Where is the perfect Model T area to retire to? Part 2

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Where is the perfect Model T area to retire to? Part 2
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 08:39 am:

I have read most if not all the comments in the "Where is the most perfect Model T area to retire to" thread. Here are my thoughts...

Most everyone posted the pros and cons of the area in which they live. Some stay where they are at because of family or because of employment.

I think anywhere North, South, East, or West in the great country known as the United States of America is the best place to retire in. We are blessed with many opportunities in this nation that we take for granted. Not too many places on this planet have been blessed as the United States has been. No matter where you decide to hang your hat upon retirement give thanks that you can do it in the USA.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 10:01 am:

Dennis,

Good points. Personally, I am content in Nebraska. However, my wife wants to eventually move somewhere warmer, so we have taken vacations to "investigate" other areas.

My favorite "other areas" currently are:

1. Hershey, PA (we all know why I list that first)
2. New London, MN (great tour begins there every year)
3. Chickasha, OK
4. Bakersfield CA (although I've never been there, looks like a great swap meet)

However, since the decision will ultimately involve my wife, I have "good news and bad news".

The good news, our marriage is based on democratic principles, one vote for one man :-)

The bad news, my vote is only worth 49%, wife's vote equals 51% :-(

Rob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Strickling on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 10:12 am:

I live in Ohio in Amish country. LOTS of gentle rolling hills and back roads, great scenery and lots to entertain guests with.
BUT Ohio weather can leave a lot to be desired.
8 months to drive and 4 months to work on projects.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 10:20 am:

I was going to suggest something along the lines of Tom's posting. The "ruraler" the better and a good point about the weather too. We do get weather here in N.J. but aside from that the most pleasurable T'ing is within the development I live in. Flat wide roads, slight grades, minimal traffic & plenty of scenery.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 10:21 am:

And a posted 25 MPH speed limit. If you're doin' 30 you're speeding.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Lodge - St Louis MO on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 10:46 am:

Since I can't afford to move anywhere, it's academic for me. I would prefer a milder climate, but friends that I have made over the past 35 years are in St. Louis, plus a handful from over 50 years ago whom I still see from time to time. My sister lives in Phoenix and says that they have two horrendously hot months in the summer and great weather the other ten months. If I were insanely wealthy, I'd continue to live here but spend the worst part of the winter down there. (Of course, given the "insanely wealthy" hypothesis, I'd have Ts in both places... :-) )


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 11:55 am:

Rob, you left out Pasadena and the Holiday Motor Excursion. You need to be in K driving distance to that.

You wouldn't want Bakersfield or Chickasha for the other 51 weeks a year.

Tehachapi, just up the hill from Bakersfield is a great place at 4,000 ft elev, and small town living. For RR guys, the Tehachapi Loop is just a ways down the hill. The track goes in a loop and over itself to gain altitude. Check the area on maps.google.com satellite view.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 12:11 pm:

Rob, Bakersfield was not named bakers field for its mild temps. It is baker temps there most of the time.
I have never gone to the big swap meet there because it is just too darn hot there.
If I had my choice it would be Colorado, any place in Colorado but especially around Colorado Springs and the center of the state.
Just look at any post by Dave Huson and you could see why I say Colorado. I've been through some of those areas.
I see a lot of beautiful tour pictures from the New England states on this site too. Lovely roads and scenery.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 12:19 pm:

Aaron, the Bakersfield swap in in mid-April; never hot then. In fact, it was a sea of mud this year, so we didn't go.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill in Adelaida Calif on Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 05:59 pm:

Rob

Just drive 2 hours west of Bakersfield and look there. You will be in Paso Robles CA. I think there are more woodie wagons there than anywhere else in the country.
Also lots of back roads from flat to rolling to *^%*^% steep depending on where you want to drive. Besides its the only way I will ever see your K unless you bring it to Bakersfield in April :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 12:04 am:

Lots of good ideas. Maybe we need a "when I retire" swap meet and tour. It could be in different locals each year, and our spouses would believe we are checking out retirement options :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 02:15 am:

Ya, RD is right, the swap meet at Bakersfield is in April. I guess the rain is a reason that I never go.
But I was there to check out a car last Saturday and it was so hot I saw a dog chassin a cat en they was both walkin.
some construction was goin on and a guy dropped a log chain off a truck and it crawled up under a shade tree.
Maybe I will go next year if it aint gonna rain.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 02:33 am:

I am torn about where to retire to. I love the west coast, and the beaches but I hate the politics here.

(And no, I'm not interested in starting a political debate, just clarifying my love-hate relationship with the west coast)

If I could tear myself away from here, I would probably go to Montana, South Dakota or Australia.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Clipner-Los Angeles on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 03:32 am:

Dan, and I was considering OR. Guess I'd have to try Idaho or back to Missourah. Hmmm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 08:22 am:

Danial,

Just to let you know, there is "nothing south about South Dakota". The state should be sued for false advertising :-). The Dakotas should be called "North Dakota" and "Not as far North Dakota.

Rob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 08:33 am:

Where you don't want to go:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bud Holzschuh - Panama City, FL on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 09:59 am:

Shucks Ricks

If you live in Florida, you gotta expect a little breeze now and then.

