Where is the perfect Model T area to retire to?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Where is the perfect Model T area to retire to?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Conger on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:34 pm:

I am several years out and believe my wife and I have located the "perfect place" where we want to retire to, but am curious as to where YOU would live, and why. For us, low population density and open roads are important...how about You?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By john kuehn on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:46 pm:

I live in Texas out in the country close to a small town or to and the farm to market roads are plentiful.
If you like to drive your T and not have to always take it to a 'location' to drive Texas is the place to be.
The central Texas area is still wide open so to speak and we dont have much snow or long winters so I guess its OK by me.
There are plenty of out of town houses to be had in the central Texas area.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:57 pm:

Scott, almost any place is better Model T country than in St. Peterburg. LOL


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Van Evera on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:58 pm:

We were T'ing in N.E. Wisconsin last weekend and when I left the Motel and drove the 35 miles home, I had only one stop sign! However, in a short while, it'll be too darned cold up here, stop sign or no stop sign!

There are so many beautiful places in our country, it'll be hard for you to choose. Good Luck!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Baker on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 01:10 pm:

My area is not a great place for Model T's, too many crazy drivers and stop and go traffic!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 01:19 pm:

We live in Southern California where we have up to ten lanes of freeway going in each direction, yes that is a total of 20 lanes of stop and start traffic. That is good for Model T's because the traffic goes at 15 miles an hour and you can stay in the right lane and get to where you are going faster than on the city streets where the signals are set for left, right and through traffic with up to five minutes of waiting for your turn at a light.

And the weather is nice 355 days a year with no salt or anti-freeze on the roads. Millions of people from way south of here come for the good weather, free health care, and free schooling for their many children. And you get to learn a lot of spanish words by reading the bill boards as you slowly drive from place to place. Life is good out here on the left coast !


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John W. Oder - Houston, Texas on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 01:21 pm:

Rural Texas October to May, Upper Peninsula Michigan May to end of September. Texas stupidly hot in summer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 01:32 pm:

We are in a great spot for driving our cars. Two miles from a town of 2,000, I drive one or more cars to town almost daily between late April and October. We also are only 20 miles from the state Capitol (Lincoln), another good place to drive.

The problem is the winter, cold, icy and windy. We have llooked into a few other areas for possible retirement. I would want a place to keep/drive cars and my wife a barn for her horses. So far, the Lexington KY area appeals to us (Any homes for sale around you, Ron?).

We also like northern Arkansas (Mike) and this summer travelled in the Charlotte NC/SC area and liked that area too. Personally I think anyplace south of I-70 would seem good in the winter.

Personally, I suspect that any non metropolitan area would work to retire and "play with cars". BTW, I don't let the winter stop our old car driving, although it does curtail it.

Rob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dale Peterson on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 01:47 pm:

Hard to beat eastern Washington state. Lots of rural roads with light traffic, three seasons to drive with long pleasant fall, many destinations well within driving distance for day drives as well as overnighters. Our club went to Mt Rainier in August and had light traffic during the weekday tour and drop dead beautiful scenery. Winter is a bit cold, but you need those two months for maintenance and working on the projects. It also helps that there is no state income tax.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 02:07 pm:

One thing that I would caution on moving to a rural area, bear in mind that the people who live in rural areas make their living there. You might find some of the activities not to your liking, such as noisy late night work, dust, smoke, animals and their smells. Also, bear in mind that some rural areas do not keep the roads open all the time in the winter, and that if you have a drive way, you are responsible for clearing it your self. We have had a lot of retirees move into our area and expect to have all the services and comforts of a suburban area. If there are health issues, you need to consider the response time of EMTs. In our area, response time was about a half hour, until the local government assigned new addresses to all residents to make it easier to find homes, now response time can be more then an hour.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George_Cherry Hill NJ on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 02:22 pm:

I'd move next door to Steve Jelf...

You did say 'place for a Model T' and "Retired".....right? :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Claverie on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 02:42 pm:

We have vacationed in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It would be fine!

Even better, is Hot Springs Village. It's a development so big there is a county line in the middle of it, about 30 miles outside of Hot Springs. Golf courses, lakes, community centers, and lots of private homes on secluded lots (somewhat hilly). The weather is good year-round.

