Where to retire?

[azgreg]

So, I'm a little over six years away from my target retirement date. Me and SWMBO have been talking about where to retire. We've discussed teh following options:
1) Staying in Vegas - Not a fan of this option. I don't much like it here.
2) Moving back to our house in Phoenix. My oldest sone is renting it now with a friend of his and he's expressed interest in buying it.
3) Tucson. We have a lot of relatives in Tucson and I like it there.
4) Wickenburg. Not far from family in Phoenix with nice rolling terrain and a straight shot down the 60 to arguably the best senior citizen medical facilities in the country.
5) Sonoita. We have relatives near there (Sierra Vista) and it's pretty country side with plenty of wineries (wifes idea).
6) Become an expat. I like the travel idea and there's plenty of places to move to where it's fairly cheap to live. However, it would be to far from family.
7) Move to another state. Not much of a fan about this idea. See family comment above.
8) Build an ADU on our Phoenix property.
9) Build on our property in Northern Arizona which sits between Show Low and Concho. Gets pretty cold up there and I'm sitting about 1,000' over the water table. A well will cost North of $30K by itself.

The Arizona options have the drawback in that I'm really getting tired of the summer heat. We can alleviate that by traveling all summer. We would like to visit all the national parks in the US.

Decisions decisions..............

[azcat49]

Same boat but it’s sailing right now. Sell the house and downsize is my want but we have 3 kids and 9 grandkids within a few several miles otherwise I would move out of this hell hole in a heart beat.

Thinking the Payson area since it’s a short drive to the East valley and Tucson. Airport is starting to have more flights so I think the timing is right. Limited building in the area since it’s bordered by a national forest on both its east and west sides

[azgreg]

Same boat but it’s sailing right now. Sell the house and downsize is my want but we have 3 kids and 9 grandkids within a few several miles otherwise I would move out of this hell hole in a heart beat.

Thinking the Payson area since it’s a short drive to the East valley and Tucson. Airport is starting to have more flights so I think the timing is right. Limited building in the area since it’s bordered by a national forest on both its east and west sides

For some reason my wife really dislikes the Payson area. I wouldn't mind the Prescott area but it's kind of pricey up there.

[UAEebs86]

We bit the bullet and pulled the trigger on a super low maintenance single story end unit condo in Sun City right on the border with Peoria and Surprise non-retirement areas. The rural areas of Arizona are too red for me and generally have poor healthcare.

5 -10 years before I wanted to do 55+, but couldn't resist the utra low expenses/taxes and right next to the medical facilities you mentioned (my wife has a lot of health issues).

I wanted to move elsewhere (blue state, another country) because of the heat and the election, but the pull of family (mom with health issues in a senior center just down the road, my wife's whole family basically, son just got a job with working for the governor) has us staying in the Phoenix area.

The silver lining is my daughter moved to Oregon so potentially becoming reverse snowbirds and going up there every summer. The condo will be super easy to close up and head out when the heat hits.

With the cheaper expenses I am hoping to retire in less than 2 years.

[CatsbyAZ]

^
^
^
This is how I would go about starting retirement. By not having your feet dug too deep in a scenario that's difficult to uproot yourself from. Having the lower-maintenance, easier to unload condo, while keeping your options open is great. As retirement moves along more dependable plans will naturally develop.

[scumdevils86]

Millennial and gen z retirement: the grave.

[Chicat]

I want to retire to Tucson. For some reason the wife doesn’t, even though when we were back there in March she fell in love with the old Pueblo all over again.

If I had to guess right now I’d say we’ll probably end up back in Chicago. An apartment where we don’t have to shovel snow or mow a lawn and are a train or cab ride away from anything and everything. But ugh… the cold…

Tangentially, I realized recently that I had our monthly expenditures tagged in our little retirement calculator at like $5400 a month when right now we spend like $10K. Obviously we won’t have our boys to feed, clothe, and spend ridiculous amounts on travel soccer and video games, plus our house will be paid off eventually, but I reconfigured our monthly spend to something more aligned to what inflation and our spending will look like in 15 years and sorry kids! There won’t be a hell of a lot left for you if we live to be 90+.

But with the way we drink I don’t think they have to worry about being left with nothing. Root for liver failure you little urchins…

[FreeSpiritCat]

I just turned 65 and retirement is definitely on my mind. I moved to New Hampshire for this reason. They have issue-aged medicare, no state income or sales tax, and they don't tax retirement income. Yet, the cost of living is a little high. I live in a 2 bedroom condo close to work. I don't see myself fully retiring until age 70. And I'm working harder now than I was a few years ago. But the hospital puts $1100 into my HSA every year.

