Have you/do you plan on moving to some other state when you retire?

[BigRichard]

Just wondering who on here has or is planning on moving when they retire? What is the destination? Anyone planning on making a jump to another country? Belize? Italy? Mexico?

The wife and I would definitely consider moving out of country but it would definitely be a tropical location.

[Rain Man]

I'm still several years away, but I've strongly considered it and idly look at places. Our house prices are strong enough in Denver that I could sell and buy a nice place for half the price in many other parts of the country, freeing up retirement cash.

However, I haven't found a place that can compete with Denver yet. I need low humidity, few bugs, attractive architecture, good access to parks and trails, good access to restaurants, no weird social culture (too far right or left), and generally a western landscape. The closest I've found is Santa Fe, but I don't necessarily think it's an improvement, just something different.

Some of the foreign places are intriguing, but I'm not sure I've got the guts to do that given things like health care that I'll need when I'm older. I'm not a tropical guy so central America doesn't draw me in. Some place like Portugal could be interesting, but I don't really need to learn another language.

I'm not sure the finances really work to move, either. My house has an apartment that generates revenue, so I'd have to free up a ton of cash to offset that. Probably the only thing that would make me move is an inability to use stairs, and hopefully that's a long ways off.

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm still several years away, but I've strongly considered it and idly look at places. Our house prices are strong enough in Denver that I could sell and buy a nice place for half the price in many other parts of the country, freeing up retirement cash.

However, I haven't found a place that can compete with Denver yet. I need low humidity, few bugs, attractive architecture, good access to parks and trails, good access to restaurants, no weird social culture (too far right or left), and generally a western landscape. The closest I've found is Santa Fe, but I don't necessarily think it's an improvement, just something different.

Some of the foreign places are intriguing, but I'm not sure I've got the guts to do that given things like health care that I'll need when I'm older. I'm not a tropical guy so central America doesn't draw me in. Some place like Portugal could be interesting, but I don't really need to learn another language.

I'm not sure the finances really work to move, either. My house has an apartment that generates revenue, so I'd have to free up a ton of cash to offset that. Probably the only thing that would make me move is an inability to use stairs, and hopefully that's a long ways off.

Thanks Rainman! I have an interesting job opportunity possibly coming my way which would allow me to work from home with very occasional travel. The wife and I had been looking to move to Florida or North Carolina as they seemed to have some of the better options for what I work with but if I can be any where who knows what I might consider. We may just head for our retirement destination about 20 years earlier than planned.

I believe the only requirement for this job is to be in the US time zones as the work is all with places in the US.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

However, I haven't found a place that can compete with Denver yet. I need low humidity, few bugs, attractive architecture, good access to parks and trails, good access to restaurants, no weird social culture (too far right or left), and generally a western landscape. The closest I've found is Santa Fe, but I don't necessarily think it's an improvement, just something different.

I'm not sure if Western WA checks your boxes or not. It's very wet in winter, but surprisingly dry during summer. I also don't know if it qualifies as a western landscape, as it has plenty of mountains but it also has trees and water. Every other item on your list it fits quite well.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

I'm not sure if Western WA checks your boxes or not. It's very wet in winter, but surprisingly dry during summer. I also don't know if it qualifies as a western landscape, as it has plenty of mountains but it also has trees and water. Every other item on your list it fits quite well.

I've only been to Seattle and the Olympic peninsula. Seattle has been a traffic nightmare both times, so I'd prefer Denver. But the Olympic peninsula would be nice. I thought Port Angeles was very nice in the one hour I visited. I'm not sure if it's too small for the long term, though. I like big-city amenities.

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I've only been to Seattle and the Olympic peninsula. Seattle has been a traffic nightmare both times, so I'd prefer Denver. But the Olympic peninsula would be nice. I thought Port Angeles was very nice in the one hour I visited. I'm not sure if it's too small for the long term, though. I like big-city amenities.

Then may I suggest Jupiter, FL?

[cooper barrett]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

Then may I suggest Jupiter, FL?

I bet rub and tugs are hard to get there right now.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I've only been to Seattle and the Olympic peninsula. Seattle has been a traffic nightmare both times, so I'd prefer Denver. But the Olympic peninsula would be nice. I thought Port Angeles was very nice in the one hour I visited. I'm not sure if it's too small for the long term, though. I like big-city amenities.

Agreed on Seattle, it's a nightmare and I only go there when I need to. Port Angeles is tiny, if you wanted to live on the peninsula I'd recommend Port Townsend (lots of historic buildings) or Bainbridge Island. Bellevue and the surrounding towns are big-city-esque without the issues of Seattle, mainly because they still enforce the laws there. Parts of Tacoma are surprisingly nice, especially by the water (Dash Point, Ruston).

When I moved here I always thought it would be temporary and I'd end up moving back to Colorado. Now it's grown on me and I would probably have a hard time leaving.

[TrebMaxx]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

I'm not sure if Western WA checks your boxes or not. It's very wet in winter, but surprisingly dry during summer. I also don't know if it qualifies as a western landscape, as it has plenty of mountains but it also has trees and water. Every other item on your list it fits quite well.

I would rather be on the east side, Spokane or near that area.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

I would rather be on the east side, Spokane or near that area.

If going all the way east to Spokane, just settle in Coeur D'alene. Think I may summer there as well. What a beautiful area.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by lewdog

If going all the way east to Spokane, just settle in Coeur D'alene. Think I may summer there as well. What a beautiful area.

I heard Coeur D'alene is beautiful from some people who moved there.

[GloucesterChief]

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

I would rather be on the east side, Spokane or near that area.

It will be bitterly cold in the winter and scorching hot in the summer. I went to uni in Pullman.

[Why Not?]

Still a couple of decades away and some of it will depend on if we have grandkids, etc. but I don’t see a scenario where we don’t live out the golden years back home(Hawaii).

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Still a couple of decades away and some of it will depend on if we have grandkids, etc. but I don’t see a scenario where we don’t live out the golden years back home(Hawaii).

I was in Tucson last week, and I really like that city. It's very scenic, and despite being a desert it's got lots of nice landscaping. It might be too hot, and I wonder how often I'd be chasing tarantulas and scorpions out of my shoes, but I'd consider it.

An uber driver there also told me that "Arizona wine country" was nice in places like Sonoita. Have you ever been there? I looked it up and it seems a bit small for my tastes, but it sounded nice.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I was in Tucson last week, and I really like that city. It's very scenic, and despite being a desert it's got lots of nice landscaping. It might be too hot, and I wonder how often I'd be chasing tarantulas and scorpions out of my shoes, but I'd consider it.

An uber driver there also told me that "Arizona wine country" was nice in places like Sonoita. Have you ever been there? I looked it up and it seems a bit small for my tastes, but it sounded nice.

No I haven’t. I kinda find most areas of AZ outside of the Phoenix metro to be a little to weird, desert dwellerish for me. Tucson is beautiful on the outskirts but a true hole on the inside