If you had a choice where would you retire?
 

I'm getting close to retirement and the girlfriend and I are both sick of winters, so we are considering selling and pulling up stakes when we finally get out of the rat race. Since we are both interested in maybe spending a year looking around to see where we might want to buy and settle in, I've enjoyed watching buying the beach and dreaming. Anyone ever rented an RV, curious if that is a practical approach, something we are going to look into in a year or so.

So help me with some choices, with the following criteria. Obiviously I'd go south to a more temperate climate, so at least the winters would be more bearable, yet the summers wouldn't be to oppressive. I'd want a fishery that I can target with light tackle, a jighead and some plastic, I'm thinking primarily redfish and possibly stripers in winter. Since I'm not interested in getting a bigger boat, I'm thinking a more protected watershed, where I can take the Mckee Craft 20 foot center console, where a trolling motor and relaxed pace work; again redfish seem to be what might make sense.

I'd like some good golf in the area, but that really shouldn't be any issue in the Carolina's or anywhere south for that matter. The girlfriend must have is a beach or good swimming close, she needs to get in for a swim in the salt every day. All this and in a place I'm not spending more that we can afford, so those million dollar gated retirement communities while attractive, aren't for us. Although I do see some that we might afford with golf, fishing and swimming; along with all the health clubs and amenities that come with them.

Just day dreaming:)

Sebastian inlet
Captain Hiram's for painkillers!
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Naples Florida area

The soon to be wife and I are considering moving next year too, figure do it now while were young

The fishery down there is epic, just look at Roy Ls Facebook page and all his pics

All kinds of crazy freshwater species, endless supply of saltwater species.

I fished a beach with a 7ft rod and quantum smoke 20 with 10lb braid and had a blast throwing gulp on jig heads to ladyfish, (the poor mans tarpon), caught a couple good size ones, along with lizard fish, permit or something similiar and all kinds of random fish.

Saw all kinds of fish just walking the beach and bridges, the fishing is endless.

I know Naples isn't the glamorous side if Florida, but tons of public access spots with free parking, beaches for dogs and owners only (something that would never be allowed up here), and endless kayak/small boat rivers and streams to explore

The more we talk about it, the better it sounds

Only thing keeping us here is my career and she owns her own business, but nothing we couldn't do in Florida
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Been thinking along the same lines myself. In term of taxes SC and FL seem to be the logical choices. Cost of housing depends a lot on exactly where within those two states, but real estate seems to be about 1/2 the price it is in New England.

I know someone who moved his family down there and lasted just over a year. Took a beating on selling his home and moved back. It's very diverse down there...

St Thomas. USVI
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Manteo NC is appealing to me. Good surf casting close by. Boat could go in the sound. Chesapeake tunnel/virginia beach area are relatively close if you wanna fish the bay. Not as busy as some parts of the outer banks and not as isolated as others. Charming town. Not as brutal as Florida or Louisiana in the summer.

Naples came to mind and if we decide to keep a summer cottage in Plymouth, that would probably be at the top of the list, but not for year round. I think the average 93 degrees and 9" of rain for June, July, August and Sept. would be a bit oppressive.

Love the Emerald Coast area just west of Panama City .
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Islamorada in the Keys.
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Naples is a friggin" nightmare in the winter. We have been going there for many years and the traffic on 41 just keeps getting worse. During the day, a trip of 10 miles to Ft Myers will take you an hour. From 4 till 7 it will be an hour and a half.
Now, if you want to talk Marco island, that's a different story. Get on the Island a you can walk almost everywhere you want. Down side is it's very pricy.

http://www.pirates-cove-sales.com/li...anteo-nc-27954

That's not a bad price, too bad I'm not close enough to retirement to make a call to get more information, interesting location. Piemma has a good point and this place is certainly not the tourist trap a lot of these southern spots are. I golfed in Orlando this year in March and damn near missed some tee times, so I think I'd like to steer clear of the usual retirement spots, like to find that hidden gem and priced right. Some of the gated golf communities in the Carolina s are interesting.

MARATHON....:) :)

No matter where U go and going to live close proximity to the water check what flood insurance is going to cost UUUU if U R going to have a mortgage

i got married in Manteo 2 years ago. Great place/.

Ive stayed in Pirates Cove. Could be the fishing capital of the East Coast. Id watch guys come back to the docks everyday at the tiki bar, with endless Mahi, yellows, ground fish. i wanted to move there immediatley.

