Retire to Western NY or VT/NH Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to retire to WNY, likely one of the villages north of Niagara Falls. Yes, taxes are high, but it’s also reasonably insulated from the worst effects of climate change, which matter to us. DH is from there, hence preferring that over VT/NH.

You’re going to live somewhere that has sh!tty weather all the time right now in order to avoid the highly speculative effects of climate change in the indeterminate future? 🙄🙄🙄😂😂😂

DH and I love cold weather; we don’t consider it “shitty.” Winters are long but the other seasons are gorgeous. I’ll take a Buffalo winter over a DC summer any day.

Also, I don’t take advice from science-deniers, so there’s that.

You like it now, will you like it as much when you're 85 and can't drive and use a walker and are afraid one fall on the ice may be the end of you?

when I am 85 and can’t drive and need a walker I will move into a Home near my children wherever they may be but I am not going to live in the south for 25 years dying of the heat just in case that happens when I am 85.

I’m the PP who was being replied to so I didn’t write the above, but it’s exactly how I feel, too.

My parents live there now, and are in denial about what a problem it is. They constantly want me to help them with weather maintenance issues for their house, and they basically can't travel at all in the winter because they won't drive in snow. They're only mid-70s but this stuff catches up with you. Skiing isn't fun for them anymore. I really resent that they moved someplace inconvenient that would obviously pose a lot of challenges, and now act like it's some unforseen misfortune.

These are your issues, PP. Stop projecting them onto others.

Ok. Enjoy dealing with the snow without help.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/protect-your-heart-when-shoveling-snow-201101151153

But why are you assuming PP won’t have help? My in laws have had the same company for years shovel/plow their driveway and sidewalk. There are tons of other companies should something happen to this one. Some of us love New England and financially plan and prepare for the things we will need in our retirement years. Just like we would plan if we wanted to live somewhere else.

Because it's not just the shoveling. It's feeling like you can't even walk to your own mailbox without risk. Can't drive anywhere because you might not be able to drive back. When you get where you're going, will you be able to get from the car to the place safely? Basically unless you can pay to hire a chaperone every time you need to go somewhere, it's a long boring difficult winter. You can say "that's your issue" but I'm telling you, it's the issue of my parents, all their friends and relatives there, and thus also their adult children. These places should be thought of as for the first decade of retirement only, then you need to make another plan.

The population of northern New England is aging (not just because of arriving retirees) and it can be very hard to find a facility to move into. I'm trying to find one right now and the options are few, expensive, and not that great.

FFS - you can hire someone to salt your walk, too. Why wouldn’t an older person be able to walk to their mailbox without risk? As for driving - pay attention to the weather and that’s usually not an issue. What happened in Buffalo over Christmas was a tragedy, but many of the deaths could have been avoided if people paid attention to the forecast and stayed off the roads.

I get that you’re bitter AF, but enough, already.

[Anonymous]

My parents retired to NH, near Dartmouth College. In addition to the favorable tax situation that many PPs have noted, this area has a lot going for it -- good restaurants and lots of interesting events on campus and in town, lots of lakes and places to hike or bike, excellent health care, beautiful weather in summer and fall. But, even if you like cold weather, are relatively healthy and hearty, are well-fixed financially and have a generator, the winters are tough. And, as others have noted, winter can be isolating and tiresome in northern New England. You will want to leave for warmer and sunnier climes for at least part of the winter. Again, even if you are well-off, organizing the travel can be tiring -- especially if you have pets. I'm not saying it's a bad idea to retire to NH, but you need to have a plan for dealing with winter.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to retire to WNY, likely one of the villages north of Niagara Falls. Yes, taxes are high, but it’s also reasonably insulated from the worst effects of climate change, which matter to us. DH is from there, hence preferring that over VT/NH.

You’re going to live somewhere that has sh!tty weather all the time right now in order to avoid the highly speculative effects of climate change in the indeterminate future? 🙄🙄🙄😂😂😂

DH and I love cold weather; we don’t consider it “shitty.” Winters are long but the other seasons are gorgeous. I’ll take a Buffalo winter over a DC summer any day.

