OT. Where to retire

kenmat · 02-13-2005, 09:55 AM

Well guys, I have about three years to go before reitiring at the age of 56. Right now I live a few blocks from the ocean in Huntington Beach,Ca. The weather and beaches are great but I can't wait to leave So. Cal. I have lived here all of my life and I just can't stand the congestion anymore. It takes two hours on the freeway just to get to some good riding areas. My wife and I have been traveling around the country these past few years looking for a reirement spot. So far we like southern utah and parts of arizona. Sorry to you east coast fanatics but the snow and humidity factors just don't appeal to me.Although I do like some of the beautiful country back there along with the friendly people. Has anyone found their paradise?

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

A lot of old geezers are going to St. George, UT !!

BoxerRep53 · 02-13-2005, 10:04 AM

I'd throw in a vote for Arizona.

SLP · 02-13-2005, 10:04 AM

I'm 3 yrs out on my 20yrs in Army and right now wife and I are considering Spokane - high desert, so tho it can get cold u don't have the humidity and snow like back east. Pretty area and lots of good roads up there too!

SLP · 02-13-2005, 10:06 AM

P.S. I went thru HS and college in AZ - it is a train wreck waiting to happen IMO - too many people not enuf water - Phoenix and Tucson are just plain dirty, and Flagstaff is being overrun by Califoricators... maybe Payson or Prescott.

Jeff Williams · 02-13-2005, 10:22 AM

kermat,
I live in paradise,enough said.
cya
jeff

Moybin · 10:33 AM

Retire? What's that? I've given up on that concept, at least for my self.

But I HAD looked at various places. One area that I thought had potential was southern and south eastern Utah. Another is south and east of Tucson. Bend Oregon is being rapidly overrun with wealthy Californicators. Bend is touted as being Phoenix twenty degrees colder. Spokane would be about twenty five degrees colder.

The zone between Knoxville, the Great Smoky Mountain Nat'l park and Chattanooga is popping with people moving in as retirees.

Lastly, my sis-in-law says I'm just about goofy enough to fit in with the folks that populate the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

That's all I've got. And the fact that Nevada does not have income tax.

sfarson · 02-13-2005, 10:56 AM

Perhaps southern Colorado or northern New Mexico. Take your pick of places. Yeah, there be some snow here and there but nothing drastic. No sweltering heat in the summer. Tons of sun. Dry. Great scenery. Great riding. This area will be on my short list of five places to consider some year.

wolff · 02-13-2005, 12:37 PM

The Texas Hill country AKA the area northwest of San Antonio. Cost of living is cheap, riding is good year round, great roads and no state income tax.

Bails · Bails's Garage

Consider Australia,
No Terrorist
Buy 1.5 thimes more for your US
Buy a Mansion for the same price as a normal US home
Free Medical
Best beaches and weather in the world
Get away from cities with 30 minute drive
Great motorcycle roads with No other users
Fresh food no chemicals
Great seafood.no chemicals
No pollution
Speak similar language
Get visits from Moto GP, Super Bikes and Motor GP
Buy Bikes Cheaper, own more bikes

Mr. Deltoid · 02-13-2005, 01:11 PM

Bails, you said "Free Medical".What is that mate?Being born in America this a mystery to people like me, who work for a living.Now if your fresh from the border, your good as gold

So your saying a foreigner like me could settle in your beautiful country and get free medical care?WOW!!!

werewulf · 02-13-2005, 02:33 PM

bails, i was thinking about your country, as ive heard a lot of great reviews. i understand that new zealand makes you pay 10k bucks if you want to live there. is it the same in australia?

BTW, if anyone has an idea about moving to the smokies, talk to me first. been there, done that! a friend of mine warned me years ago not to do it and i wouldnt listen, as i loved the place. i retired there for 8 years, until the locals wore me down! riding there on vacation is one thing, living there is another. i can tell you some stories that will curl your hair!! im a good southern boy too! if you aint, hold on to your shorts!
i shouldnt tell everyone this, because its growing too fast. you can move to live oak, florida and ride without the traffic or conjestion and still buy 5 acres of wooded land. you can be in the smokies in 7 hours or on the beach in cedar key in two, and fish in the suwannee river. if you have a few bucks, tallahassee is beautiful, if you are on a state pension like me, it live oak time. as a trooper, i worked all over the state and this is my advice!

Robert Au · 02-13-2005, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Deltoid
Bails, you said "Free Medical".What is that mate?Being born in America this a mystery to people like me, who work for a living.Now if your fresh from the border, your good as goldSo your saying a foreigner like me could settle in your beautiful country and get free medical care?WOW!!!

It's not free. But it is the best system I know of. We pay a Levy on our incomes (mostly 1.5% on our taxable incomes). Plus, we don't have to wait too long to access the services when we need them.

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

I don't want anyone but motorcycle people moving to Arkansas. A crummy place to work but nice to live. No straight roads in northern AR. That CA money goes a long way here.

Jim

EZ-RIDER · 02-13-2005, 05:07 PM

The way I see it, If I tell you all the cool places to retire at all you
Californians will move there and F-ck it up

Bend, Joseph Oregon
etc. You'll move in pay way too much for land and drive the price to the
point that the locals can't live there

pwillikers · 02-13-2005, 05:59 PM

I am planning a retirement spot without much luck. We just haven't found the time to scope out places and find a house. Any how, the current list in order of preference:[list=1][*]NC, west of Asheville (what's wrong with that?)[*]FL, west coast (hurricanes be damned)[*]NYC ('cause we're New Yorkers)[/list=1]

peakrunner · 02-13-2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sfarson
Perhaps southern Colorado or northern New Mexico. Take your pick of places. Yeah, there be some snow here and there but nothing drastic. No sweltering heat in the summer. Tons of sun. Dry. Great scenery. Great riding. This area will be on my short list of five places to consider some year.

I second the motion! Climate is very nice, you can ride year round (save a few days) lots of nice roads to ride and sites to see. You have great access to the west and west coast. No disrespect to our peeps in the mid and Northwest but there is a reason they call them "Snow Birds" they all head this way for the winters.

Just my two cents worth. Enjoy retirement (ya bastard) they will be the best years of your life.

Godspeed,
PR

lemec · 02-13-2005, 07:18 PM

I think Australia would be a great place to retire. My employer sent me to Sydney two summers ago. I loved it! Trouble is, you Aussies don't seem to take too kindly to immigrants, unless they're rich or beautiful or something. What do we have to do to be allowed to emigrate and ruin your beautiful country?

johnnydanger · 02-13-2005, 07:24 PM

How about Monterey, CA? A little pricy, but great place and great riding just out the door. St. George is pretty nice considering, my aunt and uncle have a winter place there. Course, yours truly Bellingham, WA is tops as long as you can put up with a bit of gray and damp in the winter the summers are the best ever. The san juans and Olympic Peninsula are great places too. Sequim, WA for instance is a big retirement place. It's also in the rain shadow of the olympics.

timf · 02-14-2005, 03:30 AM

Any small town in the Southern Appalachain Mountains would be nice and a reasonable cost of living. Actually, I think 56 is way too young to be retiring. Althoulgh I know people who can afford to retire at that age, and would like to, but health insurance cost is the prohibitive factor.

I thought about buying a place to retire in the Kelsoe Valley just east of Isabella, CA in the Sequoia Nat. Forest. High desert area. Problem is it's snowed in a couple of months each year. Very few people find their way there so it's pretty reclusive. Perfect for me.

I'm at the base of the Appalachains in SC, the next best thing. Good riding and other activities available, hang gliding for example.

Good luck.