too and don't plan to move. The winters have been getting milder. I don't mind the cold and prefer it to extreme heat.
PegShop@reddit
Ditto
gcfio@reddit
There’s LCOL areas in New England?
lovegood123@reddit
Same in New England! This is my home.
First-Ad-7960@reddit
With climate change the weather in New England is changing rapidly and there is less incentive to move south to hotter places.
Bezerker2424@reddit
I need warm water in Feb. Options are rentals in FL, AL or LA. This needs further investigating as Puerto Rico is an interesting idea too
therelybare5@reddit
Looking at Hickory now. Using some of our vacations to check it out.
UncleBud_710@reddit
Gene’s not here!
Living_Implement_169@reddit
Raleigh is expensive af now
DeaddyRuxpin@reddit
I wanted to retire to Florida and work part time at Disney World. But I’m not moving there now between the heat, the politics, and as you said, insurance and hazards.
Realistically I’ll probably end up staying here in New Jersey when I retire. The only problem could be the ever increasing cost of living here. That might force me to move elsewhere but I have no clue where.
No_Owl_7380@reddit
I’m staying in NJ. I’ve been here 19 years now having lived in three other states which are absolutely not appealing for retirement.
If I do decide to leave, it will be to go overseas.
Adorableviolet@reddit
I have been reading about some South American spots with lots of American retirees. Dollar goes a long way there!
Cambiknitter@reddit
We're staying put in Manhattan. We live in an accessible apartment building with great staff, public transportation so we don't have to drive, good medical care, etc. We just moved to this accessible building a year ago, leaving a building with stairs, so we could age in place.
Wizzmer@reddit
Last thing I want in my old age is crowds of people.
Cambiknitter@reddit
I love the activity. I've been here since 1988 and never get tired of it.
Cyborg59_2020@reddit
I've often thought Manhattan would be the ideal retirement spot! I'm sort of torn between that and my fantasy of a small village in Scotland where everyone congregates at the local pub.
Cambiknitter@reddit
Manhattan in the fall and winter and Scotland in the spring and fall.
Formal_Plum_2285@reddit
But… I’m not American so I get my knowledge from Seinfeld and if anything that show taught me, y’all supposed to go to Del Boca Vista.
flagal31@reddit
it's absolutely the law.
DiminishingSkills@reddit
Phase 2
RedditSkippy@reddit
Phase II!
CitizenChatt@reddit
Y'all.are.the best!
I love it!
XRlagniappe@reddit
Did you mean
Del Visto Becko, or
Del Bisto Becco, or
Del Boca Buco?
Formal_Plum_2285@reddit
Lol from the bloopers. Gotta love Jerry Stiller.
Pumpnethyl@reddit
What about the Frank Costanza "You wanna piece of ME!?!?" Bloopers? Elaine kept cracking up every time he yelled the line. It must have taken all day to shoot the end of that episode
Formal_Plum_2285@reddit
It’s so funny. George even rolls around on the floor.
LeveragedPittsburgh@reddit
Serenity now!!!
Formal_Plum_2285@reddit
Are you saying, you want a piece of me?
tangledtainthair@reddit
Only because there are no houses available in Tuscany.
Formal_Plum_2285@reddit
Do you have any idea how big Tuscany is? It’s like North Dakota !!
Ok-Commercial-924@reddit
North Dakota =71,000 sq miles vs Tuscany = 8,900 sq miles. But they are close if a factor of 9 is close.
Formal_Plum_2285@reddit
Look I get my facts from George Costanza who’s lifegoal is to eat a piece of cheese the size of a car battery
XRlagniappe@reddit
It was supposed to be The Summer of George.
Ok-Commercial-924@reddit
In that case, I stand corrected and withdraw my previous comment.
SmokeyWolf117@reddit
Formal_Plum_2285@reddit
They are moving out of spite !!
AbsolutesDealer@reddit
Lock, stock and barrel!
Formal_Plum_2285@reddit
They’ll be all over the shuffleboard !!
ChokaMoka1@reddit
Have fun when it becomes water world
pocketdare@reddit
I hear you. I lived in a 5th floor walkup for 5 years on the UWS and it began to occur to me that it wasn't a good long-term plan.
AbsolutesDealer@reddit
Yeah but Zabars.
pocketdare@reddit
I moved closer :)
AbsolutesDealer@reddit
Nice. Randomly, I just saw on IG that Saul Zabar has passed at 97. RIP legend!
pocketdare@reddit
Wow. Yeah, definitely a local legend. It's a great thing to be able to leave your mark on the world in a way that virtually everyone would agree made it a better place.
wendythewonderful@reddit
Milwaukee
The1Ylrebmik@reddit
Where we are currently living, Southern California. God help us.
Interesting-Loss34@reddit
As far north in wisconsin as I can get
JunketAccurate@reddit
Wichita Kansas
Qikslvr@reddit
I bought 9 acres of woods that so isolated no one else wanted it. Terrible for working but great for retirement. It's in NE Texas so there's no state income tax, I'm 11 miles from the nearest town, and fairly centrally located to the rest of the country and only 3 hours from DFW airport where I can get anywhere in the world.
The down side is I have to build everything, but I can do that while still working. In the last few years I've gotten electricity, a well, and a 3200 ft² shop built. Now I'm working on the road going into the property and have architects working on the house plans. All of the construction should be paid for by the equity in my current home so I'll have no bills once it's done.
No place is perfect, you just have to decide what you want retirement to look like and do make it look like that. Texas isn't politically great right now, but there are other benefits and politics change and I care less. Also it's cheap, so there's that.
reduff@reddit
I thoroughly enjoyed living in Raleigh, but it's not someplace I would retire. I want a lower pace of life, but with plenty of stuff to do, if I choose. I am an hour or so south of Raleigh and, at 61, I don't intend to leave.
P.S. - fuck Gene.
4stargas@reddit
Dude, I’ve been creating my own retirement environment since I was 29. I’m not moving anywhere. And I’m probably not retiring.
Piscivore_67@reddit
I'm already retired on disability in AZ. Not exactly cheap, but no hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, or blizzards. Occasionally big fucking dust storms, but they are rarely life threatening.
It gets hot, but that just clears out the chumps.
tdfolts@reddit
My goal is Portugal, if the D7 is still around in 2030…
probably_bored_1878@reddit
Wilmington NC. Nice weather, affordable houses, good restaurants, lots of stuff to do, plus, they shoot a lot of Hallmark Christmas movies here, so you can see fake snow in July since you won't see real snow during winter.
Fair_Speed4249@reddit
I’m in MD, but just retired and plan to move to a zero income tax state in order to withdraw money from my 401K without having to hand over a chunk of it to some state. I’m thinking Texas, even tho I’ve heard it’s wretchedly hot. I don’t care about politics and I won’t be there forever.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Congrats I am thinking TN for no state tax
Fair_Speed4249@reddit
Yes, that’s a good possibility, but I’ve heard that housing in and around Nashville has become quite expensive due to the large influx of former Californians. Another possibility to consider is living on the WA-OR border. You could live in Washington (no income tax) but cross the River into Oregon for shopping and dining in Portland, (where there no sales tax), lol. Good luck!
PatMagroin100@reddit
North Carolina, Brunswick County beaches. So much cheaper than mid-Atlantic metro areas.
Automatic_Antelope92@reddit
I honestly have no idea. Part of me thinks that I will seek out places where climate change has less negative impact for a while. Part of me thinks I would go where it is warmer and lower cost of living. Part of me thinks I will be outside the US. Part of me thinks… this is too much to think about and I will stay where I am.
HillbillyEEOLawyer@reddit
I don't have an answer for this.
But recently I saw a TikTok about how easy it is to get a visa and retire in Thailand. Kinda jokingly sent it to my wife and said "if only we didn't have grandkids." She replied, "well, maybe we should keep that in mind."
So...does anyone checking the comments have experience retiring in Thailand? Asking for myself. 😁
blameline@reddit
I heard a similar review about retiring in the Philippines.
Costa Rica is where a lot of American ex-pats seem to congregate.
MooseBlazer@reddit
If you retire early, yeah, that’s a good plan, but retiring in old age - those places would not be very healthy to live.
Automatic_Antelope92@reddit
Why? Thailand has good medical care from what I’ve heard and lower cost of living. Why wouldn’t it be very healthy in old age in particular?
Pot-Roast@reddit
I don't plan on retiring just work till I'm dead....
husbandbulges@reddit
Actually, we will stay put right outside of Raleigh. It's not boring for some of us. Honestly it's ok you didn't have an affinity for here, it's packed already!
Plus several top notch hospitals, lots of colleges for extended learning, diverse areas, lots of trails/parks and two hours to the beach, three and change to the mountains. We've got humid and hot summers but mild in the winters and lovely in the spring and fall.
I always thought I'd retire to the Outer Banks in NC but their medical system assess is horrible.
flagal31@reddit
would you mind mentioning which suburbs near RDU you'd recommend for active seniors? There seem to be so many smaller suburbs and it's a bit overwhelming when you don't know the area.
husbandbulges@reddit
Well I'm 55 so I'm the early edge of that "senior" stuff so I'd be happy to help!
In general, you won't go wrong. There is a lot of everything here in the core cities.
Is there anything else you are looking for? Things you'd enjoy? Do you like sports, watching and/or playing? Do you like a funkier vibe? Do you want a lot of shopping? Do you want land? Do you want mixed use?
Raleigh is the capital of NC and it's a sprawling city for sure. It has a wide range of prices and options. It does have several universities as well but they don't dominate the landscape. WakeMed is the medical system and it's pretty darn good.
Cary has amazing support for seniors, the town even hired someone lately to run senior policy/planning. The town has a great senior center and is building two more. Lots of grocery stores, a diverse group in terms of skin tone but not much diversity in income. Think a lot of tech people and for the area, higher prices. I do live here now. Apex is pretty similar to Cary, but a bit smaller and a few undeveloped spots. They too just opened a community center for Seniors.
Chapel Hill (and its attached city Carrboro) and Durham are smaller than Raleigh, have more overall diversity and both have universities that dominate the landscape. Both have WORLD class medical systems and both have clinics ALL over the area. They are both progressive. Chapel Hill and Carrboro are reasonably walk-able. Has the amazing Carol Woods senior community.
The Eastern side of the area suburbs are newer, cheaper and skew younger - I find younger families out there more because it's more affordable. Which isn't bad! My 17 year old daughter is over there. But check out Wake Forest for sure, it's charming.
.... oh look at Wendell Falls too, it's a lovely planned community for all ages, highly walkable and has stuff right there.
If you want to go a bit further out, look at Hillsborough and Pittsboro. Small town progressive but still some country rural part.
Feel free to message me if you'd rather share more specific stuff you don't want online...
flagal31@reddit
this is great info...thank you so much. I may DM you, since you offered :) Really appreciate it!
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Ok I went to outer bank honestly like Myrtle beach better. Raleigh is on top of my list. Or Durham dame to me. But I rushed by the shopping place , like nothing. Also no museum. Yet agree beaches nearby is great
husbandbulges@reddit
My goodness. Dirty Myrtle? Oh no. nooo.
If you like Myrtle over the OBX, we don't see life the same - which is just fine! Most NC people really don't go to Myrtle, it's commercialized chaos, crowds and often gross. HS kids go there on drunken graduation beach trips and guys on bachelor golf trips.
And no museums here? What?
Raleigh has the fantastic NC Museum of Art, https://ncartmuseum.org/
Chapel Hill/UNC has Ackland Art, https://ackland.org/
Durham/Duke has Nasher Art, https://nasher.duke.edu/
Durham has one of the best kid's science museums in the country, the Museum of Life & Science, https://www.lifeandscience.org/ . Raleigh has the Marbles kids museum with an IMAX, https://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/
Raleigh has NC Natural History Museum, https://naturalsciences.org/ and the NC Museum of History, https://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/
Like nothing shopping place? We have many so I don't know which you rushed by but between South Point, Fenton and Crabtree I think you'd find most of the higher end retailers. I mean don't have an IKEA but Charlotte does. I can't think of anything else I've been unable to find. Lots of diverse spaces, I love the HMart here.
Are you sure you've been here? There are some negatives to here so I'm really not trying to be YAY RTP but lack of shopping and museums aren't them.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the info! I stayed one night when avoiding hurricanes in outer bank. I will retire either in metro dc or Raleigh on east coast. If possible I prefer Hawaii , just warmer or CA. But mostly just one out of those two places.
husbandbulges@reddit
When the time comes, yell if you need more Raleigh area info. Happy to help.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
So nice of you! Yes I will visit next year. I think builders will give out big discount next year
NerdyComfort-78@reddit
I know we want good health care (after watching FIL deal with in our opinion sub par physicians) a college nearby for fun, learning and culture, a nice lake would be nice and an airport. No coasts. Nothing south of TN (to hot!). Low taxes!
My husband despite being born in WI does not like the snow. Not sure what checks all those boxes.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Richmond? Durham?
