South east Vacation/retirement locations

[gim]

@FryDog62 I always wondered why the retirees left for the winter when I was younger.  They all went south to Arizona or Florida for 4 or 5 months and I could never understand why.

 

Its pretty easy to see why they do it now.  I could even see myself doing it someday too, if I can afford it of course.

[WRB]

California is 80 % rural and 20% high population cities. The reason people are leaving or don’t want to be in business is 100% insane taxes, regulations and expensive cost of living.

Retired with fixed income that you afford to live in California it’s hard to find better climate and both fresh and salt water fishing.

Yes I am a native raised at Big Bear lake when it was very rural, well water and fuel oil heating, no fencing low density population. I went to a school house it was that rural!

Not suggesting anyone move to California unless you have the income to live here.

Central and northern CA is still mostly rural farm land away from cities.

Good luck with your search and enjoy retirement👍

Tom

[J Francho]

I like Santee Cooper, but it's too far out in the sticks. 
 

I've thought about SML/Roanoake, VA as a retirement option myself. 

[casts_by_fly]

for sure!  Our plan is to start this spring and visit a bunch of areas over the next couple years. We have plenty of

time to explore. Then as you say, we’d rent a place for a year or two and split time. Not the worst thing having a lake house somewhere.  And the best time to buy a house (car, get a job, etc) is when you don’t need to. 
 

Northern Michigan would be great. until my dogs tell me that they aren’t up for this:

 

 

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

@casts_by_fly  a year or two before you 'buy' ~

Perhaps rent a place near where you think you might like to settle down.

Learn the area.

Probably won't be long before you know if it's the right place or not.

Don't forget to think about what the two of you might need 10-20 years from now.

The relative distance from family needs always seems to increase as we age.

Also if you folks think a place in "Nice" you'll probably have plenty of company.

Could be Good, might not be so good.

Good Luck.

BTW - Northern Michigan is a Horrible place to live

and I think it's actually closed now. 

j/k

A-Jay

 

 

 

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

@FryDog62 I always wondered why the retirees left for the winter when I was younger.  They all went south to Arizona or Florida for 4 or 5 months and I could never understand why.

 

Its pretty easy to see why they do it now.  I could even see myself doing it someday too, if I can afford it of course.

True, but they usually go for 6-7 months to get out of paying state income taxes lol... 

[SC53]

4 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I just moved from there and could go back, liked it well enough. But a fair amount of people are either moving away, or more likely not going there when they relocate, because of the rising HOA/Insurance costs. Sink holes, condos collapsing, hurricane's, crazy uninsured motorists, etc. 

@FryDog62

Thanks for the reply.
The main reason I asked is the wife and I are Florida crackers, born and raised and lived here our entire lives. The changes I have seen in my lifetime is hard to imagine. But we are getting tired of all the things you mentioned ( except for the condos issues as we don’t live where that is happening). I’m in my early 70’s and semi retired ( work for myself and can work anywhere with Wi-Fi) and we have even been talked about moving elsewhere. We’re just north of Orlando and have been looking north of here. The problem with Florida is the further north you go from here, the less lakes there are. Plus at our age, medical care availability is always a top concern.  As others have said, if a place is everything you want, a lot of people are probably moving there too.

Please keep us posted on your search.

 

[VolFan]

11 hours ago, VolFan said:

@Deephaven - Hard to tell you what you should like about it unless you tell me what you like 😀. The outdoors opportunities with lakes and public hunting areas are significant all within an hour or so drive and that goes from cold water trout to striper to musky to all of the normal freshwater fish. Great hiking, four seasons, great smaller towns around it. There’s a few fun downtown areas with theaters and restaurants if that’s your thing. There’s the university with educational and sports opportunities if you want to learn something and/or paint your face. It is a manageable size of a city to get around in as well. It just depends on what you want.

@Deephaven I missed the tag on this original post - what do you like to do?

[Deephaven]

9 minutes ago, VolFan said:

@Deephaven I missed the tag on this original post - what do you like to do?

No tag needed, just was eager to find some fun in a city I will be spending some time in.  Supposed to be there at least once a month but am somewhat of a work a holic so I've spent the three trips there working into the evenings and not exploring.  I don't want to dilute this thread with requests although sharing what you like about Knoxville is on topic if the OP is interested.  Otherwise I will reach out independently before I come that way again.

10 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

This was in the middle of downtown Tuesday night . 
 

 

you mean outdoor activities or dining/social/music type stuff? Let me know if you want a tour sometime. I live right across the water from downtown in the urban wilderness , world class mountain biking that I don’t dare participate in haha

 

There are some nice walleye/sauger downtown as well, and the occasional 30-40 lb striped bass 

That's awesome.  Had no idea.  I've never caught a striper...  Thanks to both of you for expounding!

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, Deephaven said:

No tag needed, just was eager to find some fun in a city I will be spending some time in.  Supposed to be there at least once a month but am somewhat of a work a holic so I've spent the three trips there working into the evenings and not exploring.  I don't want to dilute this thread with requests although sharing what you like about Knoxville is on topic if the OP is interested.  Otherwise I will reach out independently before I come that way again.

 

go for it!  Knoxville isn’t on my list but could be !

[VolFan]

Within an hour of  Knoxville you have Douglas, Cherokee, Norris, Melton Hill, Fort Loudon, Tellico, and Watts Barr reservoirs. You have the Clinch, Tennessee, Little Tennessee, French Broad, Houston, and a few other smaller rivers. Cheap living, tons of great golf courses. It depends on what you want to do when you go to the city but there’s almost nowhere in the US that has the diversity of freshwater fishing as around Knoxville. Also the greatest university in the history of education. And we saved the Texans butts at the Alamo. 

[FryDog62]

17 minutes ago, VolFan said:

Within an hour of  Knoxville you have Douglas, Cherokee, Norris, Melton Hill, Fort Loudon, Tellico, and Watts Barr reservoirs. You have the Clinch, Tennessee, Little Tennessee, French Broad, Houston, and a few other smaller rivers. Cheap living, tons of great golf courses. It depends on what you want to do when you go to the city but there’s almost nowhere in the US that has the diversity of freshwater fishing as around Knoxville. Also the greatest university in the history of education. And we saved the Texans butts at the Alamo. 

… and Al Lindner has said many times that if he were to ever retire South - it would be Eastern Tennessee..

[TLHSS]

On 11/6/2024 at 1:09 PM, casts_by_fly said:

thanks.  We've moved a few times and are familiar with the pitfalls now.  Always good for a reminder though.

 

We will also be moving from NJ where the annual real estate taxes are enough to buy a car.  Three years of not paying these taxes and I can buy a fully rigged Pro-V Bass.  Outside of Hawaii and maybe California, everywhere else will be cheaper.

 
 

After a great deal of hard work, my state (Illinois) has now beat NJ for the highest property taxes. Woohoo!  We’re number 1!