I could start at full retirement, which is 21 months away. Still work but be able to pay off the remaining debt. But then I am locked into my social security payment. If I did this, I would be out of all debt, but have to work per diem a couple days a week. I do have enough retirement income to supplement social security. Yet, if I work to 70, I probably won't have to work again.

I am leaving options open. I am thinking of moving to Fort Wayne or South Bend, IN where I grew up. I do have family in the area. The cost of living is much less expensive there. Or I would move back to Tucson. I have a lot of friends there I left behind. And I miss Arizona sports and real Mexican food.

[azgreg]

One concern I have for central/southern Arizona is what will the water situation look like in a decade?

[FreeSpiritCat]

One concern I have for central/southern Arizona is what will the water situation look like in a decade?

That is definitely a valid concern. It was one of the reasons why I left Arizona.

[AzCatFan2]

We're about 12 - 15 years away from retirement. Starting the conversations now. We know staying in Gilbert/Phoenix is not an option. Just too hot here in the summers. We're also not snow people. We love Show Low/Pinetop, but not in the winter.

Tucson is an option, but also hot. We love the central Oregon Coast (area between Newport and Lincoln City) and might end up there. But being that far away from Tucson? Might be difficult to swallow.

[Merkin]

Isn't Prescott MAGAville?

I have lot of relatives in Fort Wayne. They are all still living there, so I guess they like it. You can buy a decent home for $150-200K there. Definitely 4 season weather.

I retired in 2020 at 62 taking early SS, and around 2015 or so started seriously looking into areas to retire to. I still have a mortgage, but I planned on cashing out my equity and buying a nice house for cash elsewhere.

Was thinking about becoming an ex-pat in Brittany, France. Lots of English speakers there from across the channel. But concerned about travel and health care, not being a citizen.

Didn't want to move anywhere hot or humid, or where it snows, or where they have bugs and snakes, so just decided to stay where I am, and never regretted it.

Was thinking about the big island, but health care there is pretty bad. Have to fly to Oahu for any kind of treatment.

Even though my wife and I have lots of family in Tucson, it's not an option. Just too frickin' hot, and every summer will be the coolest summer you will experience for the rest of your life.

[UAEebs86]

One concern I have for central/southern Arizona is what will the water situation look like in a decade?

I worry about this too but for the amount of money we paid for our place I would be willing to sell for a big loss or even walk away from it if water becomes too scarce/expensive or the climate gets so bad we can't take it anymore and decide to escape.

I've also heard that the water shortage is still driven by agriculture so if push comes to shove I would hope our governments will prioritize people over farming.

[azcat49]

The thought of living in a cold area in the winter really turns us off. The ideas above of having 2 homes is something we have talked about.

We don’t have any pensions so it’s just our SS and savings (wifey never worked) so we have to be careful. Picking out that primary location is decision #1 for us

We have talked about trying to find that condo Eebs talked about but we have not found something we liked. We want to be in a small town opposite to our primary home. We have talked about buying land that has access to electricity and sewer/septic and putting a really nice 5th wheel there for the summer home in the pines.

[Merkin]

72% of Arizona's water usage is agriculture, and they are drawing it out 3 times faster than it can be replenished. No more rice people! Let Louisiana or any wet state grow it.

Also wanted to live off the grid, which is possible on the big island. I had someone in my neighborhood move off the grid in Oregon, on a river, and elk out his front door.

[azcat49]

And most of the agriculture is being grown by Saudi owned farms. I know the Governor was looking for ways to restrict their ability to consume so much water

[azgreg]

The thought of living in a cold area in the winter really turns us off.

With you there. I spent two winters in Germany. Pass.

The ideas above of having 2 homes is something we have talked about.

We've decided to pass on that expense. We'll just travel for the summer to get out of the heat.

We don’t have any pensions so it’s just our SS and savings (wifey never worked) so we have to be careful. Picking out that primary location is decision #1 for us

We have talked about trying to find that condo Eebs talked about but we have not found something we liked.

Currently we're in a tri=plex which is similar to being in a condo and I'm not a fan. I want my own place with ayard.

We want to be in a small town opposite to our primary home. We have talked about buying land that has access to electricity and sewer/septic and putting a really nice 5th wheel there for the summer home in the pines.

My preference is to get an acre+ somewhere and build a small energy efficient house on it.

[Merkin]

I was also considering Austin, a blue beacon in a super red state. But missed that boat.

[gouacats]

We’re about 7-9 years out, but right now thinking we’ll stay in our Tucson place and be anti-snowbirds. Plan is to get a campervan and travel to cooler places during the summers.

[Alieberman]

Wife is a few years from full retirement and I can work from anywhere. We love Tucson but also love the outdoors and Tucson in the summer is not what we want in our early retirement. We have decided to keep a house on tucson and also buy a place in a somewhat small town of Colorado. Colorado in the summer/ Tucson in the winter… I can’t wait to make this a reality

[azcat49]

The thought of living in a cold area in the winter really turns us off.

