Fortune's List of Best/Worst Retirement States

[SunSand]

Living near family and friends beats any perfect financial move. When I retire in the next couple of years, my landing pad will be close to where my peep's are. That doesn't mean I won't continue to travel or winter in a warm beautiful place. I'd rather bet on living near family & friends, even if its currently slightly more expensive. Tax rates and laws change quickly. I'm choosing people, over a 2016 smart move.

 

[Patri]

I'm with you, SunSand.

 

[geekette]

I personally won't be following anyone to where they are happy, I will go where it will make me happy. We have enjoyed having family spread out as it gives more places to visit. I may even stay where I am, one long days' drive to my brother, 2 full days of driving to my sister, and currently 3 hours to Mom but she will in theory move south as the cold gets harder on her every year.

Maybe our family is just plain odd, but we don't find that proximity = closeness. We are fairly tight knit even living for decades in separate states.

 

[tashamen]

Living near family and friends beats any perfect financial move. When I retire in the next couple of years, my landing pad will be close to where my peep's are. That doesn't mean I won't continue to travel or winter in a warm beautiful place. I'd rather bet on living near family & friends, even if its currently slightly more expensive. Tax rates and laws change quickly. I'm choosing people, over a 2016 smart move.

That's certainly a nice thought, but what if your family lives spread out over 4 states not close to each other (or to Vermont), and most with climates that we don't like? And all but one of them may very well move out of those states when they also retire over the next several years.

This is the case for us, which is why we're looking carefully at taxes and climate when making a move. Of course those are not the only considerations, but they're certainly enough to make the decision to leave Vermont easy.

 

[Luanne]

I personally won't be following anyone to where they are happy, I will go where it will make me happy. We have enjoyed having family spread out as it gives more places to visit. I may even stay where I am, one long days' drive to my brother, 2 full days of driving to my sister, and currently 3 hours to Mom but she will in theory move south as the cold gets harder on her every year.

Maybe our family is just plain odd, but we don't find that proximity = closeness. We are fairly tight knit even living for decades in separate states.

That's the way we feel. We have family in Virginia, Missouri and California (but the Californians may be moving to Seattle). We also have a dd who is a nomad, currently in Vancouver, BC but who knows where she'll end up. We do live close to dh's sister and bil. But that was kind of by accident. We didn't move where we are because they are here.

 

[WinniWoman]

I think you have to weigh all the factors important to you. But when we retire in a few years, I keep telling my husband we have to look at it as if we are 80 and not in our late 60's. That is why I want to live in a retirement community. I don't care if we are the youngest ones there going in. That is why I want to be somewhat near to where our only child lives if at all possible.

Not to be morbid, but friends start to move themselves or die. Other friends when old have their own problems. They also are very involved with their families- many have big families that keep them occupied. We don't have that. I want to stay as independent as we can, but be somewhere where we can age in place.

I like New England, the seasons, the culture. I hate humidity and reptiles. I like beautiful lakes and mountains. I have to have mountains! I would love to be near a huge mountain lake. Taxes don't have to be the absolute lowest in the country but reasonable. I would like access to cultural activities( the arts, universities). Husband would like a sportsmans club.


Not too different from what we have now- a rural life, but with a few more amenities. If someone else is shoveling snow, I don't care if it snows. I can also stay inside for long periods of time if necessary. Heck- I wouldn't mind living in one of our timeshares! LOL!

 

[Passepartout]

Hmmm. My parents didn't want to live near either set of their parents, and my wife and I both moved away from either of our parents, and all our offspring have moved away from where they grew up. That pretty well tells that tale.

It isn't that we don't enjoy one another's company, but it has to be in measured doses. And when one party or another has had enough, it's time to go home. A wise person said that guests, like fish, start to smell after 3 days.

I suppose that we'll stay right where we are henceforth. Fairly low cost of living. Four seasons. Clean air and water. manageable traffic. Conservative gummint. Nice college with free classes for the over 65 set. Symphony and theater.

Whatever works for folks as they age is fine with me.

Jim

 

[WinniWoman]

Not in our family. We're Italians. My grandparents had a house built right behind my parents when they retired. It was great. We all loved seeing each other and made everything do much easier.

We have no intention of bothering our son and hope to live a reasonable driving distance but certainly not right next door. He is very laid back and so is my husband. Now- if/when he gets married- that will be another story I am sure!LOL!

We actually considered Idaho, but decided it's just way too far away from everyone we know.

 

[bobpark56]

Hmmmm....What about medical care?

Neither of the cited listings seems to address medical care. As we have grown older (now 81 & 77), we have found that to be an important consideration. Since we have excellent preventive and emergency medical care here (Pittsburgh area) and our state is income tax friendly (ugh! for property taxes and sales taxes), I think we shall be staying put (...said by a born & bred Vermonter).

 

[John Cummings]

Neither of the cited listings seems to address medical care. As we have grown older (now 81 & 77), we have found that to be an important consideration. Since we have excellent preventive and emergency medical care here (Pittsburgh area) and our state is income tax friendly (ugh! for property taxes and sales taxes), I think we shall be staying put (...said by a born & bred Vermonter).

