Where to retire on East Coast

[golfheaven69]

Starting to think about retirement over the next 3-4 years and considering where to put down roots. Currently live in the Piedmont area of NC and plan to retire near a beach in NC, SC or FL. Currently Hilton Head is the leading contender because I've spent so much time there over the years.

 

Looking for suggestions on where to look. Great golf is paramount along with a plenty of other things to do. Not one to sit around the house so need activity. Not Myrtle Beach activity since its too over the top from a tourist point of view.

 

Look forward to reading suggestions.

[tbowles411]

I'm partial to North or South Carolina, Georgia or Florida. Anywhere I can concievably tee it up all year round whether I have to wear a sweater or not will always get my vote. However, consider your age, your health, proximity to major hospitals, and of course expense of those areas when considering your monthly retirement budget. Do you want to buy? Rent? Live in an RV and see the world?

[gwlee7]

I would love to live in the Wilmington NC area. I visit there a lot now as I am only about 2 1/2 hours away.

[prorobo]

Considering you ruled out Myrtle, I'd have to reinforce your liking of Hilton Head. Granted I'm not close to retirement yet but I've had the pleasure of playing golf in Hilton Head, both on the island and off, and there are courses galore down there. Seems to be a lot of activities to do on the island as well though we mostly just played golf and partied in the evenings. The area around Harbour Town is great. And Harbour Town Golf Links has to be my favorite of the courses I've played down there. Good luck!

[Stretch]

Jupiter, FL area is nice. Good golf, fishing, kiting etc. And lots of eye candy to keep you feeling young!

[MakoFury]

Miami!

[Cobber]

Everything you need is right here. http://www.danielislandclub.com

[peanutandjelly]

[quote name='prorobo' timestamp='1343160126' post='5344062']
Considering you ruled out Myrtle, I'd have to reinforce your liking of Hilton Head. Granted I'm not close to retirement yet but I've had the pleasure of playing golf in Hilton Head, both on the island and off, and there are courses galore down there. Seems to be a lot of activities to do on the island as well though we mostly just played golf and partied in the evenings. The area around Harbour Town is great. And Harbour Town Golf Links has to be my favorite of the courses I've played down there. Good luck!
[/quote]
[b][size="5"]Retirement options[/size][/b]






[size="2"][color="#000000"][size=3]It is wonderful to have a choice and here are 8 suggested places to consider![/size][/color][/size]






[size=5]You can retire to Phoenix, Arizona where...
1. You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade.
2. You've experienced condensation from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
3. You can drive for 4 hours in one direction and never leave town.
4. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food.
5. You know that "dry heat" is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door.
6. The 4 seasons are tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!

OR

You can retire to California where...
1. You make over $250,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house.
2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway.
3. You know how to eat an artichoke.
4. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party.
5. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is.
6. The 4 seasons are Fire, Flood, Mud, and Drought.

OR

You can retire to New York City where...
1. You say "the city" and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan.
2. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can't find Wisconsin on a map.
3. You think Central Park is "nature."
4. You believe that being able to shout at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual.
5. You've worn out a car horn. [i](Ed. Note: if you have a car).[/i]
6. You think eye contact is an act of aggression.

OR

You can retire to Minnesota where...
1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup, and Tabasco ..
2. Halloween costumes fit over parkas.
3. You have more than one recipe for casserole. [i](another Ed. Note: it is called "hot dish")[/i]
4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons.
5. The four seasons are winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction.

OR

You can retire to the Deep South where...
1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store.
2. "Y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural.
3. "He needed killin'" is a valid defense.
4. Everyone has 2 first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob,[/size]




[size=5]Mary Ellen, Betty Jean, Linda Beth, etc.
5. Everything is either "in yonder," "over yonder" or "out yonder."[/size]

[size=5]It's important to know the difference, too.

OR

You can retire to Colorado where...
1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car.
2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home and he stops at the day care center.
3. A pass does not involve a football or dating.
4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail.

