Where to live? Soon to be Divorced

[jonestavern]

I have NEVER been good at decisions and all sorts of them are coming up for me.

I am getting divorced after 23 yrs.
No scandal, just that's the way he wants it & we're not fighting with one another. It's all very civilized.
I am heartbroken beyond words but that aside I must build another life.
These decisions are just making me spin my wheels.
I am on tranquilizers & a mess for the last almost 3 months since he walked out.

So an indecisive person is now a wreck

I'm not too cool!

So my major question is Where the heck do I live????

Let me say I have GOOGLED & GOOGLED!
I tried Savannah, GA (love the history & the manageability of the neighborhoods: too expensive); Orlando (job at WDW!!!); here in NH.

BUT:
I do have to decide where to live.
Here are some criteria:

1. I'm flexible but prefer a small town over a LARGE city.

Or at least, a manageable pocket neighborhood in a city.
ANYWHERE in the US!
If I thought Canada would let me in there, too. Or Italy or Ireland or Britain.


2.I have no family left (one sibling who lives in another--pricey state--and who is not interested) & DS will be going in the service.
So it's not like I have a healthy support system here or will be tearing myself away.

3. It is rural here so I'll need to be where I can easily drive in winter & not up in the mountains. UNLESS the apt/condo/tiny house is in walking distance of store/church etc

4. Housing: would like to get a small house (I love dogs & gardening) but it would have to be no more than $100,000 AND have 2 baths so I could rent out a room. Same for a condo.

5. I would like to be able to walk places from the apartment or condo.
I'll have a car but I would like to walk to things too.

6. I like museums, music so some cultural activities are important.

7. Since this will likely be the last place I move to it will need to be relatively near a good hospital

************************************************** **
I am not getting the house. I am open to locations all over the WORLD
This house needs a LOT of work (some structural) & soon-2-b ex wants it. NOW he will fix it up (not too bitter, eh?). Quite logically, I cannot do this.
So I'm out.

I do have friends & service contacts, which would make employment here somewhat easier.
But New Hampshire is hit by the economic downturn, too.

I'm figuring everywhere will be tough.

I LOVE our small town.
I do NOT have a full time or even good paying job.
All my experience is with one small museum and a very specific one at that.
Field is notorious for demanding advanced degrees & paying very poorly.
And, get ready, I never tell, but I am nearing 60.

Looking bleak, huh?

So locations anyone?

Jean

[OceanAnnie]

Sorry for what you are going through.

Maybe I missed it, are you partial to a particular climate?

[teacups]

Wow such freedom! I dont want to say you are lucky... but you get my meaning, right? Maybe I should say this could be a wonderful opportunity for you to get a fresh start!

How are you with West Coast? California is low $ right now.
Portland Oregon is fab!
Seattle?

Maybe Maine? But you dont want snow.


Wow, good luck to you!!!!!!

[FINFAN]

http://www.topretirements.com/blog/g...for-2008.html/

For your stress and worries, BUT for your awesome attitude!
I would maybe rent instead of buy, to give yourself time to get to know a new area if you do relocate. I know it is tempting to purchase as it IS a buyers market, but with som many changes and opportunities, mayeb don't lock yourself into 1 spot too soon.I posted the above link as places to retire do take into consideration fixed income, future medical etc. And heck, meeting new friends who have similar lifestyle is always a good thing!
Hang in there!

[bumbershoot]

Until I got to the 100,000 home...I was going to absolutely suggest Tacoma WA. It's a medium sized city that feels like a small town; you run into mayoral candidates at Costco, you know *everyone*, or at least half of everyone and they know the other half.

Weather a bit drizzly, but moderate temperatures. When it snows, things shut down; you cannot get better than that. Sure, you'll giggle at it the first couple snows, but then it's lovely. Why does it shut down? Because it's hilly. Picture it snowing in San Francisco...you wouldn't be able to drive anywhere (Tacoma is not as hilly as SF, but it's just an example).

We live just outside of downtown, in a building that is, aside from us and another set of renters, filled with LONG-retired people. Our neighbor is a famous western artist, and he's almost 100...his son has been living here since the early 70s, and the artist's daughter lives here with her husband...all retired. I've seen what the condos are going for, and it's over what you need, as are most places around here, unless you want a very small fixer-upper.

If you promise to never set foot in St Joseph "medical center", and only go to Tacoma General or Allenmore, I'll let you move to Tacoma. St Joseph isn't worth it, too dangerous there.

