It's SOOOOOO far away I can't even imagine it. What exactly is this thing you call retirement?

 

I did this almost 11 years ago. I planned it for a year and would recommend that others also plan logically and well ahead. In our case, we probably did the wrong thing for all the right reasons, namely family. Subsequently, we'll likely move again to a half-back state in the East or will have to split our time between here and and a second residence way south of here. You'll save yourself a lot of money and headaches by getting it right the first time around. I could handle this off-season weather around here a whole lot better if we were still working, but in retirement this makes for long and confining days.

 

Interesting point, John. We've always felt we could deal better with the weather if we were in no rush to get to work, etc. Hadn't thought about it as being confining, but I guess it is. It isn't any fun going anywhere when it's below freezing out and the roads are iced up.

Retirement is a long way off for us. Right now I'd say we'll stay put, but I never say never. By the time we can retire, our son will already be in his 40's and the grandkids will be at an age where they don't want to spend time with old folks. A few of my siblings are talking about heading south, and three out of four parents have already passed on. I guess we'll do what's best for us at that point.

 

Will probably retire sometime in the next 4 yrs and stay here in the Adirondacks.
Levi

 

We have talked about eastern TN. Just buying some land, putting up a small A frame and then hitting the roads in a class A RV with our S in tow. We like to travel and have not seen enough of the USA.

 

Hey, my nephew has a small house (newish....just totally renovated) that's for sale (across from his #1 house) in Sevierville TN......just about 20 miles from The Dragon Room for the RV next to the garage

Buy now, PP, while the market is 'challenged'

 

I don't know about the eastern TN part, but the right RV/toad combination has a certain appeal for me. I suspect that I'd be able to get over the "now I'm one of them" (i.e., a stodgy RV driver) guilt fairly quickly, and the "right" RV -- meaning plenty of power -- would help that a lot.

The thing is, a few years playing nomad would allow Alaska-in-summer / Arizona-in-winter (or whatever) flexibility and not require being locked in to a single location, like a vacation cabin would.

And there are plenty of interesting places on this continent I haven't been to yet. HPH

 

Lainey: Yup, I visualized bad winter days as hey have some firewood and plenty of food on hand and appreciate some of the winter beauty through our windows get a snowmobile, while poor working slobs are out there trudging the roads. That philosphy didn't make it through the first winter. We are fairly active people, and it rapidly became confining and frustrating. Plus, around here the so-so weather lasts 6-7 months. In addition, the garage is filled with cars and bikes just sitting there. Further, we found that our kids and other family members indeed have their own obligations and agendas, and the grandchildren grow up quickly and have their friends, activities, etc which are astride of the granparents beyond the glad-to-see-you phase. It's hard for us sometimes, but it also is the reality and probably as-it-should-be. After the first year, we just started heading south or southwest or cruises or rentals or oversees travel for long stretches of time. That suited us fine but after a half a dozen years that also has became repetative and not the least expensive. Therefore, I would urge others to think it all out logically and plan well ahead. A year of planning probably is not enough. I just don't think we were realistic enough when it came to sensing other family member's busy working lives and routines. We were gone for 30 years before we came back. Being the young pup that you are, you though still have plenty of time to plan and to watch and experience how your family members transition through their aging stages and how all that impacts on you and hubby. There is something to "leave them or they will leave you" and making wrong decisions for all the right reasons and right decisions for the wrong reasons. At some point, I believe that perhaps a little selfishness in retirement is in order when these big decisions come along. I say that mostly because it's human nature, and if you don't do it surely those people you cherish will.

Yes, the RV market is a buyers one indeed. Like bigger boats, RVs are are readily available at good prices all over the Midwest. Most of them are built in Indiana and PA, and new ones are being heavily discounted. Consider private sales early in the spring or long unsold ones right before winter and know that many of the best deals are down in central Florida, where many people consign them and opt out after a few years for the condos and retirement communities. I understand that average RV ownership is only a little above 2 years. We're consider the same as an interim solution until things sort themselves out here at home in Ohio. But, RVs - especially new ones - also are a huge money losing proposition.

 

those of you that have retired, have you REALLY retired, or slowed down (as some of you call it)?

i wouldn't know what to do with myself if i didn't actually have a 10-12 hour "job" to go to....

my dad won't sell his business for this very same reason (he's over 65).

 

Just turned 58 a couple days ago so retirement is a good 10 years off. Too far off to plan. I expect life has a couple more hairpin turns left for us.

My folks retired to Delaware and my sisters have both moved there since. Great place to retire...pretty rural, great climate (milder than VA), pretty close to DC, Philly, NYC, the MD Eastern Shore, etc... No income tax, very low property taxes, no sales tax! Good services. Real estate is still fairly reasonable. Of course it has been "discovered" now so all that will probably change by the time I get ready to hang it up and play golf and sail all day.