We enjoyed driving out T around the Village. Much of the other traffic is golf carts.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Schwab on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 02:43 pm:

A while back I remember seeing an add for a retirement community that was set up for car buffs, part of the requirement to live there was you needed to own an old car. The place was set up with a repair garage with equipment to work on the old cars vs new etc. I just don't remember where I saw it or what part of the country it was in.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 02:47 pm:

Fulton Mo


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Stitt-Southern Oregon on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 02:57 pm:

Oregon.
So. Oregon, Roseburg or Salem/Albany area. Less rain from Roseburg heading south.
No registration to boot..!
No sales tax too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By george house on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 03:06 pm:

John Kuehn where in central Texas do you live? I'm on a farm north of Lockhart. The not-a-cloud-in-the-sky day and a high of 83 degrees I'm enjoying today could just as easy be in January or February. But then again I'm partial to my retired environs. To answer your question Scott: Go to where you're happy geographically. If Model T driving is a big consideration, then look for sparsely travelled winding paved and tree covered roads accessable year roun.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 03:15 pm:

David Schwab, they spell it Heaven :~)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 03:20 pm:

If I had my way, and I were creating a good place, I would take San Diego County, and glue it to Southern Oregon. The part in between would be moved to another area. Where I live is 30 miles east of San Diego, and we have many country roads on which to drive with good weather about 300 or more days per year. Don't need side curtains here. The wiper blades rot between use. It rarely gets over 100 degrees in summer or lower than 30 in winter. Even on the days when it gets 30 at night, by 9:00 AM it usually over 50 and sometimes can get into the 70's in January. Oregon and Washington have beautiful scenery, but too much rain and snow in winter. So I would spend most winter time here and summers in the northwest. In both of these areas there are virtually no tornados or hurricanes
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 03:35 pm:

Frank, I hope they have model Ts in heaven.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 03:49 pm:

David Schwab - The place you referred to is just outside of Lenoir, North Carolina. I forgot the name of the sub-division. We visited it a couple of years ago and had a guided tour by the developers who live there too. We saw the maintenance garage / clubhouse and visited one of the other residents who was a Model A guy. They were all very friendly. It's a very nice place and it would be a good possibility for a place to retire with reasonably good weather and to enjoy your old cars.

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Wicker on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 03:54 pm:

Mathews VA! No traffic lights,35 mph speed limits..great weather,plenty of t parts.
And God drives a Model T Ford here!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 03:55 pm:

Erich,
So if the first car I see is a Chebby, I went the wrong way......? :-(


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 04:03 pm:

Norman, you may get your wish after the big one hits...

-------------

I grew up in southern and western Oregon, and I find the dark gets to me as much as the drizzle.

I like driving the multi-lane boulevards, as nobody is stuck behind you, or as likely to rearend you. I was second in line at a stoplight one night, and the woman ahead stepped out of her car, took my pic, and got back in it without missing a beat. Wish I had got a pic of her.



Big stores are handy to have around.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 04:45 pm:

My 'sleepy little drinking village with a fishing problem' (Englewood Fla.) isn't too bad. Right on the southwest Fla. coast. Port Charlotte below us, Sarasota above us, nothing to the east of us and a whole bunch old farts with way too much disposable income with some great custom, classic and antique cars all over the place. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Neil Kaminar on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 05:43 pm:

Los Angeles. Rush hour traffic on the freeways is 5 to 15 mph.

Actually, I enjoy rural North Carolina. But I think any place that is rural and has scenic country roads would be nice. Good weather helps too.

I lived in Vermont for a while and there are some damn nice Model T roads there too. Snow mobiles only in the winter.

You have to consider other things too when you retire, like the cost of living and being close to loved ones.

Neil


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Cassara Long Island, NY on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 05:53 pm:

Home is where the heart is! The T goes in the garage.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gene Carrothers Huntington Beach on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 06:07 pm:

Ralph that must be Home Depot but your Pcup isn't loaded down yet.

It's best at the Beach in SoCal for this Iowa Farm boy. Can't help but love the weather, best in the world, and we can drive to mountains, hi and low deserts, lakes, shops and shows of every imaginable kind within a couple of hours albiet some rush hour traffic. Like Fast Frank says sometimes I've had to pass traffic on the freeway but mostly a fast uninterupted way to get to your destination without the crosstraffic.

