Hi Kristine, I enjoyed your retirement journey. I also had an amazing adventure on my path to retirement beginning in 2008, although very, very different from yours. I started my googling in 2005 while living in NJ’s Soprano country and commuting and working in NYC at a great location near Grand Central Station. I researched and visited possible locations along the East and West seaboard states as well as some other states. My final wishlist identified a location similar to the NJ/NY METRO area with less humidity , deplorable heat or freezing snow, less congestion , close to the beach, forest and mountains. A temperate environment and a village type community. A nearby university to audit college courses, an awesome Walk Score , great public transportation and bike lanes. Yup, you guessed it! Portland, Oregon (inner SE) The cost of living and R/E taxes compared to NY/NJ are very favorable. . Portland’s real estate market has been robust during my 15 years. The Oregon Health & Science University is easily accessible.I love our dog loving neighbors, kids of all ages and the nearby K-6 public school. I can relax and enjoy the kids laughing and enjoying their playground. I originally thought I would end up purchasing a home down South in a gated community with a country club, exercise facilities and a golf course. However, after visiting some sites similar to The Villages of Florida I decided it wasn’t for me. Silly me, I likened the gated community to a minimum security white-collar prison. A 50 mile road-trip on a bus to enjoy a baseball game or a concert. Hey, I wondered if our paths ever crossed in our pursuits of retirement bliss. So it goes “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. I offer that we both found the pot of gold at the end of our rainbow. Enjoy, with my love. Jimmy
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Hi Kristine, I enjoyed your retirement journey. I also had an amazing adventure on my path to retirement beginning in 2008, although very, very different from yours. I started my googling in 2005 while living in NJ’s Soprano country and commuting and working in NYC at a great location near Grand Central Station. I researched and visited possible locations along the East and West seaboard states as well as some other states. My final wishlist identified a location similar to the NJ/NY METRO area with less humidity , deplorable heat or freezing snow, less congestion , close to the beach, forest and mountains. A temperate environment and a village type community. A nearby university to audit college courses, an awesome Walk Score , great public transportation and bike lanes. Yup, you guessed it! Portland, Oregon (inner SE) The cost of living and R/E taxes compared to NY/NJ are very favorable. . Portland’s real estate market has been robust during my 15 years. The Oregon Health & Science University is easily accessible.I love our dog loving neighbors, kids of all ages and the nearby K-6 public school. I can relax and enjoy the kids laughing and enjoying their playground. I originally thought I would end up purchasing a home down South in a gated community with a country club, exercise facilities and a golf course. However, after visiting some sites similar to The Villages of Florida I decided it wasn’t for me. Silly me, I likened the gated community to a minimum security white-collar prison. A 50 mile road-trip on a bus to enjoy a baseball game or a concert. Hey, I wondered if our paths ever crossed in our pursuits of retirement bliss. So it goes “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. I offer that we both found the pot of gold at the end of our rainbow. Enjoy, with my love. Jimmy
Post: My Retirement Home
Link to comment from May 24, 2023