|
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Sorry I've been unable to get on this site for so long. We went from 5 people to two at work, and I went from doing city manager stuff to being a water and wastewater operator. 'Been so busy, then my mom passed away on top of that, and I had to deal with everything myself. ...ANYWAY... Now I'm looking to retire and move south (Gatlinburg, TN) Last winter was the tipping point, when I found myself in a 9' deep hole, working on a broken water main at 15 below zero. Bad back, holding on to a 300lb piece of pipe, in the dark, with trucks roaring by above. I'm hoping there are some OFCers in the Gatlinburg area (???). I am planning to sell my house and move into a condo up on the side of a mountain. Looking forward to the retirement thang... Cup of coffee in the morning, and playing my Ovation out on the deck. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Good to see you around. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | And I was up your way first part of October. oh well. I've hadn't thought much about retirement till my last birthday. All of a sudden I can see it on the distant horizon. Cabin on the hillside? How 'bout this one in Pigeon Forge? It's is my favorite little cabin on the hillside. 
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | That's one heck of a basement! Welcome back BVince! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Good to see you and hope the retirement thing works out. During the Christmas parties everyone asks me when I retired, if I retired, how I'm enjoying retirement, etc. I tell them the plan to cut back on hours and pay has been halfway successful. The plan to sell the big house, downsize and pocket the difference is one third complete. So I'm working as much for less money, had to borrow the money for the smaller house, can't sell the big house and if we do, we aren't going to have any money left after we pay off the loan. Maintaining two homes isn't working very well, either. I'm thinking about giving up retirement and going back to work so I don't have to sell off all the guitars to make the house payments. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | i just retired the first of october and took on a major home renovation. i am about 90 % done with it and then i will get my chance to enjoy being retired.
i agree with you bvince last year was a killer in michigan and we made our minds up to get out of dodge in the winter months starting next year.
good luck to you on your retirement and your search for a home down south a bit.
i still have a place up north in greenbush that i love but now i only use it in the summer and fall months , i like winter for about one week and then it's time to give it up.
im with you on getting up in the a.m. and laying back strumming the g-tar to start the day.GWB. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | When I look at the weather all over the country, taxes, prices, etc., I don't why anyone would retire anywhere but Florida. I travel around on vacations and find places I like, Sedona, Asheville, San Diego for example, but am always happy to come back here. Hot in summer? Sure...but jump in the pool or the ocean, or lay around your air conditioned house. But fall, winter, and spring.....great. Today, December 6th, mid 70's and sunny. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | Nice to hear from you Vince
Sorry to hear of all your struggles but I am glad you are on the backside of them now. Gattlinburg sounds nice. I am also interested in southern Appalachia as a possible retirement destination. Florida is great in the winter but is an absolute sweat box in summer which I find harder to take than the cold. I am closing in on retirement myself, but I don't have quite as much money as I would like. I am more or less waiting for my job to die out from underneath me then I'll take the plunge.
I am thinking of getting a small motor home and traveling the US. Then if someplace really impresses me I might buy a place. I may also try doing the snow bird thing, south in the winter north in the summer.
For now it's staying put in dreary SE Michigan and try to salt away as much cash as I can.
Good luck!
Brian
Edited by Brian T 2014-12-06 10:40 AM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | where in florida are you ? are you still working or retired.
i will say that everytime i am in florida wherever i go for cocktails or dinner there is always a lone guitar player his p.a. system & effects playing 60-70-80's music, kinda cool to see . GWB |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I'm in the Sarasota area....city of Lakewood Ranch to be PRECISE. I appear to be retired, but technically am working...sort of. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Boy, all this talk of retirement, you guys must be old!
Just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Boy, all this talk of retirement, you guys must be old!
