My real boss( aka Mama Z ) has finally seen the light. She has been talking about a retirement "barndominium" in a warmer climate. I am all for that, but we need turkeys,lol. Tell me why your neck of the woods is a good retirement spot. Building costs, medium chunks of land, 40 plus acres, and a little water to hunt ducks and cost/quality of life. A couple spasdic turkeys wouldnt hurt either, lol. This old body's odometer is rolling over again and the clunking and creaking is getting louder, just looking for a good nesting area, lol. God bless and be safe. Z :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an :jesus-cross: :funnyturkey:
Z, I'm in the same boat. I don't want to leave my "comfort zone", my hunting and fishing spots etc. I don't mind the cold. Here's the remedy. Take her to warm climate on vacation in each of the tough Northeast Months, Jan, Feb, March. That will keep her content for the most part. If that doesn't work, buy her a Porsche, and a gift certificate to QVC and hope! It's ironic I am writing this in the airport in Sarasota on my Honey's January vacation. Weather here has not been great to say the least. Good luck my friend.....keep the faith....
South Carolina is pretty good bang for your buck in some areas. I sell land here. If interested shoot me a message. Small tracts with turkeys will be a hard feat though but not impossible. Land anywhere from 3k/ac to 10k/ac depending areas and how nice it is.
I got nothin'.
Pennsylvania isn't even a decent vacation destination, let alone a place to retire to......unless you like some of the most absolutely crappy weather in the lower 48.
Find you a spot south of snow but north of fire ants and drive a stake. :icon_thumright:
I can retire from teaching in 2 more years at 55. I am ready, its not fun anymore. Going to stay in IN though and just travel to hunt other places.
All I can add is I have enjoyed my retirement ... Warm / cold .... I sure didn't let that stop me from retiring .... My suggestion if you can retire the younger the better, don't wait until your really old to retire ....
Quote from: Greg Massey on January 18, 2024, 09:28:22 AM
All I can add is I have enjoyed my retirement ... Warm / cold .... I sure didn't let that stop me from retiring .... My suggestion if you can retire the younger the better, don't wait until your really old to retire ....
Greg ain't wrong !!!
I ended up retired (semi-unexpectedly) just about 10 months ago. It is NOT overrated !!!
My discretionary spending has needed to go through an adjustment phase. But, my increase in quality of life has surpassed and spending cuts by some exponential factor.
As soon as you can do it......... DO IT !!!!!!!
Quote from: Burtwill on January 18, 2024, 07:38:32 AM
South Carolina is pretty good bang for your buck in some areas. I sell land here. If interested shoot me a message. Small tracts with turkeys will be a hard feat though but not impossible. Land anywhere from 3k/ac to 10k/ac depending areas and how nice it is.
SC is full. ;)
Quote from: Tom007 on January 18, 2024, 07:10:10 AM
It's ironic I am writing this in the airport in Sarasota on my Honey's January vacation. Weather here has not been great to say the least.
:z-dizzy:
Holy crap !!!!
We spent about 10 days in Siesta Key back in July. 94-96 degrees every day with water temps around 90 most days. I was in my glory !!! Just looked at the 7-day forecast and Saturday night's low is to be 38 degrees !!!!! :o
CRAZY !!!!!
As the others have said do it as soon as you can, I retired 3 years ago at 57 and have loved every minute of it. maybe east Tn or north Al would be a nice place to retire!
Quote from: Parrot Head on January 18, 2024, 09:23:20 AM
I can retire from teaching in 2 more years at 55. I am ready, its not fun anymore. Going to stay in IN though and just travel to hunt other places.
I can totally relate to that!!!