NerdyComfort-78@reddit
Looked at those areas (Duke, the healthcare looks robust), but hurricanes are still a threat and then after Helene, I know it’s a once in lifetime but once in lifetime is happening more often these days I really don’t even wanna be that close to a coast.
Flustered-Flump@reddit
Was kinda hoping to retire to Portugal…. But maybe South Africa…. Dunno yet.
lcplscary@reddit
If we're staying in the US then we'll stay in Northern California. Own our home outright, Prop 13 keeps taxable value below 3k a year.
If CA keeps getting dumber about crime and taxes, I'm trying to get the wife to move to the Philippines. $ goes a lot farther over there, and the people are typically so much nicer.
oneKev@reddit
Ah, so you’re Filipino. No one else would choose the Philippines over NorCal, with the excellent health care, controlled property tax levels, good infrastructure, and decent weather.
lcplscary@reddit
Nope. Inverted coconut- white on the outside, brown on the inside.
Was stationed there in the Marines. Have buddies who have retired there. And the description you give of Northern CA is a little rosier than the reality. $1,500/mo for good insurance, state schools adding taxes to property every election cycle, freeways that are unusable because they have been 'under construction' for 8 years - but the weather is beautiful 9 months of the year!
teaandviolets@reddit
Think about that carefully as you get into later retirement years. I.E. start needing regular medical care, etc. I’m sure you can make it work but it’s definitely something to make sure you’ve considered before moving to a less developed part of the world.
janisemarie@reddit
You want Durham, not Raleigh.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Can you please share why? Which part of Durham? I heard some part not that nice
janisemarie@reddit
Durham is just much more fun and interesting. Great restaurants, arts, music scene (even better music in nearby Chapel Hill).
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Ok thanks . Durham is big. Amy suggestion where to stay buy? I visited Duke garden, I really like it.
midnight_skater@reddit
Why was Florida ever an option?
I love the desert SW but climate change is really going to make it far less habitable over the next 15 years. Fresh water is already a serious problem and it's only getting worse.
HI is great but has the highest cost of living. Extreme NorCal and Oregon have a pretty good balance of good weather, reasonable COL, plenty of fresh water, and less impact by climate change.
Really I'd be thinking about Portugal. Costa Rica is nice, but the latter has 3=8 times as many fer-de-lance envonomatiobs ever year as there are rattlesnake envenomation in the US, per capita. Poisonous snake bites are compstaratively rare in Portugal.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Because FL has nice beaches and I love Disney. But now home insurance and possible evacuation make it hard to go there even worse staying. I don’t mind paying state tax. If I plan to have two homes then one can be Fl for winter. If only one, now it is a no. Since I prefer warmer weather, it has to be NC SC or GA if it is on east coast. I don’t like rainy days so WA is not for me. CA or HI
MarineBeast_86@reddit
You guys are retiring?! 🥲
paperatic@reddit (OP)
No. Will in 10 years or so or a bit longer . We need to plan. Plus there may be real estate crash coming so we can buy retirement home early
ilikecats415@reddit
No way in hell I'd ever leave California.
eastbaypluviophile@reddit
Yep. Never leaving. We will have to reconsider our living arrangements because we have stairs in our home and don’t want to deal with mobility issues. Other than that, I’m good where I’m at.
pocketdare@reddit
Time to invest in one of those slow-moving stair chairs!
eastbaypluviophile@reddit
Ugh my late FIL had one. It sucked.
chickadee20024@reddit
Personal elevators can work well. Check them out.
ranchoparksteve@reddit
Yep. The fourth largest economy on the planet, envy of the world, and half of our own country imagining we are idiots. I’m totally on board with that.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
No Politics - Political posts of any sort are not permitted outside of moderator created threads. If you wish to have political discussions, you may do so on our other sub r/GenXPolitics.
Breaking this rule may result in temporary bans. Repeat offenders will be permanently banned.
No. Providing respite from political discussions does not infringe on any perceived rights.
Pattycakes1966@reddit
Our governor is an idiot. And the state isn’t friendly to business or really anyone.
eastbaypluviophile@reddit
I don’t like everything he’s done in the recent past. But overall I’d say he has done an ok job with what he had to work with. And he’s standing up to the fascist in DC. Is that the part you hate, perchance?
Pattycakes1966@reddit
He’s not trying to help anyone in California but himself
eastbaypluviophile@reddit
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
No Politics - Political posts of any sort are not permitted outside of moderator created threads. If you wish to have political discussions, you may do so on our other sub r/GenXPolitics.
Breaking this rule may result in temporary bans. Repeat offenders will be permanently banned.
No. Providing respite from political discussions does not infringe on any perceived rights.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
No Politics - Political posts of any sort are not permitted outside of moderator created threads. If you wish to have political discussions, you may do so on our other sub r/GenXPolitics.
Breaking this rule may result in temporary bans. Repeat offenders will be permanently banned.
No. Providing respite from political discussions does not infringe on any perceived rights.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
No Politics - Political posts of any sort are not permitted outside of moderator created threads. If you wish to have political discussions, you may do so on our other sub r/GenXPolitics.
Breaking this rule may result in temporary bans. Repeat offenders will be permanently banned.
No. Providing respite from political discussions does not infringe on any perceived rights.
teaandviolets@reddit
Who needs the state to be business friendly when they are retired? It’s plenty friendly for people who like great weather, access to good medical care, a thriving economy, a wide variety of culture, communities that accept them rather than trying to penalize them for not being cookie cutter straight white men, and so on.
Pattycakes1966@reddit
Retired people can’t afford California. That’s why they all leave
teaandviolets@reddit
Considering my city is full of retired people, they obviously don’t all leave. I’ve planned well for my future and I will be retiring here as well. Guess the redneck conservative types moving to bumfuck Idaho and Arkansas should have worked harder and pulled themselves up by their bootstraps if they wanted to be able to afford to stay in CA!
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
No Politics - Political posts of any sort are not permitted outside of moderator created threads. If you wish to have political discussions, you may do so on our other sub r/GenXPolitics.
Breaking this rule may result in temporary bans. Repeat offenders will be permanently banned.
No. Providing respite from political discussions does not infringe on any perceived rights.
ilikecats415@reddit
That's interesting considering the percent of our population who are retirement age is similar to that of the rest of the nation.
https://censusreporter.org/profiles/04000US06-california/
I know conservatives don't enjoy facts and data, though.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
No Politics - Political posts of any sort are not permitted outside of moderator created threads. If you wish to have political discussions, you may do so on our other sub r/GenXPolitics.
Breaking this rule may result in temporary bans. Repeat offenders will be permanently banned.
No. Providing respite from political discussions does not infringe on any perceived rights.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
No Politics - Political posts of any sort are not permitted outside of moderator created threads. If you wish to have political discussions, you may do so on our other sub r/GenXPolitics.
Breaking this rule may result in temporary bans. Repeat offenders will be permanently banned.
No. Providing respite from political discussions does not infringe on any perceived rights.
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
No Politics - Political posts of any sort are not permitted outside of moderator created threads. If you wish to have political discussions, you may do so on our other sub r/GenXPolitics.
Breaking this rule may result in temporary bans. Repeat offenders will be permanently banned.
No. Providing respite from political discussions does not infringe on any perceived rights.
TroyTony1973@reddit
Sounds like you need to go to Texas
Pattycakes1966@reddit
Probably better than here
uninspired@reddit
Now do the leader of the entire nation...
ranchoparksteve@reddit
If the fool does not laugh at the Way, it is not truly the Way. Little known fact.
jt2ou@reddit
Envy of the world? 😂 The rest I understand.
notevenapro@reddit
Born and raised from 1965 to 1990 in Palo Alto. I miss everything about that area. Taking a quick drive to half moon bay on a saturday morning. Riding my bike up to Portola valley and down skyline drive to Paige mill road. I would move back if I won the lottery and could buy a nice little home.
But. The California I came from, for the most part, does not exist anymore.
TinyPinkSparkles@reddit
I feel you. We look at Zillow all the time and see houses twice the size of ours for 1/3 the price elsewhere in the country, but.... weather, accessible medical care, weather, queer friendly, weather...
eastbaypluviophile@reddit
Having a big house is a liability as you age. Keep your smaller place. Easier, cheaper, less maintenance.
73DodgeDart@reddit
I am blessed to own a house in socal. The only tax we do the right way is property tax and I intend to take advantage of that the rest of my life. Our house only has three steps so I’m pretty sure I will be ok with that.
eastbaypluviophile@reddit
Yep. Never leaving. We will have to reconsider our living arrangements because we have stairs in our home and don’t want to deal with mobility issues. Other than that, I’m good where I’m at.
Shot-Artichoke-4106@reddit
Same. I'm sticking around.
Traditional_Ask262@reddit
My plan was to retire in a LCOL part of the US and we ended up moving to northeastern Ohio because my wife grew up here and still has family here. The winters are harsher than what we dealt with in the SF bay area but not as bad as what I dealt with growing up in Montreal in Canada.
The low cost of living allows us to spend more on international travel per year than we did back in California.
ailyara@reddit
Detroit Michigan, low cost of living, all 4 major sports, what more could I want
jandmhaj@reddit
I like southwest lower Michigan. I am less than three hours away from Chicago, Detroit, and Indy. But, I can live in the sticks in a pretty LCOL area. Sure, we get a bunch of snow, but when you don't have to schlep off to work every morning, who cares? I can finally be the irritating family member that says, "Ain't that snow pretty..."
XRlagniappe@reddit
Yes, if you are retired, snow has a completely different color.
Traditional_Ask262@reddit
I’m the first person on our street to shovel snow when we get a storm. I alternately claim I’m clearing the snow so I can walk the dog when he wakes up, or I say I think about shoveling as a form of exercise. I just enjoy doing it.
jandmhaj@reddit
Nothing like shoveling off the deck so the dog can get down to the yard to pee. Then it gets too deep there and you have to shovel along the house so he has a path once he hits the ground.
ailyara@reddit
It doesn't really snow that much in Detroit, tbh.
jandmhaj@reddit
Different story across the state. We are in a lake effect snow band of lake Michigan.
XRlagniappe@reddit
Snowblower or shovel?
Traditional_Ask262@reddit
4 foot "snowplow" shovel for lake effect snow: 48 inch snow plow
Standard shovel for normal snowfall: 28 inch snowplow
We've had an electric snowblower for three years now and I've used it twice, 'cause where's the sport in that?
XRlagniappe@reddit
Oh, my. A snowblower for every occasion.
jandmhaj@reddit
Indeed
allaboutaphie@reddit
Actually a fun time, lived out there when in my mid 20s and had a blast. You now have casinos and heard downtown is coming back to life, nothing wrong with that choice.
ailyara@reddit
casinos, symphony, art museums, plays, sports, we literally have it all
FireGodNYC@reddit
Go Lions!
allaboutaphie@reddit
ROARRR!!!!!
sharpfork@reddit
I love the Detroit metro area but holy shit the winters are more grey than even Chicago.
Technical-Bit-4801@reddit
Native Clevelander here; left after college and moved back 25 years later. Cost of living, ease of travel, diversity, culture, and did I mention COST OF LIVING is a big reason why I’m still here. 😂
Lately I’ve made a point of going someplace sunny during the dark winter but that’s really my biggest complaint.
If I were on the path towards a “classic” (age 67; currently 60) retirement I’d probably stay here but since I’d like to retire sooner I’m considering relocating to Mexico, Panama or possibly further south.
Traditional_Ask262@reddit
Sunny trips during the dark months are key - key for my mental wellbeing at least. Because we can afford it now, we’ve been to Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas and Turks and Caicos during the long winter. We’re leaving for Mexico on December 19th this year. I don’t mind staying in Ohio from June straight through until late Fall though.
Technical-Bit-4801@reddit
I know a true (retired) snowbird couple who spend half the year in Tucson and half the year in Cleveland. If I could afford that I’d probably do it.
blackpony04@reddit
I've split my life between the Buffalo and Chicago Areas and am staying put in Buffalo as it's a great place to live and has a small enough population to not be annoying. Better weather than the Midwest and I live north of where the lake effect snow this area is known for so it's a decent winter. We have a ranch house and it is perfectly set up for old age. And, like you, since its fairly LCOL, if winter starts to annoy us we plan to just vacation for a month somewhere warm as needed.
fugaziiv@reddit
Buffalo is a great town.
infinitum3d@reddit
Same! We grew up in Ohio, went to the West coast, loved it but couldn’t afford it. After 20 years we moved back to the Midwest to be closer to ‘home’.
Indiana/Illinois has some LCOL small towns that are reasonable as far as housing prices.
LBTavern@reddit
NW Ohio, lcol and winters getting milder by the year. 4 hours to all kinds of stuff to do for a weekend.
lionbacker54@reddit
Same. In Ohio, I can have two homes. One on the water for water sports, one in the country with a farm and land. Combined these are less than a standard single-family home in California. Combined property tax is less also.
shammy_dammy@reddit
We're in Mexico.
biggcb@reddit
Good for you! What part? How long have you been there?
shammy_dammy@reddit
We live in central Mexico, interior highlands. We've been here in Guanajuato state for four and a half years, two just outside of Guanajuato City and two and a half in Leon.
biggcb@reddit
That's great. I'm just starting to do some Mexico research.
