Hudson Valley Thoughts
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Anonymous
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My significant other and I are in our 50s and looking for a welcoming place for two middle aged (don’t call us elderly!) lesbians who raised a couple of kids together and want to get the hell out of dodge (DC).
We’ve visited friends in the Hudson Valley over the years and I think that’s a good place for us, but we aren’t sure which town is going to be the best to try to put down new roots. Woodstock is cute and sure seemed LGBTQ friendly, but maybe it’s too small? Does everything close in the winter? Hudson also seemed very welcoming of LGBTQ. Saugerties seemed to have a more traditional vibe, but we were only there once. Rhinebeck also seemed a bit more buttoned up but maybe we have wrong impressions. Red Hook and Germantown seemed more rural and maybe would be less welcoming? We want to make new friends, be a part of the general community, sing (we are both members of a chorus), find our favorite coffee shop, and hopefully be permitted to bring our dog a lot of places, in DC we take our pug almost everywhere. We like to hike and don’t mind winters as long as there’s a good fire going and groceries aren’t too far if we get snowed in. For people who are familiar with that area, where would be good for us to target our search? |
Anonymous
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I know someone in Olivebridge and it seems like everyone she hangs out with there moved from Brooklyn so that would probably be fine. Also look at Beacon and Greece. Do you want to be closer to Albany or NYC? Do you care if you're on the metro north line? Most importantly, what is your budget?
You have probably also thought of this, but Western Mass has a ton of lesbians so could also work. |
Anonymous
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Beacon
New Paltz Woodstock |
Anonymous
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From a financial picture, New York is one of the highest tax states to retire in.
https://states.aarp.org/new-york/state-taxes-guide Insurance rates especially auto are very high. We grew up in NY and while love the area, the taxes are just too high to make it affordable for retirement. |
Anonymous
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Rhinebeck
Woodstock Cold Spring Great barrington MA Williamstown MA |
Anonymous
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Thank you for the recommendations. Our budget is around 1.2m. As long as we can get to the train in around 30 minutes we would be happy. We won’t be going into NYC a ton but we definitely will and one of our kids will be coming from there to visit. We will still have ties in DC but it seems to make the most sense to drive or fly from Albany for that.
We prefer the Hudson Valley over the Berkshires. We hear you about the taxes. The long term plan is in about 10 years, we would get a condo in Florida and that would become our primary residence while still owning our Hudson Valley home. |
Anonymous
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The college towns would be a good place to start - New Paltz/Gardiner and Red Hook/Tivoli. Not a big fan of Hudson - it’s pricey for what you get, the city is pretty run down outside of Warren Street, and large parts of the outlying areas are very conservative. Kingston is a better choice if you want to be in a small city IMO - you could also look in nearby small communities like Rosendale and Stone Ridge if you weren’t a fan of Saugerties.
All of these are 30 min or less from the train and have easy-ish highway access to Albany and NYC. |
Anonymous
These are great suggestions. I'd add Amherst and Northampton, MA to the list. If you want a place with slightly milder winters, consider New Hope, PA or Lambertville, Frenchtown, or Stockton in NJ. |
Anonymous
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FYI, there was just a big BeckHook Pride Festival this past weekend.
https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/beckhook-pride-the-parade-and-celebration-in-photos/ I grew up in that area and my parents still live there. Rhinebeck is a bit more "fancy," with more upscale restaurants and shops. Red Hook is a bit more down to earth but has a great burrito place called Bubby's. You will go to the grocery store and find a lot of quiet conservative people like my parents, but there will also many college students around wearing creative outfits. You do have Trump signs here and there, and also my favorite: the huge red pickup truck with the bumper sticker that says: "Protect the Boarder!!!" I haven't spent a lot of time across the river or north and south recently. I've heard Hudson is great but I haven't been there in decades. I also don't have a dog so I can't speak to how dog friendly places are. Good luck with your search...there's nothing like the Hudson Valley in the Fall when all the leaves are changing! P.S. Want to buy my parents' house? It needs a lot of work (okay a total reno) but is close to the village. LOL. |
Anonymous
| Maybe Kingston? |
Anonymous
| Garrison is the most picturesque |
Anonymous
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[quote=Anonymous]My significant other and I are in our 50s and looking for a welcoming place for two middle aged (don’t call us elderly!) lesbians who raised a couple of kids together and want to get the hell out of dodge (DC).
We’ve visited friends in the Hudson Valley over the years and I think that’s a good place for us, but we aren’t sure which town is going to be the best to try to put down new roots. Woodstock is cute and sure seemed LGBTQ friendly, but maybe it’s too small? Does everything close in the winter? Hudson also seemed very welcoming of LGBTQ. Saugerties seemed to have a more traditional vibe, but we were only there once. Rhinebeck also seemed a bit more buttoned up but maybe we have wrong impressions. Red Hook and Germantown seemed more rural and maybe would be less welcoming? We want to make new friends, be a part of the general community, sing (we are both members of a chorus), find our favorite coffee shop, and hopefully be permitted to bring our dog a lot of places, in DC we take our pug almost everywhere. We like to hike and don’t mind winters as long as there’s a good fire going and groceries aren’t too far if we get snowed in. For people who are familiar with that area, where would be good for us to target our search? Look at town of CatskillNew York. Lots of theater, art, etc. Accepting. [/quote] |
Anonymous
| Catskill! |
Anonymous
I know people retire to Delaware beaches, so I think DE is kind to retirees? Not sure? But closer to Philly there is this: https://arden.delaware.gov/ I believe it's very artsy, very welcoming, and close to train, airport for your children. There are other attractions in the area that people on this board mention all the time, like Longwood Garden. |
Anonymous
| I think the question is whether you want access to an established LGBTQ community or just a left-leaning, tolerant one. If the former Hudson and Beacon are absolutely your go-tos, followed by Kingston. The surrounding area can still get pretty MAGA so being in a cute village that votes blue may not provide a comfortable enough environment. |