New Zealand, or Australia.

You've got fresh water and saltwater fishing, GW's offshore, Bulls inshore (and up river), salt crocs and a dijeradoo too!

NZ has some goot trout fishing as well!

Hawaii.
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First off, I would recommend downsizing to the New England home you would return to for summers. Then you spend winter vacations in various spots until you decide which one is right for you. That process might take you into retirement years, when you could be renting for a winter.... Better to make a mistake renting as opposed to buying IMO. Having absolutely zero experience with vacations down south over the past twenty years, I will say I saw some attractive areas surrounding Savannah when I've been down to see my daughter at Savannah College of Art Design. I have also been in some steamy heat there in June.....

a Friend of mine is doing the RV thing....summers up here in New England (currently up in Maine) and the after the leaves change he heads down to Florida. Seems to work for him. actually has the same neighbors every where he goes

The older I get the more heat I can tolerate, but 4 months of 93 and humidity isn't for me. I definitely won't be rushing into anything and do plan a few winters of renting south to do some exploring, we may just decide that renting in a different spot for 4 months each winter or a couple years back to back is a nice way to explore a different area. In a way, I like that idea and the flexibility that comes with it, be nice to see new water, new golf courses, new local places and faces every other year.

i've pulled stakes and left a few times
always came back....
no seasons is cool for a year or two
then you'll want a walk in freezer.

it's not just about weather and good fishin
you have to love the people there
so VACATION til you find them -> those people

then plan the move there.....

I will be going to Maine!!! Yup!! Maine!!!
:uhuh:

Great topic!
For the past few years my better half and I discussed moving to the Carolinas.
Our only draw back currently is we have one entering thier second year of college and our other offspring is entering thier sophomore in highschool. So our plan is, in six years when our youngest will complete college (hopefully)we can escape to the mid south.
I'm a mechanic for commercial and Industrial HVAC. Plus I've contracted for Aosmith for the last 9 years and have a better than par relationship with them,not to mention they are based out of South Carolina.
My wife is an insurance broker so we hope to apply our disciplines as time carrys on or the time line draws close.We will be taking trips as interviews will be lined up.
Not to sound cocky but hot water,heating and A/C is an essential.insurance isn't going any where soon so hopefully we could get lucky.

So after 13yrs if stuipd payments to the bank our house will be close to halfway paid off,and hopefully we can sell it "at a high"(yeah right)sell it and buy a new or close to new for less than what we'll sell ours for,if that's the case we could potentially put cash in the bank and have the mortgage paid off have a whole new out look of life instead of this rat race and constantly rubbing two Penny's together.
Man I'm sick of the race!

My elders will have passed/expired so I will really have no reason to stay,chit the way I see it N.E.Will always be in my soul and will always be my home but it's adapt and move on or fail and perish.
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Go to NH....Maine taxes the chit outta ya. Thats my plan....I can always visit Maine :hee:

here's a few tips for those that are searchin for their Utopia
google EARTH is indispensable for outlining terrain and seeing local photo's
then you can drag the little man down to the "STREET View" and take a look
around plus it allows you to see what's nearby that's desirable or NOT!
use craig's list to get leads using their real estate section which can lead
to the names of Realtors. You'll want to be near a city close enough so
that when the time comes to call 9 1 1 your taken to a GOOD Hospital.
figure 20 miles away is about right...

My house, I plan to stay since I finally own it! I like 4 seasons and a place to park my boat with good access to saltwater from Montauk to Gloucester. Also good friends with boats.....
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CC. :uhuh:

Me 2. CC
I like 3 seasons, hate 1 but I make it by, unwillingly most years

Although S Carolina has always been a greAt place visit over the years.
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While I prefer the Miami to Sanibel region, as well as the Stuart area ... if you want a more temperate environment ... a couple of areas to consider would be the First Coast area (Jacksonville) ... or the Big Bend and PanHandle area ... but would recommend not being too close to the water there, as when the hurricanes hit it hard, it is hit hard, so it pays to be a little inland ... the fishing is awesome, good redfish and seatrout in both ... plus in the Pan Handle you get good cobia, summer time tarpon, flounder and some good offshore action a little farther out for grouper and snapper on the bottom and kings and other offshore species higher up. The fishing options are extensive.

Well thought out plan but you left out one thing, grandchildren. Grandmothers' from what I observe want to be with their grandchildren so if that should happen in the near future here in New England then add at least 10 years to your projected 6 years.
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