FearlessLychee4892@reddit
Yeah, I think we are thinking somewhere overseas as well. Mexico is definitely a contender!
Iommi1970@reddit
My wife and I are looking at the same area. I am assuming you like it? What are some pros and cons?
shammy_dammy@reddit
Pros: Weather is usually very nice. Very defined wet and dry season. I love Guanajuato City, very picturesque, fascinating and beautiful. Leon has a lot of the services/stores/restaurants you might want...I live within walking distance of a Walmart, a Denny's and a KFC. There are Costcos, Sam's Clubs and HEBs (Texas chain of grocery stores) Cost of living compared to US is extremely reasonable, even in Guanajuato City. (Leon is cheaper, but) I have not made it over to San Miguel de Allende but it's famous for its beauty and charm. There is a small international airport located between Guanajuato City and Leon. Leon is a major city with great hospitals, pharmacies, etc The people are usually very kind, GTO city a little less so, especially at the beginning because it does see quite a bit of tourism.
Cons: It's a learning curve to live here, things that you don't expect to be different are. It's high altitude, you do become accustomed to it but it means the UV is through the roof. Always dusty. Thankfully the weather is usually great because central heat and air are incredibly uncommon. Driving is an experience. Do I like it? I'm going to give you the answer before everything went sideways here...yes, especially when we were living in Guanajuato City. I'm not a big fan of Leon, never have been, never will be. It's a large city with large city frustrations. We are currently here because my husband has experienced a health crisis and Leon is the place with the hospitals. And the reliable pharmacies. And the specialists. Also is the place my brother in law lives. So I'm trying to give an honest answer without letting a bad personal situation color my response.
Iommi1970@reddit
Thank you for this! I can’t wait to check it out as well as some other areas of the country.
shammy_dammy@reddit
Might want to take a look at the Chapala/Ajijic area. It's in Jalisco, on the shores of Lake Chapala. It has a lot of foreign residents, so it can be easier to navigate with limited Spanish, but that could a negative as well. It's a bit pricier than places like Leon, but still low in comparison.
Iommi1970@reddit
That is in the list as well. We are from Seattle and there are direct flights from Guadalajara to Seattle, so we can get back if we need to for family stuff, plus we like the access to the Pacific coast. The prices for rentals and real estate look very affordable to us there, but we are coming from an insanely expensive part of the US. My wife speaks very little Spanish (but wants to learn), so I think an area with lots of expats is fine for us:)
shammy_dammy@reddit
We've considered moving there but right now, I don't want to be too far from a major hospital. Ajijic has a hospital, but it's not big so for right now, it's a no. We were there checking it out before this.
TroyTony1973@reddit
Yeah, definitely interested in hearing your story more in depth. We’ve got that area on our radar as well, as the shit show that is the US just keeps getting shittier.
shammy_dammy@reddit
We live in central Mexico, interior highlands. We've been here in Guanajuato state for four and a half years, two just outside of Guanajuato City and two and a half in Leon.
Ohfatmaftguy@reddit
Phoenix
mothboy@reddit
I want to retire on a beach in Malibu. Im going to retire in a trailer park in Mesa AZ.
danooli@reddit
I'm drawn to Delaware for some reason. Maybe the taxes, maybe the mild weather?
paperatic@reddit (OP)
DE is not warmer than Dc
danooli@reddit
It's warmer than where I am
Giving_Dad_Advice@reddit
Do any GenX really consider FL a viable retirement location? Honestly curious.
flagal31@reddit
MANY seem to be moving here in that age range - so I dunno?
fearlessjim@reddit
I always pictured myself retiring to Florida. My aunt retired down there last summer and her and her husband love it
But but with all of the issues in Florida from insurance, to building codes issues to the police and weed being very illegal, I don’t think I can do it. Unless a lot changes in Florida in the next 10 years
I’ve been looking at Myrtle beach - my uncle moved there last year and loves it. I’m also thinking the desert out west. Arizona or Palm Springs area
flagal31@reddit
you're right on all but one of the FL issues - the Miami-Dade building codes (used for most of south and much of central fl) are some of the strongest in the nation - revised after Hurricane Andrew. Even the weaker FL codes (followed in northern fl are better than many nationwide.) But I concur on the rest.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
North Myrtle beach near barefoot landing is nice. Or go a bit south. Pass 501
fearlessjim@reddit
Good to know! I think my uncle is a bit south of Myrtle beach. I really don’t know anything about the area. Just what I see on the real estate apps when in get bored at work and I start dreaming about retirement
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Parley island? Quite some people retire there from north. Other than the resort area, decent place and reasonable price. Not sure about healthcare though.
OlyPics@reddit
Probably mean Pawleys Island. The growth there is incredible, not in a good way. The low country is beautiful but also one of the fastest growing places in the country with significant hurricane risk and increasing impacts from sea level rise.
drifter3026@reddit
I'll be retiring to the crematorium on my last day of work.
Chuck-Finley69@reddit
Welp, I’m already in Florida and based on the responses of all 5 of my kids, it appears I’m stuck here forever and not allowed to move.
BreyerChick@reddit
Sarasota checking in.
We are going to leave Florida when we retire in 5 years. The house can newer car will be paid off.
We are checking out Tennessee, Virginia.
We are both from the Midwest but I've never driven in snow and don't want to start learning in my 60s. So our home states of Ohio and Michigan are out, for me
flagal31@reddit
virginia may be a bit pricey tax-wise - just a head's up
Khaetra@reddit
Hi there! waves from Brevard
Green-Eyed-BabyGirl@reddit
Team Brevard💪
IdioticPrototype@reddit
Waves in Polk County
TrashyTardis@reddit
Duval over here. Hi there.
Chuck-Finley69@reddit
LMAO - just over the county line in E Hillsborough.
At least y’all have Grady Judd for entertainment and public speaking.
Chuck-Finley69@reddit
With everyone that down by me, we can all meet in the middle but that seems to be somewhere between Lake Wales and Yeehaw Junction for now.
BadAtExisting@reddit
Sup from Seminole
shamwowj@reddit
Live in Dallas, Tx now. Been there for the last 35 years. Own our house, live in a walkable area close to downtown, not going anywhere, if anything , we’ll rent out our place and get a condo.
Jasilee@reddit
Staying in NoVA until kids fly away somewhere more interesting.
I'd recommend Vegas area or Colorado Springs, Jacksonville FL, Tampa, and Richmond VA.
Doogie90@reddit
Northeast Florida. Hurricanes rarely strike here, though you can get lower powered remnants that travel across FL. Lower cost of living. When you factor in the cost of insurance AND taxes, it is hard to beat.
slade797@reddit
Who is Gene?
Fartina69@reddit
Fuck Gene. I'm an Ace guy.
TestDangerous7240@reddit
Hello Ace Fraley here…..
I’ll, a, probably, idk,
Retire in New York……
GymnasticSclerosis@reddit
It does have a nice groove
Blue_Back_Jack@reddit
TestDangerous7240@reddit
I see what you did there!!!!!
Golf clap headed your direction
viking12344@reddit
This should have more upvotes.....and by far the best solo record.
Conscious_String_195@reddit
With you on Gene, but I m more of a Vincent guy. (Seinfeld reference.) Not sure where Ace is from though.
Pshad4Bama@reddit
Gary for me.
Lemmon_Scented@reddit
But I’d Ace’s tongue long enough to make Oprah his best friend?
TestDangerous7240@reddit
The Color Pink!
Unlucky_Profit_776@reddit
I once dated a guy named Gene and he had an Ace Frehley cassette
FireGodNYC@reddit
😆
FutureClubOwner@reddit
He's the guy with the crooked mustache
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZIcWlPLvCs
lostsailorlivefree@reddit
You really don’t want to ask that
doobette@reddit
Gene's trash.
roysterino@reddit
He’s the guy that picks the crappy movies on that Seinfeld episode. Or maybe it’s the dancing guy from the Gong Show.
theflamingskull@reddit
Crappy movies?! Gene picked Sack Lunch, Prognosis Negative, and Weekend at Bernie's 2. I'll bet Rochelle Rochelle is there, too.
bippityboppitybooboo@reddit
Gene Gene the Dancin' Machine!
paperatic@reddit (OP)
GenX don’t know how to edit yet
Gen_Ecks@reddit
You can’t edit titles to posts.
pocketdare@reddit
You get one shot at it before your error is immortalized in the Internet Archives!
ihatepickingnames_@reddit
Queue Eminem's Lose Yourself.
slade797@reddit
*cue
ihatepickingnames_@reddit
Crap!
calmikazee@reddit
One opportunity : l
Jett44@reddit
My brother in Gen-X...if you don't know how to edit yet than the nursing home location isn't going to matter.
:)
4jules4je7@reddit
😝
MooseBlazer@reddit
Funny but you can’t edit a post title ,…only the post content.
All the other way is to make a whole new post obviously with a new post title
Oaken_beard@reddit
Practical-Middle3741@reddit
Tell 'em Mean Gene !!!
ibis_mummy@reddit
Gene Ween, of course.
Unable-Arm-448@reddit
I think they meant to type GenX
Minimum_E@reddit
Gene took my rake
AusGeno@reddit
I am! And this thread title definitely got my attention.
I also turn 50 in 3 days, Gen X milestone!
grateful_eugene@reddit
I’m right here, but I prefer to be called Eugene.
royv98@reddit
We have a wide variety of Gene picks.
haqglo11@reddit
Gene. You know, Gene X.
Fulghn@reddit
https://i.redd.it/1s44ow84xqtf1.gif
Raging_Apathist@reddit
Gene (Eugene) is my dog, and with some luck we will move to western North Carolina when we retire so we can be close to my mom, who lives in eastern Tennessee.
ailyara@reddit
Marvos79@reddit
zoot_boy@reddit
Thinking somewhere quiet, and don’t call me Gene.
DJErikD@reddit
Retired in Hawaii. Moved back to San Diego to take care of parents. If I wasn’t going to inherit a house that only had $1200 in annual property taxes (thanks Prop 13!), we’d go to north Arizona or New Mexico. Would like to pick up a vacation condo in Mexico (Yucatán/ Quintana Roo) if things go right. Good medical care availability is becoming something that will be considered regardless.
been_blissed@reddit
Wow! Bragging about not paying your fair share. Shameless.
DJErikD@reddit
You can fuck right off.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Wow my goal is to return in Hawaii. Which part of it? Need to work hard to get the money . Also love San Diego
DJErikD@reddit
We lived in Kaneohe, worked in Honolulu/Pearl Harbor. If we went back, it’d be to a different island, but costs make a return unlikely.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Nice. Will try to get a job in HI after kids go to college. CA and HI are the best
CuriousOptimistic@reddit
As a Phoenix resident, if I don't stay here my next choice is Albuquerque. Nice climate, charming, inexpensive. Property crime is bad but you can't have everything.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
I rushed through that place. Used to Myrtle beach. But long term not sure . How is Wilmington NV? Safe fun?
Mammoth_Elk_3807@reddit
I’ve 50M already early semi-retired to Thailand. Strongly recommend.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Nice. Which part of Thai? I love Thai food but prefer more Chinese Japanese food. English level of locals? I will plan a visit to Southeast Asia sometime.
Mammoth_Elk_3807@reddit
Bangkok and Koh Chang!! 50-50 split! Also love Chinese food but you’ll be fine… Chinatown in Bangkok is next level. I only speak a little Thai and have never had any problems whatsoever.
TarzanKitty@reddit
I’m staying in L.A. other than my college years. I never had any desire to live anywhere else.
verbatim14004@reddit
I live in Atlanta and am approaching retirement. Would not recommend. The traffic is making the city almost unlivable for retirees. I'm planning my exit even now.
CatnissEvergreed@reddit
Probably won't retire and if we do, it likely won't be in the US.
TomDac7@reddit
Palm Springs CA. 4 months of heat but the rest of the year is incredible
jessek@reddit
i uh, don't plan on being able to retire.
oxyfuelo@reddit
Will likely stay in our forever house in California which we were lucky to buy few decades ago. Selling and buying elsewhere cheaper will cost us few years of living expenses in taxes and fees alone, so we are stuck. Weather is nice and our friends are around, all good!
TJ_Fox@reddit
A progressive college town would be my preference, somewhere in the Pacific Northwest or maybe Vermont. If things here get so bad that it's better to abandon ship - which I think is unlikely, but not impossible - then New Zealand is a viable option.
husbandbulges@reddit
While I'd prefer to stay in the upper school (NC/VA/MD), I feel the same way. A town where there is a progressive bent and a college/university are two really good first steps to narrow it down.
It's probably be Chapel Hill or Carrboro in NC.
austin06@reddit
Under appreciated health care in that area as well. We settled in Asheville and love the weather and outdoor stuff, but if we leave (since CA is probably out of the picture at this point) I'd go to Durham or Chapel Hill.
