Retirement Suggestions Please

[TOXIC]

I’ve been retired for a couple of years now and have my retirement finances pretty much figured out.  We have a house that we have been in for 28 years and is on a unique lot in an area that has become a bedroom community for DC and Northern Virginia.  House in our area sold in less than a week this month and for an amount I thought was ridiculously high. My wife has been wanting to explore moving closer to her sister and brother in law who live on the beach in Cresent Beach Florida.  Pretty close to St Augustine.  We agreed we don’t want to spend what it takes to buy beachfront so we have been looking anywhere within an hour of Cresent Beach.  Preferably on water....lake, canal, inter coastal, etc.  I lived in Jacksonville for a couple of years for work and had a house on the St John’s across from Doctors Lake so I know my way around.  Real estate is hot in Florida right now so I think we are going to make a few trips down to scout out areas we like and will be ready to go when the opportunity presents itself.  Still looking for that deal of the century.?

[TnRiver46]

34 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

I’ve been retired for a couple of years now and have my retirement finances pretty much figured out.  We have a house that we have been in for 28 years and is on a unique lot in an area that has become a bedroom community for DC and Northern Virginia.  House in our area sold in less than a week this month and for an amount I thought was ridiculously high. My wife has been wanting to explore moving closer to her sister and brother in law who live on the beach in Cresent Beach Florida.  Pretty close to St Augustine.  We agreed we don’t want to spend what it takes to buy beachfront so we have been looking anywhere within an hour of Cresent Beach.  Preferably on water....lake, canal, inter coastal, etc.  I lived in Jacksonville for a couple of years for work and had a house on the St John’s across from Doctors Lake so I know my way around.  Real estate is hot in Florida right now so I think we are going to make a few trips down to scout out areas we like and will be ready to go when the opportunity presents itself.  Still looking for that deal of the century.?

I have a childhood buddy that lives in ST Augustine, he sends me fish pics non stop and doesn’t even have a boat. I enjoyed the area when I was there but I was little and can’t remember a whole lot. I did drink from the fountain of youth, it tasted terrible 

[jbsoonerfan]

18 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I have a childhood buddy that lives in ST Augustine, he sends me fish pics non stop and doesn’t even have a boat. I enjoyed the area when I was there but I was little and can’t remember a whole lot. I did drink from the fountain of youth, it tasted terrible 

 

No wonder you still look the same as you did in that throw back picture from when you were in college that you posted the other day.

[TnRiver46]

8 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

 

No wonder you still look the same as you did in that throw back picture from when you were in college that you posted the other day.

My buddies always say I look like Marv from home alone. The other day we watched it and my fiancé says “now you look older than marv.” Hahaha! Thanks a lot honey 

[throttleplate]

beware of the termites down in florida, lots of houses are infested with them.

 

[TnRiver46]

17 hours ago, throttleplate said:

beware of the termites down in florida, lots of houses are infested with them.

 

I’ve had some trouble with them, they are always near moisture and the air is basically water in FLA so I could see how that might be the case. I eliminated all the colonies at our house my modifying the ground to where the water goes around the foundation. I bet that would be tricky in Florida since there is no downhill

[jtharris3]

On 2/2/2021 at 9:53 AM, Catt said:

East Texas known big bass lakes

Bob Sandlin 

Conroe 

Fork (G.O.A.T. Lake)

Lake O' the Pines

Livingston

Naconiche

Pinkston

Sam Rayburn 

Toledo Bend 

Welsh

 

Even Tyler is kicking out double digits this years!

 

 

+1!

 

I lived in Texas for 10 years. I fished Lake Fork and Lake O' The Pines all of the time. Man, I miss those lakes!!!

[Larry S]

East Texas pick your lake there are dozens !! Fork, Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend, Caddo, Palestine the list is endless.  Or just throw a dart at a map of Florida and your good to go ! Just don't bring any yankee politics down south .. If your from up north .. lol 

[Bird]

Consider your tolerance to heat and humidity, mine is next to non so coastal south would be a no go but certainly doesn't discourage millions. 

 

Been googling retirement lakes for over a year and visited a few so here are a couple. 

Fawn lake - Va

Keowee key - SC

Wind river  - Tenn

Lake Tansi - Tenn

Lake arrowhead  - Ga

Shoreside at Sipsey - Al

K hovnanian's - SC

 

The wife is not on board yet as she has a business that she's not willing to part with......yet.

 

Good luck in your search. 

[ATA]

where are you right now? you willing to go anywhere? I have my own target lake near me

[Armtx77]

On 1/24/2021 at 4:14 PM, Bass24-7 said:

Thanks everyone, Your giving me lots to consider.  TN seems to have lots to offer and definitely looking into Springfield MO area.  Any suggestions further south in Louisiana ?  Much appreciated. 

They will turn you into a inshore, Redfishing addict, withing 3 years...ask me how I know.

 

I'm in SE Louisiana, New Orleans metro to be specific, via Rock Island Illinois. So much water down here to fish, it is nutty. Not big lake or river fishing though. Bayous, marshes and swamps, but they are here and if you get tired of chasing "greenies". You boat 10 miles, toss on a Gold Spoon and you are battling Reds on the same gear.

 

Not a very retirement friendly state though. High state taxes, cost of living and all the food here is the best you will find, but is also a gateway to diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

 

The people are amazing, the weather is great for 7-8 months out of the year, but Hurricanes suck, GOD do I hate August through the 2nd week of October, but he'll we got one in November last year...yeah, HURRICANES.

 

 

[Sphynx]

On 1/24/2021 at 10:02 AM, Catt said:

Texas!?

 

Jasper area has access to Sam Rayburn & Toledo Bend 

 

Dallas/Ft. Worth area has dozens of lakes, just stay out of the Metro Mess.

 

Texas has no state taxes, excellent highway system, some of the best healthcare in America. 

Jasper also isn't ungodly far from Lake Fork for occasionally changing things up, given the choice of which half of Toledo Bend I'd live on, it'd be the TX side no doubt about it, I haven't looked into properties there, but I imagine there's land for sale somewhere on the Lone Star side of the Bend, that puts you in some of the best fishing lakes in the region, some pretty excellent perks other than fishing (No state tax, who in their right mind doesn't perk up like a dog hearing their owners car come back down the drive at less taxes?) To sweeten the deal, I suppose it's only fair to point out there are some downsides, weather ones mostly, but I expect if you've lived in the south you'll know all about that, definitely an area I would consider if I had your list of requirements OP.