I retired 17 years ago and then worked another 5 in a different job, but all I can say is do it and do it as soon as you can. I was lucky the boss worked another 10 years before she retired, so financially she kept the ship afloat. Now we're both retired and love it. Sure we basically pay expenses and have very little discretionary money, but with a little attitude adjustment we have enough. The freedom to do and go where you want when you want is WONDERFUL
If you are looking at a total change in environment, you might look at the southwest. I know lots of folks from your part of the country that have relocated here and love it. Climate and weather are generally great, and it checks off most of the boxes in your list of requirements. Not sure you could find an affordable 40 acres in this day and age here, but you would have millions of public acres to roam to offset that need. Lots of friendly folks here and we might even let you join our "gentlemen's hunting club"...which consists of a bunch of us old retired guys. ;D
There are no turkeys, deer, hogs, squirrels, ducks etc left in AL/GA worth mentioning. The weather is awful and the fishing sucks.
Georgia is full also !!!
I've been looking for a while also, it's crazy out there. Because a lot of people have the same idea. Good luck.
I love being retired and I say it out loud almost every day. We are still living near family in Michigan but considering a winter nest mid south. Not too hot, not too cold. 50-60 degree highs is about right. Good people, turkey, deer, places to hike without snakes... NO SNAKES!
5 more years for me and I'll be retired at 51 years old!! Good luck OP
I'd look at TN. Sounds like what you are looking for....
They're trying as hard as they can to develop or pave N.C.. I hate to see it.
Jim
Come down to Louisiana, you can have access to the things that your heart desires!! I live in a area called "Northshore" The reason it's called that is because We are 70 miles or so North of Lake Pontchartrain and New Orleans as well. If you look at the map we are in the TIP of the Boot.
Have a good one and May God bless y'all, Bo
Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
Quote from: Brillo on January 18, 2024, 08:43:07 PM
We are still living near family in Michigan but considering a winter nest mid south. Not too hot, not too cold. 50-60 degree highs is about right. Good people, turkey, deer, places to hike without snakes...NO SNAKES!
You're only gonna make it to about mid-south Ohio, then. :TooFunny:
Beyond that...........snakes abound.
And don't forget about the mosquitos, chiggars and the humidity !!!!!
I feel flattered that some of you think that me and Mama Z could impact your local turkey population, lol. But it isnt a negative. It would give forum members more places to hunt and improve the local economy. So thank you for all the info. We will be making a few trips in the near future to whittle it down. God Bless, Z
There are snakes everywhere, the only place I would stay a long ways from because of snakes is Washington D.C., that is one big viper pit.
I have to admit that these same thoughts have entered my mind as well, but all I have to do is look at the bank account and realize it ain't happening. I am dumbfounded when I look at what property prices have done. I could never have imagined a scenario like we have now. My property alone is worth 10-15 times what I paid for it in 1988. Today I doubt I could sell it and buy a comparable property anywhere in the south. I am not willing to give up 2/3 rds of my acreage for a warmer home. Land that sold for $500.00 - 1,000.00 an acre when I retired (mid 2000s ) is now selling for $2500.00 -3,000.00/acre. There's still land available here in Southern Ohio, but its going up in price every day. I'd love the warmer climate, but I would hate to lose the land I have around me here. I wish I would have been a little smarter when I was young. For instance, in the 1990s I passed on a 170 acre tract of land for $40,000.00 because the timber had been all cut off. That tract sold for $480,000.00 last summer.
Eggshell,
The next time you feel that scenario replaying give me a call. I'll find some money somewhere!!!
Had a guy recently pull up in my driveway wanting to buy about 5 ac of road frontage off my farm, I said what you offering he said will you take 10,000 I looked at him and said no but I will take 50,000 thousand, he looked at me like I looked at him after he offered me 10,000... I said a lot in the city will cost you that much for 1 ac... Needless to say he left and I still have my land ...
It is funny to me how the price of land has always been just out of reach to me.
Numbers have increased for me greatly but so has the land. In my little area of WV land is 5K an acre for junk mountain ground without a road (Small tracts). It only goes one direction from there!
Across from my house was 85 acres of timbered ground. A Little wet but otherwise good ground. 386K four years ago. Amish bought it, cash.
I retired 2 years ago at age 62. Staying up here in New York. I hunt North New Jersey also.I live close to the City of KirasJoel. Hasidics just bought this House.