Ok-Maize-284@reddit
How do you like that dumpster fire hospital, Mission? I’ve literally never heard one good thing about it, and been hearing all the bad things for years. I’m on a contract about 30 minutes west, and so now I hear about it even more.
austin06@reddit
Yeah I should clarify. The takeover of mission is something that should have never happened. I would not go there. Asheville does not have the teaching infrastructure to ever have a major medical center like the other cities in nc do. Was referring more to that. My husband’s world renowned specialist moved to nc from tx right after we did. Unc, duke, wake forest are all very good.
That said I’ve had way better experience with drs locally than I ever did in the greater Austin metro area. Mission used to be great I hear. Hopefully we get more options as planned.
Ok-Maize-284@reddit
I’ve met a lot of retired folks that worked at Mission before HCA took it over, and they said it was a wonderful place; many of them having worked there for decades. Some of them left after the takeover because of how bad it became. It’s a shame, but not surprising. It happens a lot when HCA buys out an established hospital.
austin06@reddit
Yes it is a shame. I’ve heard similar about anything hca elsewhere- people say take me anywhere but there. They did step up when Helene hit last year. It’s always the employees who keep things goong though. The ag here has sued hca as it was basically a hostile takeover. I don’t see much change though.
Crazy_Fuel_9938@reddit
The answer is actually Winston-Salem. A thriving arts community, here. I am from overseas and live here and have never felt more welcome in the fifteen states I have lived and worked in. People keep their religion and politics to themselves (hardly ever see a political bumper sticker here) and people of all backgrounds just seem to get along.
husbandbulges@reddit
I actually suggested W-S on another comment. Lovely spot.
TJ_Fox@reddit
Asheville?
husbandbulges@reddit
Oh it's so lovely there but it's colder than than those other areas - and AVL itself is not cheap and the further out you go there, the more rural it gets.
So for us, it wasn't on our list but I love love love the area! Black Mountain is one of my favorite places! Tried to get my kid to go to UNCA, Brevard or Mars Hill. She used to hike for a week with a group through Montreat.
austin06@reddit
Asheville is not colder than DC etc. We get snow maybe once a year. It's got beautiful weather except for Jan- March maybe and that's only because for me the trees are more bare. But we've had upper 70s in Feb.
I didn't see him mention "cheap" and Black Mountain isn't any cheaper than Asheville. It's more rural right around all the other places you mentioned.
husbandbulges@reddit
Oh I really wouldn't live in DC either though!! I've lived in NC for 50+ years, while I love to visit the mountains, I just wouldn't want to live there - it is for sure is colder/with snow than where I am now and we don't want colder.
Black Mountain is definitely not cheap but it's not Blowing Rock either. I will say, the people I know in Black Mountain live and work there. That's not always the case with towns that have a big touristic element. I have a friend who lived in a trailer in BM for years.
Infamous_Addendum175@reddit
There's Charlottesville.
oldirishfart@reddit
What are the immigration requirements for NZ?
Ok-Maize-284@reddit
You either need money or a profession they need. I know some medical is in high demand, especially doctors, but it doesn’t pay nearly as well as the states and even Australia pays more. As long as you enough money, you’re good to go. If you have neither of those things, it won’t happen unless you find an employer to sponsor you for a work visa.
TJ_Fox@reddit
Fairly strict - if you're qualified and experienced in certain industries or if an employer specifically sponsors you then you have a shot, but my American wife (who had a fairly direct route through marriage) still had to undergo a lengthy, complicated and expensive process just to get an annual work visa.
MooseBlazer@reddit
Good question from what I’ve read they don’t want Americans there or anyone else for that matter
squathrusts@reddit
I am Asian too and have been in the U.S. since 1980, English was my first language and my heroes are Elvis Presley, Paul Simon, Marshal Matt Dillon & Hulk Hogan. Honestly in the U.S. most Asians are lumped in with White people, professionally and culturally. Anyway, I grew up in CA but have been in the NYC area since 1991, I can’t imagine retiring either places but would feel like a fish out of water if I left the NY metro area at this point in my life.
I’ve considered somewhere in Tenessee or so but honestly I think too many people are thinking the same and moving down there, eventually the cost of living will be high there as well.
Ray_The_Engineer@reddit
We wanted to live in the country...so 2 years ago we bought a house in the mountains of NC. No regrets, it's lovely.
Cpt-May-I@reddit
I plan on keeping my home base in Northern Minnesota as it’s LCOL, payed off years ago, and nice from March - October. We are definitely exploring options for 3-4 months of Snowbirding though, the older I get the more brutal winter feels. I’m a late GenX and still have about 8 years to retirement and we have just started trying to figure out what we want to do. Buy land and build a small efficiency home for those 3-4 month, take an extended trip or two each winter, or maybe rent a place for a few months each year in a snowbird area. I’ve worked my butt off as a Union Mechanic and Equipment operator so I’m one of the lucky ones that will actually have a decent pension and retiree healthcare after 30years.
Marquis_de_Bayoux@reddit
I'm in NC, and I'll never move, absent something catastrophic.
still366@reddit
Staying in Portland, OR. The city and state in general is heavenly.
Might spend some time in the Balkans as well
Ok_Sundae2107@reddit
Where I'm at now.... at my desk.... when I kick the bucket.
ChokaMoka1@reddit
DONT forget the poop bucket!
Slim_Chiply@reddit
We are probably returning to Michigan. We currently live in Texas. Personally, I can't handle another hurricane nor the crazy traffic here.
We have no children and no family in Texas. Any family is in Michigan. We are going to situate ourselves such that it will be less of a hassle for some niece or nephew to handle our estate when we're gone. And there will at least be a chance of seeing family from time to time. No one in either family travels far or aunts and uncles.
H-is-for-Hopeless@reddit
I don't even know if I'll ever be able to afford to retire.
Dependent-Code-4166@reddit
I've been looking at places in Hot Springs, Arkansas. You can get an great house on Lake Hamilton that literally has a boat dock in your back yard. Lots of homes in the 1M to 2M range. An iMax theatre, plenty of shopping and restaurants, and a horse track. All 4 seasons. Easy drive to Little Rock .
sbvtguy34567@reddit
Well I'm a fed and 3 years from minimum, thinking sc , I've lived all over but open to any good tax friendly state. Where are we going?
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Like you. Sc is not bad low real estate tax. May not be too friendly for Asian. Need Asian market. NC GA
sbvtguy34567@reddit
I don't think it will be that bad. Right now I'm in Vermont which has a small Asian population but still even has 3 markets with his brought up from Boston.
Far_Emergency9462@reddit
Tennessee!
MarquesTreasures@reddit
Just spent the last 2 years full time RV doing just this. I settled in the Black Hills after living in Florida for 12 years.
zoeybeattheraccoon@reddit
I'm not Gene but I'll answer anyway.
I moved to Europe and plan to stay. If I had to go back to the U.S. I'd pick somewhere in Colorado or Washington.
Crouching_Stoner@reddit
Gene Gene made a machine. Joe Joe made it go. Art Art let a fart and blew the whole damn thing apart.
eggrally@reddit
Go to Asia, or beach town in Cali
Cutaway2AZ@reddit
I expect when i finally have my mortgage paid off and the yard and house in decent shape and think about not working (i’ll be 70) I’ll get sick with something expensive and lose everything. Probably end up having a steak and a nice bottle of wine then taking a long walk in the desert.
pestercat@reddit
Unless I somehow get lucky enough to be able to move overseas, I'm happy in Baltimore and would be fine staying in Maryland for the rest of my life if it's safe in the US to do so. Great community, and so many things to do and see in such a reasonable drive-- plus the cost of living is really low compared to just about everywhere else in the area.
prancing_moose@reddit
I’m off to New Zealand.
Tenos_Jar@reddit
The wife and I want to retire and live on a boat. So we are thinking the Carolinas or most likely the Pacific Northwest.
We're in the northern plains right now. So we are tired or snow. Ideally we'd like something with a moderate climate/cost of living etc .
ApartmentBeneficial2@reddit
Have you thought about Asia?
freesoloc2c@reddit
NE Washington State.
MienaLovesCats@reddit
No where in the USA. I might never step foot in USA again 💪💪🇨🇦
TheRhupt@reddit
Retire? I'm dying at work
sonamata@reddit
I'd love to move back to Philadelphia. I lived in an East Falls rowhouse & had the best experience. Just enough city life, great variety of delicious food & cultural events, easily accessible quiet spaces to recreate and meditate & to public transport, and the airport isn't terrible. I'm white, so can't speak to how the experience would be for an Asian person. It's my understanding it's currently a relatively small population, but is growing quickly.
fanzel71@reddit
Maybe Ohio or Pennsylvania. I have some friends there.
Charming-Insurance@reddit
Bien and raised in CA. I plan on dying here, hopefully in my house.
CSILalaAnn@reddit
Texas (lived here most of my life). I'm already retired. There's no state income tax.
CapeManiak@reddit
April-Sep: New Hampshire (own a small home near a ski area) Oct-March: rent in Portugal (air bnb the New Hampshire house)
damned-if-i-do-67@reddit
I have a chronic and rare cancer and adore my doctors/specialists here in NJ. AND we have assisted death with dignity, so even though I've lived all over and have permanent residence in Mexico after 2 decades there, I will be dying in NJ, where I was born and spend decades escaping. There is a certain neat circularity to it all.
Happy_Blackbird@reddit
I wish you all the best!
Happy_Blackbird@reddit
What is this "retirement" you speak of?
HOUS2000IAN@reddit
Probably Texas. Not a fan of the politics but it otherwise has what I want.
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
Much of my family is still in Texas, and it's where I've spent most of my life. I truly love the state, but I don't think I could ever move back there because of the politics. It just doesn't match my values. :(
HOUS2000IAN@reddit
It doesn’t match mine either, but I want to be close to my kids, close to outstanding restaurants, and close to the world’s best cancer hospital.
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
All valid reasons, of course. 🩷🩷
HOUS2000IAN@reddit
And I totally get where you are coming from! I miss the days when the state government was less partisan but otherwise colorful
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
Me too, friend. Me too. :( (And best wishes to whoever it is in your fam that has the big C.)
HOUS2000IAN@reddit
Ah thanks, I am the warrior and the survivor!
SolarPunkWitch2000@reddit
💪🏻💪🏻❤️
MooseBlazer@reddit
Talk about heat waves, but if you live there, that’s what you already know….
HOUS2000IAN@reddit
Yeah, I am used to it. I will take a hot summer over a cold winter without hesitation. Others would do the opposite and I respect that.
MooseBlazer@reddit
Well, extreme heat and extreme cold both suck.
HOUS2000IAN@reddit
The funny thing is, I don’t consider what I experience in Texas to be extreme heat. That would be Phoenix or India or places like that. But others would feel differently.
MooseBlazer@reddit
105F….. that’s extreme.
HOUS2000IAN@reddit
Where I am, we’ll go many years between seeing temperatures that high. I think this summer we only hit 100 once.
MooseBlazer@reddit
Lots of different regions in that huge state
HOUS2000IAN@reddit
Truth! And only a few are a fit for me.
Pdx_Obviously@reddit
Spain
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Visited Barcelona this summer . Language will be an issue. Amsterdam or Copenhagen so nice in summer. London and Paris would be better pick. Stay a bit further out may be doable. But French , too much work to learn. Rest of three are great. Still when I get really old, will return to US.
Dog_Mom_29@reddit
How about San Francisco or Marin? Gorgeous temps, slightly seasonal, Asian population, great food, honestly not much more expensive than metro DC.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
I loved San Francisco yet a recent visit made me sad. Union square I hope I remember the name right is empty. North CA is more expensive than San Diego.
Glittering-Tiger-6@reddit
We thought the same about Raleigh. Too spread out. We found a nice golf cart community near Charlotte with amenities, active social groups, and a wide range of ages. We love being between the mountains and ocean but typically not impacted greatly by hurricanes. Airport isn't the best but plenty of flight options.
Dwight_P_Sisyphus@reddit
Leaving the U.S. doesn't sound so bad right now, but assuming we stay, I'm hoping something in San Diego County. Don't have a solid plan for that, but it's not completely unrealistic, financially. We'll see.
Classic_Breadfruit18@reddit
I plan on staying put in Hawai'i. Yeah on paper it's the most expensive part of the country but once you get your house paid for (mine will be in 5 years) the taxes are very low. Just bought and paid for new vehicles that should last 20 years. I will pick a lot of fruits and herbs out of my yard, keep a flock of hens and buy meat from a neighbor. There are tons of free and cheap things to do and the social life here revolves around people not expensive things.
If I did decide to move, I'd probably head for Asia rather than the US mainland.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Quick summary: GenX who plan to move will be in NC SC VA GA AZ OR TN etc. CA HI if can afford. For me , Raleigh or Atlanta, will fight for Hawaii. We will see if I can get there.
fatburger321@reddit
To hell with New Babylon. I want to move out of the country and live near old Judea. Which is on the African tectonic plate, it's in Africa. (There is no such thing as the Middle East)
Silver_Breakfast7096@reddit
What’s your budget? The big island is more affordable for Hawaii. The Atlantic coast has milder hurricane hits than the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida.
