Retirement location

I'll chime in on New Mexico. I'm a New Yorker and moved here with my wife over 25 years ago. I've traveled around most of the state on business. It's pretty big and varied....

Relatively low cost of living. Housing/food/gas/insurance/taxes are all much less than where we lived outside Princeton NJ. There are spots in ABQ and Santa Fe that are expensive. We wanted to live rurally and have acres of land that back up to a national forest. There are some issues living in a forest (fires) which I'd be happy to discuss privately if that's of interest.

Low crime depending on where you are like most places. I have to laugh at rural areas having high crime. We live in a town smaller than where Cal lived. Most of my neighbors don't lock their doors. (I do, I'm from New York) We don't have a lock on our garage with all our tools in it. I frequently leave my expensive road bicycle "just in the yard." I could leave a Leica in my unlocked car on the front seat forever and bet I'd always find it there in the morning. Yes we all have guns. Maybe that's why there's low crime, but that's a story for another day too 🙂

If you live rurally you do need to be a lot more self sufficient than most of suburbia. May or may not be for you.

We have whatever climate you want. I think there are 14 climate zones in the state. We often get 3 seasons in a day. I'm at 7000 feet. Could be 35 in the morning and 75 in the afternoon. Went to school in Rochester NY, so I have an idea what Canada is like in the Winter, and don't think you'd find winter in most of the state objectionable. The southern mountains around 7000 feet (Ruidoso/Sacramentos/ outside Silver City has 4 mild seasons. We usually don't have more than 5 days that break 90 in the summer, and often hit 50+ in the Winter in the afternoon.

Great photo opportunities. Again, I don't know what you like to shoot but we have amazing vistas. Funky buildings. World class ruins. Ghost towns. Wildlife. And of course legendary amazing light.

Amazing history from ancient civilizations to Billy the Kid to the Trinity site.

Hope that helps. I'm a bit from retirement but it would be cool to have some RFF folks to shoot with
 
Hi,

For what it's worth, if it was up to me I'd have retired to France years ago but it ain't. I've friends and family there and usually we visit each other several times a year.

Somewhere to the west of Limoges like Confolens would suit me fine. Houses are large and cheap by my standards and there's talk of mains drainage soon. Just don't ask about my worst experiences.

Summers get a bit hot, especially for fair haired people like me who can and have been sunburnt in February. So I've often wondered about buy a flat above a shop in both Scotland (cooler summers) and France and commuting between the two. Again, it's not entirely my decision. A flat above a shop as there would be someone in the shop who might notice anything dodgy etc when I/we weren't there.

As for cheese, all the replies have been about English cheeses. Trying to get a decent Welsh cheese in France is as easy as buying a Neufchâtel (a French cheese) in this part of the world.

Regards, David
 
Seems, for the majority at least on this forum, the world consists of North America and Europe. For retirement or otherwise.

Guess it is this forum's view of the rest of the world.

Interesting to say the least.
 
faris said:
Seems, for the majority at least on this forum, the world consists of North America and Europe. For retirement or otherwise.

Guess it is this forum's view of the rest of the world.

Interesting to say the least.
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People comment based on their experiences. If yours are different, please let's hear them.
 
Peter Wijninga said:
What I commented on France as a retirement destination is this: "France used to be an attractive destination but real estate prices in a number of regions are very high now and the tax situation is continuously changing". You calling that 'miserable pointless whining', with references to the cost of a seafood platter in whatever hamlet you happen to live is beside the point. Love and Kisses, P.
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Dear Peter,

Yes. And?

In some places real estate is very cheap, and the tax situation is continually changing everywhere.

The "miserable pointless whining" referred to well, your miserable pointless whining about a light-hearted comment about today's brunch.

I realize that English may not be your first language, nor yet French, but there is a difference between a hamlet, a village, and even a bourg. Never mind a ville or cité.

Cheers,

R.
 
faris said:
Seems, for the majority at least on this forum, the world consists of North America and Europe. For retirement or otherwise.

Guess it is this forum's view of the rest of the world.

Interesting to say the least.
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No real surprise to most. It is (as elsewhere remarked) experience. And several people have mentioned non-European and non-North American destinations. I'm sure we'd all be delighted to hear your additional alternative suggestions to those already posted.

For Europeans, medical care is a concern. Inside the EU, we're covered. This is quite important.

Cheers,

R.
 