Also, I don’t take advice from science-deniers, so there’s that.

You like it now, will you like it as much when you're 85 and can't drive and use a walker and are afraid one fall on the ice may be the end of you?

when I am 85 and can’t drive and need a walker I will move into a Home near my children wherever they may be but I am not going to live in the south for 25 years dying of the heat just in case that happens when I am 85.

I’m the PP who was being replied to so I didn’t write the above, but it’s exactly how I feel, too.

My parents live there now, and are in denial about what a problem it is. They constantly want me to help them with weather maintenance issues for their house, and they basically can't travel at all in the winter because they won't drive in snow. They're only mid-70s but this stuff catches up with you. Skiing isn't fun for them anymore. I really resent that they moved someplace inconvenient that would obviously pose a lot of challenges, and now act like it's some unforseen misfortune.

These are your issues, PP. Stop projecting them onto others.

Ok. Enjoy dealing with the snow without help.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/protect-your-heart-when-shoveling-snow-201101151153

But why are you assuming PP won’t have help? My in laws have had the same company for years shovel/plow their driveway and sidewalk. There are tons of other companies should something happen to this one. Some of us love New England and financially plan and prepare for the things we will need in our retirement years. Just like we would plan if we wanted to live somewhere else.

Because it's not just the shoveling. It's feeling like you can't even walk to your own mailbox without risk. Can't drive anywhere because you might not be able to drive back. When you get where you're going, will you be able to get from the car to the place safely? Basically unless you can pay to hire a chaperone every time you need to go somewhere, it's a long boring difficult winter. You can say "that's your issue" but I'm telling you, it's the issue of my parents, all their friends and relatives there, and thus also their adult children. These places should be thought of as for the first decade of retirement only, then you need to make another plan.

The population of northern New England is aging (not just because of arriving retirees) and it can be very hard to find a facility to move into. I'm trying to find one right now and the options are few, expensive, and not that great.

FFS - you can hire someone to salt your walk, too. Why wouldn’t an older person be able to walk to their mailbox without risk? As for driving - pay attention to the weather and that’s usually not an issue. What happened in Buffalo over Christmas was a tragedy, but many of the deaths could have been avoided if people paid attention to the forecast and stayed off the roads.

I get that you’re bitter AF, but enough, already.

I think PP and I share the same thoughts. You clearly have a different experience and view on cold weather locations than we do. Our family has lived in New England for generations. Unlike around here, the streets are plowed down to the black top and parking lots and sidewalks shoveled well after regular snow. Obviously blizzards and the like are totally different. Our parents have people who plow and shovel their properties. But since they’re from New England, they also keep well stocked pantries and don’t go out just to go out when the weather is bad. It’s not Siberia for goodness sakes. They don’t mind the cold and no, they do not leave during the winter even though they can easily afford it. They like being home.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to retire to WNY, likely one of the villages north of Niagara Falls. Yes, taxes are high, but it’s also reasonably insulated from the worst effects of climate change, which matter to us. DH is from there, hence preferring that over VT/NH.

You’re going to live somewhere that has sh!tty weather all the time right now in order to avoid the highly speculative effects of climate change in the indeterminate future? 🙄🙄🙄😂😂😂

DH and I love cold weather; we don’t consider it “shitty.” Winters are long but the other seasons are gorgeous. I’ll take a Buffalo winter over a DC summer any day.

Also, I don’t take advice from science-deniers, so there’s that.

You like it now, will you like it as much when you're 85 and can't drive and use a walker and are afraid one fall on the ice may be the end of you?

when I am 85 and can’t drive and need a walker I will move into a Home near my children wherever they may be but I am not going to live in the south for 25 years dying of the heat just in case that happens when I am 85.

I’m the PP who was being replied to so I didn’t write the above, but it’s exactly how I feel, too.

