Has timeshare vacation led to you moving to a resort destination?

[chalee94]

There is nothing not to like about Hawaii (except maybe the distance from the mainland- especially the east coast).

...maybe also the cost of living/cost of housing.

Living between Seattle and the Canadian Border is pretty good, for the two of us. But the lure of warmer weather is never far from our thoughts.

Yep - Vancouver might be my favorite place in the world...between June and September.

 

[Passepartout]

Not really. During my working years, I traversed the US, and travel took us to 'the islands', Europe, lots of places to check out and compare against one another. Timesharing lets us return year after year to some favorites. That's enough. While I really enjoy sleeping near a beach with waves breaking on tropical shores, I don't want it every night. Traffic, and people rushing around to fulfill their busy lives disturb the leisurely pace we've chosen.

We have outlived parents and most siblings and have settled into having empty-nest friends. DWs offspring live in highly urban cities. We visit, and either would welcome us moving closer, but there are just too darn many people in either locale.

So, here we are in our small city, with little traffic, clean water and air, four fairly gentle seasons. Airplanes fly several times a day if we want to go somewhere else. We are close to mountains, are active in the arts, and can take all the college classes we want for free. We have a new, state of the art hospital, and network of doctors who stay here for the same reasons. Is it for everyone? Hardly.

We have a second home, a condo, in America's fastest growing city. It is urban, but in a leafy, green sort of way. We walk to the best restaurants, bars, and theaters the place has to offer. There is a blue-ribbon trout stream that flows within a couple blocks of it. The dog has friends there and 'checks the attendance' by nose when he first gets back in the alternate neighborhood.

Timesharing has afforded us a yardstick to measure other places against, but so far anyway, like Dorothy discovered about Emerald City, "There's no place like Home."

Jim

 

[taterhed]

Yes, at least as a conversation. Every timeshare trip anywhere that we enjoy brings the question, “Could we live here?” We usually look around at things with that in mind. I’ve been lucky enough in my life and Navy career to have traveled to and through a lot of places, so the question of relocating is one I keep revisiting. My spouse is a Seattle kid, born and raised, whose travel experience is mostly due to me dragging us around for the last twenty-some years.

Living between Seattle and the Canadian Border is pretty good, for the two of us. But the lure of warmer weather is never far from our thoughts. I’m retiring in a few months, but spouse has to work another few years. That’s keeping us here for now.

We’re spending three weeks in Hawaii next Summer, and I know at least part of the time will be spent looking again into that “Could we...” question.

Dave

We just got back from a little 'look-see' tour in Blain, Bellingham, Anacortes, Point Rustin, Gig Harbor, Vancouver, Portland.


It was definitely a 3 bears tour: Too big, too hard.....just right.

Man, Bellingham is sweet.

 

[slip]

Wait! You have 2 condos now?! How Awesome!

There is nothing not to like about Hawaii (except maybe the distance from the mainland- especially the east coast). Plus it is green and it has mountains! One thing I like is that when you are there you know you are in the USA and you feel at home. Ever since visiting Hawaii I have not been interested in going to the Caribbean at all. Just can't compare.

Sorry about the confusion. Dave has it correct. This is the first time in my life that I thought renting made more sense for us. Hopefully I only have about 5 years yet to work and I didn’t want to tie
my money up in another condo at this point. Not to mention spending more on another mortgage and maintenance fees. Then have to worry about selling.
We will be able to just walk away and be done when I retire.
I had to chose this place fast though, I really only had a week and the couple we had lined up weren’t near what we though so I had to decide fast. It worked in the end. Better lucky than good sometimes.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

The TS life made me want to retire to a warm climate... I had vacationed as a child in FL, in the summer months of July and August until my parents bought a cottage in the northern part of Michigan on a lake and then we did summers there and every few years we would take a winter vacation to FL.

I've experienced the hot summers of FL as a child and that has not deterred me from wanting to move to a warm climate... If we move to FL we will have more relatives and friends then other states... Although Atlanta would come in a close 2nd as all of my Dads family moved and retired there...

 

[PamMo]

Which month do you like best in Sedona?

I love hiking, so summer is my least favorite. I love seeing snow on the red rocks in winter, flowers in spring, and the color of fall! But, ANYtime I can share the joy of hiking in Sedona with my grands is priceless!