Yup like everyplace I've not found a perfect place but so far I'll say here, well unless I could find a reasonable beach house with a big barn out back. Still looking...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 06:49 pm:

Scott,

I’m seriously looking at Richmond, Indiana or nearby location. I suspect I could get a volunteer job at a nice Model T Ford Museum and hopeful contribute to some research efforts there also.

I would be interested in knowing if anyone else has been thinking about that? When I compared the cost of living, taxes, etc. it was about the same as my current location in South Carolina. And I think we could grow that location into a Haven for Model Ts and their drivers etc (ok title shamelessly stolen from Mark’s Model T Haven name). I do not like the cold part – but I think there could be some real synergy for having fun with the Ts as well as working on research etc. And as more of us brought Ts and other old cars there it might attract others with a similar interest. Of course if you are volunteering – many places will gladly let you volunteer – but I think our museum would be a much better fit for me than some of the other options. And the location would put our family about halfway between the locations of our two grown kids.

A community garage could be a plus or a minus depending on how it was used. But I believe long term if I’m able to move there, I would like to see some type of summer camps for folks to work on car projects. The Experimental Aircraft Association community already has several companies that offer some “how to build” or “how to bend sheetmetal” classes etc. I think something similar could be offered to help folks “learn to drive the T” to “basic maintenance class” etc. Those type of classes are already offered in several locations (Sacramento Towe Auto Museum and with the Henry Ford Museum come to mind). Clearly not a good fit for everyone, but something I am exploring and working towards. And I already have tentative approval on the home front – which is also really important. A nice garage with an upset spouse is not nearly as nice a smaller garage with a happy spouse.

Scott have you considered the Richmond area?

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 06:56 pm:

Steve Jelf's barn.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Chantrell - Adelaide, Australia on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 06:57 pm:

Australia - you get to drive Canadian RHD cars upside down on the correct side of the road!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 07:16 pm:

As Rob alluded, NW Arkansas is a great place to live and drive Model T's. There is enough "city" to provide any of your needs and way more absolutely beautiful rural roads than you could ever drive in your T. The Arkansas Tin Lizzies club is very active, and the two Springfield, MO clubs and the Tulsa club all have several tours per year (many of them here), so there's always a touring opportunity. We have all 4 seasons, but the winters are pretty mild lately. We had one snow last winter, about 1/2", and it melted the next day. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 07:29 pm:

Hap;
Do you like snow and cold, if not don't move there. I used to live about 75 miles north west of there and that is one of the reason I moved to Florida.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 07:59 pm:

As part of our Medicare supplemental insurance, wifey had a visit from a traveling doctor who had just been to Southern Oregon visiting other customers. The Dr. told us she was surprised by the lack of expertise among the doctors in that area.

Maybe nursing homes are cheaper there?

At any rate, do all you can to stay healthy if you want to enjoy your T in later years. I have a neighbor who drags me out for a hike and exercises early every morning. He's keeping me alive and healthy. It's never too cold, too wet, or too hot here to take that hike year round.

He just left for his semi-annual two month stay in Thailand again, so I gotta' have some self discipline now. Every second day is good enough, isn't it?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 08:54 pm:

Frank, calmate. No te preocupes. Todo será bién.

If money is a consideration, cross the inflated east and west coasts off your list. For T driving, ditto major metropolitan areas. Rural areas of the flat middle of the country and the interior West offer lower costs of living, great T driving and touring conditions, and in some parts spectacular scenery.

I love the old farm that's been in the family since 1970. It has winter, but it's far enough south that when a dose of Canadian entertainment blows in and drops the temperatures below 20º it's gone in two or three days. When I moved here I found that my car insurance cost half of what it did in California. The difference in the cost of housing is even more striking, and a lot of other prices (like fuel) are lower too.

That said, I've always thought that if I had no reason to be here, The Cortez area of Colorado would be a great place to live. It's between the beautiful Rockies and the beautiful red rock canyons of the Four Corners country. And of course, it has country roads for T driving.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Semprez-Templeton, CA on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 10:29 pm:

Templeton or Adelaida ca.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Gruber- Spanaway, Wash. on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:20 pm:

Ralph...every second day is NOT good enough!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill in Adelaida Calif on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:32 pm:

John
Be quiet....there goes the neighborhood :-)

Bill


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:40 pm:

Anywhere between Ely and International Falls Minnesota. Lot's of dirt roads and beautiful scenery. The fishing is great and every once in awhile an opportunity come along for meeting new people. Especially in the winter when the fishing gets really good. It really is Gods Country.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Luke Dahlinger on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:45 pm:

Scott, I lived in St. Pete in the past. Didn't like the traffic, but liked many of the amenities. Didn't care much for the crimes tho. Some a**hole stole the radiator cap off the Model A while my date & I were eating at Lucky Dill downtown.