My parents live there now, and are in denial about what a problem it is. They constantly want me to help them with weather maintenance issues for their house, and they basically can't travel at all in the winter because they won't drive in snow. They're only mid-70s but this stuff catches up with you. Skiing isn't fun for them anymore. I really resent that they moved someplace inconvenient that would obviously pose a lot of challenges, and now act like it's some unforseen misfortune.

These are your issues, PP. Stop projecting them onto others.

Ok. Enjoy dealing with the snow without help.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/protect-your-heart-when-shoveling-snow-201101151153

But why are you assuming PP won’t have help? My in laws have had the same company for years shovel/plow their driveway and sidewalk. There are tons of other companies should something happen to this one. Some of us love New England and financially plan and prepare for the things we will need in our retirement years. Just like we would plan if we wanted to live somewhere else.

Because it's not just the shoveling. It's feeling like you can't even walk to your own mailbox without risk. Can't drive anywhere because you might not be able to drive back. When you get where you're going, will you be able to get from the car to the place safely? Basically unless you can pay to hire a chaperone every time you need to go somewhere, it's a long boring difficult winter. You can say "that's your issue" but I'm telling you, it's the issue of my parents, all their friends and relatives there, and thus also their adult children. These places should be thought of as for the first decade of retirement only, then you need to make another plan.

The population of northern New England is aging (not just because of arriving retirees) and it can be very hard to find a facility to move into. I'm trying to find one right now and the options are few, expensive, and not that great.

FFS - you can hire someone to salt your walk, too. Why wouldn’t an older person be able to walk to their mailbox without risk? As for driving - pay attention to the weather and that’s usually not an issue. What happened in Buffalo over Christmas was a tragedy, but many of the deaths could have been avoided if people paid attention to the forecast and stayed off the roads.

I get that you’re bitter AF, but enough, already.

So you won't be going anywhere until the salt and shovel people come. Could be a while. Are you going to hire someone to salt your destination as well?

Look, I'll stop belaboring it, but you have to really think this stuff through. In the winter, every single time you leave your house it's a project and you have to work with your service provider who, amazingly, has many other walks to shovel and roads to plow. Just saying "I'll hire someone" is a way of avoiding thinking about whether you really will be able to get the level or service you want, and whether you truly want to live your life around the weather.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to retire to WNY, likely one of the villages north of Niagara Falls. Yes, taxes are high, but it’s also reasonably insulated from the worst effects of climate change, which matter to us. DH is from there, hence preferring that over VT/NH.

You’re going to live somewhere that has sh!tty weather all the time right now in order to avoid the highly speculative effects of climate change in the indeterminate future? 🙄🙄🙄😂😂😂

DH and I love cold weather; we don’t consider it “shitty.” Winters are long but the other seasons are gorgeous. I’ll take a Buffalo winter over a DC summer any day.

Also, I don’t take advice from science-deniers, so there’s that.

You like it now, will you like it as much when you're 85 and can't drive and use a walker and are afraid one fall on the ice may be the end of you?

when I am 85 and can’t drive and need a walker I will move into a Home near my children wherever they may be but I am not going to live in the south for 25 years dying of the heat just in case that happens when I am 85.

I’m the PP who was being replied to so I didn’t write the above, but it’s exactly how I feel, too.

My parents live there now, and are in denial about what a problem it is. They constantly want me to help them with weather maintenance issues for their house, and they basically can't travel at all in the winter because they won't drive in snow. They're only mid-70s but this stuff catches up with you. Skiing isn't fun for them anymore. I really resent that they moved someplace inconvenient that would obviously pose a lot of challenges, and now act like it's some unforseen misfortune.

These are your issues, PP. Stop projecting them onto others.

Ok. Enjoy dealing with the snow without help.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/protect-your-heart-when-shoveling-snow-201101151153

But why are you assuming PP won’t have help? My in laws have had the same company for years shovel/plow their driveway and sidewalk. There are tons of other companies should something happen to this one. Some of us love New England and financially plan and prepare for the things we will need in our retirement years. Just like we would plan if we wanted to live somewhere else.