 

[silentg]

We started timesharing in 1981, had a small timeshare in Warren, VT. This was so nice when we lived in Massachusetts. The resort was a five hour drive from home, and we went every year week 27. The kids loved it. In 1987 we moved to Florida, due to my husband getting a job in Orlando. We live in a suburb of Orlando and have been here 32 years. We bought and sold timeshares, some in Florida, Cape Cod and Virginia. We also have one in Ireland. Now that we are retired we are traveling a lot, also been downsizing our timeshare portfolio. We are in the process of dealing back the last one we purchased.
Just didn’t enjoy it enough to keep.
One big move was enough for us. Our home is perfect for retirement. We do like to go other places but it’s always good to come home.
Silentg

 

[klpca]

We're house hunting in Sedona. Our first visit was through an exchange into an older resort (Los Abrigados) many years ago, and we've been going back several weeks a year ever since. We like off season, so have been able to get inexpensive Getaways, Extra Vacations, and exchanges to most of the resorts in the area. Now we'd like to make it full time.

Sedona was our plan but after our last winter visit, we decided that icy conditions weren't for us in retirement. We will still continue to visit often but will probably stay put. Of course, never say never!

 

[silentg]

I love hiking, so summer is my least favorite. I love seeing snow on the red rocks in winter, flowers in spring, and the color of fall! But, ANYtime I can share the joy of hiking in Sedona with my grands is priceless!

View attachment 15686

We are going to Sedona and Phoenix end of April. Will be our first visit to Arizona.

 

[OldGuy]

Yes.

 

[PamMo]

Sedona was our plan but after our last winter visit, we decided that icy conditions weren't for us in retirement. We will still continue to visit often but will probably stay put. Of course, never say never!

Katherine, last winter was awful! We were there before and after the big snow/ice storm hit after the holidays. Definitely not typical for the area. It was crazy to see so many trees down! (The photo above was from late November.)

We are going to Sedona and Phoenix end of April. Will be our first visit to Arizona.

Silentg, your vacation in April should be lovely! Enjoy!

 

[DaveNV]

We just got back from a little 'look-see' tour in Blain, Bellingham, Anacortes, Point Rustin, Gig Harbor, Vancouver, Portland.


It was definitely a 3 bears tour: Too big, too hard.....just right.

Man, Bellingham is sweet.

Ssh! Not too loud. There are already enough people in B’ham, and housing is outrageous.

But the location is excellent.

Dave

 

[Passepartout]

We just got back from a little 'look-see' tour in Blain, Bellingham, Anacortes, Point Rustin, Gig Harbor, Vancouver, Portland.


It was definitely a 3 bears tour: Too big, too hard.....just right.

Man, Bellingham is sweet.

Uh oh. There goes the neighborhood.

 

[Jan M.]

we decided that we preferred being closer to airports, medical facilities, warehouse stores and really nice grocery stores

We've found those things to be a major consideration. Before moving to Florida we lived in smaller towns and cities and were never closer than 1-2 hours drive from a big city. We really like living as close as we do now to a big city much more than we expected. Living in Tamarac is still somewhat like living a small town.

Since moving to Florida and having access to cheap flights out of Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando we have done more traveling with our timeshares than we ever dreamed of doing. Plus we've enjoyed staying at different resorts all over Florida that we drive to.

We still haven't given up hope that our DIL will start seriously looking for a job somewhere in the vicinity of Tampa and get one. Our son could easily transfer there if she did. They live in Ohio near Cleveland and have talked about moving. We would move to the Tampa area to be close to them in a heartbeat. The only way we are moving to Ohio is if something happens with one of us that leaves the other one with no other choice. I grew up in Ohio and have other family there but we want no part of long, gray winters and all too often cold, wet springs.

Wish my flowers outside showed up in the picture. My husband moved everything around and out of his way when he was putting up the lights and Moravian star. Being in shorts on December 23rd and having our coffee and tea on the patio while we watch the egrets and other birds on the canal never gets old. This is my view right this minute from where I'm sitting at the computer.

 

[Fredflintstone]

Timeshares kind of helped make my decision to partly retire in Puerto Vallarta. I love Hawaii and California but it’s getting so expensive to live in either place now. I can afford it but I suppose I am a cheapskate

Being Canadian, I will only go a maximum for 6 months out of Country anyway to keep those nice health care benefits.