The place we live is walkable (with hills) to restaurants, library, banks, downtown farmer's market, grocery store (a bit more expensive than the driveable ones, but OK in a pinch and they are VERY nice there), park...just everything is within reach from here. When it did snow...wait, I lied about osmething...when it snowed this last winter, hubby made it to work all but one day. The rest of his colleagues who lived in Seattle did NOT make it to work. But hubby's commute involves a little walk, lightrail, train, and another little walk. Easy peasy. He didn't make it that one day b/c things started to melt, then iced up, and he couldn't do the walk part of the commute, so he telecommuted. Anyway, during the snow, we went to the pizza restaurant and the store, both with employees who walked in because they *wanted* to. They know that their neighbors would want them to be there! Very small town thing to do.

Glass Museum (started basically by Chihuly), Art Museum, WA history museum, all one right after the other, basically.



So except for the housing cost, and with the hospital stipulation I made, Tacoma would be good.

[TheBigBadWolf]

Texas. It's like a whole 'nother country!

[allison443]

Have you considered looking at college towns? They would usually have the cultural things you are seeking. Quite a few have their own museums. From going on college visits with my dds, we saw quite a few college towns that were walkable, and some with very nice retirement-type homes/condos geared to empty nesters.

Good luck with your new adventure!

[DisneyBlonde]

I'm sorry for what you're going through..but it sounds like you have a great outlook on your future, and I bet you'll find your balance in no time.

Boston is a great place and not too far from you. Virginia has some great areas. Coastal Oregon. Seattle.

I'm excited for you!

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Hmm, go to Flordia and work at WDW?

[NHdisneylover]

Well, if you want to stay in NH--Frankling is a nice, small (but not tiny as is so often the case in NH) town (we used to live very near there). Housing tends to be very inexpensive because the perception is the schools are not so good--which does not affect you. The Franklin Opera House (I have heard the name changed to The Middle in the past few months) has a lot of theatre, music, etc. ranging from local groups (and the high school) at reasonable prices through touring shows at higher prices. The hospital is good (not great) and Concord Hospital is very good and not too far away (and the best doctor I have ever had in 6 states and two countries was in Tilton--right next door). You could easily walk all around downtown Franklin if you live on the "right" side of town. It is maybe a 5-10 minute drive out to the exit 20 area of I-93 in Tilton with the outlet mall, Khols, and other chains. Conocrd is about 30 minutes away by car and offers more cultural things and you can take the bus into Boston for (what used to be) $19 roundtrip for the day on Concord Trailways when you really want to do it up. You can also drive into the lakes region easily in 30 minutes to an hour depending on where you want to go and traffic. This offers lots of outdoor things in summer as well as several theaterical summer stock programs. Concord would be good too--bigger and more to do. Housing will be costlier and it is not as easy to walk everywhere; but it does have a bus system.

Rochester, New York is a great little city. Tons of cultural events and museums for its size. My best friend lives there and walks lots of places. I think he paid $80k for a two bedroom adorable condo about 4 years ago (only one bath but he finished the basment and put another there pretty easily) very close to many thigns (he walks to the theatre and play museum, etc.). I do not know about the hospital there but it is probably easy to research that. It is a place I would absolutely consider retiring to.

I do agree it would be a VERY good idea to rent for a year or so before committing to buying in a new area. ESPECIALLY if you go somewhere with a radically different climate than what you are used to (like you mentioned Savannah). Experience all four seasons before locking yourself in to an area.

If you like warm weather--you may look into any one of a number of areas in Mexico which have big communities of American ex-pats. Both of my parents retired to Puerto Vallarta about 12 years ago (they were beach bums for a few years and then got bored and sell real estate now). I think Puerto Vallarta has gotten too popular for you to afford (maybe not in some of hte outlying villages--I can ask my mom if you want me to) but other areas may still be within reason (maybe San Miguel de Allende)--easy enough to google if you want. The housing may run more here--but the other expensese after buying (utilities, food, property tax, medical care, bus fare) are generally much lower than in the U.S. I couldn't do it becuase I like winter--but they love it.

Best of luck to you.

[The Mystery Machine]

[DisneyFed]

First off, sorry to hear...

Secondly, Charleston, SC ain't bad..

[golfgal]

What about one of the suburbs around St. Louis? Housing there is affordable and there are some great towns in the area plus there is a lot to do in St. Louis and the surrounding area. Mainly it is affordable.

Since you don't mind winter, check out Marshall, Minnesota. It is a GREAT small town with a lot of job opportunities-not necessarily in the museum market but others. It is a college town so there are things to do there as well as a much needed rental market. You can find a smaller home for under $100,000 and the town is very walkable but also easy to drive in as well.

[KristinBelle]

How about Texas?

[SC Minnie]

What about looking in the Carolinas? If you look about 30min to or more outside a major city in the small towns you can get a house for a really good price. But you would still be close enough to the entertainment you want.

Just a thought.