I never see myself leaving Florida. Born and raised here, 9th generation Florida Cracker.

That being said I don't like the orange groves and old phosphate mines around me being turned into never ending developments of housing and strip malls that all have the same stores full of crap I don't need.

I'd likely end up moving down around the Everglades or smack in the middle of an orange grove in Lake Wales, etc.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:47 pm:

Oregon is terrible! Don't come here! We have hills and mountains so bad you have to drive up hill comin' and goin'!

California is WONDERFUL. They welcome all you feriners!

(The preceeding message has been brought to you by former governor Tom McCall, on of my political heroes.)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 11:59 pm:

We don't have mountains, but Kansas is full of ticks, chiggers, withering heat, and bucolic rubes. Better go to Florida.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 12:11 am:

My little part of central Wisconsin is wonderful for T'ing around.
Lots and LOTS of paved back roads with a, not overly busy, state highway running through my town of 505 residents.
But don't come here........I don't want anyone showing me up with their beautiful T's.........


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Gruber- Spanaway, Wash. on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 12:12 am:

Rains ALL the time in Washington.
You wouldn't like it here.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 12:18 am:

Looks like there may be a little Tom McCall in all of us. hahaha


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 12:20 am:

Good reply Craig. I hope he doesn't find out about our 30 lb mosquitoes. He'll want to come up here hunting. They all come out of the Twin Cities area and shoot our animals. And sometimes they shoot our deer. And each other.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 12:45 am:

1. My ist choice is Berthoud, Co. Population 5,00, mild climate, Close to the mountains, Plenty of T Roads, Lots and lots of T people.

2. 2nd choice would be Wenatchee, Washington, Population 28,000, great climate,miles of various fruit, great skiing, Near by mountains, plenty of rivers to canoe on, plenty of T Roads.

3. 3rd Choice might be Bend Oregon, Population 75,000, Great climate, great skiing, good hunting, near by mountains, and lots of T Roads


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 12:52 am:

Danial, were you born in Oregon?

About 1984, I was visiting my Mom in Springfield, across the Willamette from you at a time when Calif was having big time water shortages, and there were all kinds of schemes floated about getting water from Oregon.

Mom railed, "California can't have our water!"

"Even out of the Columbia just before it dumps into the ocean?"

"California can't have our water!"

"OK," I prophetically said, "How about we send a couple million people up here to drink the water directly?"

That ended the argument, just a couple of years before the great California migration to the PNW.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 01:30 am:

Nope. Born in Washington and moved here when I was 3 weeks old. The rest of my siblings were born here however, and most of my extended family, which is enormous, was born here as well. However, being a military brat, Oregon was my Dad's "home of record" when I was born. We moved around alot and I just happened to be out of state when I came into this world.

I'm sure water had less to do with the migration than our politics and taxation at the time. But that was a fun anecdote, nonetheless.

One interesting thing though is that about once every couple years for the past 15 years or so, there's another news story about how some former Californian families get disgusted over the taxation and fees here, (the primary reason they left California in the first place) and return to California. hahaha

I'd like to say I love it but, I really don't care much for it either...grin..we are in the top five of most lists for taxes and government junk fees.

I wouldn't encourge anyone who enjoys the fullest use of their paycheck to move here.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 01:40 am:

Mike......mosquito hunting licenses here are VERY expensive....... :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 01:47 am:

I remember a guy in CAP who had retired to Oregon and came back mad as he.. . His pension was taxed in both states...

Commuting tax dodgers live in Vancouver, Wash, with no income tax, and shop across the river in Portland with no sales tax.

Five years ago I visited Myrtle Point, where I had lived as a child. The ex-Calif motel owner told me about half the people in town were from Calif. And I replied the other half were all related, just like when I lived there. He laughed.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 01:57 am:

My Aunt Sue's family owns a large portion of real estate in Myrtle Point - everything from the one little shopping center to the two gas stations to dozens of rental properties. Decades before my Uncle Walt met her in the early 70s, her family controlled a large portion of the cattle farming in the area and still hold a lot of it.