With you there. I spent two winters in Germany. Pass.

The ideas above of having 2 homes is something we have talked about.

We've decided to pass on that expense. We'll just travel for the summer to get out of the heat.

We don’t have any pensions so it’s just our SS and savings (wifey never worked) so we have to be careful. Picking out that primary location is decision #1 for us

We have talked about trying to find that condo Eebs talked about but we have not found something we liked.

Currently we're in a tri=plex which is similar to being in a condo and I'm not a fan. I want my own place with ayard.

We want to be in a small town opposite to our primary home. We have talked about buying land that has access to electricity and sewer/septic and putting a really nice 5th wheel there for the summer home in the pines.

My preference is to get an acre+ somewhere and build a small energy efficient house on it.

The question is how to travel for the summer. Settle in a warm winter place as the primary and then book a place for 3-6 months (if you can).

We prefer the travel option to one location but we still want to get out of this heat and into a more moderate temp. We can stomach a few snow days and 90 degree summer days are tolerable.

Our thoughts are to cash out by summer and hit the road for up to a year. See what we find and like. Kind of scary though

[Carcassdragger]

I've heard of people living in Rocky Point in the winter and the White Mountains in the summer. Short commute. Sounds great.

[EastCoastCat]

I’m going to Planet Claire so I can drive a Plymouth Satellite…

[wyo-cat]

I've heard of people living in Rocky Point in the winter and the White Mountains in the summer. Short commute. Sounds great.

Truth. I know many of them.

I have a crib at Playa Encanto with my Dad and sister.

[dovecanyoncat]

Wife is a few years from full retirement and I can work from anywhere. We love Tucson but also love the outdoors and Tucson in the summer is not what we want in our early retirement. We have decided to keep a house on tucson and also buy a place in a somewhat small town of Colorado. Colorado in the summer/ Tucson in the winter… I can’t wait to make this a reality

It's a great plan. We considered this kind of setup with a summer place in Santa Fe. But the $ for a second place funds a lot of travel, a lot of AirBnBs.

Of course, the most important thing about retirement is to start it immediately before a bull market but immediately after winning the lottery or getting a massive inheritance.

[gronk4heisman]

I am still relatively young, but am thinking when my youngest is half way through college if everything falls right we can do an expat semi retirement where I am able to work just to stay sane and make some money on the side as opposed to a necessity. The cost of living and quality of life outside of the United States seems much more palatable and I will have dual Italian citizenship in the near future, though I am not sure Italy is where I would settle.

[azgreg]

Another interesting idea came to mind last night. When I was with Goodyear (store manager) I had a customer who was retired. He lived most of the year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) in Sun City then rented a dorm room at Utah St University for the Summer. He said the school rented out a bunch of the rooms during the summer to retirees. It made more financial sense for the university to do so instead of paying someone to just maintain the properties.

[UAEebs86]

Another interesting idea came to mind last night. When I was with Goodyear (store manager) I had a customer who was retired. He lived most of the year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) in Sun City then rented a dorm room at Utah St University for the Summer. He said the school rented out a bunch of the rooms during the summer to retirees. It made more financial sense for the university to do so instead of paying someone to just maintain the properties.

One of my HS friends who used to be a landlord on a bunch of properties here in Phoenix (he sold them all) said he's looking into getting a condo in a northern university town and renting to students fall, winter, and spring and living there in the summer.

[Merkin]

Another interesting idea came to mind last night. When I was with Goodyear (store manager) I had a customer who was retired. He lived most of the year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) in Sun City then rented a dorm room at Utah St University for the Summer. He said the school rented out a bunch of the rooms during the summer to retirees. It made more financial sense for the university to do so instead of paying someone to just maintain the properties.

Cal Poly, where I used to work, did that too. Not sure it continued after the pandemic, but I don't keep up on Cal Poly news. Certainly not going to tear the place up with wild parties.

Why not? Close to beaches, vineyards and so on.

[azgreg]

By the way, when my wife says she wants to travel during the summer she wants to do it in a teardrop trailer.

[wyo-cat]

Man, how do you get into that?

[dovecanyoncat]

By the way, when my wife says she wants to travel during the summer she wants to do it in a teardrop trailer.

No! No! FUCKING NO! I've done more time in trailers than all y'all combined. Do not consent to spend time in a fucking soup can Greg! STAND YOUR GROUND!

[azgreg]

Man, how do you get into that?

Can't you see? It has a door.

[UAEebs86]

No way in hell I'm getting my wife into a teardrop trailer or a college dorm room.

