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San Jose [email protected]

We are still a few years away from retirement, but thinking ahead a little. We are thinking of going to Oregon or Washington. This is mostly because I HATE hot and humid weather. We want chickens, goats,and various other critters

We have lived in the city all our lives and want to get some acreage, 20 or so should be big enough, up in the hills, maybe get SOME snow not lots.

Any ideas?

Discribe your little piece of heaven and where it would be.

6/29/2007 6:36:06 PM

Puyallup, WA

Better move quickly! My property tax doubled in assessed value last year. We have thieves for politicians!

6/29/2007 6:56:15 PM

Port Orchard Washington

If you move to washington, stay outta kitsap county, taxes insane plus we have the wonderful new Narrows Bridge TOLL

6/29/2007 7:25:31 PM

Ohio

Still a ways away for me but I think when I retire, (age 52, hopefully) unless the states benifits go sour. Ill go back to where I was born and raised, to the hills of WV! I wrote a song about it ,like to hear it, here it goes,'''Country Roads take me home, to the place, I belong, West Virgina,Mountain Momma, take me home, country roads.'' Ha!

Good luck on your retirement Gary.
Brooks

6/29/2007 8:12:26 PM

Wood River, IL ([email protected])

Gary, That's easy SE Alaska, 11 years left in the salt mines first.

Kenny

6/29/2007 8:49:37 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

You know when people warn you to stay away, it must be the best kept secret around.

Washington State (as Stan and Bob will tell you) is an amazing place with everything that a person could want. Ocean, mountains, rivers, lakes and a climate that can range from desert/tropical to downright cold and arctic like...depending on where in the State you live...it is huge.

Washington State borders British Columbia where I live and is, as it is advertised "the best place on earth"

But Stan is right, with all the retiring and aging baby boomers, real estate prices have hit the roof. Better get buying soon if you want to live on the West Coast.

Glenn

6/29/2007 8:55:03 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

By the way, when I retire (maybe 10-15 years from now) I want to buy Jake van Kooten's property on Vancouver Island and use the soil that he has perfected over the years....let me know when you are thinking of selling Jake!!

6/29/2007 8:57:46 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

It would have to be somewhere with a lot of land (punkins), great muskie fishing, good golf courses. That would put me probably in Northern Wisc or Minnesota. Then winter would be Florida.

6/29/2007 9:12:44 PM

Cornell, Wi

Buffalo county Wisconsin

6/29/2007 9:34:41 PM

dave have I gotta deal for you !!

6/29/2007 9:41:28 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

WEll when i retire i am going to the moon, because it has no weight record in pumpkins. lol

6/29/2007 9:48:26 PM

[email protected]

Gary
I have built many retirement homes for a lot of people, And after 2 to 3 years most of the people move back to where they came from. And after talking to these people, this is what they claim.
If your going to retire in a new area, MAKE SURE you have good friends within a 2 hour drive. Most people get extremely lonely because they moved away from their friends they had and never understood how much these meant to them.
If your going to retire to a place where you have no friends, then do the move 5 or 6 years before you retire, because work will involve you, and in the course of the 5 or 6 years, your forced out of home to work, this makes you meet new people and in time they become friends and important to your self.

A summer place, or a second home, is the trend of late. Live at your exising res. for 6 months, and your retirement home for 6. You have the best of both worlds, Maintain your friends, make some new ones and you always have something to look forward to..
Sorry if I changed the subject on you Gary, but it really is disheartening watching a very happy couple become very bitter and lonely.
Now as for the question, I have 10 acres 2 hours north of Calgary,(home) 6 miles from a town of 5000, (WITH A WALMART) and 6 miles from a lake. Rolling land with about 25% trees.
Eddy

6/29/2007 10:02:14 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Hey Dan,
Hold that thought for about 15-20 years and i will get back to ya. I have a while before i can even dream of it.

6/29/2007 10:16:21 PM

Cornell, Wi

Dan just wants to sell his land to move to south west Wisconsin... Me too.

6/29/2007 10:27:59 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Well do I have the deal for you...5.20 acres of prime pumpkin growing acreage. New energy efficient house. I will even throw in the goats for free...:) Cotter pins email me...

6/29/2007 10:57:03 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Nobody has said Mexico? I would go summers where I am, and winters in Puerto Vallarta fishing for marlin.

6/29/2007 11:05:48 PM

Port Alberni, BC, Canada

Thanks for the plug, Glen. It's only taken me 23 years to get the soil to where it is today. I always say Glen, "Make me an offer I can't refuse." But then you've got to convince the wife.
Jake.

6/29/2007 11:17:28 PM

hey jake,,good to see ya post,,hope things are going/growing well !!

6/29/2007 11:20:27 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Once again, great advice from the Iceman. Many folks from the Vancouver area over the years have been retiring to a local area called the Sunshine Coast...while a beautifull area it is isolated from the rest of the coast and only you can only get there by boat/ferry. Many, many people move back because they have no hobbies or do not have friends in the area and miss "home"

As Eddy mentioned, if you are able, a cottage and a permanent home would be the best of both worlds.

Jake, looks like my cottage will be your place....lets talk dollars when your wife is ready to give up the soil. Failing that...is your neighbours home for sale soon?