Because it's not just the shoveling. It's feeling like you can't even walk to your own mailbox without risk. Can't drive anywhere because you might not be able to drive back. When you get where you're going, will you be able to get from the car to the place safely? Basically unless you can pay to hire a chaperone every time you need to go somewhere, it's a long boring difficult winter. You can say "that's your issue" but I'm telling you, it's the issue of my parents, all their friends and relatives there, and thus also their adult children. These places should be thought of as for the first decade of retirement only, then you need to make another plan.

The population of northern New England is aging (not just because of arriving retirees) and it can be very hard to find a facility to move into. I'm trying to find one right now and the options are few, expensive, and not that great.

FFS - you can hire someone to salt your walk, too. Why wouldn’t an older person be able to walk to their mailbox without risk? As for driving - pay attention to the weather and that’s usually not an issue. What happened in Buffalo over Christmas was a tragedy, but many of the deaths could have been avoided if people paid attention to the forecast and stayed off the roads.

I get that you’re bitter AF, but enough, already.

I think PP and I share the same thoughts. You clearly have a different experience and view on cold weather locations than we do. Our family has lived in New England for generations. Unlike around here, the streets are plowed down to the black top and parking lots and sidewalks shoveled well after regular snow. Obviously blizzards and the like are totally different. Our parents have people who plow and shovel their properties. But since they’re from New England, they also keep well stocked pantries and don’t go out just to go out when the weather is bad. It’s not Siberia for goodness sakes. They don’t mind the cold and no, they do not leave during the winter even though they can easily afford it. They like being home.

Native Buffalonian and I also agree. Yes, you will help with snow removal and blizzards are not unheard of. However, for the most part, the snow is manageable because the infrastructure (plows, workers, supplies) is appropriately resourced.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Burlington and I really cannot recommend it for seniors. The cost of housing is really high, and taxes are too, and UVM Medical Center isn't that great-- Dartmouth is way better.

Can we talk about the dark? It gets dark really early in the winter and that's hard if your vision isn't what it used to be. If you're at all prone to seasonal depression, don't move to Burlington no matter how young you are. It's a long, long, long dark boring winter if you're too old to go ice-boating or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget to factor in weather costs. Bad weather can really damage your house-- think ice dams. You'll pay for snow plowing and removal, you'll pay for home heating by wood, oil, or electric. If you're not in a city or the downtown of a town, you'll be maintaining your own well and septic and leach field and paying for it to be serviced. You'll pay when frost heaves bust up your septic system. It's all well and good to compare property and income taxes, but a lot of rural or rural-ish jurisdictions keep taxes low by providing less in services. You'll pay those things out of pocket and it adds up. You might also need two cars when in a city you could have got by with just one. And two sets of snow tires!

https://www.frugalwoods.com/2018/01/29/city-vs-country-which-is-cheaper-the-ultimate-cost-of-living-showdown/

Oh and don't expect the locals to bail you out. They will if it's a true emergency, but they have their own friends and family to look after, so don't expect much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to retire to WNY, likely one of the villages north of Niagara Falls. Yes, taxes are high, but it’s also reasonably insulated from the worst effects of climate change, which matter to us. DH is from there, hence preferring that over VT/NH.

You’re going to live somewhere that has sh!tty weather all the time right now in order to avoid the highly speculative effects of climate change in the indeterminate future? 🙄🙄🙄😂😂😂

DH and I love cold weather; we don’t consider it “shitty.” Winters are long but the other seasons are gorgeous. I’ll take a Buffalo winter over a DC summer any day.

Also, I don’t take advice from science-deniers, so there’s that.

You like it now, will you like it as much when you're 85 and can't drive and use a walker and are afraid one fall on the ice may be the end of you?

when I am 85 and can’t drive and need a walker I will move into a Home near my children wherever they may be but I am not going to live in the south for 25 years dying of the heat just in case that happens when I am 85.

