What is enough? Paradise? Contentment?

[DaveNV]

I think a place like NV makes sense due to no State Income Taxes and might be a new Zero Cost compared to CA. For a bit I was toying with Henderson or Summerlin, but it’s a bit too LV for me. Mesquite starts to sound like an interesting compromise.

Enter timeshares. Use a couple weeks here and there during the off-peak season in one bedroom and the costs are fairly low. It allows for travel and the opportunity to try new places. We like to RV so I think one place, a RV, and couple timeshares will be easier than managing multiple properties.

Come visit Mesquite. It was enough of a solution for us, we have no plans to relocate elsewhere.

If you're a golfer, there are seven courses here. It's quite a nice place for that. There a number of developments in town that cater to active adults, and not all are old folks. We happen to live in a Del Webb Sun City development, not because it's for old folks, but because of things like the 30,000sf Pioneer Center - with its indoor and outdoor pools, gym, library, activity rooms, and whatever else - that is free for the residents to use. The monthly maintenance fees here are about what we paid for a gym membership in our old town. A lot of major bang for the buck. And oh yeah - Las Vegas is an hour down the freeway in one direction, and Zion National Park is 90 minutes up the freeway in the other direction.

Send me a PM if you'd like to know more. I know a lot of good resources here. If you are someone who likes to make your own fun, this town might be a perfect answer.

Dave

 

[HedonisticEpicurean]

“One person's paradise is another person's hell.” – me 2023

Living and working in a place that many consider a paradise, such as South Florida where I resided in my late 20s, wasn't always as idyllic as it appeared. For me, it was paradise because I could have lunch by the beach while working, swim almost year-round on weekends, and take clients out for deep sea fishing and golfing during the week. However, work can detract from paradise if you don't manage your time carefully.

Now, in my 50s, I don't live in a 'typical' paradise, splitting my time between Chicago and Dallas, but it is paradise to me. My wife and I lead a vagabond lifestyle in many ways. Being on the move is as good as it gets for us. I understand that many people would absolutely detest the paradise I'm enjoying.

Starting today, my three weeks of travels will include meetings and entertaining people in Vegas until Friday; relaxation and parties in Palm Springs over the weekend; a meeting and golf in Scottsdale next Monday; meeting friends and following up on a construction project in Kailua starting next Tuesday; stressful business and relaxing golf meetings on the Big Island late next week; and then flying to Cabo San Lucas for a board meeting and some one-on-one time with my wife. I will finish and head to Dallas on the 14th to enjoy family time. A week later, the fun begins again.

Yes, we both travel with only carry-ons. I rent clubs to make travel less stressful. My golf game isn't so great as to feel the need to have my own clubs. I'm sure renting clubs is HELL for any real golfers reading this post.

If you don't find paradise in where you are living or what you are doing, whether for a living or in retirement, you'd better take some serious time to review your life and make changes. This is as good as it gets.

It's important to note that while this lifestyle can be paradise for some, it may not be suitable or desirable for most. Different people have different values and priorities, and what one person sees as paradise in movement, another may view as unstable or lacking essential grounding. Heck, even exhausting. Ultimately, the concept of paradise is highly subjective, and what brings happiness and fulfillment varies from person to person.

Top of Form​

 

[joestein]

I hope I'm never in paradise and completely content. I couldn't handle the boredom.

My mind is always questing, even if my body has more and more trouble following along.

(Ask me in a couple hundred years. I might have a different answer. Impossible? There have been breakthroughs, and the research is moving relatively fast. But that's a different thread.)

But is boredom paradise? I mean if you are in paradise and enjoy being busy - wouldn't that by definition include being busy with something you hopefully enjoy.

 

[joestein]

Retirement community? Party atmosphere with a bunch of old folks?? This only gets worse as your neighbors age.

This is why a new community is important. Hopefully most of the purchases are relatively young retired (55 - 60) and you can grow with them. I am only 53, but I feel like I can still really party. On my last cruise (10 days) - we rarely got to bed before 1am - we were out singing/dancing/drinking. Now - I don't think I can be regularly drinking/partying until 1am. But I would like to go somewhere it is fun.... not like the community you described.

 

[easyrider]

I use to think that if a person wasn't happy where they were they wouldn't be happy some where else.

Bill

 

[rickandcindy23]

1. Happy grandkids.
2. Kids who get along and want to be around one another.
3. Vacations with an without the kids.
4. Clean house.
5. Healthy mind and body.

I would say that these are equal and not one is more important than the other. Clean house is important to me.

I currently have been taking a drug called Aledronate for osteoporosis. I take it once a week. This morning I cannot walk because my right knee is so swollen and sore. I have never had problems with my knees. This prescription is going in the trash can.