If I only manage to hold on for another 18 years or so and have big enough pension... Baltic sea coast (where I live now) midsummer to mid August, Meditarenean coast (Spain, France) for the rest of the year... well, in my dreams anyway... That brunch, Rodger, that was quite cruel...
 
valdas said:
If I only manage to hold on for another 18 years or so and have big enough pension... Baltic sea coast (where I live now) midsummer to mid August, Meditarenean coast (Spain, France) for the rest of the year... well, in my dreams anyway... That brunch, Rodger, that was quite cruel...
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Where? I've only seen the Baltic coast once, in June 2011. Gorgeous! But the weather was superb and I think I'd rather be in Estonia (probably Parnu) than the other Baltic states. This may be pure lack of local knowledge and experience.

Sorry about the brunch. Apparently Peter W. didn't appreciate it either.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Where? I've only seen the Baltic coast once, in June 2011. Gorgeous! But the weather was superb and I think I'd rather be in Estonia (probably Parnu) than the other Baltic states. This may be pure lack of local knowledge and experience.

Cheers,

R.
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I spend most of the time in Helsinki now, but I love "nothern" summer in general. Curonian spit (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curonian_Spit) is my favorite place in the summer time, Saaremaa island in Estonia is also very nice, but probably a bit too deserted for my taste...
 
Vince Lupo said:
I've heard that Panama is a popular place: http://internationalliving.com/2014/01/panama-worlds-best-retirement-haven-2014/....
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Here's an interesting perspective on Panama. Not that it would sway me, but it does make you realize the many factors that enter into such a decision. The post comments are also worth reading.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned that would be important to me: find a place with volunteer opportunities that match one's skills and interests. We spend all our work years, of necessitity, living for ourselves. I feel our later years are a time to give back. My observation is that the richest senior years come to those who live for something larger than themselves.

John
 
valdas said:
I spend most of the time in Helsinki now, but I love "nothern" summer in general. Curonian spit (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curonian_Spit) is my favorite place in the summer time, Saaremaa island in Estonia is also very nice, but probably a bit too deserted for my taste...
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Ah... I've not visited the northern shores of the Baltic. I'm not sure I ever will, given the price of beer in Finland and the fact that I have spent a good few years in Malta (52-54 and 58-60), Bermuda (66-69) and California (87-92) am therefore accustomed to warmer climes. But maybe one day...

Cheers,

R.
 
What about Cruces didn't you like?
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Vince, just saw this.

I suppose everyone has different reasons for liking/disliking a place. I found Cruces to be a completely unplanned city that forced me to travel all over the town to access things and services. The city is a huge sprawl, which is a quality I find unattractive and tends to affect "quality of life".

It gets genuinely hot there. Plenty of days-long intervals with 120F or more (unofficial) during summer. Winter is OK, but occasionally gets cold. The coldest temp I experienced there was 6F, not bad compared to Bozeman MT (-44F).

Spring is known as the "windy season" to Las Cruces locals. It is terribly windy during spring and it blows tons of red dust from the west into town. Don't even think about keeping it out of your house. You learn to live with it.

You also have to learn to live with ants. Ants are extremely common in this part of the world and they'll find your house at some point in time. However, if you don't have easy food for them, they don't get bad. Sometimes they're looking for water, espeically the big black ones. You also want to develop the habit of shaking out your shoes in the morning before putting them on. Its not that common, but scorpions like getting in there and you want to get them out before sticking your foot in there. I know I'm making it sound like a pest nightmare, but it really isn't. Ask a local and they'll tell you its no big deal living with these visitors.

There's plenty of crime in Cruces. Its the first interstate junction up from Juarez/El Paso so its a point with drug and other illegal trade activity. That attracts people with fewer ethics than I. My neighbor once forgot to close his garage door for an afternoon and stuff disappeared (common). I didn't see too much violent crime, especially compared to southern California. For the most part, I didn't fear for my safety unless it was night and it was the "wrong" part of town.

There is a nice university (NMSU) in Cruces. Along with that comes culture! Whew. Also there is great medical infrastructure in Cruces and it has a good reputation. And one of the nicest attributes of Cruces is the view of the Organ Mtns from nearly anywhere in the city. They are a beautiful sight, and excellent rock climbing (not a popular retirement activity). And if its of interest to you, there is at least one well-regarded golf course in Cruces.

Personally, I'd probably look to some smaller communities in north New Mexico, or Cloudcroft in SE NM (I mentioned before). Taos and Santa Fe are spendy locales and ABQ is a big city to me, thus not as attractive as a place to live. Visit yes, live no. I'd definitely avoid Gallup. Clayton is hard to recommend too, but might not be so bad. Just over the border of NW NM (into Colorado) is the Durango area. Now that's another part of the world to seriously consider.

HTH.
 
rfaspen said:
Vince, just saw this.

