Given your criteria: not gonna happen but we can put you within driving distance of a booming music scene. Consider eastern North Carolina. My parents did their homework and retired there back in '87.
Riis
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Where should I move to?
- Thread starter smeet
- Start date
Given your criteria: not gonna happen but we can put you within driving distance of a booming music scene. Consider eastern North Carolina. My parents did their homework and retired there back in '87.
Riis
For those moving east from the west coast, the humidity might be killer. I've lived towards the east coast my entire life and I still hate it. Really not much fan of heat either, but I'm the odd bird on that one.
Vegas to Indiana, that's quite a change. What was the thinking on that one?There are several "Best places to retire" sites on YouTube; you might start there. Honestly; there are too many variables involved, for ME to tell YOU where to retire. Things that would be deal breakers for you, might not matter much at all to me - and vice versa. I moved to Northeastern Indiana from Las Vegas, Nevada after I retired. There are things I don't like - much - here; but, the things I do like, outnumber them; so... overall? It's a good place - for ME. Might not be, for you though...
So... were I you? I think I'd give some serious thought about what you want from a place to spend your retirement; make a list of those wants - and things you don't want. Then, check those "Best Places..." videos for some ideas - and go from there...
Congratulations on your retirement. What did you retire from? It might help us decide your new home. I retired officially last January. A few years ago, my wife and I did two trips to Asheville. We would have moved there if we were in the market.
I'm casting a vote for the Philadelphia / South Jersey area. The Philly music scene is legendary (OK, not Nashville, but there's history here). Great healthcare (UPenn, Cooper Health, look them up), the weather is great (few hurricanes or tornadoes) with four actual seasons but none are too extreme. The taxes in New Jersey are a little on the high side. PA taxes are lower. There are great suburbs around the city in both states with good public transportation into the city, if that's your thing. Winter skiing is two hours north, summer beaches are an hour east. And we have the original cheese steaks and hoagies. Look up Medford New Jersey as a starting point. Small town, walkable, wildlife, forest, nice people. I'll be happy to answer any questions and show you around if you ever come for a visit.
Here's what was in my backyard one day...
I'm casting a vote for the Philadelphia / South Jersey area. The Philly music scene is legendary (OK, not Nashville, but there's history here). Great healthcare (UPenn, Cooper Health, look them up), the weather is great (few hurricanes or tornadoes) with four actual seasons but none are too extreme. The taxes in New Jersey are a little on the high side. PA taxes are lower. There are great suburbs around the city in both states with good public transportation into the city, if that's your thing. Winter skiing is two hours north, summer beaches are an hour east. And we have the original cheese steaks and hoagies. Look up Medford New Jersey as a starting point. Small town, walkable, wildlife, forest, nice people. I'll be happy to answer any questions and show you around if you ever come for a visit.
Here's what was in my backyard one day...
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Subscribed / Similar situation!
Just retired at 60 this summer, so we have some time to decide, (and a family situation that will keep us here for the time being)
But, we've never cared for winter, (WI) and like the cold less and less as time goes by.
We're looking for either a place to winter, and would consider 2nd home - possibly re-locating down the road.
We'd kind of always had Florida in mind, but about six years ago, we started realizing that might not be the best idea with the increase in extreme weather.
(We had a relative in the Orlando area, and also had been going to Fort Myers Beach annually since 2013...)
When Covid hit,, we decided the 1st trip we'd take would be to visit old friends that had moved to Asheville (Hendersonville) in the late 90s.
hadn't been down there in about 20 years. Then, without warning, my friend passed away suddenly, and we never made the trip...
(finally reached his wife this week; she's been staying with friends - but didn't have power, etc yet)
Our winters seam to be less "extreme" though in the southern part of WI. We're hoping if the trend continues - we won't have to move south!
Jealousy here. My retirement will likely happen about 10 minutes before my death, thanks to some activist hedge fund shareholders and corporate lackeys -- but that's my problem.
If you can, now that you're retired, hop in the car, take the US highways and not interstates, and go see the country. You will find some place in your travels that you want to return to. It could be Iowa, Idaho, Georgia, New Mexico.
If it calls you back to visit more than once, you will like being there. For us, it's Georgetown, KY, but retirement is not option and neither is moving. We just visit.
If you can, now that you're retired, hop in the car, take the US highways and not interstates, and go see the country. You will find some place in your travels that you want to return to. It could be Iowa, Idaho, Georgia, New Mexico.
If it calls you back to visit more than once, you will like being there. For us, it's Georgetown, KY, but retirement is not option and neither is moving. We just visit.
If a vibrant music scene is among your top priorities, then the greater Chicagoland area is an excellent choice. While we aren't known for being at the top of any one, particular music genre, this area is overflowing with talented musicians and thriving venues for all music genres.