[azcat49]

Yea that small is not for me. We did 6 months around the country in a 41 ft 5er and that was fantastic. Still, we need a permanent home base

[wyo-cat]

Man, how do you get into that?

Can't you see? It has a door.

It looks too small for me. I can’t bend and contort like I used to.

[dovecanyoncat]

That's a window. You can't even throw yourself out of it to end your misery.

[Merkin]

Yea that small is not for me. We did 6 months around the country in a 41 ft 5er and that was fantastic. Still, we need a permanent home base

My wife and I get along great, and will be married 40 years this year, but even 41 foot is too small for us. We need our own space.

Well maybe 41 is OK, but I am not backing this 41 footer up.

[azgreg]

We've talked about maybe getting a small class C motorhome.

Something like this:

[Alieberman]

My wife told me many years ago that she will leave me if I get an RV

She’s serious

[dovecanyoncat]

Yea that small is not for me. We did 6 months around the country in a 41 ft 5er and that was fantastic. Still, we need a permanent home base

My wife and I get along great, and will be married 40 years this year, but even 41 foot is too small for us. We need our own space.

Well maybe 41 is OK, but I am not backing this 41 footer up.

You get good at backing it up. But the key is not putting yourself in bad situations. Don't dribble into traffic. But you're a big guy so I'm not surprised you want a large RV. I finished woodswork with a 30 travel trailer with a super slide. It was glorious.

[dovecanyoncat]

We've talked about maybe getting a small class C motorhome.

Something like this:

When we reminisce about RV life this ^^^^^ is what we consider. Does it have a roadside slide-out? THAT is key my man. Get a 2000 watt Honda generator. Can you park it at your PHX place? RV storage is expensive.

[Merkin]

I have two Tucson brothers that have something like this. Forgot the model, but has the Mercedes logo. Great for traveling in, not so much living.

They are going to a blues or jazz festival for 4 days pretty soon with no hookups.

[Chicat]

My wife told me many years ago that she will leave me if I get an RV

She’s serious

I’m leaving you too.

I’ve heard that if you are an RV person and want to be somewhere for a few weeks at a time (like fully exploring a city or national park) you should get a 5th wheel because you can park it and then you’ve got your truck to take you all around, but if you want to hit a new spot every day then you should go with a motorhome.

Personally, I want neither. Give me a plane, a rental car, a taxi or mass transit system, and a hotel.

[dovecanyoncat]

4 days is probably max for the black water capacity when it comes to regular folks. You're looking at +/- $150k right there. A used diesel tow rig and 30' travel trailer is prolly well under $100k. Then you can haul 55 gallon water barrels and live like normal. (Women need lots of water.)

[dovecanyoncat]

My wife told me many years ago that she will leave me if I get an RV

She’s serious

I’m leaving you too.

I’ve heard that if you are an RV person and want to be somewhere for a few weeks at a time (like fully exploring a city or national park) you should get a 5th wheel because you can park it and then you’ve got your truck to take you all around, but if you want to hit a new spot every day then you should go with a motorhome.

For what you're talking about 5th wheels rock. So do travel trailers.

Personally, I want neither. Give me a plane, a rental car, a taxi or mass transit system, and a hotel.

We're leaving you on a cruise ship (without the drinks and beverage package) and waiting for the ransom payment. You'll end of saving money, just sayin'.

[azgreg]

My wife told me many years ago that she will leave me if I get an RV

She’s serious

I’m leaving you too.

I’ve heard that if you are an RV person and want to be somewhere for a few weeks at a time (like fully exploring a city or national park) you should get a 5th wheel because you can park it and then you’ve got your truck to take you all around, but if you want to hit a new spot every day then you should go with a motorhome.

Personally, I want neither. Give me a plane, a rental car, a taxi or mass transit system, and a hotel.

I'm kinda with you here. I used to be big on camping. Now I prefer hiking on day trips.

[ASUCatFan]

My Dad and his wife have a motorhome. They spend about 1/4 of the year in it. Honestly, it seems like a pretty good way to enjoy your retirement.

[azcat49]

4 days is probably max for the black water capacity when it comes to regular folks. You're looking at +/- $150k right there. A used diesel tow rig and 30' travel trailer is prolly well under $100k. Then you can haul 55 gallon water barrels and live like normal. (Women need lots of water.)

We have gone a week plus as we have 100 gallons of fresh water, a 100 gallon black tank and a 100 gallon grey water tank. For us, we soured on hotel pillows and rooms after Covid and really liked the back roads of america. Surprisingly backing it up was pretty easy given it’s hitched to the bed of the truck and not the bumper area. Wifey pulled it 16k miles on that trip and did all the backing up. Good wife

[Merkin]

Wait, you let your wife drive?