Help! Do you live in Georgia?

Mz. Lady

Mz. Lady

New Member
Location
Arizona. South Carolina next? Mexico next?
I have decided that I am going to retire at the end of this year. That is scary enough, but what is really scary is that I plan to move. I can't bear the frightening Arizona heat anymore. I have decided to move to Georgia. I wanted to move to a state where there are lots of botanical gardens to visit. When I searched online it seems that Georgia has several. I hope to visit Gibbs Gardens.

Here's my dilemma, I am overwhelmed with the research I have done and am having trouble narrowing down a location. I want to move to a place that has public transportation, good healthcare facilities, affordable rental options (no more than $1000/mo for 1 bedroom rental, if possible), is relatively safe and has a good racial demographic mix. I definitely don't want to move to Atlanta.

If you are currently living in Georgia, I would appreciate your inside knowledge of places that might meet my criteria.
 

Here are a couple suggestions from a search with some of the attributes you mentioned...

Augusta: Home to the Masters golf tournament, Augusta has a strong healthcare industry, affordable housing, and a decent public transportation system. The city is also relatively safe and has a diverse population. The Augusta Botanical Gardens features 10 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with a variety of gardens, including a rose garden, herb garden, and water garden.

Macon: With a rich music history and a revitalized downtown, Macon has a low cost of living, affordable housing, and a decent public transportation system. The city is also home to several respected healthcare facilities and has a diverse population. The Macon Botanical Gardens is a smaller, community-based garden that includes a variety of plantings, walking paths, and a butterfly garden.
 
I don't live in George, but I've been there. We stopped there on our way to Disneyworld in Florida. It was so hot and humid that the hotel we stayed at in Georgia had carpet that smelled of mildew. That was decades ago though, so maybe they've got ways to avoid that problem now. I've always heard that dry heat is much more tolerable than heat where there is a lot of humidity.

The Best Places To Retire quiz below will pump out several relocation suggestions based on your input. They provide information on jobs, healthcare, entertainment and activities, public transportation, housing and utility costs as well as taxes for each city or area on the list that's generated. So that you can get an idea of the kind of information they provide, here's what was provided for one of the areas it pulled up for me ( I filled out the questionnaire due to curiosity, not because I wanted to move).
Retirement Living In Fairfax County - Virginia

Here is the link to the page where you can start the questionnaire. Hope this helps.
Where Should I Retire? - Take our Where to Retire Quiz! - best-place-to-retire.com





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Mz. Lady said:
I have decided that I am going to retire at the end of this year. That is scary enough, but what is really scary is that I plan to move. I can't bear the frightening Arizona heat anymore. I have decided to move to Georgia. I wanted to move to a state where there are lots of botanical gardens to visit. When I searched online it seems that Georgia has several. I hope to visit Gibbs Gardens.

Here's my dilemma, I am overwhelmed with the research I have done and am having trouble narrowing down a location. I want to move to a place that has public transportation, good healthcare facilities, affordable rental options (no more than $1000/mo for 1 bedroom rental, if possible), is relatively safe and has a good racial demographic mix. I definitely don't want to move to Atlanta.

If you are currently living in Georgia, I would appreciate your inside knowledge of places that might meet my criteria.
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Although I've not lived in Georgia, when my husband and I were planning to move, it took us several months to make the decision. We made a list of about 10-20 items we wanted in the new place (near shopping, neighborhood, hospital, library, post office, etc). The winner was the one that got the highest points on the list. I have been comfortable with our decision.
 
Savannah, a coastal Georgia city, is separated from South Carolina by the Savannah River. It’s known for manicured parks, horse-drawn carriages and antebellum architecture. Its historic district is filled with cobblestoned squares and parks such as Forsyth Park shaded by oak trees covered with Spanish moss. At the center of this picturesque district is the landmark, Gothic-Revival Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist.
 
I'm a Georgia Peach, Drove the 500 across the north and East side of Atlanta. Not again.
Been downtown at 5 pm and dealt with the Crazy that's Atlanta at the end of the Office Day.
No I would choose living there & I know wonderful people who do. That Said I do love
Savannah. Okay yea Savannah is an option on my bucket list. Savanna and Odalia onion soup. yummy!
Good music and evening life in the square also. Savanna and Charleston, S.C. only a day trip apart.
It gets really nice with their restaurants and afternoons.
 
We lived in Warner Robins Georgia, just a few miles south of Macon for 5 years. Way too hot and humid for me. But Augusta and Savannah are both beautiful and maybe on the coast the weather is cooler. Still, the coast has those hurricane problems.
 
Never lived in Georgia, but been there many times. Savannah is by far my favorite. Across the Savannah river is South Carolina and a number of retirement communities that I have not explored.

North Georgia has some hill country. You will get more winter up there. Atlanta is too big city for me.

Climate is very different from Arizona. We lived our west of Phoenix for 14 years and eventually returned to Florida.
 
Paco Dennis said:
Here are a couple suggestions from a search with some of the attributes you mentioned...