We live in an area that has never has a cat 3 or better pass within 100 miles in the 150 year record that the weather service maintains.

For July and August I would like to move the state to the location on your map, most of the time we just move us.

Cheers
schuh


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 10:06 am:

Florida sure beats Califunny. Earth quakes, fires and high cost of living.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 10:17 am:

Hey, we have four seasons here: Fire, Flood, Earthquake and Riot.



Even our tornadoes are hot.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George_Cherry Hill NJ on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 11:17 am:

Interestingly, concerning the cost of living for a retiree, a recent report had Omaha listed in the top 5...said you could live there on full social security and still afford a small but decent house.

One with it was Eau Claire WI, but from personal experience from once living in the upper mid-west you have to hibernate for winter, enjoy your fireplace on Labor Day, and if you want a pool in your yard you use it July 30-August 2 :-)

Another was any suburb of Pittsburgh, but have no firsthand experience at that.

I already forget the other 2......:-):-):-) Must have something to do with reading about retiree living....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 12:19 pm:

I gather that report, like most, deals only with big cities. My experience has been that living outside the city limits is a money saver.

I'm a little surprised to see Eau Claire on the list. I would think the cost of winter heating and the higher fuel prices of the upper mid-west would disqualify a lot of places in the frozen tundra states.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 12:38 pm:

I was born and raised in Wisconsin.
There was a sign by our house that said, "Eau Claire 47 miles".
One thing about that area is that the traffic is real light in the January-February months, they have all gone to Florida or Arizona.
That's probably why it is so cheap there.
If you have a small house or a 40 X 10 trailer it does not cost that much to keep it warm inside. They use a lot of insulation in those cold areas. When I was there we heated with fuel oil.
The day I was born, Jan. 26, it was -38.
I was so shocked I couldn't speak for a year.
I am the only one of 5 kids born in a hospital. It was too cold to expect a Dr. to go 9 miles in that kind of weather.
The other kids were born at home.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 01:36 pm:

Rob, I've been to both states (North and South). At least South has some hills! Loved it there. Went through in the middle of summer on our way to Wisconsin to visit family.

And snow won't bother me a bit if I'm retired and not forced to drive in it...grin...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 01:41 pm:

Both Idaho and Mizzery wouldn't be bad, George. I lived in Missouri for a couple years when I was stationed at Ft. Lost-In-The-Woods. Loved it. Great people, beautiful countryside and BIG frickin' state cops. I met one once - after doing 120 mph in my 68 GTO on the 44 between Rolla and SPringfield.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Clipner-Los Angeles on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 04:00 pm:

Dan, it was funny when I was back there three weeks ago. Very few people go over the posted speed limit.
Cops are notorious. Ft. LITW just outside Rolla. Been past there on canoe trips on the Merrimack River.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 04:24 pm:

I did Basic Training at Ft. LITW, in the winter and it's still too cold there - have to go further south for comfort.

If you can afford it, I think the best option is to have a place in the south or southwest for the winter and a place up north for the summer. Both places need to be in an area that doesn't have too much traffic and are T friendly.

Personally, I think Florida, central Texas, southern New Mexico or southern Arizona would be good during the winter. Being from Wisconsin, I like it here in the summer, but other northern states are ok in the summer also.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 04:30 pm:

You got that right, Keith. COLD at FT. LITW. It was an 18 below windchill the day I had to replace a fan belt on my GTO so we could head home to Oregon. The car had no functioning heater AND it was a convertible. I remember my wife and 18 month old daughter bundled up together in thick blankets in the passenger seat as we headed out. Brrrr...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 04:32 pm:

It was probably like that then too, George. I was a pretty bad lead foot just up until a few years ago. Although I still like taking the T/A out and going through the gears from time to time.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roar Sand on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 05:55 pm:

Had a condo in FL some years back, but I hate hurricanes, termites, roaches and hot muggy weather.
I went to U of U in Salt lake City for a couple of years, and I do very much like the mountains, but we are in the process of realizing our dream, as late last fall we found a foreclosed place on 20 acres near Bellaire, MI. We are now in the process of having a pole barn built (40x60') so the "good cars" have a place to hibernate for about five months. In the garage and at the ready will be our daily driver (Jeep 4x4) and the tractor with a snow blower to clear the 900' driveway. Too bad we are not golfers, as we are literally surrounded by golf courses, but along the south edge of our property is a XC-ski trail that gets groomed, and we will be trying that out. On hot days we drive ten minutes and go swimming in Torch lake. We have been swimming more this summer than I can remember in many, many years. Yesterday morning my brother-in-law shot a nice deer up in the SW corner. I have a 30-06 Tikka T3 on order.
Roar


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Clipner-Los Angeles on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 07:25 pm:

Tikka T3, good call, to bad tough, my brother has a Pre-64 Winchester 30-06 up for sale.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roar Sand on Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 08:58 pm:

George,
Yes, a pre-64 Model 70 in good shape would have been a "Find"! Hardly anything out there with a better reputation. Too late now, unfortunately.
Roar


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