posted on September 3, 2005 03:38:21 PM new
Sanmar is right, I live in the same town, Santa Maria Ca, different Mobil home park. We have a 9 hole golf course, pool, Jacuzzi, card room with 5 pro card tables and a pool room with 4 pool tables and of course a club house.
You can live here easy on 55 G's a year.
I pay $600 a month for rent and all utilites
posted on September 3, 2005 03:42:39 PM new
You are pretty much out of luck in California. You can't buy in the cities for less than $500k. There is a reason no one lives inland... even still, you are takling $250k to $350k for a house. Along with that are inflated gas prices, inflated everything prices (if you rent a store, you have to charge more to pay the high rent).
I wouldn't live in NC on a bet. The right wing fascists are taking over.
posted on September 3, 2005 05:05:17 PM new
I wouldn't live in NC on a bet. The right wing fascists are taking over
???????????????????????????????????
What group is that?
The governor of NC is a Democrat, one of our senators ran for VP in the election - John Edwards.
Now both senators are Republicans (since Nov.election)but this is real unusual.Had Edwards ran for re-election instead of running for VP , he would have certainly been re-elected. The Republican(Burr) barely beat the last minute candidate(Bowles) for the Senatorial seat.
One of our senators is a woman,Liz Dole
Basically there is not an overwhelming majority, it is about even. The number of registered Democrats is a little higher than Republicans.
Which one is supposed to be the "right wing fascists" ???
Methinks ya must have us confused with another state
----------------------------------------------------
posted on September 3, 2005 05:12:03 PM new
On another note, -I found this so interesting.
I do not know how to post a link but I think this will not be bad temporary living quarters for the ones who lost everything. I love the city of New Orleans, my heart goes out to all of them.
posted on September 3, 2005 05:16:08 PM new
I think twig's area sounds wonderful - I love PA as well - you really get the best of everything there - you have gorgeous views, woods, mountains - low housing costs - and you are in driving range of most of the large cities on the East Coast - DC, Philly, New York if you ever need big city excitement.
I think they have a great property tax amount in PA as well, don't they Twig?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on September 3, 2005 06:02:52 PM new
Where I and the rest of the gang here would live, and where OP (that stands for Original Poster) would be happy to put down roots are probably as diverse as the very large country of ours.
Other than making it on $55K a year (is that from a job, retirement, eBay, what?) what kinds of features would make you delirious? You want to buy a house, a double wide, a condo, rent an apartment, do you need to work outside the home, what do you like to do, do you have kids that need schools, culture, recreation, political climate, percentage of minorities, municipal services, interstate road system, proximity to major airport, weather, internet access (yes) -- too many factors to even make an educated guess.
Perhaps of you tell us WHAT you liked about Jacksonville, you could get a few suggestions. (Jacksonville, sorry, is a place I always pass by -- never could find a particularly redeeming feature about it).
Caroline: Taxes in PA depend on the locale. Potter County is probably very low ... and there's a good reason for that. Bucks County is very high. And there's a reason for that too. Low housing costs? Again, depends. I cried every winter when my heating bills were due.
posted on September 3, 2005 06:04:09 PM new
When I lived in PA (Long ago) the only thing that bothered me was Tole Roads and state run liqueur stores (Similar to Oregon. We used to stock up in Maryland.)
On Positive side I found pear trees more or less wild but nice fruit, lovely people and nice housing.
I thought big cities has swallowed all that up by now. Will look into it.
posted on September 3, 2005 06:15:56 PM new
birgittaw
There are two of us. I am retired Navy with Social Security. Wife who is younger works in retail sales (Radio Shack/ Select Comfort etc) Wherever their is a mall.About 1/2 of 55K is fixed income.
Would prefer a older house, like to garden.
PA is nice but does get cold and nasty there. (Once was snowed in at York PA for three days)
As to Jacksonville, used to be a rat hole, no more. If you have not seen it in 5 years you would not recognize it. But sooner or later a hurricane will fine tune that city.
posted on September 3, 2005 06:32:31 PM new
Aha! Apparently you're not adverse to a "warm" climate.
