My Favorite Retirement Locations

I often get asked: what are your favorite retirement locations and, I must say, it’s a tough question to answer.  We have been fortunate to be able to spend time in many different places for a few weeks or even a couple of months and have fallen in love with many of them.  Early in our marriage, on each family vacation I would ask my wife, wherever we happened to be at the time, if she could retire here.  I asked it only if we were in a place that was attractive.  She got asked that question in Virginia, Bermuda, many locations in Florida and California as well the mountains of Pennsylvania and the shoreline of Cape Cod.  We were living on Long Island at the time, and it became clear that whatever location we might ultimately end up in, it had to be within four hours of where we were living at the time.  That narrowed it down quite a bit.  Upstate New York became a frontrunner but, even then, it was clear that places like Lake Placid or Lake George were just a bit too far.  I really wanted to live in the mountains and by water if possible.

We finally found what we were looking for on Sleepy Hollow Lake in Athens, New York, about thirty miles south of Albany.  Athens is a quiet river town along the Hudson and the views of the Catskill Mountains are great.  Does it get cold in the winter?  Absolutely but, being retired, we have been able to escape in the frigid months of January and February and have journeyed south and west to some wonderful places.  Our favorites include Destin, Clearwater, Pompano and Jensen Beach in Florida.  Sedona and Tucson in Arizona and Palm Springs and Oceanside in California.  We’ve even made it to Hawaii an have determined that Kauai might be one of the most beautiful spots on earth.  They’re all beautiful and we have been fortunate enough to enjoy them all. These are just some of our favorite retirement locations. Since we own timeshare, we have been able to spend most of the winter months in a warmer climate without being locked into going to a second home each year.  While there are advantages to owning a second home, we all know the cost to maintain it can be hefty.  Also, I would be the type of person who would worry about the home when I wasn’t there.  For us, it didn’t make sense to buy a second home when we would only be in it three or four months each year.

We have gotten to know our winter locations very well and it’s always a struggle to figure which direction to head in.  Everyone should have that kind of problem.  We’ve never been disappointed.  Our very first retirement trip found us passing through Charleston, South Carolina (another beautiful spot) just as a blizzard went through the area.  The whole city shut down and driving was a nightmare.  Significant snowfall is so rare in that area, they do not have the equipment needed to keep the roads clear.  When we made our way to the north of Florida, the temperature was still only about fifty degrees.  That was warm for us but the locals were out in their winter coats.  They were freezing!

The List of My Favorite Retirement Locations
Is Growing Every Year

Our biggest surprise might have been Palm Springs, California.  It was warm, there were mountains and palm trees, and the place reminded us of a small Hollywood.  In fact, it used to be the getaway place for the Hollywood stars, and they still do tours of their homes.  The downtown area has its own version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame with stars on the sidewalk and a giant statue of Marilyn Monroe.  We enjoyed the area very much and have made a couple of return trips.  It’s another example of what you can do or see when you’re not locked into a second home.

But our favorite retirement location is where we ended up building our retirement home, the upper part of the Hudson Valley.  If we had to, we could stay here all winter.  While it’s definitely cold, we usually only get one or two snowstorms that give us more than six inches.  We’re able to afford someone who will clear our driveway, and the town is extremely efficient in keeping the streets clear.  The Hudson Valley is home to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.  It is a wonderful place to visit and some of the graduates are so enamored with the area they stay and make their home up here.  The great part about that is the local restaurants are of very high quality.  We have a number of favorites and it’s always a treat when you find something new and different.  If you want to find everything that Hudson Valley has to offer, a great place to start is Hudson Valley Magazine.  We’ve been up here almost six years, and it is definitely my favorite retirement location.  I hope you find yours soon if you haven’t already.  It’s time Enjoy Retired Life!

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