Is Mexico or Asia on the table?
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Been to big island honestly don’t like it that much. I like Oahu the best and Kauai is nice. No mexico. Asia, can visit. Not sure about visa. Taiwan is good or Malaysia. Plan to stay in U.S.
bobyran711@reddit
Las Vegas?
Boomslang505@reddit
He’s the Dancing Machine
snaphappy2@reddit
Retire lol.
Far_Brilliant_443@reddit
Boomers retire to Mexico, Gen X works until the Darkness takes Us.
PieTighter@reddit
I'm in Rhode Island and I'm scared to move further south. We're in Halloween season and it was 80 degrees out today. I might try Maine but I don't know.
tuenthe463@reddit
ELAINE: (dismissive) Gene's trash.
MANAGER: I'm Gene.
ShowMeYourHappyTrail@reddit
I keep trying to convince hubby to retire in the Caribbean. I want to retire to Cozumel. He doesn't want to because it's hot and hurricanes. -.-
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Hurricane is tough. I would say no.
ShowMeYourHappyTrail@reddit
I mean, I live in tornado country already. It's no worse that that, surely...and our money would go so much further there....
Whole_Craft_1106@reddit
I want to be a snowbird. Currently in Michigan. I can do it now as I work from home. I would love to have a partner join me.
GeorgiaKudzu@reddit
San Diego or Hawaii - very nice. Both expensive but the big island of Hawaii may have some nice homes condos etc SD has some great spots downtown too - condos or you could head a bit north to Encinitas or Oceanside or Leucadia or a bit east of these places like Vista
GeorgiaKudzu@reddit
Do not move to Charleston too much flooding …. I grew up there but will never return due to the fact that it’s way worse now. Plus traffic is horrendous
nycinoc@reddit
My late Godfather’s name was Gene. Him and my late dad once made peach brandy in a homemade still in the basement of mom and dad’s apartment in Jersey City and nearly blew themselves up
Sparklemagic2002@reddit
Pfft…when we get this house paid off, we’re definitely not going to sell it just to start over somewhere else.
labretirementhome@reddit
North Carolina is full.
Beyond_Re-Animator@reddit
Staying put in Phoenix. We can rent a place in cooler weather in the summer. House will be paid off, and while insurance and property taxes have risen, they have everywhere else.
MaineviaIllinois@reddit
Shit. I've done my time. As soon as I retire, I am getting a retirement visa or an investment Visa in a functioning Democracy with healthcare, public transportation, and affordable food. Mexico, France, Uruguay, Greece, Spain are all options.
mltrout715@reddit
Likely the OC, that is where my grandkids are
ncwv44b@reddit
Live in Michigan now, which is a pretty great place. Hope to buy a catamaran and sail around the world. After that, maybe Costa Rica or wherever our grandkids end up.
Places I’ll never fucking live: the South, Texas, the Great Plains.
Wild_Bill1226@reddit
I love northeast Ohio. Have a huge theater district, would resound orchestra, parks everywhere, low cost of living. Only natural disaster you have to worry about is snow.
Snoo58207@reddit
Northwest Georgia. Like Dahlonega or Blairsville.
Vegancyclist420@reddit
Shhh. Don’t blow up the spot!!
YouBestProtectYoNeck@reddit
We’re currently in AZ and planning our last move to the PNW sometime before 2030. Climate, politics, and education are our top reasons.
D-ouble-D-utch@reddit
https://i.redd.it/ci2yzfndbstf1.gif
SnooEpiphanies157@reddit
We are already where I want to be, on Marco Island in SW Florida…
Once we are both officially retired in about 4.5 years it’ll be Marco Island with probably 3 months on Cape Cod.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Have not been to Marco but cape cod is great for summer. Yet I am lazy . Just want to pick a single place. Otherwise cape cod plus Fl is pretty good
Nouseriously@reddit
Moving to a low cost 3rd world country until I'm inevitably killed in the Food Riots
OC-Aztec@reddit
What is this “retire” you speak of?
Severina_Glass_208@reddit
Wait who is gene ?
paperatic@reddit (OP)
GenX
notevenapro@reddit
I live in Montgomery county u/paperatic and you know that the Asian population here is huge. And you have so much support in your community.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Yeah nova here. I prefer warmer place or near ocean. DC is good but not the best
Hifi-Cat@reddit
Maybe SeaTac.
willingzenith@reddit
Former midwesterner here. I moved to the southeast about 30 years ago for work. I’m about 5 years away from retiring. I’ll be heading back up north when I retire.
Reasons: It’s disgustingly hot and getting more so. The politics suck. I’m not religious. The infrastructure can’t even begin to keep up with all of the people moving here.
Honest question for you: do you think the weather is really much different from DC to Raleigh? If it’s cold in DC, I’m pretty sure it will be almost as cold in Raleigh.
If you don’t want to evacuate for a hurricane, take Charleston off your list. It’s as prone to hurricanes as anywhere in Florida, but on the plus side it’s probably easier to get in-land and away from it in SC compared to FL.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the tip! Charleston off the list. Raleigh will be 10 degrees high in winter compared to DC I mean the lowest temperature. Atlanta may be in my list. That is all for me unless I can afford HI or CA
sexytime92001@reddit
I live on the border of mexico/california. Working on getting dual citezenship and retiring in baja on the coast or mexicali. There is a huge population of chinese mexicans in mexicali because of the railroad building done on the west in the 1800's. Not sure what asian descent you are, but def worth looking into.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Thanks! It helps me
zendaddy76@reddit
Working at a Cinnabon in Nebraska.
brockclan216@reddit
For me out west, maybe desert mountains. I want to build my own cob/tiny home. Just need to find land
RCA2CE@reddit
I’m going to look around Alabama because the tax situation is very good for retired people
It has very very low property taxes and they don’t have state income tax on retirement income.
There are several very appealing places, lakefront, mountains, you can be near the gulf if you want. I think that’s where are heading
spintool1995@reddit
I'm in San Diego and would like to stay, but I'll need to save another $2M or so to comfortably retire with the lifestyle I want. Or I could cash out my home equity and go retire in a LCOL area now.
Indigrrl_alto@reddit
Childless, with an older partner (17 yr difference). If I end up without any of them, and I'm still reasonably able-bodied, I'd like to live in West Virginia. It's like here (WNC) without all the tourists.
Recordeal7@reddit
Somewhere between Greenville SC and Asheville NC.
Alarming_Hippo_6035@reddit
Top of a ridge line on the NC/TN border in the woods of a national park.
ThrowItAway1218@reddit
You get to retire? Lucky you.
Check out r/samegrassbutgreener for additional ideas.
yadkinriver@reddit
Charleston is a great city, the people are kind and quite welcoming
send2steph@reddit
Keeping our house (for now), adventuring in our campervan!
Conscious_String_195@reddit
You said no Florida due to insurance. Then, go on to talk about Hawaii and San Diego. 🤣 Check out the overall cost of living of the 3.
Hazards? What, hurricanes? That’s why we live in the central part where it’s geologically higher and not in a flood plane.
Florida is a great place to live, however it’s hot as hell in July and August if staying outside. However, at 80, I m not sure how many afternoon pickleball matches that will be scheduled. If you want community at that age, the Villages is there w/clubs for everything, restaurants, etc. Medical is ok, but UF Shands is an hour or so away and Mayo is 2+ hours if too complex for University of Florida.
emccm@reddit
I live in a HCOL city. I can’t imagine living elsewhere due to the great medical care available, ease of getting things like groceries, the community, resources and politics. Between retiring and getting too old my rough plan is to rent my place out and then live abroad in warm, low cost of living countries near the beach for a couple of years. Maybe spend a couple of years driving around the U.S., staying in motels / some kind of van life. I live a pretty minimalist life anyway.
I think realistically we are going to be limited in where we can live due to the state of the rural healthcare system, which has been in a steady decline for years due to various factors we pretend don’t exist when discussing our retirement here.
Phantom_minus@reddit
bruh nobody knows what HCOL stands for.
kipy7@reddit
SF Bay Area. Still got a lot of working to do before retiring, but we bought a SFH here and that's half the battle. Wife's family is here, weather is amazing, and I have a pension. Also Asian, and California is the best place to be. I used to live elsewhere and it's great to see people who look like me, everywhere.
makk73@reddit
My brother lives in CHS with his Asian wife, hapa children and her sister and kids and they’re very happy there.
The Asian community is relatively small but growing and generally well received.
QuiJon70@reddit
Planning on staying in Sacramento. For California not the worst housing cost. Does have a decent Asian community since you mentioned it. But also within 2 hours to San Francisco which obviously has a large again community.
ONROSREPUS@reddit
AZ and TN seem to be the places people around me are going to. TN is fairly inexpensive. AZ is just to fen hot for me.
kgcrowder@reddit
I grew up in TN, AL, GA . Went into the service and traveled extensively ended up in the Dallas TX area for the past 27 yrs . TN is an amazing state if you are into nature and the outdoors the only downside I have seen is when traveling back to visit family is everyone looks like life has just kicked them in the balls.
Gavacho123@reddit
New Mexico
classicsat@reddit
NM/AZ. Yes, a cold winter, but a dry cold.
RedditSkippy@reddit
Somewhere in the Northeast US. I’m in NYC now, but I’m from Massachusetts. I could see myself moving back to Mass.
Conscious_Life_8032@reddit
Will likely stay put in ca otherwise maybe Austin
Nothing beats CA weather.
Tubercle23@reddit
Basically where your friends and family are, or where you’re most likely to make friends, based on common interests, culture, and hobbies.
Easy_Landscape434@reddit
If it's the USA, I'm thinking Maine which is far away from people. Right now I'm just trying to last in my job for 8 years.
Overseas, Europe, somewhere in the west is the dream.
Science_Matters_100@reddit
If I have to stay in the USA, then I guess Hawaii
PerpetualRestart@reddit
I moved to Vegas for cheap living. I still work but as soon as my job is over, I'll probably leave the country. You should look at Vegas. There's a lot to do, large Asian population, and no income tax.
Peter_Piper74@reddit
Maine
SnowblindAlbino@reddit
I've used the web tool MoveMap (https://www.movemap.io/explore/us) to winnow down our options. Ultimately there are only a handful of counties in the entire US that meet our requirements, so at least we won't have to look at too many places. Our criteria included a bunch of things that eliminated options rapidly:
And a bunch of preferences too:
So basically we're down to the PNW and New England, and only small portions of each given these criteria. Have gone visiting/exploring a lot and are now at the stage of spending a week or two annually in a few small town to get the feel of the community. It's a fun process.
No2buckeyes@reddit
Thanks for the link to the tool.
SnowblindAlbino@reddit
Sure-- it's great. The developer is around here sometimes too.
wino12312@reddit
I was lucky to land a government job at 29. I was unlucky and lost my husband 6 years ago. I have a pension that offers health insurance. And his SS money will be enough to keep me afloat. I can retire in Ohio at 62 & 8 months.
gin_and_soda@reddit
I don’t. But I’m not Gene so….
AnneChovie264@reddit
My name is not Gene.😁
pretty_in_pink_1986@reddit
Stay where you are — you presumably have a social network and it’s familiar.
ThurmamMerman@reddit
North Korea seems a bit less dictator-ish these days.
No_Consideration_339@reddit
I’m heading north to somewhere with a real winter. Chicago, Minneapolis, perhaps Buffalo or Pittsburgh.
d_ippy@reddit
I’m staying in WA state
Guttersnipe77@reddit
I moved to Argentina.
SgtRudy0311Ret@reddit
Go to Charleston but it better be an authentic restaurant and not another panda express.
Commienavyswomom@reddit
Moved to Maine when we retired and not looking back. I have property, a home, lots of quiet and I don’t pay the crazy of big cities but an easy drive to several of them (Portland, ME/Boston/Quebec)
homeboy511@reddit
New Mexico or Oklahoma, far away from people
Future_Inspector6645@reddit
Central Coast of California.
osmiumfeather@reddit
Sticking with the northern Rockies. Too hot and humid anywhere else.
SurpriseEcstatic1761@reddit
When I am retired, the plan is at 70 or 75, we will almost certainly leave the country. I love my country, but the only affordable areas don't have healthy food. My wife keeps her Japanese citizenship so we can go there.
HonoluluLongBeach@reddit
Want to, Honolulu. Will: Long Beach
JackfruitCrazy51@reddit
Most likely Tucson. Having lived in the Midwest my whole life, I'm tired of cold and humidity.
Competitive-Let6727@reddit
When I was younger, it was leave NJ and go somewhere cheaper. As the family tree grows and changes it still stays centered here. So nowadays our plan is to spend more to stay here instead of blowing it all on cocaine and Viagra.
