Where To Retire

Many people wish they were young again but I can't wait to get this over with. Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration, but Even though I have at least 15 years until retirement, I'm obsessed with it, in the traditional 1980s sun City/ Leisure World sense. I've had the following question for some time now but never knew whom to ask it until I saw this thread:

If you look on the internet for 55+ communities with all of the trimmings, say in and around Phoenix (or, substitute your sun belt area of choice here), there are dozens of them. I've been trying to determine if there is any difference between one and the next. Or is there any difference? Not so much in terms of architecture or cost, but with respect to the culture of the community and residents? The blogs I have found when trying to get to the bottom of this are mostly by real estate agents describing the homes and amenities, but not really much on what it's like to actually live there.

 

I'm all about blogs, agents, books, friends and what not, but if you can somehow spend some time in a 55+ -- or any -- community, do so before putting the money hard. We're lucky, having 30 years of family living in such places, both the massive "city"-type and large active-adult developments. We stayed the equivalent of months and months and months, ate at the local eats and clubs, experienced the featured recreational and social amenities, met the elders' friends and peers, so on. It's a far different way of life when everyone is at the same point in life, regardless monetary or political differences. That's not a value judgment. Things are just different. These things also go in waves, as generations or half-generations die and are replaced; or not replaced as rapidly since Boomers are not nearly as receptive of this as their parents.

 

Lots of factors to consider, I agree! Like for me, being close to family and friends is important.

 

OMG!!!!!

 

We made the retirement move last year. While we were pretty sure where we wanted to settle, I'm a cautious guy. Before moving we gave up our usual Florida winter digs and spent two winters here to make sure we liked the area and could take the worst of the weather. So take your time. On the ground research can't be beat. Western Washington is definitely not for everybody but it suits us fine.

 

Suggest you check out Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Small community about 2 3/4 hours southeast from Las Vegas. Beastly hot for 3-4 months, sunshine and happiness the rest of the year. Try to visit a few places on your list and get a feel for the surroundings, then maybe rent a condo for 2-3 months in winter. If you planned right and saved enough, the world can be your oyster.

 

Someone, tell me about El Paso.

 

All good points. One of the things we did enjoy while living in Vegas was the diversity of the people. Races & ages. I am fairly certain I don't want to live in a community where everybody is my age and older.

 

My in-laws will not go so far as to say they made a mistake; they have a lovely casa in a beautiful area. But the mono-culture and a population that is old and old is the only age allowed in has dimmed their views. And as time passes, as they realize it's ever more of a pain to fly or get in a car and go a good distance, with their entire working and family-raising life in California, those connections start to ring more loudly.

 

I've been through El Paso's airport several times, and overall the view from the air is sandy, with craggy mountains to the south. A long line of cars coming through the border checkpoints. I'm sure there are nice areas there, but I don't know.

If you are thinking about south Texas, consider San Antonio. Wonderful city, with the Alamo, Riverwalk, the original of the huge painting from the movie GIANT, and much more great stuff. Nice homes. Nice stores. I lived there for about 10 years, and loved every minute of it. Except for when it rains real hard, the streets flood.

- bcc

 

"Adult communities" are good for some I suppose. Although the midst of the baby-boomers being of the grandparents of the family is upon us, when it comes to selling, the market for those 55 years and older willing to live in such a community with its restrictive by-laws and monthly dues will certainly decrease. You get out of the pyramid scheme in time and make some cas$. And get off my lawn (who can you yell at such a statement in a community of people as this). ? Haha.

 

And that is why "Sun City" as a brand is now amenitized housing developments and not what effectively were cities. It's like the Trilogy brand out here. They're pretty freaking desirable, and they skew higher end. They're also hundreds of homes, a thousand, not tens of thousands. It's not Florida with something like the Villages. People still want this kind of thing, obviously, but like so many other things in our leisuring society it's going, well, higher brow. We're not talking double-wides and bingo night.

 

We live in NJ too and our property taxes are $7K+ on a two bdrm cape cod on an acre (and that's pretty low for this area). I have a friend who pays 30K in property taxes in an affluent area. Between the taxes and the other high cost of living expenses we'd love to get out even though we love where we live. My ideal place would be in the Reno area-seasons similar to NJ, close to Tahoe, casinos galore, easy flights to LV and lower cost of living. At our age (mid 70's) it ain't gonna happen. A lot of people have mentioned Phoenix. That would be the last place I'd move to. The summers are just too hot and it's very congested. FL would be the second to last place I'd move to.

 

We all have our ain't-no-way-ever places.

 

Boy that's for sure.

 

yes, those high taxes was one of the reasons we moved from South Jersey to Central Florida - and we have great medical care here.

 

Well, we have taxes and fees in CA, but we got nuthin' like that $9,000 ad valorem bill, unless of course you live in SF or on 50 acres in Glenn County with a 5,000 sf casa.

 

2038 ill reach my magic 80( years served+age) at 55 years old and will move to Thailand...been twice. Hawaii for the price of mexico. Between my city pension, state pension, 457plan and SS(lol) I should be able to live like a king their.... but who knows a lot can change in 22 years.

 

Awww, what could change in 22 years? I look back to 1996 and wonder how I so obviously missed what is going on / what advances we take advantage of today. But I did.

 

I just retired at the end of November at age 60. Just hit my 30 years work a few months ago too so eligible for full retirement benefits.

If possible I would recommend attending pre retirement seminars to get an idea if you can actually retire. You should actually have a plan after retirement, you need to stay active too. A number of people don't have a plan after they retire and get bored. Other people find out they cannot financially afford to retire and end up going back to work. These pre retirement seminars help you and try to give you all the information needed for planning for your retirement, getting ready for medicare and social security, etc.

For me, my major bills like a mortgage are all paid off so even in "expensive" Hawaii I can afford to live here. Even with regular expenses (cable, electricity, phone, property taxes, car insurance, maintenance on condo, etc.) I can still put away money for vegas trips.

Working for the county government was great in terms of retirement benefits, my pension gives me 64% of my work salary so I make about $50k a year. I get free medical premiums and I don't have to pay state taxes on my pension so I think even with all the reforms I should be in the 15% tax bracket. After paying my monthly bills and expenses I still should be able to save between $10k and $20k a year to go to vegas and other places. and with no gf, wife or ex (anyone interested?), no alimony, nor kids or child support I expect to be able to live comfortably, golf 2x a week, go to the gym 3x a week and bowl once or twice a week. That doesn't even include social security, I expect to start collecting at age 65 1/2 and it should be about an extra $2k a month so I will still be able to save for my rainy day fund.

I have my short term plans too. I'm kind of a hoarder so figure to take at least 6 months to clean up my house and throw things away. I also want to fix up my place, new carpets, take out tub and put in a shower, upgrade kitchen, etc. so I think that will take a year or more. I also take care of my mom's finances and if she passes away soon (she is 88) I have to handle all her affairs so that may keep me busy until 65 or so but if I get bored I could always look for a part time job or volunteer somewhere.

Electro, if you work for the Hawaii government and need retirement assistance you can pm me with your questions. I am having some problems (like problems with my medical plans, vacation payouts, etc.) so I can give some insight on things that come up after you retire.