Retiring in / near Charleston, SC

[ard]

If I am to believe the "search" function it's been ages (~ 3 years) since there's been an OT thread with "Charleston" in the title, so here goes

I am toying with the idea moving to the greater Charleston area upon retirement (not imminent, sigh, but I can see that far into the future from where I stand), with my SO who will retire before me.

Any Pelicanites local to that area that would care to chime in about the niceties, gotchas, cost of living, quality of medical care (we are still very healthy, knock on wood but old age has a way of catching up)? What do you all do for fun?

Also, and I hope this doesn't become the dominant topic in this thread but how does the demographic mix feel "on the ground" in everyday life? I ask because neither I nor my SO are American-born and based on appearance we likely would be classified as "Middle Eastern" and "Oriental" although we have spent the majority of our lives in the States.

I am considering visiting in late September to get a 1st-hand look.

Really appreciate any insights you care to share.

Cheers.

[Alan A]

Go in the summer. See if you can deal with the humidity…

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Go in the summer. See if you can deal with the humidity…

^^^^ This! There are some Pelicans in that area .... they will chime in soon.

Methinks your concerns about your heritage are nonsense .... if you have $$$... you will be accepted .

Go visit a few times during different seasons .... it's a cool older city, but I haven't been in decades ....

Do ya like the water ?

[Seahawk]

The greater Charleston area encompasses, in my mind, Hilton Head to the Isle of Palms. There is a distinctly different vibe depending on where you are within that area.

My daughter lived in downtown Charleston but found it a bit confining and stodgy.

She bought a very nice condo in Mt. Pleasant and loves it. She learned to surf a few years ago in California and isn't far from beaches with occasional surf.

I have friends in Beaufort and they really like the place.

We also bought a home in Aiken, SC a few years ago and plan on 3 seasons a year there and then find a place to go in the summer - I grew up in California and went to college in the Bay Area and I hate humidity (air you can wear, southern fog, soup du jour, etc.) mainly because I sweat like a butterball turkey at Thanksgiving.

As others have written, visit in July before you buy.

[p911dad]

I spent some summers in the area as a youth, and have visited periodically over the years. If I were moving there for retirement I would probably consider Mt. Pleasant, SC which is across the Cooper River from Charleston itself. The area is generally pretty diverse and I don't think you would have any "problem" living there. It is definitely not like California. Residents probably sort themselves by wealth and income just like any other area. Nothing unique there. As far as humidity in the summer, the entire South can get pretty humid and I don't think Charleston is any more or less humid than other areas, although my aunt (who always lived in Georgetown) used to call those hot mid-summer days "dog days", as in not fit for a dog. Beaches in the South seem to have different weather than just inland across the marshes, they seem more sunny on days inland are cloudy. Maybe related to onshore - offshore breezes. Of course they are also ground-zero for the rare hurricane that actually hits here.

[GH85Carrera]

One of my wife's good friends is married to a ENT and she supported him through medical school in "Yankee land" and suffered through the horrid winters and hated it.

When he was close to graduation, they went looking for a new state to live in. She said they would drive for a few hours, and go into a local "big box store" and ask where the snow blowers are. If they pointed to an aisle, they just walked out and kept driving south. When they got to Charleston they walked into a big box store and asked again. The employee said "A what?" so they tried another store and got the same answer. They were far enough south to be safe from snow and ice, and said this is home.

He graduated top of his class, and had job offers from all over the country. One was from a Charleston practice. They offered to pay off his student loans if he went to work there. He is now a partner and loving it.

[jhynesrockmtn]

We visited Southern Pines NC several times while my son was at Ft. Bragg. My youngest Grandson was born there. I loved that area in a lot of ways and it seemed affordable compared to many places. It is 225 miles NW of Charleston. The humidity is something else though. I'm from the west coast and we don't experience anything like it. Packing extra clothes if we were going anywhere for the day became the norm. Is it something you just get used to over time?

[Chocaholic]

You may want to consider the Savannah area as well. For retirement we considered Charleston, Savannah, Greenville, SC and Fairhope, AL and chose Fairhope. Charleston is a high tourism area which isn’t necessarily negative (it was for us), but cost of living seemed higher and traffic was quite heavy especially in the suburbia Mt. Pleasant area. Savannah is a somewhat smaller version of Charleston...also coastal but just seemed more “liveable”...at least for us. If you want to be in that area both are good choices with + and - to each. A visit to both is in order...only about 75 minute drive between them.

[GH85Carrera]

We were in Savanna, GA in August. One day the heat index was 135! 98 degrees and 95% humidity is like a steam bath. I just wondered how in the heck did the people from before air conditioning or electricity survive. A house that would feel like my attic, with not even a fan to help, and all the layers of clothes. I can't imagine.

We had a wonderful meal at the Olde Pink house that was built in 1771, and the land was gifted to the first owner by the King, before statehood or the USA itself.

We want to go back in the winter time so we can be outside and not dehydrate in minutes from sweat.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

Packing extra clothes if we were going anywhere for the day became the norm. Is it something you just get used to over time?