Flat_6_Theory@reddit
We’re thinking about moving out of the US. I’m liking the idea of heading south, like Honduras or Costa Rica, where we the money will go further and allow us to hire the help we need to stay out of retirement homes.
looneyfool423@reddit
Hawaii where it at. I also moved here 3 years ago to where to for the state for another 15-20 till I retire
SkarTisu@reddit
I won’t get to retire
revolutionoverdue@reddit
This is my question too. I’m not Asian tho
swampthiing@reddit
New Mexico, somewhere outside of Santa Fe.
brereddit@reddit
How about Las Cruces? LCOL…best Mountain View’s in the state.
swampthiing@reddit
That's exactly what I'm looking for
Memeow11@reddit
Started researching Reno or Uruguay.
fugaziiv@reddit
Cleveland. One of the world’s best hospitals, nation’s second largest theatre district, beautiful historic neighborhoods and architecture, no real traffic to space of, way better than it should be event calendar, amazing food and drink all in a very affordable package.
Minimum_E@reddit
Minnesota or Belize and other countries, kind of depends on how things shake out in the US over the next few years
andyr072@reddit
Gene Gene, made a machine, Joe Joe made it go, Art Art laid a fart and blew the whole damn thing apart.
u35828@reddit
Someplace where there's a decent hospital network, but the cost of living is low, and there are decent dining options.
Impressive-Shame-525@reddit
I went wwwayyy deep in the Appalachian Mountains.
Somehow have high speed internet, but my cell service is sketchy.
Way down that way is a hospital, so the road gets plowed pretty quick after a snow.
Got a four wheeler with a plow on it for the driveway.
Got deer and birds and other wildlife that come out to play in the clearing. Even caught a fox on the trail cam and a whole racoon family.
brandoldme@reddit
I don't. I don't plan on retiring.
It's not a money thing. I could be wealthy. And I don't see any form of retirement for me. But then again I've never really had a career to retire from. I just kind of do my thing. So I assume I'll just keep kind of doing my thing as long as I can.
But, I would like to spend some time at the beach. I will say from your list Charleston is nice. I really can't speak on whether or not it's good for somebody who's Asian. I feel like that's not a problem. But then again I'm white so it's not something that I have to think about. It's expensive. But there are affordable places within range. Suburbs maybe. And it's close to the beach. So that sounds kind of nice to me.
Atlanta sounds terrible. I spend time there now. I can't see that as somewhere I would like to go and relax. Although that's about the only place I have family. But I figure by the time I get to that point there won't be any family. That's just the way to phrase that. They will be alive. But I don't have children of my own. So I don't think there will be anybody concerned with me. So therefore I don't need to be geographically close to them.
hannahrieu@reddit
We are thinking Chattanooga. The mountains are cooler and its less expensive than what Middle Tennessee has become. Plus you can fly anywhere out of Atlanta.
CoverCommercial3576@reddit
Gene?
michaelpinto@reddit
DC may have the climate of Charleston sooner than you think
Justamonicker@reddit
I'm probably staying in Alaska, but leaving for warmer places 2 to 3 months in the winter. I'd like to go to different places each winter. Just rent and soak up the local culture for at least a month each place.
Would be real tough to move far away from the grandkids, year round, though. The summers here are usually good. But boy, the winters! Not great for seniors. Ice, snow, looooonnnnngggg winters. I have a love/hate, semi dysfunctional relationship with Alaska. I swear I'm one nasty earthquake away from running away from here, lol.
NegScenePts@reddit
Staying put in Canada, cause I don't need to factor in medical costs :). -30c isn't EVERY day in the winter...only one month :).
thurstar55@reddit
Fuck sake, as a millennial seeing Genx talking about where to settle in old age is tripping me out.
Ok_Living_7927@reddit
I'm retiring in Mississippi because I already have a place to retire to there. I don't plan on staying home much though.
MusicalMerlin1973@reddit
Not sure yet. If one of our kids takes over the house we’ll build an apartment for us. Otherwise, somewhere cheaper.
Sneakerwaves@reddit
Split between SF and the ranch in rural California, as long as my health stays strong enough for ranch life.
Tangboy50000@reddit
Honestly, I’ve been seeing a lot of upside to moving to the Philippines for retirement. Low cost of living, nice housing options, other ex-pats, and lots of English speakers.
ScottyDont1134@reddit
Retire? 😅🤣😂🥲🤬
But seriously I’ll be living where I live now til I die I assume
AntiauthoritarianSin@reddit
You assume this country will still continue to exist into the future in its current state.
This ain't 1990 anymore.
Minimum_Mail_6176@reddit
Don’t come to Maine. Healthcare is horrible for seniors and the rural clinics are closing from lack of funding. Plus, everyone thinks it’s super cold up here, but yesterday (Oct 6) it was 82. The high today was 79. We are in a major drought and oh yeah, ticks. The last several years winters haven’t been cold enough to kill the ticks and they are multiplying like bunnies on X. (That’s all over New England though.) I’d choose PNW. Comparatively speaking; better health care, lovely dark winters, yummy seafood for at least a few more years, and strong Asian communities.
stubept@reddit
My wife and I are going to be RV Retirees without the RV. Sell our house, put that money in a CD to provide us rent money and just bounce around to wherever we want. Beach this year, mountains next year, city the year after. Wherever the wind takes us.
ohyouvegotgreyeyes@reddit
I want to keep a condo in San Antonio to stay in when I visit my kids and also have a place somewhere with seasons that isn’t so hot. We are thinking PNW, Colorado or North East.
battlesong1972@reddit
I live in Northeast PA, that’s where I’ll retire and where I’ll die. I honestly don’t know anyone who’s retired and moved away
HazelMStone@reddit
Retire?
Salty-Image-2176@reddit
Mountains of Montana
Reachforthesky777@reddit
If you don't retire to FL then how are you going to appear as "Florida Man" on the news after doing something crazy?!
Fire_Doc2017@reddit
I’m not Gene, but I plan to retire in Pennsylvania near my kids.
lakas76@reddit
I plan on staying someplace in California or moving to Hawaii. I’ve visited plenty of other states and some other countries, but those are my two favorite places to be.
Fire_Doc2017@reddit
I’m not Gene, but I plan to retire in Pennsylvania near my kids.
Left-Thinker-5512@reddit
Why not look internationally?
TheEvilOfTwoLessers@reddit
Florida was never an option due to it being Florida.
gottaeatnow@reddit
Current plan is to either (1) stay in our paid-for home in LCOL midwestern city and slow travel or (2) move to Mexico or Central America.
hippiestitcher@reddit
We live in rural East Texas and we're staying here. We live in our cozy dream house, we're introverted near-hermits, and we love peace and quiet. We're good.
Le_Mew_Le_Purr@reddit
Summers in Wisconsin and winters right here in San Francisco. Reverse ~~cowgirl~~ snowbird!
kategoad@reddit
Depends. If boomer spouse still around, not moving due to goat herd (we became homesteaders before it was cool in the pandemic). Otherwise, imma go be a witchy old lady in the Rocky mountains with a bunch of cats.
beek7425@reddit
If I can’t leave the country, either stay in New England or maybe Virgin Islands somewhere? We’re over the winter but like the blue state LGBTQ rights.
OttoBaker@reddit
NJ
squarebody8675@reddit
I’m going to slow travel across Europe, maybe Panama, Ecuador. Will come back to Midwest for a bit in the summer though
YourGuyK@reddit
I'm in Minnesota and I'm happy here. My wife is hating winter more and more, so we may eventually go elsewhere, but Florida is out of the question, and I am very wary of what lack of water will do to the southwest. I figure we may end up somewhere like Charlotte, NC or Louisville, KY.
husbandbulges@reddit
If you are considering Charlotte, look at Chapel Hill/Durham/Cary as well as Winston-Salem in NC!
squanchy_Toss@reddit
Charlotte here! Winston-Salem (Triad area) is best. COL has been going up here. It's the #2 banking center behind NY. In 2002 I paid $82 per sq foot for my house, now it's $285. Although it's a buyers market now and coming down some. Wife and I going to Savannah/Brunswick area in 10 or so years to retire.
Crazy_Fuel_9938@reddit
W-S is awesome!
MooseBlazer@reddit
But just remember…. once you’re retired ; on the coldest winter days you can stay at home! The worst part of 20 below is walking out the door in the morning and driving to work. Yeah I’m sick of that part too.
YourGuyK@reddit
I agree.
JudgeJuryEx78@reddit
You mentioned Raleigh. Greensboro has a big Asian population and maybe a lower cost of living. If not, Winston-Salem is right next door and definitely cheaper. And you're a relatively short drive to either the mountains or the beach. Definitely warmer than DC.
mydoghank@reddit
Personally I’d be ok with a boring place if it’s pretty and has access to nature.
Hefty_Loan7486@reddit
North east Ohio.... Low cost of living.... Still stuff to do.... Asian neighborhoods.... Great hospital and medical care... But there is snowand winter gloom.
Jim_E_Rose@reddit
Probably the Philippines or maybe Thailand. Costa Rica is a dark horse candidate
haz_waste@reddit
I was thinking about Puerto Rico
Vegancyclist420@reddit
In the woods, far away from civilization. When disease or illness prevents me from hunting and gathering I will sit by a creek with a jug of water till my consciousness leaves my body. That’s what I can afford anyway.
Spicercakes@reddit
What is this thing, "retirement" ?
la_winky@reddit
Honestly?
Now I think I’m going to stay put.
I live in a temperate area, so seasons, but winters have gotten pretty mild over the years. My house is cozy, my HOA fees do suck, but I don’t owe much on the mortgage and they plow and mow.
The thought of making a new space my own sounds exhausting.
Greedy-Stage-120@reddit
Gene-uinely, I'm retired at 41 and live in SF Bay and Thailand.
Temporary_Client7585@reddit
Staying right here in CO and traveling as much as schedules allow.
PerceptionSimilar213@reddit
I don't care where the fuck Gene ends up
The_Observatory_@reddit
Retire?
Few_Whereas5206@reddit
I will retire in Europe.
geoffrey2970@reddit
Gene here, I’m moving to Florida! Bought a low key beach place there in 2020 at 2.875% renting it until I switch locales and rent my place here in DC. I will tap out in January 2028. Thank you very much!
Rambling-Holiday1998@reddit
I am currently in TN. My hope is to escape to southern Michigan.
Make a list of what you need. My list is Legal cannabis Natural beauty Recreational opportunities like bike trails At least a little diversity Neighborhood bars (I live in a county that is not dry but the mayor does not like bars so we can't have one.)
Anyway, make a wish list and find your place.
hagglethorn@reddit
Likely Michigan. I got family there.
Guilty-Tie164@reddit
I don't know what Gene's plans are but I'm going to be working up until the afternoon of my wake so...
utvols22champs@reddit
I’m foregoing my retirement options in the US and plan to live in Ecuador.
MountainTomato9292@reddit
Panama in Central America. But if that doesn’t work out, a cabin on a river somewhere.
lordbuffingt0n@reddit
I love Florida. But we are central. Inland enough not to be terribly affected by hurricanes, historically, but close enough that we can be at the coast in an hour.
OkElephant1931@reddit
“Retire to” and “grow old in” are two completely different things. I plan to retire to FL, both for the tax benefits and the activities, but I doubt I’ll stay there more than 10-15 years.
When I’m in my 80’s, a “boring” place with decent weather would be ideal. Currently thinking somewhere like Hattiesburg, MS, but nothing solid about that plan.
WuTang4thechildrn@reddit
Living shithole Florida and looking at either Charlotte, Denver, or abroad
giantstrider@reddit
what does retire mean
FloatingDownHere@reddit
In the USA? The fuck?
wellbloom@reddit
I’m in Atlanta and while I’m not sure this is where I’ll retire, it’s truly a hidden gem amongst other big/popular US cities. We have all four seasons and occasionally light snow in the winter, beautiful lush green landscape, lots of sunshine and you will not find a friendlier city in the US. It’s also an outdoorsy culture with lots of access to mountains, lakes and coastal beaches. Georgia overall is a conservative state but Atlanta is quite liberal.
ZoneWombat99@reddit
Minnesota. We can't deal with heat and humidity and refuse to live in a red state. We got the map and crossed off areas at risk for wildfire, drought, hurricanes, tornadoes, coastal storms, and earthquakes. The Great Lakes is the most haven-y as a climate haven. So then we looked at access to medical care, and proximity to a large city without having to be IN a large city.
We've lived overseas a lot and have been toying with moving to France or the Netherlands on a long-stay visa and travelling, but an international move is expensive.
hlmoore96@reddit
It wasn’t always the plan, but probably Crown Hill, Indianapolis, IN. I’m dealing with a long term, critical illness and it’s wiped us out financially. Life is still good; my first grandchild is coming in December and I’m so excited!! But I do believe a lot of Americans are in my situation due to health issues.
tuenthe463@reddit
Yeah, Gene! Let us know!
girl1dir@reddit
We left San Diego, CA, for Vancouver, Washington.
We were able to buy a house. I was able to quit working. We're living the dream. :)
brereddit@reddit
You should check out Las Cruces, NM. There’s a small homeless problem but overall not too bad. Plenty of sun. LCOL. Amazing Mountain View’s, golf, etc.
romulusnr@reddit
I don't
Sweaty-Homework-7591@reddit
Philadelphia area is diverse. Winters are not as bad as Midwest. Easy access to nyc and DC.
