Need some advice and suggestions. Wife and I are at least a decade from retirement, but are beginning to think about where we might like to settle and live out the remainder of our lives. Factors are cost of living, climate, and quality of life.
Here's a little background. We are both teachers. Our roots are in Texas but we have been living in the Chicago area for nearly 20 years. At various times in my life I've lived in downstate Illinois, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Rhode Island, Indiana, Maine, and Texas.
We've done the numbers and decided that the cost of living is too high in the Chicago area. We will have paid off our mortgage by the time we retire, but property taxes and other expenses will cut into our disposable income. The answer seems to be to sell the house, downsize, and relocate. We are not tied to any part of the country. The only place we feel an emotional attachment to is Texas. But we can't take the hot weather anymore and the Austin area, where we are from, is even more expensive than where we live now.
We are thinking about a smaller town within, say, 30-40 minutes drive of a city with a population of 150,000-500,000. That city should have a good cultural life, shopping, and health care. A major university would be a plus. We are looking for a climate that isn't too hot or too cold (just right...). I'd like to be able to ride my motorcycle for, say 9 or 10 months of the year. That rules out the Upper Midwest or the Deep South.
I lived in Bloomington, Indiana and liked that area. I liked Urbana-Champaign and Springfield, Illinois but would prefer to leave this state. We've thought about looking more closely at Tennessee, North Carolina, maybe parts of Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, etc. I haven't lived in the West but would be willing to consider it. I'm not crazy about the idea of going back to the East Coast but there may be areas to think about. I don't want to live in New England again.
I'd like to hear suggestions of areas we might investigate. The experiences of people who have done the same or similar would be most welcome. Thanks.
Here's a little background. We are both teachers. Our roots are in Texas but we have been living in the Chicago area for nearly 20 years. At various times in my life I've lived in downstate Illinois, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Rhode Island, Indiana, Maine, and Texas.
We've done the numbers and decided that the cost of living is too high in the Chicago area. We will have paid off our mortgage by the time we retire, but property taxes and other expenses will cut into our disposable income. The answer seems to be to sell the house, downsize, and relocate. We are not tied to any part of the country. The only place we feel an emotional attachment to is Texas. But we can't take the hot weather anymore and the Austin area, where we are from, is even more expensive than where we live now.
We are thinking about a smaller town within, say, 30-40 minutes drive of a city with a population of 150,000-500,000. That city should have a good cultural life, shopping, and health care. A major university would be a plus. We are looking for a climate that isn't too hot or too cold (just right...). I'd like to be able to ride my motorcycle for, say 9 or 10 months of the year. That rules out the Upper Midwest or the Deep South.
I lived in Bloomington, Indiana and liked that area. I liked Urbana-Champaign and Springfield, Illinois but would prefer to leave this state. We've thought about looking more closely at Tennessee, North Carolina, maybe parts of Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, etc. I haven't lived in the West but would be willing to consider it. I'm not crazy about the idea of going back to the East Coast but there may be areas to think about. I don't want to live in New England again.
I'd like to hear suggestions of areas we might investigate. The experiences of people who have done the same or similar would be most welcome. Thanks.