I have thought of Vancouver, Victoria or the Sunshine Coast as a possible retirement as well. I am more bent towards Victoria due to the easy ferry system to Seattle.

Mexico was also a choice because health care is very affordable too. No offence against my many American friends, I just think the US form of health care is flawed by being so costly. I just can’t see myself paying a fortune for health care and the rates climb as one gets older.




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[Fredflintstone]

Deleted. Duplicate

 

[Passepartout]

Timeshares kind of helped make my decision to partly retire in Puerto Vallarta.

Mexico was also a choice because health care is very affordable too. No offence against my many American friends, I just think the US form of health care is flawed by being so costly. I just can’t see myself paying a fortune for health care and the rates climb as one gets older.

I was on target to retire to Mexico's West Coast until I met 'THAT Woman'. We still spend a goodly chunk of each Winter there for the reasons you outline. If you're there next month, PM me. I'll buy the first round.

Jim

 

[Carol C]

Through time-sharing, we discovered that we love Cape Cod and wouldn’t mind living there part of the year. I doubt that we will act on that by owning, however. I picture us someday selling the larger of our two homes in Charleston and moving into the smaller for the Winter and Spring months and traveling in Europe for the remainder.

Glynda I hope you are okay and not flooded. I cant believe this heavy rain...and it's from a spinning system over Florida's gulf!

 

[bogey21]

We visited The Lake of the Ozarks with friends in 1992 and really liked it...

I loved The Lake of the Ozarks. When I graduated from college I almost went to work for the Lodge of the Four Seasons on a full time basis. Back then the Koplar family owned it. I suspect it has changed hands many times by now. My recollection is that their was another nice Resort at the Lake. I think it was called Tan-Tar-A...

George

 

[Fredflintstone]

I was on target to retire to Mexico's West Coast until I met 'THAT Woman'. We still spend a goodly chunk of each Winter there for the reasons you outline. If you're there next month, PM me. I'll buy the first round.

Jim

Thank you Jim for the offer. I may not hook up in January as I am staying home because my dad has end stage cancer. However, I will PM you when I resume my regular pilgrimage again.


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[Carol C]

Timeshares kind of helped make my decision to partly retire in Puerto Vallarta. I love Hawaii and California but it’s getting so expensive to live in either place now. I can afford it but I suppose I am a cheapskate

Being Canadian, I will only go a maximum for 6 months out of Country anyway to keep those nice health care benefits.

I have thought of Vancouver, Victoria or the Sunshine Coast as a possible retirement as well. I am more bent towards Victoria due to the easy ferry system to Seattle.

Mexico was also a choice because health care is very affordable too. No offence against my many American friends, I just think the US form of health care is flawed by being so costly. I just can’t see myself paying a fortune for health care and the rates climb as one gets older.




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Medicare just went up monthly plus some other costly changes, all in store starting January 1. Happy New Year, retirees!

 

[Carol C]

I love hiking, so summer is my least favorite. I love seeing snow on the red rocks in winter, flowers in spring, and the color of fall! But, ANYtime I can share the joy of hiking in Sedona with my grands is priceless!

View attachment 15686

My goodness, I hope you turned that spectacular photo into a holiday card!

 

[Passepartout]

Thank you Jim for the offer. I may not hook up in January as I am staying home because my dad has end stage cancer. However, I will PM you when I resume my regular pilgrimage again.

Ahh yes, I recall your saying that. We went through end stage something-or-other with all our parents. My sympathy to you, but it's a rite of passage most children go through with parents. Best Wishes. I'll still buy you one, even if you are not there to enjoy it.

 

[slip]

I'll still buy you one, even if you are not there to enjoy it.

In the true spirit of Christmas.

 

[pittle]

I loved The Lake of the Ozarks. When I graduated from college I almost went to work for the Lodge of the Four Seasons on a full time basis. Back then the Koplar family owned it. I suspect it has changed hands many times by now. My recollection is that their was another nice Resort at the Lake. I think it was called Tan-Tar-A...

George

Yes Tan-Tar-A was the other nice resort. We were just past the Lodge of the Four Seasons. Fours Seasons built our condo. It was past the Treetops.