I am used to it but still struggle at times, especially has I've gotten older.

I can see Virginia from my desk, about 5 miles across the Potomac.

During the summer, if I can't see Virginia I know it is going to be a three t-shirt/two shorts day until the afternoon breeze sets up.

This part of Maryland is very humid but you get odd breaks every week or so which really help. SC not so much.

I'll get back to surf kayaking, kayaking in general when we move. My sister also has a place in the NC mountains near Brevard so that helps as well.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

We were in Savanna, GA in August. One day the heat index was 135! 98 degrees and 95% humidity is like a steam bath. I just wondered how in the heck did the people from before air conditioning or electricity survive. A house that would feel like my attic, with not even a fan to help, and all the layers of clothes. I can't imagine.

We had a wonderful meal at the Olde Pink house that was built in 1771, and the land was gifted to the first owner by the King, before statehood or the USA itself.

We want to go back in the winter time so we can be outside and not dehydrate in minutes from sweat.

Spring and fall are amazing there. There’s a reason the Masters is played in April, just a short drive from the low-country.

[KFC911]

A930Rocket lives in Mt. Pleasant .... he will chime in eventually I'm sure.

It's hot and humid everywhere in the south ... some places just worse than others .... but it ain't CA! I've lived in FL .... ten miles inland can be brutal compared to the beach .... and living on-the-water or higher elevations (mtns) is a LOT easier for the humid adverse. It's in my southern DNA ... but as I've gotten older, I'm not acclimated (outside) and don't tolerate it like earlier in life either.

Take your wife and visit ..... if she ain't happy .... you won't be either .

Good luck and happy visits!

[porsche tech]

Our pastor one time said, “this is the time of year when some people head north. They call them snowbirds…I call them cowards.”

[speeder]

The truth of the matter is that most of the USA, or at least a majority of it, is very hot and humid in the summer. Some of it is just plain hot, (without the humidity), like AZ. and most of the SW. Minneapolis, MN., where I grew up, (the coldest city in North America), can be brutally hot and humid in the summer. 95 deg with 95% humidity is not uncommon. Luckily, there is water everywhere to jump into, (reason for the humidity), but still, it's brutal.

It can be challenging to find somewhere cool to go but elevation seems to help. Montana in the summer is amazing, or anywhere along the west coast close to the water. Still plenty warm but an escape from the oven that is most of NA. I'm starting to think that Hugh's idea of owning a nice RV and roaming around in the summer is a good plan...live somewhere warm with low taxes 8-9 months and roam somewhere sweet in the summer.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by speeder

I'm starting to think that Hugh's idea of owning a nice RV and roaming around in the summer is a good plan...live somewhere warm with low taxes 8-9 months and roam somewhere sweet in the summer.

Call my wife please😎

[PorscheGAL]

I live outside Columbia, but spend quite a bit of time down in Charleston. It's only a 2 hour drive. The heat and humidity is oppressive but only for June-Sept. Then it's great.

No matter what you have heard about the south, we are very welcoming. No one will bat an eye lash at your appearance.

Not sure where you are in Cali but if you live near a large city, you will miss the diversity of food and culture. Don't get me wrong, Charleston has amazing food and when you come visit, I am happy to recommend some greats but you won't find lots of Indian, Greek, Chinese, etc. You'll have 1 choice usually. Plays, not too much to see.

What you gain is a beautiful city with amazing people. No place on Earth has the beauty of the moss draped Oaks that grace the low country. There have been experiments done where someone "loses their wallet" Charleston residents are consistently the most likely to return it. Downtown is remarkably easy to walk and the surrounding islands (John, Daniel, etc) each have their own charm.

I could go on for days, but I am biased. Charleston is one of my favorite cities in the entire world.

PM me with questions, I'm happy to help.

[steve185]

I spend some time in Pawley's island every summer. It is about an hour north of Charleston. I could live there three or four months a year. Humidity is worse here in the summer.

[DWBOX2000]

Charleston is a pretty special place. Savannah is nice but I felt a little grittier. Pink House does have some incredible fried chicken though and you can also have an alcoholic drink walking around which I don’t think is Allowed in Charleston. Beaufort was more what I picture the south was really like, gorgeous but not as manicured as Charleston (historic). I’m on James Island (part of Charleston), different vibe just crossing the bridge. A little more honk tonk. Anyways, you can go wiring if you like to golf, boat, beach or spend time outside. I

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Call my wife please😎

Ha ha, how is she with extreme heat and humidity? Montana in the summer should not be a hard sell. Maybe Maine, although I hear that it's gotten super popular in the last few years. The pandemic had everyone finding all of the great nature spots that were sleepier before. The National Parks are way too crowded now which is a mixed deal...awesome that Americans are appreciating our natural treasures but a PIA at the same time.

Anyhow, give her an extra hug for me. She knows how much I like her.

[Baz]

On our annual surf trips to Hatteras, we always made it a point to stop at Charleston and spend some time at Folly Beach.

No idea if it's still a fun place to hang out but thought it worth a mention.