I certainly agree on the importance of good medical care We have excellent medical care.

 

[vacationhopeful]

As our generations are "owners of possessions" ... start NOW cleaning out your attics, garages, closets and basements. Pass on the 'treasures' of your families ... that great-grandma's carpet rocker, the crystal candy dish, that roll top desk, etc.

I have a house FULL of the history of my siblings ... I threaten and stuff their cars with "the valuables" each and every time they appear.

I was on the phone with a sibling about a niece's wedding this month ... suggesting we pass on wedding gifts from their deceased grandparents' who were retired before they were born. Beautiful items ... unique ... which I uncovered and now display in a small glass door cabinet in my living room. I "inherited" the family home; this niece might have 10 days over 27+ years visiting this family home .... and when my generation moves into nursing homes .... these treasures and their connection to their family, will most likely vanish.

 

[WinniWoman]

As our generations are "owners of possessions" ... start NOW cleaning out your attics, garages, closets and basements. Pass on the 'treasures' of your families ... that great-grandma's carpet rocker, the crystal candy dish, that roll top desk, etc.

I have a house FULL of the history of my siblings ... I threaten and stuff their cars with "the valuables" each and every time they appear.

I was on the phone with a sibling about a niece's wedding this month ... suggesting we pass on wedding gifts from their deceased grandparents' who were retired before they were born. Beautiful items ... unique ... which I uncovered and now display in a small glass door cabinet in my living room. I "inherited" the family home; this niece might have 10 days over 27+ years visiting this family home .... and when my generation moves into nursing homes .... these treasures and their connection to their family, will most likely vanish.

Been doing this over the past few years as we update our house. I keep telling my hoarder husband- "You can't take "THAT" to the nursing home!!

 

[geekette]

Been doing this over the past few years as we update our house. I keep telling my hoarder husband- "You can't take "THAT" to the nursing home!!

I shed stuff all the time when I find I don't need it or don't want it. Whenever AmVets calls, I say yes, I will have something.

They don't take everything so I load up the truck and head to Goodwill a couple miles down the road, open until 9 pm every night of the week.

This time of year I am dragging out the receipts and running thru Turbo Tax It's Deductible to get value for charitable deductions. It always amazes me how these little bags of sweaters here, boxes of kitchen somethings there adds up over the course of one little year.

I'm only trying to simplify vs prepare to move or offload the precious.

 

[geekette]

Neither of the cited listings seems to address medical care. As we have grown older (now 81 & 77), we have found that to be an important consideration. Since we have excellent preventive and emergency medical care here (Pittsburgh area) and our state is income tax friendly (ugh! for property taxes and sales taxes), I think we shall be staying put (...said by a born & bred Vermonter).

I think Places Rated does look at med care. Mentioned elsewhere in this thread was arts, culture, recreation and I believe they delve into those areas, too.

I actually may stay put as this is a good med area and I think it may be difficult for me to part with the dance studio. Friends and family travel, businesses don't.

 

[WinniWoman]

I shed stuff all the time when I find I don't need it or don't want it. Whenever AmVets calls, I say yes, I will have something.

They don't take everything so I load up the truck and head to Goodwill a couple miles down the road, open until 9 pm every night of the week.

This time of year I am dragging out the receipts and running thru Turbo Tax It's Deductible to get value for charitable deductions. It always amazes me how these little bags of sweaters here, boxes of kitchen somethings there adds up over the course of one little year.

I'm only trying to simplify vs prepare to move or offload the precious.

Yes, I do the same. Was just at Goodwill this week in fact. Also, a lot of nonprofits need items for their yard sales, so I donate to those as well- like the local humane society.

I like throwing things out. I am OCD. I like a streamlined house- very simple- almost shaker like, but not quite. Very organized. I don't even have a single appliance on my kitchen counter. I have very few clothes- especially for a woman. I essentially wear my own uniform- a lot of mix and match with a lot of black.I do not own a dress- all pants. I take my cue from men and keep it simple. The more stuff around the more of a headache I get. It's exhausting being around too much stuff. The only thing I do like around me are books. I have a hard time departing with them and I love collecting coffee table books about Vermont and New Hampshire where we have our timeshares.

 

[lizap]

Completely agree. We have always wanted to live in the mountains of western NC and will do so when we retire. Our daughter lives in the FL panhandle-we will not be moving there (even though there is no state income tax).

That's the way we feel. We have family in Virginia, Missouri and California (but the Californians may be moving to Seattle). We also have a dd who is a nomad, currently in Vancouver, BC but who knows where she'll end up. We do live close to dh's sister and bil. But that was kind of by accident. We didn't move where we are because they are here.

 

[ChrisandBeth]

Well, by that measurement- and the rankings in the article, most people should live in Wyoming, and none in New York. I'm not holding my breath to see that happen any time soon.

In fact, it appears that early next year there might be a mass exodus to Canada.

Jim

Better hurry

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sCyzdD0vYOw