This drug has terrible side effects: Joint pain and swelling, and occasional nausea. I believe it's causing more problems than it's worth. Sometimes the cure is worse than the ailment. I was planning to go to lunch with my sisters today. I think I have to cancel it, unless this swelling goes down.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

1. Happy grandkids.
2. Kids who get along and want to be around one another.
3. Vacations with an without the kids.
4. Clean house.
5. Healthy mind and body.

I would say that these are equal and not one is more important than the other. Clean house is important to me.

I currently have been taking a drug called Aledronate for osteoporosis. I take it once a week. This morning I cannot walk because my right knee is so swollen and sore. I have never had problems with my knees. This prescription is going in the trash can.

This drug has terrible side effects: Joint pain and swelling, and occasional nausea. I believe it's causing more problems than it's worth. Sometimes the cure is worse than the ailment. I was planning to go to lunch with my sisters today. I think I have to cancel it, unless this swelling goes down.

Check out Vitamin D3 and K2 mix.

 

[VacationForever]

1. Happy grandkids.
2. Kids who get along and want to be around one another.
3. Vacations with an without the kids.
4. Clean house.
5. Healthy mind and body.

I would say that these are equal and not one is more important than the other. Clean house is important to me.

I currently have been taking a drug called Aledronate for osteoporosis. I take it once a week. This morning I cannot walk because my right knee is so swollen and sore. I have never had problems with my knees. This prescription is going in the trash can.

This drug has terrible side effects: Joint pain and swelling, and occasional nausea. I believe it's causing more problems than it's worth. Sometimes the cure is worse than the ailment. I was planning to go to lunch with my sisters today. I think I have to cancel it, unless this swelling goes down.

I believe Aledronate (Fosamax) actually increases fracture risks. You can find lawsuits, bans etc regarding Aledronate. I took it for about 6 months 6 years ago and it gave me gastric pain and I stopped taking it. My osteopenia in fact has gone away with the most recent DEXA scan. My bone density has improved tremendously due to taking a ton of skim milk, 4000 IU Vitamin D3 and K2 daily.

 

[b2bailey]

I hope I'm never in paradise and completely content. I couldn't handle the boredom.

If boredom was a possibility, then for me, it wouldn't be paradise.

 

[b2bailey]

We’ve bought two places so far with intentions of a retirement location. Our initial plans were a mountain home (snow and mild summers) and a desert home (warm winters). Something like Colorado/Mountains/Ocean and Las Vegas/Palm Springs.

Enter timeshares. Use a couple weeks here and there during the off-peak season in one bedroom and the costs are fairly low. It allows for travel and the opportunity to try new places. We like to RV so I think one place, a RV, and couple timeshares will be easier than managing multiple properties.

I used to say -- if cost was not a concern, I would own a place in So. Lake Tahoe and Palm Springs. (This was when my husband was alive -- we both enjoyed visiting these two places using timeshares.) Now that I'm alone, I don't feel the same.

 

[b2bailey]

When I read this thread earlier my first thought is that San Francisco is paradise for me after 35+ years. Living right in the middle of the city is a blessing, and for all that it seems like a nutty place to many even before covid (and plenty of bad news and bad press since covid) for some of us it is just the right place.

That seems like the real definition of 'paradise' - a place to live that suits you, whether it suits anyone else or not.

As a native Californian, it makes me happy to read this. SF was our family's go to place for a treat. We lived in San Jose. My first visit without family was a bus trip for 'reward' as Honor Society member. I'm fully aware of the difficulties The City is facing, but I'm still planing a week in a timeshare this December.

 

[AwayWeGo]

I moved from the city I like least -- Las Vegas. I never liked it there. I didn't want to go there in the first place. And although it has its moments (concerts and great restaurants), I couldn't wait to leave. In fact, when I leave that city I always adjust my rear-view so I don't have to see it on my way out.

Some people love it there. Great. If that's there idea of "paradise," that's fine. But it's my idea of hell.

I'm typing this from paradise and watching a football game. Way too early for football. But that's the worst thing I can think to say about this place.

Oddly, Paradise NV is a Las Vegas neighborhood that includes the Las Vegas Strip.

Who'd a-thunk ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[ScoopKona]

I think a place like NV makes sense due to no State Income Taxes and might be a new Zero Cost compared to CA. For a bit I was toying with Henderson or Summerlin, but it’s a bit too LV for me. Mesquite starts to sound like an interesting compromise.