ALso, another couple of families I know well hail from there - the Grimms and the McKays. You are probably familiar with both names as they have left marks all over the county and then some in various ways.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 02:13 am:

Oh and not sure who you talked to at the motel there, but Jillian (female) owns the one motel I'm aware of. Are there two motels in Myrtle Point now?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R. S. Cruickshank on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 02:46 am:

I guess I need to let the secrete out. There are many rural areas in North Carolina where the towns are small (mine has two stop lights) and the land is reasonable for house and barn(s). Angier North
Carolina is 25 miles from Raleigh and highways are plentiful to commute if that is necessary. I drive to breakfast in one of the T's and then to the golf course (one of about three). There are 15-20 active members in our club within 30 miles so help and social needs are easy to get satisfied. Our education and medical facilities are unsurpassed. COME ON DOWN!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 03:07 am:

Helena, Montana in the summer and somewhere in central Texas in the winter would be my choice. I don't like Texas all year because of the humidity and the heat and the bugs. In Helena, where I have lived for 40 years, you pretty much don't need screens on the windows (although people do have them) because there are virtually no bugs in the summer. Too dry and the next layer under the top soil is rocky. All the pure, water you can pump from a 50 foot well, pleasant summer days where it hardly ever gets over 100, mountains to the west, prairies to the east, I-15 goes through town going north and south. Three big lakes to fish or water sport, hunting, snowmobiling and lots of two lane roads with mostly friendly drivers. EVERYBODY speaks English.

Winter?? I'd like to figure out how to leave. 30 below, not a lot of snow but some and dark all the time. So far north we only get about 7 hours of light in the December/January time. Texas in the winter, Montana in the summer would suit me fine. To move to one place to live all year around?? Tulsa, Oklahoma is really nice. The boy that I helped raise lives there and it is a great town. His kids went through school there, good schools, lots of activities, etc. I've thought about moving down there, along with Fred there are tons of T guys there, lots of tours and things to do with T friends and only a couple hundred miles over to the Ozarks and Fayetteville, Arkansas where Unca Mike and Bill Howell and all those guys are.

Next choice for me would be somewhere south of Fort Worth and north of San Antonio. Lots of country music and places to dance, barbeque, two lane roads and pretty little Mexican girls to look at. Doesn't get much better than that. I could stand to spend the winter down there and that far north in Texas the summers are not unbearable like they are further south and more east. One of my brothers has a place near Floresville -- too hot and humid for me, even in the winter.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 05:50 am:

steve;
He is in Florida.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By george house on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 07:28 am:

Hey Uncle Stan; we need to work a deal ! I have 2 big barns and multiple Model T s in central Texas and I know you have at least one barn up in MT. In August while the red mercury in my motometer is at the very top of the circle while the engine isn't even running. . . . I could be driving your back roads. And in the winter while you're below zero, you could be driving my back roads !!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Neil Kaminar on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 07:42 am:

If you really want to get away from it all, try the moon. No traffic.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 08:44 am:

Hey George, now that's an idea! We need to work something out with those northerners. During the summer, when it's raining every day (like now) here in Florida and the temp is 90 with 99% humidity, we can go enjoy the northern summers and when it's winter when they are freezing their butt's off in the snow, they can come down here and drive their cars every day. :-) It would surprise you to know how many northerners who vacation down here already do ship their custom,classic, and antique cars down here to play with.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ted Dumas on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 09:45 pm:

I like the big city, Dallas, TX. Two of my daughters, and two of my grandchildren are close by. My other daughter and grandchildren are 200 miles south. The farm is an hour and half east. I have grown up driving my Model T's in city traffic and don't find it a problem. My youngest grandchild is 12, drives my Model T's and 2000 Chevrolet pickup off road as well as my 5105 John Deere tractor. We have an active Model T club, the Lone Star T's. At a recent Model T club outing, my grandson got to drive a 1967 RHD Rolls Royce 2 door hardtop. I believe being close to family trumps location.

