Retirement Spots

[Effington]

Hey guys, hope all is well and everybody is staying safe.

I am way aways from retirement, but like to play the game of imagining it, so I can at least do my due diligence in planning (which is the most fun part anyway). I was mulling over potential locations and wanted to draw on the knowledge of the masses here, because I was not finding anywhere that fit the bill perfectly.  I have a short check-list here (in order) but don't have a lot of great ideas of places that fit the bill:

• Warm enough for year-round golf (or close to it)
• Not unbearably hot (wife does not do well in excessive heat)
• Low crime / safe
• Low(ish) cost of living, or at least reasonably affordable homes, property taxes, and golf
• Diverse / not racist
• Reasonably close to a big city to drive in a couple times a month
• A plus would be if they had a local professional soccer team
• English speaking (not opposed to leaving the US).  If there is somewhere else in the world that fits this bill the best, I'm not entirely opposed to moving and learning a new language (although that might be too ambitious for retirement life).

Wife has vetoed Florida and Arizona, your typical retirement hotspots (too hot).  Here were the options I was mulling:

• Southern California: Is there is an area with affordable housing?
• Myrtle Beach: Is it one of those places that are good to visit, not to live?
• Australia
• England (are winters too cold?)

I'm probably not going to have country club money, unless that is the more cost effective option if I'm playing golf very frequently.

Cheers and thanks in advance for your time and thoughts.

[snapfade]

14 minutes ago, Effington said:

Hey guys, hope all is well and everybody is staying safe.

I am way aways from retirement, but like to play the game of imagining it, so I can at least do my due diligence in planning (which is the most fun part anyway). I was mulling over potential locations and wanted to draw on the knowledge of the masses here, because I was not finding anywhere that fit the bill perfectly.  I have a short check-list here (in order) but don't have a lot of great ideas of places that fit the bill:

• Warm enough for year-round golf (or close to it)
• Not unbearably hot (wife does not do well in excessive heat)
• Low crime / safe
• Low(ish) cost of living, or at least reasonably affordable homes, property taxes, and golf
• Diverse / not racist
• Reasonably close to a big city to drive in a couple times a month
• A plus would be if they had a local professional soccer team
• English speaking (not opposed to leaving the US).  If there is somewhere else in the world that fits this bill the best, I'm not entirely opposed to moving and learning a new language (although that might be too ambitious for retirement life).

Wife has vetoed Florida and Arizona, your typical retirement hotspots (too hot).  Here were the options I was mulling:

• Southern California: Is there is an area with affordable housing?
• Myrtle Beach: Is it one of those places that are good to visit, not to live?
• Australia
• England (are winters too cold?)

I'm probably not going to have country club money, unless that is the more cost effective option if I'm playing golf very frequently.

Cheers and thanks in advance for your time and thoughts.

Southern California-No, affordable housing in California? Our daughter lives in Long Beach and pays more for apartment rent than our house payment and she lives in a studio.

Myrtle Beach-Ok to visit, been there once, no need to go again

Australia- 8 of the 10 deadliest snakes in the world live there, according to a documentary so No.

England-Weather so No

Philippines- Yes 

We will retire in Southern Spain or possibly Portugal. Wife has family there and Germany is just to miserable in the winter and its to long. 

[mcanadiens]

Retirement is for quitters.

[dennyjones]

Your post caught my attention because I've asked the same question.   I believe if you search the forum you'll find similar threads.   Your bullet items  make it almost impossible.   There is going to have to be some give and take with your wife.  

• Warm enough for year-round golf (or close to it)
• Not unbearably hot (wife does not do well in excessive heat)
• Low crime / safe
• Low(ish) cost of living, or at least reasonably affordable homes, property taxes, and golf
• Diverse / not racist
• Reasonably close to a big city to drive in a couple times a month
• A plus would be if they had a local professional soccer team

Low(ish) cost of living.     Everyone has the same idea so the best warm golf spots are not ideal unless you have deep pockets for golf.    Your diverse / not racist  may seem like it's a destination area but racism is something that is taught and it's generally not a location area.

[DaveP043]

I know a few people who have retired to the Myrtle Beach area, and they like it there.  My (tentative) plan is for the Pinehurst area. A few weeks of pretty cold weather, but snow is rare.  It does get hot and humid in the summer, but not like Florida.  Its only an hour drive to Raleigh/Durham, and a couple of hours to Charlotte.  Compared to the metro DC area, housing costs are reasonably cheap.  Its pretty welcoming, since most people have come from somewhere else.  The one thing on the list it doesn't satisfy is diversity.  I've never noticed anything I see as racism, but I don't see a really wide variety of ancestry or origin in the people I've met in the area. I've been a regular visitor for the last 12 or 13 years, but only for a week at a time, so I could be wrong on that matter.

[mclaren4life]

If you find that spot let me know. I have a very similar list minus the soccer. You could always watch the local college team to get your fix. My boss hates the cold also so warm weather is a must for her. I have to be able to golf all year round. I have at most 7 more years in the shitty ass DC metro area and I’m packing my bags. I can’t wait.

