Yes, Dartmouth-Hitchcock is an excellent hospital. Manchester feels like a small regional airport, but maybe I'm wrong? Certainly not as big as Logan; maybe on the scale of Bradley?
We’re in the process of trying to map out a Florida exit strategy and ‘somewhere in the vicinity of Fort Collins, Colorado’ is the current leader. There’s a Level ! Trauma center in nearby Loveland, which we’re using as a proxy for ‘will have reasonably good access to higher level health care as needed nearby’. If you don’t need the Fort Collins zip code, there are some decent small town housing options nearby for $500K or less. A lot of other cost of living metrics seem lower than Florida once you get past the housing costs- I’m looking forward to not paying FL homeowner’s insurance rates. All kinds of recreation opportunities- an hour from Denver one way, and an hour from Rocky Mountain National Park the other direction. We like the vibe of Ft. Collins- it felt more like home than Boulder did. Shopping and restaurant amenities are ample enough that you don't have to go into Denver for much.
I grew up in West Michigan (Grand Rapids) and it's hard to beat Midwestern summers along the Great Lakes. And while Michigan doesn't have much in the way of mountains until you get into the far western UP, lots of lovely rolling forest land. The down side is that you will not see the sun from about November through March- the lakes create their own weather complete with serious winter gloom. My parents still live there and Dad will mention that, hey, they got 37 minutes of sunlight this January level of gloom. On the up side, cost of living is reasonable, outdoor recreation options abound, and there's world class health care in downtown GR.
Look at Windsor. Lower housing prices than FC, small downtown is enjoying a revival, probably better quality of life being further from students, nice trail system and running community. Easy access to anything north of Denver.
We’re in the process of trying to map out a Florida exit strategy and ‘somewhere in the vicinity of Fort Collins, Colorado’ is the current leader. There’s a Level ! Trauma center in nearby Loveland, which we’re using as a proxy for ‘will have reasonably good access to higher level health care as needed nearby’. If you don’t need the Fort Collins zip code, there are some decent small town housing options nearby for $500K or less. A lot of other cost of living metrics seem lower than Florida once you get past the housing costs- I’m looking forward to not paying FL homeowner’s insurance rates. All kinds of recreation opportunities- an hour from Denver one way, and an hour from Rocky Mountain National Park the other direction. We like the vibe of Ft. Collins- it felt more like home than Boulder did. Shopping and restaurant amenities are ample enough that you don't have to go into Denver for much.
I grew up in West Michigan (Grand Rapids) and it's hard to beat Midwestern summers along the Great Lakes. And while Michigan doesn't have much in the way of mountains until you get into the far western UP, lots of lovely rolling forest land. The down side is that you will not see the sun from about November through March- the lakes create their own weather complete with serious winter gloom. My parents still live there and Dad will mention that, hey, they got 37 minutes of sunlight this January level of gloom. On the up side, cost of living is reasonable, outdoor recreation options abound, and there's world class health care in downtown GR.
I have Estes Park on my own list. I'll accept the harder winters for the insane beauty and adventure wonderland.
I'm not sure that the LetsRun Message Board is really the best place to ask this, but here goes:
We will be moving in the next 5 years or so . . . . Three priorities:
1 A town big enough that there are good medical resources in the area. We're healthy, but as folks get older, health issues can arise, so having good hospitals is a plus.
2. Within an hour's drive of a decent-sized airport. We have grandkids across the country, so being able to fly and see them is a priority, and the larger the airport, the better section of flights.
3. Good recreation area. We like to bicycle, run, and cross country ski, so access to a Nordic ski center within an hour's drive would be nice.
4. I don't need to move to designated "running hotbed" as pretty much any decent sized town or city will have a running community, and it's not like I'm training for USATF champs.
Ashland, Oregon. Skiing (nordic and downhill) and ocean in close proximity.
Decent medical care. Medford, just 15 miles north, is sizable small city with good all comprehensive hospitals. Don’t live in Medford.
The Medford airport has direct flights to SFO, PDX, SEA and I believe DEN. From those large airports you can get anywhere in the world.
Weather in Ashland is mild and much dryer than typical PNW. Setting is stunning. Cute downtown. Running is pretty great. Eugene is 3 hours north. Politics lean liberal but it’s nothing like Portland or San Franciso. Southern Oregon University is there. Nice state school.
A little pricey to live in Ashland, but it’s probably worth it. A hidden gem actually. I’d move there if I could but that’s many years off for me.