Addressing a couple points in this:

1) The "no/low taxes" in Nevada is not a benefit. It is a curse. It is the single-worst thing about that state.
2) There is no real difference between any of the various Las Vegas Valley areas. Summerlin is Las Vegas with extra developer fees -- pay more so you can benefit Howard Hughes' estate. Henderson is just Las Vegas, the south-side. There's no border, no division. And unless you are paying attention to the streetlights, there is no way to know you have passed from Las Vegas to Hendertucky.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

b2bailey, I didn't say teh second quote, joestein did.

 

[joestein]

Addressing a couple points in this:

1) The "no/low taxes" in Nevada is not a benefit. It is a curse. It is the single-worst thing about that state.
2) There is no real difference between any of the various Las Vegas Valley areas. Summerlin is Las Vegas with extra developer fees -- pay more so you can benefit Howard Hughes' estate. Henderson is just Las Vegas, the south-side. There's no border, no division. And unless you are paying attention to the streetlights, there is no way to know you have passed from Las Vegas to Hendertucky.

Why is no/low taxes a curse?

 

[4TimeAway]

I've thougt to be near a Home Depot and a Costco, get you some level of security that the area is worthy of them investing.

Those and a descent hospital, if possible.

 

[TravelJoy]

Contentment to me the peace we carry on our soul. The simple delight of a well cooked meal alone, with friends and/or with family. A dog that loves us. Maybe even more so a good book.

You've already nailed it. Peace comes from within, I can tell you stories of the poorest econmically, but happiest people on Earth; on the other hand some of the richest most miserable people on the same planet.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

I believe Aledronate (Fosamax) actually increases fracture risks. You can find lawsuits, bans etc regarding Aledronate. I took it for about 6 months 6 years ago and it gave me gastric pain and stopped. My osteopenia in fact has gone away in this most recent DEXA scan. My bone density has improved tremendously due to taking a ton of skim milk, 4000 IU Vitamin D3 and K2 daily.

VacatinForever, what is your K2 dosage and K2 MK variety?

 

[Mongoose]

One person’s paradise is another person’s bane. What people often forget is when they make a big move, they take themselves along. When we fix ourselves we can be happy most everywhere.

 

[am1]

This is why a new community is important. Hopefully most of the purchases are relatively young retired (55 - 60) and you can grow with them. I am only 53, but I feel like I can still really party. On my last cruise (10 days) - we rarely got to bed before 1am - we were out singing/dancing/drinking. Now - I don't think I can be regularly drinking/partying until 1am. But I would like to go somewhere it is fun.... not like the community you described.

Real partiers day drink. That way you can be up the next morning like nothing happened.

 

[ScoopKona]

One person’s paradise is another person’s bane. What people often forget is when they make a big move, they take themselves along. When we fix ourselves we can be happy most everywhere.

I disagree, at least for my wife and I. We were happy in Key West. We were miserable in Las Vegas. Just as soon as we left Las Vegas, the misery ended.

I'd be miserable in Saudi Arabia as well. I'm certain of this, even though I have not yet visited. And I would be miserable for precisely the same reasons. And only one of those reasons would be "the weather."

 

[Krteczech]

We lived in Minnesota for 35 working years and vacationed in paradise every year. Sint Maarten, Colorado Rockies, Europe and Hawaii. We decided to buy vacation home in CO and we made the permanent move right after we retired. We each have our own like and dislikes, right now there is much more to like about where we live, but we still travel about 150 days/year.
World class ski resorts not too far, short and sunny winters compare to MN, beautiful breeze Summers, 1/3 property taxes on same value home. There are also things we had to get used to.
Long driving distance to the airport, no public transportation, limited cultural events, limited food choices. Also sales taxes on food and clothing were new to us. The beauty of the area balances it out. I don’t think our place is suitable for people with health conditions or physical limitations. Time will show where/if we will find our next paradise. Hopefully not too soon…

 

[Mongoose]

I disagree, at least for my wife and I. We were happy in Key West. We were miserable in Las Vegas. Just as soon as we left Las Vegas, the misery ended.

I'd be miserable in Saudi Arabia as well. I'm certain of this, even though I have not yet visited. And I would be miserable for precisely the same reasons. And only one of those reasons would be "the weather."

Not sure how that is a disagreement?

 

[ScoopKona]

Not sure how that is a disagreement?

Because I didn't need to "fix" myself. I just had to leave what I consider a grim, bleak, backwards place.

There are people who absolutely adore Las Vegas. I'm not one of them.

 

[CO skier]

“One person's paradise is another person's hell.” – me 2023

That is the story of Hawaii for me. We visited once in 2013, because my wife heard so much about it from her sister. Kauai in June -- hot, humid, miserable for me when I was not in the pool or the ocean. The sea turtles cruise was nice. Crowing roosters at dawn -- do not even get me started!; and it was just something 'Jurassic Park' about them being all over the island. MUCH prefer Oregon beaches in June and the rest of summer.