Hubby and I have lived in Florida for most of our lives. We are in our 60s and presently we are on five and one half acres in a two story farm house. I have mini horses, dogs, chickens and a cat. We know that we will want less to care for as we age and we have purchased a little house (actually rebuilt around a 1950s trailer, though you would never know it) and lot in a nearby small gated community. Cable, wifi, garbage pick up, and more is included, there is a rec center and pool and half of the year most of the residents leave for the north. For the time being we are 'weekenders' and enjoy taking 'mini' vacations there. It will be perfect for us as we grow older!!
I am planning on retirement soon. I currently live in Pennsylvania. Property taxes are high, and I live in a low tax county. I looked at Florida, but it appears the property tax there is high. Are the property assessed annually? I will be bringing 4 horses with me so I will need acreage with house and barns. My plans are leaning more to Tennessee at this time?
My wife & I moved down from Mich. to Sun City, Texas in Georgetown Texas. It is a friendly active 55 & over community. Lots to do & Georgetown is a great town. Hot in summer but spring, fall & winter are great!
We want to live on the road in an RV roaming primarily the west, but mostly traveling around to ride our recumbent trikes on various bike trails and then to compete at various cycling events at senior games. In between we'll travel around to birdwatch.
"The key to success is to keep growing in all areas of life - mental, emotional, spiritual, as well as physical." Julius Erving
Rapid City? You'll be moving to the area of the country that I spent my life in. Beautiful area, but it gets very cold and snowy there.
We recently retired to Central Florida. It was my dream spot, but now I have second thoughts about it. We made a mistake in our living arrangements. We bought a cute little mobile home in a senior Mobile Home Park. I had this Vision that it would all be nice, sweet, middle aged people who just wanted to play Bingo and chat. People who are tired of the bickering and one-upping each other after being in the Work World their entire lives Not so. Too many nasty, judgemental, racist, homophobic people in here. I'm sure this doesn't apply to all the senior mobile home communities, but we'll be looking for an apartment soon. I'd rather be around a more diverse crowd. As far as the weather, wildlife, and scenery, it's all perfect.
Check out the Ocala area. We're at On Top of The World, a 55+ gated retirement community. HOA fees are reasonable and property taxes are also. Lots to do, if you want to.
Near water -- big water.I'd love the Atlantic or the Pacific, even the Mississippi or Lake Superior or Lake Michigan.
I'd like to find a community of sartists-- I'm a writer and would love to live where there are other writers, painers, sculptors, dancers -- for conversation, stimulation, friendship.
I live in a nice, bland mid size city now. It's not where I was born and I have no attachment to it.I have two children,scattered,am divorced and no other family. I'd need to find a place open to new people.
I grew up in Chicago and love it, but can't afford where I'd like to live -- and if I have to move into a suburb I might as well stay where I am.
I was a hippie, am a hippie -- would love a small progressive town, near water where I could my dachshund and volunteer for Animal Rescue.
I lived through Mid West winters all my life and that wouldn't both me particulalry -- as long as I had a garage!
You might consider Asheville, North Carolina. It seems to fill your desired parameters, and is a WONDERFUL city in the Smokey Mountains. Check it out online, then maybe take a short vacation.
Sorry, posted before I finished--happy fingers !!! Although you stated you would like to be near BIG water, that would be the only thing missing from your criteria. However, there are MANY great rivers and lakes with beautiful waterfalls in the mountains and so again I say, give it a look.
I'd like to find a town in the northeast/Middle Atlantic states along a train line; also near water, like the ocean, bay or a river. No need to live on the water, but it would be great to be able to walk to it. I realize that the taxes with be a lot more than I pay now (I live in Florida), but living in a town near mass transit is an OK trade, for me. Many of the beach towns have housing costs that are often prohibitive . Suggestions?
Also, are there any websites that alllow one to plug in information that might help find some locations? I've looked at several and they are pretty simplistic, or are connected to retirement communities. I'd like to avoid a retirement community and live in a town or city.
Try Mexico. I live there very well on about $1000/month. Own my own 3 bed/2 bath house with big living/dining room, on 1 acre of land. My property taxes are under $20/year. Climate in the central highlands is very moderate.