My wife and I currently live in Illinois and are approaching retirement. We are searching for the perfect (if there is one) retirement location. Our criteria:
Average to low cost of housing, decent medical care, open minded folks who are environmentally conscious, good fishing and hunting for me, dog agility for my wife. Anyone share these interests and found the right spot?
Welcome, Tiny! I was born & raised outside Chicago. Never ventured beyond Wisconsin or Michigan, till I married in 1965, headed west on I-80, it then being 75% complete. My first view of a real mountain, in person, all but took my breath away! That was as we approached Denver. The Loveland Pass had snow on the ground, it being July 16th! We continued on, all the way to L.A., where I had an Uncle living. I was quickly "hooked" on leaving my birthplace of Berwyn, IL.
Having "retired" 3 times, I suppose I may be somewhat "expert" at it. After leaving IL at 30, I lived in Las Vegas (then a very popular retirement spot), then Colorado, Indiana, Arizona, AZ being the longest period, 20 years. During the Reagan Recession I "retired" the first time, though not voluntarily. Lived in a cabin I built at 6,700 ft. altitude with no 'phone, power, or water, a year. Not really a retirement, but shocked family could not comprehend it, though my co-workers upon returning to my former job, were unanimous in assessing what we had done as amazing.
The 2nd. retirement was for real, voluntary, 1999, I was 57, we sold our home in Phoenix, bought a 300-acre spread in the Missouri Ozarks with two others in partnership of sorts; we got 90 acres and an old farmhouse, one of my wife's dreams come true. I was then still 5 years away from the promised opening of the huge S/S vault doors. Neither of us sought jobs during that 5 years, though I accepted the local high school's plea to teach Math there a year; that helped ease the 5 year money drought.
The third retirement in 2012 consisted of the final move, again out West, the area being arid desert, in high-demand by a large retiree contingent both permanent, and part-time, winter residents from all over the country. We feel we have found the final place for us. Weather is wonderful for 9 months out of the year, very hot for 3; proximity to the Colorado River eases that condition considerably. We live about 10 miles south of the Laughlin, NV/Bullhead City, AZ area. We can recommend the area for retirement, though our viewpoint is obviously slanted. Desert-living is far different from Midwestern, and surely not for everyone. imp
I live in West Scotland. Hope someone call help you find your ideal place.