Ceorl_Lounge@reddit
Somewhere not Michigan. Oregon has been mentioned often, but if we're really pulling up stakes it might be outside the US
Disastrous_Cat3912@reddit
Born and raised in Florida, lived here my whole life. Not going anywhere.
DateInteresting3762@reddit
Haha, I live in the Raleigh area. Honestly, my wife and I will end up retiring here, since our house is paid off. Plus a lot of our family is in the area. I'm Asian like you, so I get how you feel about Charleston and some other areas.
Numerous-Positions_5@reddit
I’ve lived here in NYS for almost 40 years, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Far enough out in the sticks that traffic and congestion aren’t an issue, but an easy drive or flight to anywhere on the east coast or mid Atlantic area. The scenery is beautiful and I love the change of seasons, even winter. Besides, our kids and hopefully grandkids are all here.
Ealthina@reddit
Staying in Colorado..... Born here. Established here.
stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit
r/relication
Caloso89@reddit
We live in Sacramento and we have no plans to go anywhere else. It's probably considered a HCOL area, but it's pretty reasonable compared to the Bay Area or LA/OC/SD. And pretty ethnically diverse with strong API representation.
Trick-Mechanic8986@reddit
Any weed legal state. Michigan looks nice, and so does Colorado. The list of fuck no states is mighty long. Any place above 60 in February is a likely fuck no, and not because of the temp. lol
Ok_Explorer604@reddit
I have some friends who are young retirees who have asked me to come join them in LA, and I've considered it. I have elderly parents that I don't want to leave alone, but my brother and his wife have recently moved in with them, so it's nice knowing they have family to help out. Even if I go to LA, it'd be temporary. I've considered selling my home and just renting and constantly moving around the country, but haven't found the enthusiasm to commit to that yet.
San Diego is a good city, but crazy expensive, and it's not just the real estate. Insurance, taxes, utility, gas, everything. I've considered Las Vegas but I like having the ocean nearby. I guess it depends on your budget and your hobbies/interests outside of work.
paperatic@reddit (OP)
LA is also wonderful but the fog. I stayed in beach and still can’t see things clear in fog. Really really bad . Not healthy. Once it is clear LA is wonderful. Think again. If no fog LA metro maybe better than San Diego.
kimscz@reddit
Do you mean smog?
paperatic@reddit (OP)
Fog type really bad
kimscz@reddit
How is fog unhealthy?
paperatic@reddit (OP)
It is not natural one but due to pollution. You can’t breathe that well. It covered entire La metro
kimscz@reddit
That’s called smog. I grew up in So Cal. Sadly, the smog is greatly improved compared to the past!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smog
IBroughtWine@reddit
LAgator77@reddit
My criteria: has hiking, a Trader Joe’s, and little to no snow. I have my eye on a few places but we’re still 5-10 years away.
Justify-my-buy@reddit
I would encourage you to visit the PNW. I lived in Seattle for 11 yrs and the Asian community is AMAZING!!!
OrlandoOpossum@reddit
In a fucking grave, probably an hour before I have to go to work
HighOnGoofballs@reddit
I just got a house in Black Mountain, right outside of Asheville. Cool town on the rise
IdaDuck@reddit
Depends on kids/grandkids. If they stay in the area we will too. If they move elsewhere we will follow if it keeps us more connected. My wife and I want to be as involved as our kids will let us in helping with grandkids.
Throwaway-ish123a@reddit
An apartment in Pittsburgh during the warmer months and one in Palm beach in winter. I may leave the US though, if so, I'm still researching places, either Malta, Marseille/Nice, Mallorca, or maybe Uruguay.
GrandPriapus@reddit
We are more than happy to stay here in Wisconsin after we retire.
Ok-Commercial-924@reddit
San diego is nice, probably the only place in Ca I would consider. But the COL knocks it off the list. Oahu same COL sucks. Colorado is nice but expensive depending on where you live. We retired to the mountains in Northern Az. 7000ft so cool, but not to much snow. Inexpensive compared to the others. Very littethnic diversity, mainly Navajo and Caucasian.
walkingonlemons@reddit
I’m in the South. I want cooler weather but my kids are all here.
doglady1342@reddit
My husband and I stayed in the city where we have lived for the last 30+ years. We live in Tulsa. The cost of living and housing prices are relatively low, we have a lot of arts and culture including a world-class ballet company (if you're into that), we have good restaurants, the city is easy to get around, winters are very mild, people are friendly, and we can easily get to a major airport. We both grew up in northern places with cold weather and high costs of living. We would rather stay in a more affordable city and spend our money on travel and whatever else we want.
Rooster_Ties@reddit
We’re in DC now (rented in Columbia Heights the last 15 years), and we are retiring to Pittsburgh early next year — after all only having visited once(!) back in 2013 for a long weekend (and we never got back after Covid).
Cheaper, but still bigger than any of the cites we lived in before we moved to DC.
Several great museums, lots of arts and culture, 3 big universities, and tons of great old architecture, and what seems like mostly thoughtful new architecture too (or at least they didn’t tear down tons and tons of stuff).
VERY walkable too, if you live between the rivers (as we plan to).
Cambiknitter@reddit
We visited there recently for a long weekend and loved it too.
Sloth_grl@reddit
I want to sell our house, move to Mexico and live on social security and interest from our house fund. That will leave us comfortable and still give our kids a nice inheritance
Odd_Praline181@reddit
Asian and in Maryland, but I'm not in the DMV
I see a lot of people retiring in DE.
I have worked in and have relatives in North Carolina. In the tech triangle, It's pretty diverse. I personally like Charlotte.
A lot of Asians retire in the Las Vegas area. My parents have a number of friends that retired out there.
iamrava@reddit
florida chiming in … we’re full.
ryguymcsly@reddit
I mean it depends on how old you are and how long you plan on being alive. Isn’t that fun?
If you’re looking at 30 years, factor in worsening storms and sea level rise. I recommend looking at areas where most of the town and roads are at least 30ft above sea level, not in an area contained in a 1000 year or less flood zone, but gets enough rain historically (and now) where wildfire won’t be a big issue.
Upstate NY seems to be good for this, also with nearby hospitals and such. There are great parts of the midwest for this but heat and racism can be problems. New England in general should be good a few miles from the coast.
Bob_12_Pack@reddit
Coastal SE NC where I've always lived, and where my family lives.
Chuck-Finley69@reddit
Sound like your time share is by MIL place in Sarasota.
Barbarella_ella@reddit
I bought a 2 bed, 1 bath last year, near Seattle. The house is all on the ground level, has a small yard. I intend to age in place.
_P4X-639@reddit
I left Seattle for the OR coast last year, but I do love Seattle and go back often.
Barbarella_ella@reddit
I love the OR coast. My parents used to go visit friends in Florence all the time.
GrimSpirit42@reddit
I will be retiring in the same home I live in now.
Xx_SwordWords_xX@reddit
Mexico
kimscz@reddit
Wherever my kids are. I’m fortunate to own a house in a HCOL that my kids will inherit.
jason81175@reddit
Montana or Wyoming. I want to get away from all the Millinials and gen zers
dementeddigital2@reddit
I'm already in FL. I'll go to a L(ower)COL area. Possibly to a particular country in South America, depending on how their politics go over the next decade.
_smoke_me_a_kipper_@reddit
The dream is Europe (in the Baltics, specifically) but so far, that's just a dream. For now.
mtcwby@reddit
We'll be retiring in place despite being a HCOL area (SF bay area). Part of the reason it's high cost is housing and our mortgage is pretty cheap by now. Prop 13 offers some protection on property taxes although it's approaching half our mortgage per month.
Basically our house at this point is setup and close to like living at a resort. It allows our kids to live in the area cheaply while having good paying jobs and the rest of the world seemed to catch up quite a bit during Covid. Add to that the capital gains taxes would probably cost us a half million at this point.
Short-Bumblebee43@reddit
I'd personally stay away from anywhere in the South. Climate change is kicking everyone's ass, and it's only going to get hotter. "Well, as long as it's not humid," Janet, it's fucking 105 outside, do you think that you're going to stand smoldering under the sun like, "Thank god I'm too hot to sweat?"
If you like living in an airport, Hawaii is absolutely your go-to. Aside from being closer to the equator, everything in imported and costs more than it should. Where are you gonna go? Nowhere. Because you live on an island, and the traffic on Oahu is the worst I've ever had to endure. Living in Hawaii is awful.
squirtloaf@reddit
I grew up in small town Michigan. Moved out to L.A. after high school, and been here ever since.
Now I think about going back to small town Michigan.
It is clean, safe, friendly and you can get a decent house for 20% of what a shitty house costs here. There are woods and lakes and rivers, it is beautiful country. I do not mind cold, but hate the extreme summers out here.
When I was 18, quiet and boring was my enemy, now it sounds nice.
macroberts19@reddit
Someplace warm that isn’t Trumpy. Hard to find unfortunately. Sold our house in SWFL recently. Zero percent chance of even visiting never mind retiring there. People are getting nuttier by the day.
PlantsNCaterpillars@reddit
Selling my place in a HCOL part of SoCal and moving to live closer to family in the Gila Mountains of New Mexico.
Crewstage8387@reddit
South Carolina
OddAdministration677@reddit
Staying put in coastal Central California. Yes COL is insane but best weather in the country and I own my home
11CatLady@reddit
I'm in nyc..we're going to Reno..I worked out there recently and loved it
techaaron@reddit
We are just now looking at digital nomad life actually "slow-mad" (a month+ per city in lodging not a van) so we can figure this out. Don't hate but I used chat gpt to plan out a list of a bunch of cities we will visit in the next 2 years at different times of years which met criteria I typed in. Our first trip is next weekend to Richmond VA, but the cities span the entire US and eventually we will look abroad as well.
JoePNW2@reddit
Retiring to a new place is IMO increasingly an affluent-and-up thing.
I have spent my working life in HCOL cities that will be unaffordable for me as a retiree. I may go back to my hometown, We'll see.
cmille3@reddit
I'm going to retire where I live now. All my stuff is here and I'll still be close to work.
KrasnyRed5@reddit
I live on the Wear Coast, and my wife and Inahve been talking about retiring and moving to the Olympic peninsula in Washington state or somewhere along the Oregon coast. The thing is, neither of us will be able to retire for at least another 15 to 18 years, and things could change a lot in that time.
fgreen68@reddit
Not in the US. I plan to move overseas and spend my final years and accumulated wealth somewhere else.
SometimesUnkind@reddit
Florida is increasingly expensive in rent. I lived in Florida for 10 years and watched my rent go from $350 a month to almost 3k. All in the same shitty little apartment building.
I can’t imagine the nightmare people have trying to get insurance on an actual house in Florida.
BlownCamaro@reddit
I'm not Gene so I can't answer this.
Slight-Rate7309@reddit
I'll age where in the state where I currently live but I'll move to a different home.
shitty_advice_BDD@reddit
Myfanwy66@reddit
We are retiring to/returning to Europe.
Beth_Pleasant@reddit
I am also in the DC area. We are moving to a small city in eastern NC when my husband decides to retire (I work remotely). We bought the land in 2021, and our plan is that we will take a loan to build, and then the sale of our current home will pay off all 3 loans (current mortgage, HE Loan on land, construction loan), so we won't have any debt on the new place.
spider3407@reddit
I have property in Alaska and hopefully NM for the winter.
therealsylviaplath@reddit
Hawaii is fucking awesome and an excellent place to be Asian, but it’s so expensive. My daughter moved to Virginia with her boyfriend and she hated being stared at all the time so they broke up and she came home. Blue state, few guns, safe, much respect for the elderly, loads of masking when people are sick, you can walk all the time. There is no better place in America to be Asian than here!
PoofBam@reddit
Retire. lol
DocHoliday8514@reddit
Right there with ya
BullyDad123@reddit
SC is becoming the new Florida and the Charleston area is ground zero. I’m a dual citizen 🇺🇸🇮🇪 but can’t see living in Ireland(for various reasons) or anywhere in else in the EU (maybe Portugal🤷🏻♂️) Not a fan of Hawaii(the islands are beautiful but..)San Diego looks great except $$$. GA, TX, TN, AR, NM are some options I guess
hillaryjuliet@reddit
What’s the hang up with Hawaii?
BullyDad123@reddit
No hang ups on my end, this haole doesn’t want to move where he’s not wanted 🤙🏻
hillaryjuliet@reddit
Fair , guess I don’t see it as much . I live town . Plenty mix race neighborhoods but yea maybe cannot go west side .
_P4X-639@reddit
I moved to the OR coast last year and have a water view out every window. I'm not retired, but this is home.
blueiriscat@reddit
I'm in northwestern PA and will probably stay here. I like the seasons and winter isn't as terrible as it was growing up. Close to 3 cities, lots of healthcare options and LCOL.
phatt_halpert@reddit
San Diego is my goal. Gene might disagree, but ef her!
Snoo52682@reddit
I plan to stay where I live now. Once I've got more time to hang out with my friends, I'm not going to move away from them!