Glenn

6/29/2007 11:28:16 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

Ontario, around Jordan or St. Catherines.

6/30/2007 12:23:02 AM

Texas

i am very lucky, i will retire at age 40, no more work. but i love south texas. i live on the coast of the gulf of mexico. i own a home in southern minnesota. i love both. perhaps less is more, meaning two places would be your answer.

6/30/2007 1:30:18 AM

Nashville, TN

I was fortunant (or unfortunant - depending on how you look at it...) Being a Navy brat - I've already lived in most of the coastal states, HA and Guam... WA was a pretty state - but we lived inbetween the two volcanos when St Helens blew it's top.. CA was nice - the people tended to be a tad odd..

When 'ol Dad transferred to the Base in Memphis and went into the Reserves... We moved to Nashville. Lived around here for over 20 years now...

Though my husband and I argue about the TYPE of land to retire to - with him Preferring a 'bluff/mountain' farm - and myself preferring my current 'cleared lowland farm'... We'll still retire within a reasonable driving distance to Nashville... Just get that $80K Sundowner w/nice one ton (Hubby prefers FULL living quarters like Winnebagos)- and 'tour the National Parks' across the country during the spring and fall.

Granted, due to the necessity of good health insurance - I'll probably continue teaching until my 70's.. Since Medicaid will probably push the qualifying age to that before I'm there.. **grin** But we're hopeful to get/decide on our 'retirement' farm and trailer after the kids leave and finish College... I can PRETEND I'm retired every summer and holidays! He, he, he.....

6/30/2007 6:57:33 AM

Waquoit Mass

maine the way life should be

6/30/2007 8:08:37 AM

Windsor Maine

Shhhh! DAve!!!

6/30/2007 8:52:34 AM

Minnesota

To pumpkin heaven resorts, where everything is pumpkin, fun for all ages, it has it all,,actually I have'nt won the powerball yet so there is no Pumpkin Resort community, being from minnesota and spending 6 months in arizona's sun city west with my parents a few years back sure did dethaw this minnesotan, it was great.

6/30/2007 10:39:37 AM

San Luis Obispo, Ca.

Right here in SLO Country Ca. Average Temp all year is 74f. Why would I move? 12 miles to the Beach and 100 miles to the snow. Best Wine in the World too. Come check it out folks!

6/30/2007 11:23:38 AM

Liberal Ks.

it all sounds good to me but i like kaw city ok.gooood cat fishing and am sure good ground for pumpkins ,< mabe>

6/30/2007 4:16:17 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Eddie's right, too many friends and relatives in RI ! But Maine ain't far away !

6/30/2007 4:21:54 PM

[email protected]

Maine if the libs don't screw it all up.

6/30/2007 11:33:54 PM

Littleton, Colo

Right outsides the gates of Coors Brewing Company! Golden, Colorado !! Don't want my beer getting warm !!

7/2/2007 12:05:30 AM

Massillon, Ohio

i just wanted to say this was one of my favorite threads lately due to how it caused me to reflect and think. plus eddy's response was so amazing. since i'm at the age where i could still move and "start" my life, i think about this stuff alot. ALOT. my friends pretty much think i'm nuts to remain in my hometown and constantly ask me "WHY!!!???". nick is convinced i would not be able to move off this street. i could, i would, but i dont want to.

yes places like alaska and montana temp me so much with how amazing it would be living there. but i dont really want my kids to grow up more than a mile away from their grandparents. ok maybe i could move an hour or so from here but no more. i want to be able to see my family once a day if i choose. that is how i grew up and wouldnt trade it for anything. ohio isnt all that bad.

PS next week i'll have changed my mind again. LOL.

7/2/2007 2:53:33 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Gee Gary, me too, already have been checking out territory in Oregon, wife is going to check out more in October during a marathon run.
I think your on the right track, we want to move for the same reasons and youll have friends with all the pumpkin growers that are there. I want to move to a state where I could have a chance to grow big....get rid of the snow, say good bye to the hail and I want me a tractor, pond, and a chance to go after an orange jacket.

7/2/2007 3:18:28 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

Well, Sequim (where I live) seems to be a retirement destination for a lot of folks. Especially from California. However. . . If I could choose, I'd retire someplace a whole heckuvalot warmer. Like Hawaii.

7/2/2007 5:14:44 PM

San Jose [email protected]

Ice makes a great point, but when we retire we plan to stay active, part time job, and or volunteering, so I think we could meet some new friends that way.

What I really want is some land to plant pumpkins, only have about 700sq ft now.

SECOND I dont want the FU&*(*&(ING neighbors dogs barking at me every time I am in the pumpkin patch. My garden is my little slice of heaven, except for those dogs. 20 acres should be enough not to have to deal with the city crap

7/3/2007 7:48:04 PM

Deer Park WA

Move on over to the great Pacific NorthWest! Only avoid the high taxes on the coast and move inland a bit, beautiful growing area here in Cheney WA, lotsa cheep land with low taxes. Snows like a BA$t@rd here Gary but thankfully that keeps the Californians off us....

7/5/2007 2:28:46 AM