Anonymous wrote:I dont get people who want to move away from friends and community they spent 18+ years building unless its totally unaffordable. When my kids are grown ill get to garden more, spend more time with the friends i made and enjoy my neighborhood more.

I get that…if I lived in an affordable suburb with nice weather. But I live in expensive DC, the mosquitoes make being outside unbearable, and I’m tired of paying for substandard services with no votes in Congress.

Anonymous wrote:I dont get people who want to move away from friends and community they spent 18+ years building unless its totally unaffordable. When my kids are grown ill get to garden more, spend more time with the friends i made and enjoy my neighborhood more.

+1 million.

I dont get people who want to move away from friends and community they spent 18+ years building unless its totally unaffordable. When my kids are grown ill get to garden more, spend more time with the friends i made and enjoy my neighborhood more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4 years for us! Requirements (we haven't yet figured it out, but am watching this thread for ideas):
Blue state
Good medical care
Within 50 minutes of an International Airport
College town a plus, but not tiny college and not big state U
Would like to be on a natural lake, but not a deal breaker
4 seasons, ok if winters are miserable, we will head to Costa Rica or Puerto Rico for 2 months
Ok if summers are humid and miserable, we will head to Maine or Oregon for 2 months

Evanston, IL

I love Evanston, but it's not lower density or particularly naturally beautiful like OP wants.

Madison or Milwaukee Wisconsin are probably a better fit, but the winters are frigid and long.

Interesting how many want to move to rural areas. I’ve known a few retirees who have done that. But social isolation is a real hazard, and a huge mental health issue among the elderly. For me, a mid-sized city with arts & cultural events is a better option.

We are moving to western Massachusetts.

Anonymous wrote:4 years for us! Requirements (we haven't yet figured it out, but am watching this thread for ideas):
Blue state
Good medical care
Within 50 minutes of an International Airport
College town a plus, but not tiny college and not big state U
Would like to be on a natural lake, but not a deal breaker
4 seasons, ok if winters are miserable, we will head to Costa Rica or Puerto Rico for 2 months
Ok if summers are humid and miserable, we will head to Maine or Oregon for 2 months

Evanston, IL

I'm waiting to see where my kids end up. One of them just finished grad school and has talked about wanting to stay in this area because that's where friends and family are (sigh).

4 years for us! Requirements (we haven't yet figured it out, but am watching this thread for ideas):
Blue state
Good medical care
Within 50 minutes of an International Airport
College town a plus, but not tiny college and not big state U
Would like to be on a natural lake, but not a deal breaker
4 seasons, ok if winters are miserable, we will head to Costa Rica or Puerto Rico for 2 months
Ok if summers are humid and miserable, we will head to Maine or Oregon for 2 months

Where do you think your children will end up? Are you okay being a flight away—think health reasons and grandchildren. My kids are 31 (married) and 30 and both are finally living near us (we re not in the DMV area). I would be happy for a smaller house and yard, but don’t want to travel for holidays.

We're hoping to move to southern Maine. Portland suburbs maybe.

I am waiting for this day … 9 years left and counting. You’re so lucky to escape the DMV! I’d move back to my home country in europe. In the US I’d move to San Diego, I lived there for 10 years and it was a great place to live.

Washington State and some parts of Oregon. CA too expensive.

My dream has never gotten more specific than “ocean view and mild winters that isn’t Florida or Texas.”

Probably one of the Carolinas or somewhere west like California.

My husband and I have lived in the city (DC) for the past 25+ years in 3 different homes and we are finally done with this city. Not bagging on it, but we are ready to stop taking care of a home and start living our semi-retired lives in a new place. We both have remote jobs and can live anywhere. We hate the frigid cold but also don’t want to burn up in the desert SW. We think out West is best because of the natural beauty, national parks, and lower density of humans. But we don’t want to live super remote. Anyone else either moved already or making plans to go someplace that fits this bill or plans to go? Help us decide!!!