We have everything here, in abundance. Pop, hip hop, dance, rock, punk, blues, country, jazz, metal, folk, classical, electronic, ballroom dance, experimental, . . . . . . you get the idea.
Basically, if it exists somewhere in the world, then there's at least one or two bands playing it here.
But more than that, there's enough demand for local musical talent that you can actually get paid to play music here. Just scour the available resources for fellow musicians interested in the type of music you like, form a band, and start playing gigs. You won't get rich doing it (unless you're really good at it) but you can earn enough through playing the area circuit to make it worthwhile.
Classic rock cover bands, for example, are everywhere. You can put one together very easily and start booking gigs with little effort. If you have any talent at all, starting pay is about $400 total per show. That's $100 per person for a four piece band.
Sure, that's peanuts, but it's a lot better than 90% of any other places where you might be living.
Moreso, there's plenty of room for advancement. Pay your dues for a few years, develop a following on social media, and venues will offer more. I've been in a few bands, and have friends who are in bands that have been around for awhile that make $500 - $1,000 a night. And I'm talking about part time "dad" bands.
If you step up to a full time gigging band, then you can actually make a living at it.
The "Illinois Entertainer" is a free monthly music magazine that highlights the musical scene in the Chicagoland area. In print and online. Check it out:
So, that's the music scene. What about everything else?
Weather: We have the four traditional seasons here, divided evenly into three months each. Summers are typically in the mid 80s during the day, with heat waves in the 90s being common. Winter days can vary a lot, but usually ranging around the teens and 20s, with occasional cold snaps around 0⁰F, although it's common to have temps in the 30s and 40s, even in January. We get some snow, but not really that much.
Precipitation is reliable year round. We don't have rainy seasons or dry seasons. Just mostly sunny days, with one or two rain (or snow) showers every week or so, throughout the year.
Scenery: Meh.
There's not much natural beauty to look at here. Mostly flattish, with rolling hills and a few bluffs, here and there. Some rock formations are to be found along our abundant rivers and creeks. But aside from that, you're looking at vast fields of corn, soybeans, and cows.
Having said that, our architecture is world class. I won't go into detail here, but if you search the interwebz, you'll see what I mean.
While there's not much natural beauty to see here, we do have access to some in our neighbor to the north, Wisconsin. Hop on interstate 94, drive a few hours and you're in "God's country". Natural lakes and streams are abundant, and Wisconsin caters to Illinois tourists and vacationers in the summer (and year round).
Food: The greater Chicagoland area is both a national (and international) crossroads of ethnic diversity, and it's reflected in our cuisine. Again, I won't go into detail here, but an online search will describe the richness of choice we have for food from all ethnicities. The best part is that much of it is "mom and pop" restaurants that are very affordable for ordinary folks.
Health care: Is state of the art and very accessible. Hospitals and clinics are abundant. Doctors in all fields and specialties can be found within a 30 minute drive from wherever you are in the area. Chicago itself has world class medical facilities.
******
If the above seems enticing to you, feel free to PM me for details.
If there was one specific place I'd recommend it would be DeKalb, Illinois. It's a small city of about 40,000 pop., located 65 miles west of Chicago.
en.m.wikipedia.org
Part of downtown DeKalb - showing everal music venues
It's home to Northern Illinois University, which has an excellent music program that attracts aspiring musicians of all genres. For that reason, there are many local venues that host a wide variety of talented bands and artists. As a bonus, there are several independent music shops that have been in business long enough to become iconic. They're great places to buy, sell, and service musical instruments, as well as serve as convenient contact hubs for musicians.
NIU campus
I also like DeKalb for its strategic location. It's right on the 88 expressway that gets you straight to downtown Chicago in less than a hour, and you're within 45 minutes of the suburbs. Yet, it's far enough away from the urban sprawl that the cost of living is very much lower. The cost to own or rent a home is affordable, as is the cost of goods and services.
DeKalb is also 40 miles southeast of the city of Rockford (pop 300,000) which itself has an abundance of quality music, art, and culture.
If you live in DeKalb, you have easy access to dozens of well attended summer music festivals in the immediate area, showcasing a variety of bands, from local talent to world famous artists and groups.
Hope this helps.
We have everything here, in abundance. Pop, hip hop, dance, rock, punk, blues, country, jazz, metal, folk, classical, electronic, ballroom dance, experimental, . . . . . . you get the idea.
Basically, if it exists somewhere in the world, then there's at least one or two bands playing it here.
But more than that, there's enough demand for local musical talent that you can actually get paid to play music here. Just scour the available resources for fellow musicians interested in the type of music you like, form a band, and start playing gigs. You won't get rich doing it (unless you're really good at it) but you can earn enough through playing the area circuit to make it worthwhile.
Classic rock cover bands, for example, are everywhere. You can put one together very easily and start booking gigs with little effort. If you have any talent at all, starting pay is about $400 total per show. That's $100 per person for a four piece band.