[dennyjones]

Another alternative is to be a "hated" snow bird.   The cost of living in Michigan is significantly lower than most other states.  I could take my house out west and it's worth significantly more than its value here.    You may want to look into that option.  

[mclaren4life]

Yea that wouldn’t be an option for me. I’d have a 9 iron embedded somewhere above my neck. Plus the call Coke pop up there and that just weirds me out. 

[dennyjones]

We call Dr. Pepper, Coke, Pepsi and all others Pop.

[cooke119]

Friend of mine moved to Charleston, South Carolina and loves it, he is really into golf and boating, (fishing). Haven't been there yet myself, may be a little hot in the summer, don't know. But if you are on the coast maybe not so bad. He had a new house build for less then what he sold his house for in New York.

[DaveP043]

1 minute ago, cooke119 said:

Friend of mine moved to Charleston, South Carolina and loves it, he is really into golf and boating, (fishing). Haven't been there yet myself, may be a little hot in the summer, don't know. But if you are on the coast maybe not so bad. He had a new house build for less then what he sold his house for in New York.

Charleston is a brilliant city, and there's good golf in all directions.  The one thing that worries me about Myrtle Beach and Charleston and other coastal areas is the potential for hurricanes.  I might be overestimating those dangers, but I think I'll feel better if I'm inland a little ways.

[snapfade]

46 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

I could take my house out west and it's worth significantly more than its value here. 

That's a long way to pedal.

 

[cooke119]

18 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Charleston is a brilliant city, and there's good golf in all directions.  The one thing that worries me about Myrtle Beach and Charleston and other coastal areas is the potential for hurricanes.  I might be overestimating those dangers, but I think I'll feel better if I'm inland a little ways.

I thought about that myself when my friend moved there, also flooding, but Rich, (my friend), isn't to concerned, we'll see.

[bkuehn1952]

2 hours ago, Effington said:

I am way aways from retirement, but like to play the game of imagining it,...

As another TST'er mentioned, Portugal is currently a popular destination for those with a bit of adventure in them.  Many/most speak some English.  Temperate climate, low cost of living, low crime, limited social problems.

Personally we will likely stay in Michigan but might establish a second residence in the Austin/San Antonio area.  Most of the family is located in SE Michigan and/or TX.  My wife needs to be near them.

[bwdial]

4 hours ago, Effington said:

• Warm enough for year-round golf (or close to it)
• Not unbearably hot (wife does not do well in excessive heat)
• Low crime / safe
• Low(ish) cost of living, or at least reasonably affordable homes, property taxes, and golf
• Diverse / not racist
• Reasonably close to a big city to drive in a couple times a month
• A plus would be if they had a local professional soccer team
• English speaking (not opposed to leaving the US).  If there is somewhere else in the world that fits this bill the best, I'm not entirely opposed to moving and learning a new language (although that might be too ambitious for retirement life).

I live north of Atlanta, near Lake Lanier, and I think north Georgia might fit your bill, somewhat.

• I can play golf throughout the year.  Yes, it gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter, but it's generally pretty temperate.  When it does snow, it usually only lasts a day or so.  North Georgia is mountainous, so when it's in the 90s around Atlanta, it'll be in the low 80s in the mountains.
• Nowhere near the crime rate of metro Atlanta.
• Cost of living is pretty good around here. 
• Diversity isn't a hallmark of the North Georgia mountains, but Atlanta is an extremely diverse city, and the surrounding areas are becoming more diverse.
• Atlanta is about an hour or so away if you are north of Lake Lanier, which if you like to boat and/or fish, is ideal.
• Soccer?  Atlanta United.  Fantastic fan experience in one of the best - and cheapest to drink and eat in - stadiums in the country.  And, if you like a more 'intimate' soccer experience, Atlanta United 2 plays at Kennesaw State University, which is about a half an hour north of Atlanta.
• Also:  the beaches of Georgia are a few hours away.  Myrtle Beach and Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail are both a short trip away for some variety.  The Appalachian Trail starts in the northeast corner of the state. 

[ncates00]

I like Hilton Head quite a bit.

Also, I have a friend in the Sea Island, GA area.  He loves it.

Edited March 28, 2020 by ncates00

[Sandy Divot]

2 hours ago, cooke119 said:

Friend of mine moved to Charleston, South Carolina and loves it, he is really into golf and boating, (fishing). Haven't been there yet myself, may be a little hot in the summer, don't know. But if you are on the coast maybe not so bad. He had a new house build for less then what he sold his house for in New York.

Charleston is brutally hot and humid in the summer, unless you are on the water. It has also gotten very expensive, vs other southern cities, and very crowded. Charleston of 25-30 years ago would have been my choice. Wilmington,NC is a bit like a smaller Charleston, but that area has really grown as well. Wilmington had a bad hurricane several years ago. The flooding was so bad that there was no way in or out of the area for awhile. Your buddy will find out about hurricanes in the Low Country. 

[dennyjones]

32 minutes ago, ncates00 said:

I like Hilton Head quite a bit.

Also, I have a friend in the Sea Island, GA area.  He loves it.

See Davis Love III's home burnt yesterday?