May I suggest Lowcountry SC? Lots of wonderful affordable old homes, low-ish taxes, proximity to Savannah, Beaufort, and Charleston, AND the beach, lots of shopping malls based on proximity to I-95, inland should make you relative immune to hurricanes, but you will have to focus on growing corn and okra and forget about broccoli and cauliflower. Safe, gentle, charming, civilized -- you'll both live forever.
Just a suggestion. I'm extremly happy here -- that was after being snowed in for MORE than your three days, north of York.
posted on September 3, 2005 11:33:19 PM new
We live in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley in CA, Stanislaus Co. It used to be a wonderful small town (Turlock); we're north of Sparkz so have similar weather. Really hot in the summer and pretty mild winters but the fog is miserable when it sets in. Our area is booming and growth is out of control as are the housing prices. Don't come here! We have enough people! LOL
I just got back from Denver after visiting my sister who lives in Golden. I would NEVER move there----too many people and too many crazy drivers. We did go to Cheyenne, WY yesterday and I loved it! Nice sized town, reasonable housing but I understand the winters have 60 mph cold winds. Might be worth it though. The pace is slower and the people friendly. Still close enough to large areas but far enough away to have some peace.
We'll probably end of dying in our paid-for home here in Turlock. New grandbaby is only 13 miles away. Even tho our home is worth lots more than it was, we couldn't afford to buy anywhere else in CA now. Glad we don't have to make that decision, at least right now.
posted on September 4, 2005 04:39:59 AM new
Good guess brigittaw! We live in Tioga county. Just a few miles from the NY line. Our property taxes run around 1k a year, but the studio/shop/garage is as large as our house and probably adds to it. It's a separate building and you could work on a semi in the main bay, if you wanted to. But that is actually two taxes, one is property and one has something to do with the school.
You must have been "south" for toll roads. We still have the State stores. I either order and they get what I like if they don't have it or I go to NY (mostly for wine).
We don't go to the city (Corning, NY) very often. We make a day of it and hit grocery stores, wine stores, Sam's, Barnes & Nobles, eat out, etc. Kind of an "adventure" once every month or so.
Winters really aren't that bad. You might get one good storm per year. (Which lately might equal 6-12 inches.)
We actually have alot of retirees from NJ and downstate coming to our area. I think primarily for the lifestyle.
posted on September 4, 2005 05:36:13 AM new
Enjoying NORTHWEST VIRGINIA...real estate is SKYROCKETING in the past two years...Shenandoah Valley. We are 1-1 1/2hr away from DC ($$$ jobs), but now with gas prices I think the MARKET on housing out here will DROP big time again, because people will not be able to commute. But on any given day, you can get lost out here because one herd of cows look like the next.
Weather is very mild, barely over 100 in summer and hardly ever under 0 in winter.
posted on September 4, 2005 05:49:54 AM new
"Denver is nice but you can't mind snow."
NOT SO!!! I lived in Denver for 27 years. The front range of Colorado has 320 days average of sunshine a year! Winters are very mild... if and when it snows its gone almost always in 2-3 days. Avg winter daytime temp is 50 degrees! Summers are hot.. 90+ for months. We finally did a swamp cooler 8 years ago we're to old to not be comfortable. We moved to Northern New Hampshire 2 years ago to be with my family. I am delighted to be here for family... but trust me you don't move 30 miles from the Canadian border for the weather unless your moving here from Hudson Bay, Canada! When the time is right I am certain we will head back to Colorado. HONESTLY the weather IS the reason to live there. Denver is a city island nothing is close by... you have to drive or fly to get anywhere... but unlike 27 years ago it is not a cow town. Lots of theatre, dance,opera, great restaurants and for the most part nice people. I prefer the northern + western suburbs they tend to be less $ to buy into, but have an older mostly population. If you want better schools, go south or southwest. You can do it EAISLY on 55K, we did... For my money Denver is the best! AND ITS STILL, ALONG WITH DIST 1 BOULDER/JEFFCO... DEMOCRATIC! Thanks be to God!
[ edited by bjboswell on Sep 4, 2005 05:52 AM ]
posted on September 4, 2005 06:44:50 AM new
In addition to all of the above, you may want to consider your retirement tax burden. With unelastic income, that becomes a real factor in deciding where to settle.
PA property taxes arrive twice a year: part I for county and township, part II for schools. It's all property tax. Tioga County, as lovely as it is, would most likely not provide OP's spouse with much in the way of employment opportunity without a commute (Mansfield isn't exactly a bustling metropolis if I recall).