I’m the PP who was being replied to so I didn’t write the above, but it’s exactly how I feel, too.

My parents live there now, and are in denial about what a problem it is. They constantly want me to help them with weather maintenance issues for their house, and they basically can't travel at all in the winter because they won't drive in snow. They're only mid-70s but this stuff catches up with you. Skiing isn't fun for them anymore. I really resent that they moved someplace inconvenient that would obviously pose a lot of challenges, and now act like it's some unforseen misfortune.

These are your issues, PP. Stop projecting them onto others.

Ok. Enjoy dealing with the snow without help.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/protect-your-heart-when-shoveling-snow-201101151153

I’ve been an athlete for 30+ years and DH works out daily.

NP but you just sound like a peach. Make sure you have a large acreage so your neighbors don’t have to deal with you either!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are looking at Hanover, NH or Woodstock, VT. I went to Dartmouth and we’ve spent some time in the area since then. But it would be only for the fall/winter and probably only for a few years. I think once we are mid 70s we will want to be in a warmer place.

I'm curious, why would you spend the colder months in a colder place? Where would you spend the spring and summer?

Because we like winter and skiing (hence the reason we probably would give it up in mid 70's), and we already have a beach house where we will spend spring/summer.

I'm always amazed when I ski midweek how many retirees I run into who ski 60-100 days a season. Obviously not full days, but they are getting out there multiple days a week. That's what I want for at least a few years.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone leaves NH to retire because of the property taxes.

Not everyone. Our family is there and has no plans to leave and we plan to move there as soon as we retire. Property taxes are high but we all love southern NH and feel the positives outweigh the high property taxes.

The high property taxes fund the schools which is always a good thing. It's sad when retirees feel like they shouldn't have to pay for that when they benefited from it.
NH does have an income tax (correction to someone above).

You're going to get a mix of nice and crazies though.

NH has NO state income tax - interest and dividend tax only. Would retire to the Hanover/Lyme NH area in a heartbeat. Southern NH not so much.

[Anonymous]

How about Media, PA? Cute town. The Brandywine Valley in Delaware.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to retire to WNY, likely one of the villages north of Niagara Falls. Yes, taxes are high, but it’s also reasonably insulated from the worst effects of climate change, which matter to us. DH is from there, hence preferring that over VT/NH.

You’re going to live somewhere that has sh!tty weather all the time right now in order to avoid the highly speculative effects of climate change in the indeterminate future? 🙄🙄🙄😂😂😂

DH and I love cold weather; we don’t consider it “shitty.” Winters are long but the other seasons are gorgeous. I’ll take a Buffalo winter over a DC summer any day.

Also, I don’t take advice from science-deniers, so there’s that.

You like it now, will you like it as much when you're 85 and can't drive and use a walker and are afraid one fall on the ice may be the end of you?

when I am 85 and can’t drive and need a walker I will move into a Home near my children wherever they may be but I am not going to live in the south for 25 years dying of the heat just in case that happens when I am 85.

I’m the PP who was being replied to so I didn’t write the above, but it’s exactly how I feel, too.

My parents live there now, and are in denial about what a problem it is. They constantly want me to help them with weather maintenance issues for their house, and they basically can't travel at all in the winter because they won't drive in snow. They're only mid-70s but this stuff catches up with you. Skiing isn't fun for them anymore. I really resent that they moved someplace inconvenient that would obviously pose a lot of challenges, and now act like it's some unforseen misfortune.

These are your issues, PP. Stop projecting them onto others.

Ok. Enjoy dealing with the snow without help.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/protect-your-heart-when-shoveling-snow-201101151153

But why are you assuming PP won’t have help? My in laws have had the same company for years shovel/plow their driveway and sidewalk. There are tons of other companies should something happen to this one. Some of us love New England and financially plan and prepare for the things we will need in our retirement years. Just like we would plan if we wanted to live somewhere else.