I suppose everyone has different reasons for liking/disliking a place. I found Cruces to be a completely unplanned city that forced me to travel all over the town to access things and services. The city is a huge sprawl, which is a quality I find unattractive and tends to affect "quality of life".

It gets genuinely hot there. Plenty of days-long intervals with 120F or more (unofficial) during summer. Winter is OK, but occasionally gets cold. The coldest temp I experienced there was 6F, not bad compared to Bozeman MT (-44F).

Spring is known as the "windy season" to Las Cruces locals. It is terribly windy during spring and it blows tons of red dust from the west into town. Don't even think about keeping it out of your house. You learn to live with it.

You also have to learn to live with ants. Ants are extremely common in this part of the world and they'll find your house at some point in time. However, if you don't have easy food for them, they don't get bad. Sometimes they're looking for water, espeically the big black ones. You also want to develop the habit of shaking out your shoes in the morning before putting them on. Its not that common, but scorpions like getting in there and you want to get them out before sticking your foot in there. I know I'm making it sound like a pest nightmare, but it really isn't. Ask a local and they'll tell you its no big deal living with these visitors. . . .
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Thanks for a brilliant word-picture. Even though I have never visited the place and probably never will, quite apart from having no desire to retire there, I now feel that I know a very great deal more about it. To me, this is the enormous value of a thread like this: what a place feels like, rather than details of the local tax code.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Thanks for a brilliant word-picture. Even though I have never visited the place and probably never will, quite apart from having no desire to retire there, I now feel that I know a very great deal more about it. To me, this is the enormous value of a thread like this: what a place feels like, rather than details of the local tax code.

Cheers,

R.
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But I still have no clue what he had for lunch there!

😉
 
120 in Las Cruces! You Are Mistaken

120 in Las Cruces! You Are Mistaken

I live in El Paso about 30 miles south of Las Cruces. We are the same elevation and who ever said it gets to 120 cannot read a thermometer. El Paso might see 104 on a really hot day. Our temps are usually in the high 90's.
 
At present, my wife and I have no plans to move. Sitting where we are we can get to visit with our adult siblings and their families, rather quickly by airplane. Since they both live in warm climate places we can go to but the primary reason is to be with the grand children, our son and his wife, our daughter and her husband. We fly to almost everyplace we go to as we like to travel that way now, getting picked up at the destination airport by either our son or daughter and stay with either or both of their their families.

The medical is good here. And Rochester, Minnesota is close with the Mayo clinic. Just in case as we get older!

Our home sits on a nice lakeside spot; why, while I was out grilling this evening we watched as a bald eagle would go after some fish.

Everyplace has benefits and things that could be better.

And besides if we moved I'd have so much gear to pack up, it would take a long time to finish that task!
 
Roger makes a good point about Portugal being on the far west end of the continent, distant from most of the rest of Europe.

On the other hand, if I go to live in another country, I don't want to do it as an outsider. I want to become a part of the country, speaking the local language and maneuvering in their culture. I like Portugal (I lived there, 1978 - 1981, admittedly a long time ago), I already speak the language, and I would like to re-immerse myself in the culture.

Another possibility would be the northeastern corner of Spain, if rural areas outside of Barcelona aren't too expensive. I would love to learn to speak Catalan, which shouldn't be too difficult coming from a good command of Portuguese and Spanish. This would put me closer to the rest of Europe, though it might not be as comfortable for me as Portugal.

I'm sure I could learn French, too, if I were to move to France.

How about Germany? Is there any inexpensive real estate there? (I also speak rusty German.)

- Murray
 
FrankS said:
RFF members live all around the globe and some travel extensively, so I'd like to ask this knowledgable group about retirement locations.

Living in Canada is great except for the winter months. No longer being tied to a job opens the possibility of living elsewhere during these unpleasant months. I'm looking for ideas for low-key places to escape to. Criteria that locations must meet are: personal safety, inexpensive cost of living, and laid back/casual/relaxed atmosphere accepting of "retired snowbirds".

Any ideas?
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Frank, reading through the comments in this thread it seems that most posters think you're planning to escape Canada to retire somewhere permanently. But you only want to escape the Canadian winter months, right?

Since you're still a sprightly 57 years old, if I was in your position I'd start out taking extended holidays at different locations/countries every year for the first five, maybe ten years. Along the way, you're bound to find somewhere you'll want to go back to each year to escape those winter months. Then you could think about buying a place there (if that's something you're considering).
 
Sounds like the plan, Jon!

Suggestions here give me ideas of where to visit, a different place every winter until medically/physically it can't be done anymore.

Thank you all!
 
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