Relocating is not an easy decision. Naturally, everyone is partial (well, most everyone) to where they are or have been. Make yourself some criteria, and then go on the net and plug them in. And as you will get older, don't forget about medical care and hospitals!
By the way, David, what do you sell on eBay? At least, since you're here, I assume you are a seller. You may want to consider availability of merch as well. If it's old and collectible, will you find things to sell?
posted on September 4, 2005 07:53:03 AM new
I live in Huntington Beach CA. The prices are astronomical and ridicuously high! The weather is paradise but I couldn't afford to buy in this area again unless I won the lottery. But my sister who sold her home down the street from me to move to the Eastern Sierras has now returned to Southern California. She can not afford to buy back in the community. She & her husband purchased a 2 bedroom/1 bath home in a town called Sun City in a senior 55 plus community. It is near Tumecula. They paid $189,000.00 for a beautiful home. They are living on less then $55,000.00 since he retired as a school teacher receiving $1800.00 monthly. He does subsidizes his income by doing photography. but I know that they don't make $55,000. HOWEVER, the weather is extremely hot during the summer reaching I think as high 105 at times but the average weather is 71. I love the area except the summer for a few weeks. If you bought a home, I think that the tax base is 1.1%.
Then there are many residents of Southern California moving to Arizona where they are buying affordable housing, primarily north of Phoenix.
But then the only aspect about living here in California is dealing with the earthquakes. I am a native Califonia where I have rode out hundreds of earthquake in my lifetime. But I would rather ride out an earthquake then deal with a hurricane or tornado.
I would Google to see if they have any surveys on the net about ideal or close to ideal places to move.
[ edited by mamachia on Sep 4, 2005 10:18 AM ]
posted on September 4, 2005 12:05:44 PM new
Mamachia: Our daughter, who's getting a divorce, lives in Huntington Beach on Brimhall Lane. Any connection? I agree about the housing prices. Their little four bedroom 2 bath corner lot house was purchased 11 years ago for $225,000; two months ago it was appraised for $670,000. They needed another appraisal, and it's now at $690,000--for maybe 1900 sq. ft.
posted on September 4, 2005 12:09:43 PM new
The one caution I'd give you all, if considering a relocation: I don't know how old people are here, but be sure to relocate while you're still ambulatory and capable of making new friends. That means your memory has to be good enough that you can remember details about friends' lives--which makes for friendship. Many of us moved an elderly parent to be closer to us and made the mistake of moving that parent after short-term etc. memory was kaput. That meant that we were the sole emotional support for that parent for years.
We relocated to another state (CA) 4 years ago and tell all our friends to be sure they have a solid marriage or partnership, because you're all each other has for the first 6 months or so, while you're feeling your way into a new community. Now we're settled - in spades - almost too busy in our "retirement," but loving it.
posted on September 4, 2005 01:39:28 PM new
Hi Roadsmith,
I am sorry to hear about your daughter's divorce unless she is of course is happy with it. I am not familiar with the name of that street. Do you know the cross streets? I am not surprised at her home prices. It is crazy out here! It is wonderful if you are trying to make a return on your investment but awful if you just want to find an affordable place to live. I have lived in my home for 24 years and I am not going any where at the moment.
Rosanne
posted on September 4, 2005 02:23:19 PM new
"By the way, David, what do you sell on eBay? At least, since you're here, I assume you are a seller. You may want to consider availability of merch as well. If it's old and collectible, will you find things to sell? "
I sell stamps/ stamp collections/ covers and the like. Location seems to have little to do with it) Up to about two years ago I was really working at it but hit a really dry spell of stock to buy so stopped. I am back on but low key as I can make more money other ways.
You all are right age must be considered. I am near 69 but doing very well.