Because it's not just the shoveling. It's feeling like you can't even walk to your own mailbox without risk. Can't drive anywhere because you might not be able to drive back. When you get where you're going, will you be able to get from the car to the place safely? Basically unless you can pay to hire a chaperone every time you need to go somewhere, it's a long boring difficult winter. You can say "that's your issue" but I'm telling you, it's the issue of my parents, all their friends and relatives there, and thus also their adult children. These places should be thought of as for the first decade of retirement only, then you need to make another plan.

The population of northern New England is aging (not just because of arriving retirees) and it can be very hard to find a facility to move into. I'm trying to find one right now and the options are few, expensive, and not that great.

FFS - you can hire someone to salt your walk, too. Why wouldn’t an older person be able to walk to their mailbox without risk? As for driving - pay attention to the weather and that’s usually not an issue. What happened in Buffalo over Christmas was a tragedy, but many of the deaths could have been avoided if people paid attention to the forecast and stayed off the roads.

I get that you’re bitter AF, but enough, already.

So you won't be going anywhere until the salt and shovel people come. Could be a while. Are you going to hire someone to salt your destination as well?

Look, I'll stop belaboring it, but you have to really think this stuff through. In the winter, every single time you leave your house it's a project and you have to work with your service provider who, amazingly, has many other walks to shovel and roads to plow. Just saying "I'll hire someone" is a way of avoiding thinking about whether you really will be able to get the level or service you want, and whether you truly want to live your life around the weather.

Are you always this patronizing?

I lived in Chicago for seven years. I know snow. I know ice. I know terrible weather. I *also* know, as 16:56 and 17:00 pointed out, that in areas with lousy winter weather, like Buffalo, like Chicago, they have the infrastructure to deal with it. It’s not like here, where people freak out and things shut down in winter weather, in part because we don’t have the resources to make it safe for people to be out and about.

As for living your life around the weather, I’ll take this option to Florida, which the elderly seem to love, with all its heat and humidity and hurricanes. No, thank you.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to retire to WNY, likely one of the villages north of Niagara Falls. Yes, taxes are high, but it’s also reasonably insulated from the worst effects of climate change, which matter to us. DH is from there, hence preferring that over VT/NH.

You’re going to live somewhere that has sh!tty weather all the time right now in order to avoid the highly speculative effects of climate change in the indeterminate future? 🙄🙄🙄😂😂😂

DH and I love cold weather; we don’t consider it “shitty.” Winters are long but the other seasons are gorgeous. I’ll take a Buffalo winter over a DC summer any day.

Also, I don’t take advice from science-deniers, so there’s that.

You like it now, will you like it as much when you're 85 and can't drive and use a walker and are afraid one fall on the ice may be the end of you?

when I am 85 and can’t drive and need a walker I will move into a Home near my children wherever they may be but I am not going to live in the south for 25 years dying of the heat just in case that happens when I am 85.

I’m the PP who was being replied to so I didn’t write the above, but it’s exactly how I feel, too.

My parents live there now, and are in denial about what a problem it is. They constantly want me to help them with weather maintenance issues for their house, and they basically can't travel at all in the winter because they won't drive in snow. They're only mid-70s but this stuff catches up with you. Skiing isn't fun for them anymore. I really resent that they moved someplace inconvenient that would obviously pose a lot of challenges, and now act like it's some unforseen misfortune.

These are your issues, PP. Stop projecting them onto others.

Ok. Enjoy dealing with the snow without help.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/protect-your-heart-when-shoveling-snow-201101151153

I’ve been an athlete for 30+ years and DH works out daily.

NP but you just sound like a peach. Make sure you have a large acreage so your neighbors don’t have to deal with you either!

I’m rude because PP is incorrectly assuming that I’m an out of shape couch potato? Okay. Whatever.

[Anonymous]

Western NY get a boat load of snow. Like insane amounts. You down for that?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We’re planning to retire to WNY, likely one of the villages north of Niagara Falls. Yes, taxes are high, but it’s also reasonably insulated from the worst effects of climate change, which matter to us. DH is from there, hence preferring that over VT/NH.