Just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | You're repeating yourself again, "Kenny". |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Moody has to say things at least 2 times before we even pay attention to him... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Mr WeaserP - 2014-12-06 2:26 PM You're repeating yourself again, "Kenny". It's one of the first signs of old age. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Wow! That cabin looks great! ... Absolutely no lawn issues there. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2010
Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | Brad Durasa - Cabin on the hillside? How 'bout this one in Pigeon Forge? Kinda has that "Aunt Josephine Anwhistle's" house quality to it.  |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 402
Location: New Hartford CT | darkbarguitar - 2014-12-06 7:12 AM
When I look at the weather all over the country, taxes, prices, etc., I don't why anyone would retire anywhere but Florida. I travel around on vacations and find places I like, Sedona, Asheville, San Diego for example, but am always happy to come back here. Hot in summer? Sure...but jump in the pool or the ocean, or lay around your air conditioned house. But fall, winter, and spring.....great. Today, December 6th, mid 70's and sunny.
You're right BobG certainly FL has many advantages. Plus the summer isn't all that bad. You get acclimated and figure out how to work around the worst of the heat. My parents were divorced and Mom had a place in Homosassa while Dad was in Englewood. I spent a lot of time down there when they were both alive and really came to appreciate Florida. Dad had it all figured out, he would head up to his cabin in Canada in June and go back to FL in September! I sure miss them and all those nice trips to Florida as well. It's 25F here now and the cold goes right through you. Tomorrow the forecast is for an icy heavy rain, temp around 35. Ugh. On the financial in this state I'm basically a copper top battery being drained away by a bloated state government. Soon as I can leave I will. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | We had our Christmas party yesterday afternoon and evening. Opened the house up to the lanai, 70 degrees, perfect inside and out. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I finally got our sprinklers blown out yesterday and then hung up Christmas lights. It's been a weird Fall. If I feel the need to migrate to cooler temperatures in the Summer, I just go 100 miles north. I don't usually mind the winters we have here and like all the ski areas within 150 mile of us. Living in a desert with mountains all around isn't a bad idea. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Mark in Boise - 2014-12-08 2:57 PM
Living in a desert with mountains all around isn't a bad idea.
Sante Fe, New Mexico....with Taos just up the road. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | darkbarguitar - 2014-12-08 3:18 PM
Mark in Boise - 2014-12-08 2:57 PM
Living in a desert with mountains all around isn't a bad idea.
Sante Fe, New Mexico....with Taos just up the road.
Yep. A little more moderate temperatures, and more rain and snow than us, but nice. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Sante Fe...another town on the Hit List. I've several friends that have visited and loved the culture and overall vibe of the city. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Santa Fe is nice, but gets a little too cold. Florida was OK, I liked it but it was getting expensive, and having been retired and living on a fixed income for the last dozen years you start to notice things. It was also starting to get boring. So after visiting 26 states and 6 countries and putting close to 75000 on the Tahoe we found the perfect place. I'm 50% closer to Moody, well it's almost perfect........
As far as retiring, go for it. There is an adjustment process though, so take your time and let it happen naturally. I found that it took me about half the drive home to get through it all. It is hard to get emotionally attached to jet fuel...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | "50% closer to Moody"
And you moved there on PURPOSE? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Everybody says that..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887
Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | The canyon and desert country of southeastern Utah has it all beat. Great climate, drop dead gorgeous scenery, and public land to die for. Plus when the tourists go away in the winter there is solitude to die for. Not that you can't find it anytime if you know where to go. There is a reason folks come from all over the world just to see this place! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I don't know....whenever I go to Sedona or Phoenix or anywhere out in that desert country, after a while I miss greenery and lakes, rivers, and oceans. For me, after about a week, I need to see an oak tree and a pond. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Bob, I have two oak trees in the back yard of the house I'm trying to sell. It can be yours just in time to rake the rest of the leaves from them. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I said ALMOST perfect
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Living on a fixed income is better than living on a decreasing income. (I know I don't do well trying to act like an optimist.) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I told someone once that I was living on a fixed income and he said that was good, his was still broken. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Retired in January of 2013, loving every minute of it. Playing much more regularly in a paying band, and riding the motorcycle all over the place. Will very likely be moved out of my historic Denver home in a box. Our band just bought a Mackie 1608 digital mixer with individual monitor control through an app on our ipads/iphones. Its a new world. |
|
| |
Dropping in After a Long Year...