It may be that moving is not practical but is nice to think about and read all your nice e-mails
posted on September 4, 2005 03:07:19 PM new
Mamachia: Our daughter (she is off Golden West and Edinger) initiated the divorce after trying for 4 years to involve both in counseling. The husband decided he didn't like what the psychologist was saying so quit going. He's essentially stuck in his personality and is too stubborn to want to change. She's buying out his share of the house and he'll move out to a condo somewhere nearby. When I think of the Whole Year it took them to plan their Big Wedding, I could barf. All that time and money wasted!
posted on September 4, 2005 04:25:43 PM new
HI Roadsmith,
I know where she lives. I am not very familiar with the area but it is very nice. I live about 4-5 miles southeast of her at Atlanta & Beach. I have lived here for 28 years and doubt that I will leave unless I move to another area where I can take my property tax base. How will your daughter be able to swing the financial? I had the same problem with counseling especially since it was a woman and he didn't want no woman telling him that he was a screw up.
I wish her well.
Rosanne
posted on September 4, 2005 04:51:19 PM new
Mamachia: She's getting an interest-only loan and plans to sell in a couple of years. There are two little boys, 8 and 5, and she felt they needed the stability of the only neighborhood and friends they've had all their lives. We had questions about it, but she's determined to keep them in the house. She manages a big apartment complex just down the street about a mile, so it's convenient, and she's hoping to find a female housemate to take one of the bedrooms, to help out with payments etc. It's going to be a tight squeeze, and we told her we can help her some, making sure she knows that would then come off any inheritance she'd need to split with her brother and sister someday. We don't believe in free lunch for anyone unless they're starving. Tough love, I guess you'd call it. I worry about her ability to manage job and life and little boys all by herself, but she's determined to do it. (They're sharing custody, though--which I understand will be harder on the boys than on the parents.)
posted on September 4, 2005 05:26:51 PM new
OK enough of this sadness. I am sorry but what does that have to do with "Where would you Live?"
OP (think I lake that)
David
Decades ago, your age would have been considered quite old and infirm. Today -- it's just the beginning!
If you're just simply unhappy with the hurricanes and only this year, and love the rest of the area, are comfortable with work, home, your garden, friends, etc., why then I'd stay put after doing a cost/benefit equation.
Point well taken on health and/or mental issues above, but that doesn't sound like your situation at all.
I moved five years ago and didn't know a soul -- but picked the town with very specific criteria, all of which have worked out perfectly. I confess I couldn't remember the name of the town when I drove back to PA having bought a house there. True story -- but I knew how to find it with the moving truck. For me, this was ideal and remains so.
It's easy to become settled and complacent, it's scary to pick up and move. But sometimes, it's the right thing to do. Life is short you know, so make the most of it and be sure those things over which you have control work for you and contribute to your level of happiness/contentmet.
posted on September 4, 2005 06:27:21 PM new
We just moved from NY to Colorado Springs, CO. I have also lived in NM and Nevada.
There is no way I would ever go back to the 'low' part of the country again. Living over 1 mile about sea level eliminates humidity. The cost of living here is unbelievable. Our taxes are 1/12th they were on the east coast. Sales tax -2%.We struggled on social security every month and HAD to do street fairs and eBay. Now we only need to use 1/2 our monthly 'pay' for bills.
And the views. Pikes Peak is right out our front window. Deer in the yard. Peaceful, quiet, cleannnnnnn air.
It is the best. And the city is growing like mad. The military presence is very obvious and they are relocating more troops and familes here every week (1500 + a month!)
Easterners do not understand the dryness and snow. Because we are so high the sun is much hotter, so when it does snow, it melts right away. Rarely is the snow around for more than a few days. And it never has a chance to get dirty and yucky.
No matter how hot is gets in the summer the temperature always fluctuates 20 -30- degrees from the high to the low each day. So what if it gets over 100, it will be 70sih at night and takes all day to climb back up again.
posted on September 5, 2005 01:47:51 PM new
Somewhere in the northern states. Think about it - If ya like selling collectibles on ebay the northern states had 5 months of winter - translation - 5 months of indoor activities - toys, games, video game systems, hot wheels, slot cars, plastic models, ect ect ect - All the wonderful things I have been finding and selling for the past 5 years with minimal effort for big profits!
posted on September 5, 2005 05:24:24 PM new
I think I'll stay where I am. We may have cold in the winter and plenty of snow, but it's more what we don't have that will keep me here. We don't have tornadoes, or tropical storms, or hurricanes, floods or earthquakes. No one's house around here has been demolished because of the snow. After the craziness in NO, I won't complain about the snow. Okay, okay, I won't complain as much. LOL!
Caroline 