You’re going to live somewhere that has sh!tty weather all the time right now in order to avoid the highly speculative effects of climate change in the indeterminate future? 🙄🙄🙄😂😂😂

DH and I love cold weather; we don’t consider it “shitty.” Winters are long but the other seasons are gorgeous. I’ll take a Buffalo winter over a DC summer any day.

Also, I don’t take advice from science-deniers, so there’s that.

You like it now, will you like it as much when you're 85 and can't drive and use a walker and are afraid one fall on the ice may be the end of you?

when I am 85 and can’t drive and need a walker I will move into a Home near my children wherever they may be but I am not going to live in the south for 25 years dying of the heat just in case that happens when I am 85.

I’m the PP who was being replied to so I didn’t write the above, but it’s exactly how I feel, too.

My parents live there now, and are in denial about what a problem it is. They constantly want me to help them with weather maintenance issues for their house, and they basically can't travel at all in the winter because they won't drive in snow. They're only mid-70s but this stuff catches up with you. Skiing isn't fun for them anymore. I really resent that they moved someplace inconvenient that would obviously pose a lot of challenges, and now act like it's some unforseen misfortune.

These are your issues, PP. Stop projecting them onto others.

Ok. Enjoy dealing with the snow without help.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/protect-your-heart-when-shoveling-snow-201101151153

But why are you assuming PP won’t have help? My in laws have had the same company for years shovel/plow their driveway and sidewalk. There are tons of other companies should something happen to this one. Some of us love New England and financially plan and prepare for the things we will need in our retirement years. Just like we would plan if we wanted to live somewhere else.

Because it's not just the shoveling. It's feeling like you can't even walk to your own mailbox without risk. Can't drive anywhere because you might not be able to drive back. When you get where you're going, will you be able to get from the car to the place safely? Basically unless you can pay to hire a chaperone every time you need to go somewhere, it's a long boring difficult winter. You can say "that's your issue" but I'm telling you, it's the issue of my parents, all their friends and relatives there, and thus also their adult children. These places should be thought of as for the first decade of retirement only, then you need to make another plan.

The population of northern New England is aging (not just because of arriving retirees) and it can be very hard to find a facility to move into. I'm trying to find one right now and the options are few, expensive, and not that great.

FFS - you can hire someone to salt your walk, too. Why wouldn’t an older person be able to walk to their mailbox without risk? As for driving - pay attention to the weather and that’s usually not an issue. What happened in Buffalo over Christmas was a tragedy, but many of the deaths could have been avoided if people paid attention to the forecast and stayed off the roads.

I get that you’re bitter AF, but enough, already.

So you won't be going anywhere until the salt and shovel people come. Could be a while. Are you going to hire someone to salt your destination as well?

Look, I'll stop belaboring it, but you have to really think this stuff through. In the winter, every single time you leave your house it's a project and you have to work with your service provider who, amazingly, has many other walks to shovel and roads to plow. Just saying "I'll hire someone" is a way of avoiding thinking about whether you really will be able to get the level or service you want, and whether you truly want to live your life around the weather.

Are you always this patronizing?

I lived in Chicago for seven years. I know snow. I know ice. I know terrible weather. I *also* know, as 16:56 and 17:00 pointed out, that in areas with lousy winter weather, like Buffalo, like Chicago, they have the infrastructure to deal with it. It’s not like here, where people freak out and things shut down in winter weather, in part because we don’t have the resources to make it safe for people to be out and about.

As for living your life around the weather, I’ll take this option to Florida, which the elderly seem to love, with all its heat and humidity and hurricanes. No, thank you.

But why are you assuming they would live in a city? This stuff is a lot harder if you're rural or outside the center of your town, because you have much more responsibility to maintain and pay for for your own infrastructure and when the power goes out it can be out for days. Yes, Buffalo and Chicago have infrastructure, but huge portions of VT, NH, and NY state don't have anywhere near that level. People deal with, yes, but often with the help of younger family members. If you're going to live there without family, go in with your eyes open.