Sure, that's peanuts, but it's a lot better than 90% of any other places where you might be living.
Moreso, there's plenty of room for advancement. Pay your dues for a few years, develop a following on social media, and venues will offer more. I've been in a few bands, and have friends who are in bands that have been around for awhile that make $500 - $1,000 a night. And I'm talking about part time "dad" bands.
If you step up to a full time gigging band, then you can actually make a living at it.
The "Illinois Entertainer" is a free monthly music magazine that highlights the musical scene in the Chicagoland area. In print and online. Check it out:
So, that's the music scene. What about everything else?
Weather: We have the four traditional seasons here, divided evenly into three months each. Summers are typically in the mid 80s during the day, with heat waves in the 90s being common. Winter days can vary a lot, but usually ranging around the teens and 20s, with occasional cold snaps around 0⁰F, although it's common to have temps in the 30s and 40s, even in January. We get some snow, but not really that much.
Precipitation is reliable year round. We don't have rainy seasons or dry seasons. Just mostly sunny days, with one or two rain (or snow) showers every week or so, throughout the year.
Scenery: Meh.
There's not much natural beauty to look at here. Mostly flattish, with rolling hills and a few bluffs, here and there. Some rock formations are to be found along our abundant rivers and creeks. But aside from that, you're looking at vast fields of corn, soybeans, and cows.
Having said that, our architecture is world class. I won't go into detail here, but if you search the interwebz, you'll see what I mean.
While there's not much natural beauty to see here, we do have access to some in our neighbor to the north, Wisconsin. Hop on interstate 94, drive a few hours and you're in "God's country". Natural lakes and streams are abundant, and Wisconsin caters to Illinois tourists and vacationers in the summer (and year round).
Food: The greater Chicagoland area is both a national (and international) crossroads of ethnic diversity, and it's reflected in our cuisine. Again, I won't go into detail here, but an online search will describe the richness of choice we have for food from all ethnicities. The best part is that much of it is "mom and pop" restaurants that are very affordable for ordinary folks.
Health care: Is state of the art and very accessible. Hospitals and clinics are abundant. Doctors in all fields and specialties can be found within a 30 minute drive from wherever you are in the area. Chicago itself has world class medical facilities.
******
If the above seems enticing to you, feel free to PM me for details.
If there was one specific place I'd recommend it would be DeKalb, Illinois. It's a small city of about 40,000 pop., located 65 miles west of Chicago.
DeKalb, Illinois - Wikipedia
Part of downtown DeKalb - showing everal music venues
It's home to Northern Illinois University, which has an excellent music program that attracts aspiring musicians of all genres. For that reason, there are many local venues that host a wide variety of talented bands and artists. As a bonus, there are several independent music shops that have been in business long enough to become iconic. They're great places to buy, sell, and service musical instruments, as well as serve as convenient contact hubs for musicians.
NIU campus
I also like DeKalb for its strategic location. It's right on the 88 expressway that gets you straight to downtown Chicago in less than a hour, and you're within 45 minutes of the suburbs. Yet, it's far enough away from the urban sprawl that the cost of living is very much lower. The cost to own or rent a home is affordable, as is the cost of goods and services.
DeKalb is also 40 miles southeast of the city of Rockford (pop 300,000) which itself has an abundance of quality music, art, and culture.
If you live in DeKalb, you have easy access to dozens of well attended summer music festivals in the immediate area, showcasing a variety of bands, from local talent to world famous artists and groups.
Hope this helps.
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Uk within striking distance of London.
Temperate climate good healthcare
You can visit the US any time by a plane from Heathrow
Temperate climate good healthcare
You can visit the US any time by a plane from Heathrow
Connecticut shoreline east of New Haven. Beaches, hills and valleys, very, very civilized. And for whatever reason, central CT has a thriving scene for bar bands. And when you tire of rural splendor, you can always catch a train into Manhattan.
Connecticut shoreline east of New Haven. Beaches, hills and valleys, very, very civilized. And for whatever reason, central CT has a thriving scene for bar bands. And when you tire of rural splendor, you can always catch a train into Manhattan.
I can vouch for this. Mother is from Foxon / North Branford / Guilford area.
Riis
One vote for Western Mass. It can get cold, and winters can be long, but the trade-off is really nice spring/summer/fall. Continually great music scene, dating back decades. Great eats, excellent outdoor activities, and two hours from Boston/3.5 to NYC.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Huntsville, Alabama
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Can't vouch for the music scene in any of those but the other three boxes would be checked.
Huntsville, Alabama
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Can't vouch for the music scene in any of those but the other three boxes would be checked.
SLO County. Still in CA, beautiful, beaches, music scene, wineries, outdoorsy stuff. Good airport with access to the regional hubs.
Do you have to learn to speak Switzerland to move there?
Germany, it’s where I’m headed at the end of the year.