OR

You can retire to the central Midwest where...
1. You've never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name.
2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
3. You have had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" on the same day.
4. You end sentences with a preposition: "Where's my coat at?"
5. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, "It was different!"

OR[/size]

[size=5]FINALLY[/size]

[size=5]You can retire to Florida where...
1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon.
2. All purchases include a coupon of some kind -- even houses and cars.
3. Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist.
4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state.
5. Cars in front of you often appear to be driven by headless people.[/size]

[ruascott]

Kiawah island would be my ideal retirement spot, if you've got the coin. You used to be able to join the governor club, which have you access to all the non private resort courses, including the ocean course. This was ten plus years ago, so don't know if they still do that. Ocean course alone is double the price now as then.

They have two awesome private clubs there too.. that island is heaven to me, but i have a ways to go before it's in my reach.

Close to Charleston too, which i think is a really cool southern town with a ton of history and character.

[esketores]

Washington, North Carolina

[Guia]

[b] [color=#353535][url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/user/127164-peanutandjelly/"]peanutandjelly[/url]: You crack me up. [/color][/b]


[color=#353535]I have never understood why anyone retires in Phoenix. It is hotter than Hades, and drivers there "Need Killin".[/color]

[ruascott]

[quote name='Guia' timestamp='1343173809' post='5346152']
[b] [color=#353535][url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/user/127164-peanutandjelly/"]peanutandjelly[/url]: You crack me up. [/color][/b]

[color=#353535]I have never understood why anyone retires in Phoenix. It is hotter than Hades, and drivers there "Need Killin".[/color]
[/quote]

Only worse retirement spot would be Vegas

[Chilidog]

Why would you leave the Piedmont? I live in Hickory and love it. If you are hell bent on leaving, the only place I would go is Mt. Pleasant/Daniel Island area of Charleston.

[596]

My wife and I are headed to central Florida shortly (2-3 months from now) to semi-retire. Closing on a house next week.....no mortgage, both cars are paid off !! Yeah!! Right on a lake ( and I mean the porch over hangs the water), already have the fishin' stuff as a present from my grown kids, canoe is on the way, bicycles are headed east with me also, 1 mile to the closest 27 hole golf course and about 10 or more courses within 10 miles. And golf is totally super cheap in Florida. I don't need a super fancy golf course, no high end clubhouse, I'm there to enjoy peace and quiet. oh, yeah....and I want to wear shorts all year long!! I hate snow, born and raised in Buffalo, NY.....NSP for 5 years....NO snow and cold for me anymore.

I'll only recommend one thing to look for............stay away from any "tourist" areas, towns, cities, etc. I love Sedona, AZ, but, wow.....when only 10,000 people live here and we see 4 million tourists per year, driving can be a total nightmere!!! 99% of the people on the road have zero idea where they are going and are paying no attention except to googoo all over the red rock scenery. I'm retiring to a place where most people at least know where they are driving to.

[ncblademan]

I second esketores. Washington is nice. I live there. You can be in the Outer Banks in an hour and a half. Raleigh in the same amount of time. Several good golf courses in the area. You have the river if you like fishing and boating.

[golfheaven69]

Awesome suggestions and several different point of views.

I plan on checking out Daniel Island this Fall. Love Charleston and from research DI seems like a nice spot.

I'm looking for a private golf course where rounds aren't 5 hours plus like resort courses. I've been spoiled over the years traveling and playing nice tracks so a very good course with great conditions is a must.

Comments on Arizona were interesting. A consideration was a condo for winter and head back east for summer. Not sure it would be any worse than a Hilton Head in the summer which also has its share of tourists. No matter where you go in a resort area there will be one busy period.

Florida is intriguing for a few reasons. Weather, great courses and no state tax. I will definitely check out a few areas in the state before deciding. Will also check out St Simons area.

I'm in Boone NC on vacation this week and you can't beat the weather here for 5 or 6 months out of the year. A small cabin in the mountains may be an option to split seasons.

Thanks for the suggestions and keep them coming.