Right now $2 million in assets. A good chunk is in the market, so if the Dow goes down, we will feel it. A few 100K of that is in CDs, earning 4.75%. We are not big spenders, so our "burn rate" might be 50-60K a year. I should take a closer look at that.
Some folks suggested southern cities that don't have access to snow in winter, so they would not be on our list.
Pittsburgh, PA. Still pretty affordable on the housing front (though not as downright cheap as it once was). Good medical (UPMC), nearby ski resorts. International airport. Overall, a good place to retire.
That makes no sense. Politics might be the REASON to move to Oregon or Washington for many. Most of the country is not conservative, you know.
Flagpole, I really think you’d enjoy living in far suburb of Seattle where real estate won’t be too expensive. Or, like Vancouver, WA which is suburb of Portland, OR but on Washington side. Or, place like Bellingham.
Washington State is for sure on my list. Just keeping it real though, I am not scared off by housing prices anywhere in Washington. I like Seattle, and I have been to Bellingham. My hand to GOD (even though I'm an atheist, I would not lie), I am wearing a Bellingham, WA t-shirt as I type this.
The only downside for me about Bellingham is that it has the lowest average sunshine amount of any city in the US. That might be a deal breaker for me to live there.
Durango, Colorado. Good medical, regional airport has 6 flights a day to Denver (hub), 4 to Dallas (hub), 4 to Phoenix and seasonal to Houston, Chicago and LA. Nordic center at Purgatory, tons of mountain bike trails and great 4 season weather with lots of sun. Pricey housing, but most of the mountain west is.
Not 7 hours. 6 hours 53 minutes which is really probably closer to 6.5 hours in reality, and the other one is likely 6 hours.
Leave at 6 am, get to the beach by lunch. How is that not an easy day's drive? Maybe you're a child who can't drive a little bit.
Cool. You then spend 2 hours at the beach and your home by 9. Sounds like a fun day…
I didn't say you get there and then go HOME! I said it was an easy day's drive TO the beach. Drive 6 hours to the beach, go get lunch, check into the hotel (I actually prefer hotels to renting houses), and then stay for a week or longer.
Might as well fly to Turks & Caicos, BVI, St. Barts or the like if you’re going to take 7 hours.
Not 7 hours. 6 hours 53 minutes which is really probably closer to 6.5 hours in reality, and the other one is likely 6 hours.
Leave at 6 am, get to the beach by lunch. How is that not an easy day's drive? Maybe you're a child who can't drive a little bit.
Just don’t try to to come or go to the FL panhandle from points north on a Saturday during peak season, which is when the weekly short term vacation rentals change over and the traffic issues can be pretty epic then. I live just across the toll bridge to Destin. Normal time to Whole Foods on the other side of the bridge is 13 minutes. Saturdays during the summer, it can be a 50 minute gridlock slog.
Cool. You then spend 2 hours at the beach and your home by 9. Sounds like a fun day…
I didn't say you get there and then go HOME! I said it was an easy day's drive TO the beach. Drive 6 hours to the beach, go get lunch, check into the hotel (I actually prefer hotels to renting houses), and then stay for a week or longer.
So your dream retirement location is one that you want to get away from? Seems odd. Why not just live in an area where you can drive 30 mins, have a nice day at the beach and go home?
Durango, Colorado. Good medical, regional airport has 6 flights a day to Denver (hub), 4 to Dallas (hub), 4 to Phoenix and seasonal to Houston, Chicago and LA. Nordic center at Purgatory, tons of mountain bike trails and great 4 season weather with lots of sun. Pricey housing, but most of the mountain west is.
Durango housing prices are essentially Boulder level. I'd still choose Durango over Boulder, tho. Much better housing stock at a variety of price levels just down the road in Cortez, Mancos, and Dolores.
Durango, Colorado. Good medical, regional airport has 6 flights a day to Denver (hub), 4 to Dallas (hub), 4 to Phoenix and seasonal to Houston, Chicago and LA. Nordic center at Purgatory, tons of mountain bike trails and great 4 season weather with lots of sun. Pricey housing, but most of the mountain west is.
Durango housing prices are essentially Boulder level. I'd still choose Durango over Boulder, tho. Much better housing stock at a variety of price levels just down the road in Cortez, Mancos, and Dolores.
No, Durango median sales price is more than $250K less than Boulder. But I do agree that Cortez, Mancos and Dolores are less expensive. The available product is quite limited in those locals.
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