I have to keep Frugal in all things. Public Hunting is it for me. I drive around in a 2004 Saturn. I keep in good shape with the weights- 3 days a week. Hiking/Walking every day.And Martial Arts.
Single here. There seems to be a tremendous number of single Women in their upper 50s and 60s. Divorce Perhaps.
Retire as soon as you can. Too many wait till age 70 .
Quote from: zelmo1 on January 19, 2024, 05:38:37 AM
I feel flattered that some of you think that me and Mama Z could impact your local turkey population, lol. But it isnt a negative. It would give forum members more places to hunt and improve the local economy. So thank you for all the info. We will be making a few trips in the near future to whittle it down. God Bless, Z
All kidding aside Z, I look forward to hitting the woods with you and chasing our feathered friends. The formula for retirement for anyone is "Go when you can afford to go". Life is short, I am going in to my 5th year this April. You'll see when you retire, an hour is a day, a day is a week, and a week is a month. Time flies. Enjoy it when you can.....best of luck to you.....
SC is pretty much full, especially along the coast. I can assure you there is plenty of land and homes available in Ohio as we have become Buckeye South. Damn Yankees are finishing off what Sherman didn't complete. ;)
East Texas offers a lot of what you want. But we don't have many turkeys at all. Way over half the counties closed the season due to poor population.
And replacing the property you have is going to be fairly expensive anywhere you look. But I'm all for retiring!
Thank you all for your responses and PM's. We have a few areas to scope out now. Turkey proximity and land size are the 2 biggest concerns. We have a budget and will act accordingly. Thanks again, Z
I live here on Cape Cod. Definitely not an option.
My brother hunts a lease down in Putnam County, GA. I spend some time down there twice a year (deer & turkey seasons).
Looks affordable compared to my neck of the woods. Lots of Deer & Turkey. People all seem pretty friendly to me.
Not sure on the summer's. Likely hot as blazes. Too hot for me.
Good luck.
Come on down to the dirty south ms /la .
Other than crooked politicians, over crowded public hunting and over priced private.
Its awesome! Honestly, good luck . Hope you find something that suits you and family .
Ain't nothing in GA, or SC...I'd go to NC
Quote from: 3bailey3 on January 18, 2024, 11:13:12 AM
As the others have said do it as soon as you can, I retired 3 years ago at 57 and have loved every minute of it. maybe east Tn or north Al would be a nice place to retire!
No room in East TN
Quote from: Parrot Head on January 18, 2024, 09:23:20 AM
I can retire from teaching in 2 more years at 55. I am ready, its not fun anymore. Going to stay in IN though and just travel to hunt other places.
Hang in there and good luck. This is my first year being retired after 30 years in the classroom. I can totally understand the part about it not being fun any more.
Haven't had time to be bored and certainly haven't slowed down. I am on the Board of directors for an organization in Missouri that hunts and fishing trips for mobility impaired individuals and also work with a Christian ministry that does 5 Mens Retreat weekends a year.
Congrats hooksfan, I am glad your enjoying retirement and involved in the charities. Being active in retirement is a must. I also got heavily involved in projects. I serve on a ministry task force, I am chairman of a Juvenile prison ministry and I am involved in a Handy-capped/wounded warrior turkey hunt. That's not to mention a maple syrup operation and a huge garden complex. The relaxing part of retirement is small.
Boy, I can understand why a teaching career would get old with the state of our schools anymore. Kudos to you all for your perseverance.
Now days it seems no matter where one goes its full and chaotic unfortunately.
But if you like the 4 seasons, the MidWest is a beautiful place and the rural acreage is still within reach of a guys budget, in places anyway. Here in West Central WI there's a lot of turkeys, deer, ducks and the fishing is awesome. Even though this winter has been extremely mild, it does get cold once in awhile. But, IMO it's a small price to pay for being able to live in bountiful outdoor area.
Might be worth investigating Z