As a bonus, we have excellent doctors and medical facilities 6 miles south. If it was not for doctors and hospitals, I wouldn't be here.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Semprez-Templeton, CA on Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 09:53 pm:

Oops, Not Templeton or Adelaida CA. Very bad place to be. Too many bike riders. Thanks Bill for reminding me!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Friday, September 21, 2012 - 03:14 am:

Back in 1983, I moved from one of the outer boroughs of New York City (meaning Flushing, Queens) to a neighborhood about halfway out the length of Long Island, near the north shore. It was the same old story: People brought up in the country want to move to the city and people raised in the city want to move to the country. The other man's grass, I guess. Anyway, legend had it that on Long Island, my native tongue could still be considered an advantage.

Through most of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the main drag is Jericho Turnpike (sort of like the Queens Boulevard of the island). In most places, it has two lanes coming and going, and traffic can get a little aggressive. Traffic lights are the biggest hazard because the yellow interval is awfully short—too short to stop a Model T from 35-mph without causing a lot of wear and tear—and I learned early in this game not to rush at a yellow light in hopes of beating the red. Traffic-jamming on Jericho Turnpike, in a Model T, feels a lot like work because you have to be on red-alert the whole time.

Our only interstate, The Long Island Expressway (I-495), is practically unusable for Brass-Era cars because of the 55-mph speed limit, which, of course, serves as the reference point upon which the standard 15-20 mph addition is applied. In theory, you could use this road during rush-hour, when traffic slows down to a crawl, but it's downright unpleasant to have a giant Peterbilt snuffling your top boot the whole time. Tried it once; that was enough.

Our parkways are a visual delight.They were designed by Robert Moses to snake through woodland in such a way as to simulate a national park—and they do. No trucks are allowed and nowhere on Long Island is it legal to post billboards, so these are wonderful roads to ride when they're not bumper-to-bumper with traffic. But they were built back when cars were much slower, so the on-ramps and acceleration lanes are too short for even modern cars. Beautiful as they are, keeping up with traffic means cruising at a minimum of 60-mph, but anyone tooling along that slowly in the left lane quickly becomes very unpopular.

On the other hand, Long Island has plenty of residential areas and out toward the eastern end where the island forks, the northern prong has a good deal of farmland and there is a fair number of 2-way back-roads. They're not heavily traveled, but when cars start following, it's a simple matter to pull over onto the shoulder and wave them on. Speed limit in most areas is about 40. The few hills are gentle and these bucolic surroundings are perfect for Tin Lizzies. The antique car hobby is fairly active in that neck of the woods. Unfortunately for me, those towns are far enough east that I'd need a trailer to get my Model T to the car shows that take place there.

Long Island is blessed with its own "microclimate" and so, there's no shortage of vineyards and wineries out east, which in themselves, make for a nice driving destination. We get all four seasons including some miserably long winters, but this is one of the few places in the USA where weather is fairly benign. We don't get the earthquakes, mudslides and floods of the west coast; the crushing arctic winters, summer firestorms, tornados and cannon-ball hailstorms of the Midwest; nor the 100-plus-degree heat of the Southwest and Florida. Long Island isn't Shangri-la, but we do okay.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James J. Lyons III - West Virginia on Friday, September 21, 2012 - 08:52 am:

Wild, Wonderful West Virginia works for me.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Renea Aldrich in Orting,WA on Friday, September 21, 2012 - 10:54 pm:

I'm with Gruber. We are retiring right here.

We are two miles from a small town that has a mini mart/ gas station, a post office and a tavern. They all stand at the one blinking traffic light.

The other direction, is 12 mile to town. maybe 3 lights.

We have snow, ice, rain, wind, gray sky's. Two T's with soft tops and a Tudor for those PNW winter days.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William L Vanderburg on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 08:03 am:

Not that I'm anywhere near retirement, but where I live is a township of 100 square miles. Approximately 45,000 people live there with 1,000 new residents a year.

When I moved here, I didn't know if there were T's near me or not. I later found out that there are at least 20 in a 15 mile radius of me. Maybe more. Most if not all of them are owned by friends of mine.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susanne on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 12:09 pm:

Blinking red light? Wow, you are in the big city. We have a 3 1/2 way stop sign in the center of town (10 miles away), and the closest stoplight is... hm... 45 miles one way, or 43 the other.

I always felt like driving (and more recently, living) in the Bay Area was a semi-suicide mission, and our new place in NE California reminds me of where I grew up - small town, 4 seasons, friendly people, low crime... and well suited to old cars (tho don't forget to put alcohol in the radiator 4 months out of the year!!)...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 09:18 pm:

Where your Grandkids live....


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