NHBikerHiker@reddit
I live in San Diego. Not sure how retirement will work - our mortgage is not sustainable once we stop working.
Dottegirl67@reddit
Seattle or Portland (OR), both look like good options to me. But most likely, I’ll be here in the middle of the country. I’ve lived here all my life and my spirit doesn’t feel restless.
__curmudgeon__@reddit
What about the city burnt to the ground though?/s
TroyTony1973@reddit
Moving up here with us in our war zone? /s
oldfogey12345@reddit
Gene Gene made a machine.
Joe Joe made it go.
Art Art let a fart and blew the whole damned thing apart.
That's all I can tell you about that Gene guy.
2dwind@reddit
Friends and travel are priorities for me in retirement. I’ll retire in one of the 3 cities in which I have several close friends. Of those cities — none of which are anyone’s idea of a vacation spot — one is a major airport hub so it might edge out the others.
mangoserpent@reddit
I can't afford to retire any time soon. I dislike Florida and Arizona.
If I had money maybe Cali.
JoeMillersHat@reddit
Retire lmao
OldBanjoFrog@reddit
I want to stay here in New Orleans. Wife is native and has all her family here. If the city gets leveled, maybe Philly, maybe we leave the country
Much-Chef6275@reddit
PacNW. Living on the coast is still affordable, and, although it rarely stays warm for long, it also rarely stays cold for long.
Just be prepared for rain (which I love).
RetiredPoPo10-8@reddit
I retired 2 years ago but once my daughters graduate high school, im going to Tennessee.
One_Local5586@reddit
Maine, I already have a house there
Sallydog24@reddit
I think I will be where ever my grandkids are
Cleverwabbit5@reddit
I am already unemployed looking for work constantly and being rejected for too long and what is retirement? Honestly where I am sucks so expensive and depressing, but don’t have money to move or any friends or family to move in with that wouldn’t be more hell. Single no kids own nothing but a car and crap. The future is not appealing I am going to lose my ACA and my SNAP. I don’t care about retirement because it doesn’t exist I just want out to the next world. This one is going to hell in a hand basket I don’t want to be in and have no desire to be any older slowly decaying and becoming destitute. Just shoot me
lvsnowden@reddit
I'd love to sell our Las Vegas home and buy somewhere cheaper, but we really love it here.
Roguefem-76@reddit
Don't come to North Carolina. Ever since it wound up on the "best places to move to" list, cost of living has been SKYROCKETING.
FUWS@reddit
Me and my wife gonna live in Thailand half the year and other half back in states when we retire. We are Asian but not Thai. I just like the Thai vibe, food, and cost of living cheap.
We live in DMV area and we’ll prolly have a place here some where. I like the DMV area for some reason, and do not want to go else where…
SergeantBeavis@reddit
I'm considering overseas. Perhaps Thailand or Portugal. I'm leaning towards Thailand because it's close to Japan, where my wife is from. I'd love to retire in Japan but their immigration policies make it challenging. Also, Japan is having more problems than most other countries when it comes to providing services to their increasingly aged population.
Thailand and Portugal, on the other hand, are pretty inviting to retirees. They have good healthcare and the country is cheap as dirt to live in.
Iommi1970@reddit
I am planning on retiring abroad. Primarily interested in Mexico. If it doesn’t work out will most likely come back to WA state where I am now, or Oregon Coast.
Hostile1974@reddit
Taiwan now. Taiwan forever. Great cheap healthcare. House on the east coast. If China comes, I really don't see it being functionally any different. Much much more likely to end up in some sort of face saving Commonwealth situation.
Diego_La_Puente@reddit
I (55M) rotate through-out the year between Florida, the mid-west and South America. I expect I will do the same but ultimately end up in South America for end of life care, where I can afford multiple live-in nurses if needed..
Candygramformrmongo@reddit
I'm in Maine. Love it here. May do a part time sailboat live aboard during the summers and/or sail south (or north). Otherwise travel and rent if I need warmth/snow. Looking at Norway for that.
RoyalPuzzleheaded259@reddit
Retire? What’s that?
RoyalPuzzleheaded259@reddit
Retire? What’s that?
RoyalPuzzleheaded259@reddit
Retire? What’s that?
wasnapping@reddit
Wilmington, NC (came from the DC area.)
paperatic@reddit (OP)
I rushed through that place. Used to Myrtle beach. But long term not sure . How is Wilmington NV? Safe fun?
paperatic@reddit (OP)
I rushed through that place. Used to Myrtle beach. But long term not sure . How is Wilmington NV? Safe fun?
tharesabeveragehere@reddit
I would definitely avoid NC. Absolutely nothing in NC is worth moving here.
simmons777@reddit
Definitely not FL but how did you know my name 😛
Rooster_Ties@reddit
We’re in DC now (rented in Columbia Heights the last 15 years), and we are retiring to Pittsburgh early next year — after all only having visited once(!) back in 2013 for a long weekend (and we never got back after Covid).
Cheaper, but still bigger than any of the cites we lived in before we moved to DC.
A number of great museums, lots of performing arts and culture, 3 big universities, and tons of great old architecture — and what seems like mostly thoughtful new architecture too (or at least they didn’t tear down tons and tons of stuff).
VERY walkable too, if you live between the rivers (as we plan to).
But Pittsburgh is slightly colder than DC — which we’re totally fine with — but that’d probably be a problem for you, OP.
Cominghome74@reddit
Cominghome74@reddit
swampthiing@reddit
New Mexico, somewhere outside of Santa Fe.
Rooster_Ties@reddit
We’re in DC now (rented in Columbia Heights the last 15 years), and we are retiring to Pittsburgh early next year — after all only having visited once(!) back in 2013 for a long weekend (and we never got back after Covid).
Cheaper, but still bigger than any of the cites we lived in before we moved to DC.
A number of great museums, lots of performing arts and culture, 3 big universities, and tons of great old architecture — and what seems like mostly thoughtful new architecture too (or at least they didn’t tear down tons and tons of stuff).
VERY walkable too, if you live between the rivers (as we plan to).
Rooster_Ties@reddit
We’re in DC now (rented in Columbia Heights the last 15 years), and we are retiring to Pittsburgh early next year — after all only having visited once(!) back in 2013 for a long weekend (and we never got back after Covid).
Cheaper, but still bigger than any of the cites we lived in before we moved to DC.
Several great museums, lots of arts and culture, 3 big universities, and tons of great old architecture, and what seems like mostly thoughtful new architecture too (or at least they didn’t tear down tons and tons of stuff).
VERY walkable too, if you live between the rivers (as we plan to).
Rooster_Ties@reddit
We’re in DC now (rented in Columbia Heights the last 15 years), and we are retiring to Pittsburgh early next year — after all only having visited once(!) back in 2013 for a long weekend (and we never got back after Covid).
Cheaper, but still bigger than any of the cites we lived in before we moved to DC.
Several great museums, lots of arts and culture, 3 big universities, and tons of great old architecture, and what seems like mostly thoughtful new architecture too (or at least they didn’t tear down tons and tons of stuff).
VERY walkable too, if you live between the rivers (as we plan to).
Plastic-Sentence9429@reddit
We've been in Texas for 26 years. Once the older kid graduates from UT, we're moving back to Maine. Austin has been great, and we have great friends here, but fuck this state. 2.5 years.
Heathers4ever@reddit
I live in Florida. After last year I thought about where we could move. My final answer? No where. Every state has something. Okay maybe not every state, but a lot. Fires, flooding, snow storms, earthquakes, volcanos, along with hurricanes and tornadoes. At this point, we are here. Between aging mothers and our child (barely an adult), we are here for the immediate future. We’ve still got a bit before retirement.
IDMike2008@reddit
Where ever my adult kids wind up setting.
mashel2811@reddit
We may do a stint as expats but we are also considering St. Croix US Virgin Islands.
Shoehorse13@reddit
We love our place in Phoenix so are staying put, but we got a cabin in the forest in New Mexico to escape summer. Best of both worlds.
AdScary1757@reddit
I was planning to snow bird it out if my cold state. I was looking at wrecked property in Puerto Rico that recreational fisherman were selling. Id repair it and spend 3 or 4 months there a year.
ServoWHU42@reddit
I'd consider moving to somewhere cheaper, but I already live in the cheapest area in the country to buy a house in, so that's out. I've thought about New Mexico because it's fairly inexpensive, warm and not humid. I have visited a couple of times and liked the ABQ area, but I'll probably die where I sit.
Maurice_Foot@reddit
We moved from Florida gulf coast to 7000' up a mountain in New Mexico. CoL is on the low side but not much metro activity, unless you like seeing the same 5 people and a dog when you go out to the local (only) bar in 20 miles.
benbenpens@reddit
Retire?
thedarkforest_theory@reddit
I’m already a homeowner in a destination that is seen as attractive for climate refugees (Seattle). I’m going to hang on as long as I can.
sas317@reddit
This is only a pipe dream because I won't move, but I'd just want to move out of CA and the high taxes and high cost of daily living - maybe Scottsdale, AZ because I've been there. Anywhere with Asians.
Right-Edge9320@reddit
I'm Asian and want to enjoy retirement eating good Food..so that's west coast or pnw for me.
Clarity2030@reddit
Well we were going to return to the US (we are expats) and retire in Palm Springs. Given the curreent shit show which is today's America, that plan has been shelved for now. We have EU residency so there is a lot to choose from. But I don't want to seem unkind. So, Thoughts and Prayers America. 🤣🤣🤣
Rob1150@reddit
Gene Belcher?
Vegas, Baby.
Chemical_Enthusiasm4@reddit
I don’t want to be trapped because I lose my ability to drive, and I don’t want to keep driving when I’m a danger to others.
Unless my kids all move to another city with good transportation I am staying put
Shot-Artichoke-4106@reddit
In an SF Bay Area native. I'm just staying here.
shotsallover@reddit
Where: Don’t know.
I’d like to be a short drive from the mountains and a usable beach. That’s not a lot of places unfortunately.
The bigger question is whether or not I’ll even be able to retire.
TenuousOgre@reddit
Live in Utah, wife refuses to leave grand kids, so Utah I guess. Me, I would rather retire early, spend a decade living aboard a nice catamaran, invite kids and grand kids to join a few weeks a year, back twice a year to visit. Then at about 70, retire to utah.
jenorama_CA@reddit
Our plan so far has been somewhere with a lower cost of living and no state income tax. Right now WA is top of the list, but we’ll see how things go.
lovegood123@reddit
I live in New England and we’re staying. I love it here and have no desire to live anywhere else.
watch-nerd@reddit
I retired in February this year.
Retired in Western WA.
Cactusandcreosote@reddit
In AZ. I’m staying unless the republic crumbles, then I’ll go to Mexico.
Affectionate-Row7718@reddit
Michigan in the house I grew up in. That my dad died in or sell it and move to the Japanese country side where the land and homes are cheap.
Emergency_Bike6274@reddit
Perhaps a new couch in a few years, placed on the other side of the living room. After that, a nice ice floe if there are any left.
Existing-Leopard-212@reddit
Central TX, near Austin, is very diverse, has good weather (it's hot, but it's dry), and good access to the needs of the aging. Way more centrist/left-leaning than the rest of TX.
Flat-Leg-6833@reddit
We currently plan on going to Spain but if we do have to retire in the US would do Arizona - maybe keep our place in NJ for the warmer months.
maxcherry6@reddit
Seriously, be prepared for insane heat that will keep you indoors for 5-6 months of the year. It may be a dry heat and yes, on some days, it really does make a difference over high humidity states. As I've become older, the heat and longevity of said high heat has taken a toll on me mentally.
silvermanedwino@reddit
I’m staying where I am.
Single. All my family is in this area.
maxcherry6@reddit
Sell my $350,000 home to just buy one somewhere else at retirement age?? No freaking way. We are planning upon retirement to keep our home (paid off in 5 years) and travel during the hot months and enjoy the cooler months where we live. We just don't have the energy or inclination to do anything else at this point. Particularly in this FU political climate. YMMV.
zoot_boy@reddit
Prob in my crappy midwestern town. Heck, I may have bought the house I’ll die in at this point.
amp7274@reddit
We moved to the suburbs of Seattle/tacoma to be near family and away from hurricanes
designocoligist@reddit
I’m probably staying here in NY somewhere in the Hudson Valley, the other option is the Berkshires in Massachusetts.
edasto42@reddit
Retire? What’s that? I’ll probably end up living out my days in SoCal. It’s become more of a home than anywhere else. If not there, South America has some spots that are enticing.
lokibeat@reddit
I want to emigrate but the wife is too ensconced in the US. Although she might be convinced in Europe but that's a long shot. Anyway, it looks like New Mexico is appealing. We've stopped going to Florida for our annual Thanksgiving trip due to our timeshare being claimed by the ocean. We keep thinking about going next door to NM from Texas, but Galveston is too convenient. But one of these days. My buddy, a California transplant living in Texas now going on 30 years likes it. Although he's setting up to retire in Northern California...no, more northern than that.