Augusta: Home to the Masters golf tournament, Augusta has a strong healthcare industry, affordable housing, and a decent public transportation system. The city is also relatively safe and has a diverse population. The Augusta Botanical Gardens features 10 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with a variety of gardens, including a rose garden, herb garden, and water garden.

Macon: With a rich music history and a revitalized downtown, Macon has a low cost of living, affordable housing, and a decent public transportation system. The city is also home to several respected healthcare facilities and has a diverse population. The Macon Botanical Gardens is a smaller, community-based garden that includes a variety of plantings, walking paths, and a butterfly garden.
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I agree with A.I.'s - I mean Paco Dennis' city suggestions.😊
But, remember you're going to humid heat. It can be dangerous too.

Just kidding, I know you said "from a search"
 
hearlady said:
I agree with A.I.'s - I mean Paco Dennis' city suggestions.😊
But, remember you're going to humid heat. It can be dangerous too.

Just kidding, I know you said "from a search"
Click to expand...
She mentioned it was too hot where she was, and I thought to myself "self: I wonder why she wants to go to Georgia? It is very hot and humid there. But then I just obliged her request for cities in Georgia. I knew others would chime in with experience by having lived in the places, so she would hear the sweaty side. :) The botanical garden thing is interesting. I bet most cities have them. Great growing conditions. I mainly just wanted her to know that someone read her post and was interested. I, having never been there, used the vast internet crawler to gather relative info for her. I know how inadequate it is. As are most things I deal with all day. :)
 
I lived in metro Atlanta for 40+ years before retiring to Florida. You definitely don't want the Atlanta area unless you get way out and never plan to go downtown. But, for the best medical availability it's hard to beat Atlanta.

If you like the mountains, it's north GA. Dahlonega is a nice town and not an unreasonable drive to Atlanta - if you have to go.
There's also the Lookout Mountain area, Fort Oglethorpe, Ringold, Dalton. These are on I75 and not far from Chattanooga, TN when you need a city fix.

If you like the idea of a university town, Athens, GA, home of the UGA Bulldogs, is a nice place as long as you don't go out on a home football Saturday!

As others have said, Savannah is the place to be in south GA. Close to the ocean and Hilton Head, SC. Lots of history. I have to say, sitting on a wrought iron bench in one of Savannah's historic squares, under a magnificent live oak tree laden with Spanish moss is a real taste of the old South. It's only a couple of hours from Jacksonville, FL where there is a Mayo Clinic.
 
I have lived in Metro Atlanta since 1989 but I don't feel qualified to recommend much of anything. It is all so subjective. I like being near a city for many reasons but some do not. We moved with my husband's job so had little choice and we adjusted.
Too many possibilities would make me dizzy.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Dr. Jekyll said:
I lived in metro Atlanta for 40+ years before retiring to Florida. You definitely don't want the Atlanta area unless you get way out and never plan to go downtown. But, for the best medical availability it's hard to beat Atlanta.

If you like the mountains, it's north GA. Dahlonega is a nice town and not an unreasonable drive to Atlanta - if you have to go.
There's also the Lookout Mountain area, Fort Oglethorpe, Ringold, Dalton. These are on I75 and not far from Chattanooga, TN when you need a city fix.

If you like the idea of a university town, Athens, GA, home of the UGA Bulldogs, is a nice place as long as you don't go out on a home football Saturday!

As others have said, Savannah is the place to be in south GA. Close to the ocean and Hilton Head, SC. Lots of history. I have to say, sitting on a wrought iron bench in one of Savannah's historic squares, under a magnificent live oak tree laden with Spanish moss is a real taste of the old South. It's only a couple of hours from Jacksonville, FL where there is a Mayo Clinic.
Click to expand...

I love Savannah but remember you only get Spanish moss and palm trees where it is hot and humid.
 
Avoid living in central or southern Ga. Really Hot there, plus commercial expansion all the way up to Cartersville Ga. Suggest North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee.
 
Stay away from coastal towns because of hurricanes , insurance rates are higher and you may find yourself leaving home to go inland if hurricanes form and at our age it is no fun. I do think coastal towns are pretty though but I just think of practical things at my age and although we lives miles a ways from any coastal towns we still get remnants of their hurricanes outer bands which are no fun either.
 
I have to agree to stay away from the coastal towns of Georgia because of insurance rates or ability to get insurance. Those towns are very pretty and appealing for a visit but to live in it could be a different experience.
I also like the Athens area if you like a university atmosphere and/ or football.
North Georgia is absolutely gorgeous if you like the mountains. We have friends in Dillard, GA. They like to visit all the surrounding small towns and vineyards. They also enjoy playing golf and enjoy the nature. There seems to be quite a few events and festivals.
At our age, I like to look at the proximity of healthcare facilities, supermarkets, drugstores, stores, car dealerships/car maintenance facilities, climate, city website and services, and crime rate. There is a website that allows you to compare your present city to your desirable city, it is called "bestplaces".
 


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