Thinking about retiring in the Kentucky/Tennessee/North Carolina area

I have 2 friends that have moved from central Ohio to small towns one in Tennessee and the other North Carolina. Both of them say the same thing, the locals took a long time for locals to accept them. Not that they're rude just don't expect to be invited over for a while. Now that they've been there 30+ yrs its better.
You may have an advantage in this area because firewood people tend to be a little more rednecck than your average Yankee.

 

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Hey, I resemble that comment.

 

I’ll be following this thread closely. We’ve been looking in the Ohio Valley area of Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky.
We’ve actually been down to several areas and had a look around.

 

Great state just not sure it qualifies as a “more temperate climate”

 

Now this sounds appealing. Just for fun (because am so busy at work) looked up some properties online. Still trying to pick myself up off the ground after seeing how low the taxes are for properties 2,000+ Sq Ft and many of them sitting on 2 - 10 acres of land (my dream). Not even close to retiring but it's never too early to start thinking and planning on where you'd like to be someday. My wife and talk about it from time to time because we realize once our kids are grown and out of school I cannot continue to pay taxes in NJ like I do.

IMO each area of the country has it pro's and con's. It all depends on you the individual what you value most, what is acceptable and even perhaps where your originally from. Some are more tolerant of cold or more tolerant of humidity. Humidity is pretty prevalent in my area, while I still don't like it I suppose I am more use to it/tolerable than most. Same with folks up north who deal with snow and cold, not sure I could do snow like that or have long cold winters. Presently I wouldn't want to be in a place with too much of any one season. I enjoy the 4 seasons, perhaps that will change with age as the cold can really affect an aging body or at least I've been told, many of times by many of folks.

 

ReelFaster So what are saying about us northerners where ground is white 5+ months year huh?

 

Hahaha ahh man, hope I didn't insult any of my northern friends ..... --> **White Flag Raised** <-- LOL!

If I had to say something I'd say that you are all a bunch of tough SOB's. Truth be told, just about everything I mean everything I've ever seen & experienced up north I've fell in love with. From upstate NY, to Canada, to Maine, VT and NH just sheer beauty. Something about the mountains, the beauty, simplicity etc...

 

"the cold can really affect an aging body or at least I've been told"... ayuh... truth... that's why you see old geezers huggin' the wood stove... ...

 

This is why I’m moving to Florida. Even the low pressure fronts cripple me. I barely got out of bed this morning. I’m only 49 but arthritis has ahold of me bad. I refuse to take their poison. When the first warning says a medication causes cancer I really don’t think you should take it.

 

Have many friends who go to Florida for the winters. I get it. Been down enough times to know it's not for me. I love the snow too much, even tho I have to dress like the Michelin Man now... ... and then... I hug the wood stove...

 

Good for you and I don't blame you one bit.

Spoken to many many of folk who have moved more southern and speak volumes of how much better they feel and how much better their aging bodies feel. I love the snow bird thing, best of both worlds if one can afford to do it.

 

It’s really not for me either but I feel so much better. I have been fishing down there for 27 years. After one or two weeks I couldn’t wait to get home. Different now that I’m crippled.

 

Yep... a friend of mine had to move there... he has a dry skin condition and when the dry air showed up every winter season here, he was just miserable. He says the high humidity down there makes the problem completely disappear.

 

I’ve lived in Minnesota my entire life and always loved the winters. I enjoy ice fishing and hunting in the snow and other outdoor activities . But the last few years I’ve started to change my tune. I’m not saying that there is any area that is perfect in all aspects. But I’m hoping to find an area without such drastic changes in weather.
I still have at least four more years until I can retire, probably will put in another 8 or 9. But the better half and I have been discussing retirement and what the Minnesota winters would mean.
That’s why we are looking in this area for a possible landing spot. I think we could remain active and find more things to do in a milder climate. We have decided to start taking mini trips to this area and see if it is a place we want to be.