Where to retire?

[pozsewerpig]

2 hours ago, JimInWisc said:

Wisconsin has abundant good water.  I wouldn't want to be homeless here, but otherwise it's a good place to live.  

The cold would be a nonstarter for most people. Too me, the worst part is close to the utter lack of a spring. Spring in Wisconsin would be considered a bad winter in about 65% of the country. If you're looking for a home on a lake in the Northwoods, be ready to live in territorty that is 70%, or more, MAGA land.  The Milwaukee and Madison areas would be much more inclusive, but is there enough in either locale to attract retirees from elsewhere? I'd agree that people already there may want to stay, but I don't think too many people would want to immigrate from out of state. 

[Cubbtm4poz]

10 hours ago, pigpozdad said:

Atlanta has 4 seasons and  a great poz nightlife, but winter nights can get cold. Usually the cold season is November 22 to February 22

Thanks Pozpigdad I’ll plan a trip out to check it out

[barefucker44]

I just want to retire where there are lots of opportunities for play

[BigBearSean]

1 hour ago, barefucker44 said:

I just want to retire where there are lots of opportunities for play

Here, here.  I sure as hell don't want to retire in Indiana or most of the Midwest.  I want to be able to play and have ample opportunities for cumloads, dungeon play,and poz parties.  Can't find any of that in rural areas/agrarian states it seems.

[BradStevens]

I, too, always thought I would retire to Fort Lauderdale and have been looking at something I could buy there and rent out until I'm ready to retire in 10 or 11 years. Plus, my bestie of 40 years lives in Naples although I'd never consider moving there. Too white... too straight... and most of the gays are coupled. However, with the current political climate in the state I'm starting to rethink FLL. We'll have to wait and see what the 2024 and 2028 elections bring.... if T or DeSanctimonious (unlikely) then I would definitely lean toward leaving the country. Even if it's Nikky Haley.

I had always thought of moving to Barcelona (my favorite city!) but it too has gotten excessively expensive, as has Madrid. Valencia is looking appealing to me although I've never even been there. We're stopping for a day on a cruise this fall so will take a 3 1/2 hour bike tour around the city and then spend the afternoon wandering through neighborhoods and walking back to the ship. I've also always considered Puerto Vallarta, which I love, but I missed the boat on buying anything there. Of course, I don't necessarily have to buy a place in retirement. I can always just rent although one is not impacted by rent increases when one owns, just rising insurance premiums and, if a condo complex, rising homeowner association fees.

Lastly, I've recently been thinking about Cartagena, Colombia. I've heard it's very nice and inexpensive, plus it's not as far as Spain or Puerto Vallarta is to get back to Philly or my family in New England. Again, I've never been there but it's easily remedied. I hope to spend a month or more each winter for the next few years in each of these cities to see how each feels.

Palm Spring is nice (heading there in March) but I really don't know many people there and as a single man in my 60s then... I'm not sure it would be very much fun and it could be downright lonely.

 

I look forward to scouring this forum to see if any other ideas catch my interest!

Edited December 1, 2023 by BradStevens

[Spunkinmyarse]

1 hour ago, BradStevens said:

I had always thought of moving to Barcelona (my favorite city!) but it too has gotten excessively expensive, as has Madrid. Valencia is looking appealing to me although I've never even been there. 

If Spain is an option for you, perhaps you should consider Malaga and the surrounding area. It’s a popular retirement destination for people from all over Europe, largely because of the great climate. Some of the 20th century development along the Costa del Sol has not been particularly ‘sympathetic’, but there are still some lovely areas and Malaga itself is a great city. Plus, it’s only a 20 minute train ride from Torremolinos, which is one of Spain’s gay hotspots, full of bars, clubs and beautiful men!

[BradStevens]

5 hours ago, Spunkinmyarse said:

If Spain is an option for you, perhaps you should consider Malaga and the surrounding area. It’s a popular retirement destination for people from all over Europe, largely because of the great climate. Some of the 20th century development along the Costa del Sol has not been particularly ‘sympathetic’, but there are still some lovely areas and Malaga itself is a great city. Plus, it’s only a 20 minute train ride from Torremolinos, which is one of Spain’s gay hotspots, full of bars, clubs and beautiful men!

I'm very familiar with Malaga and have been a number of times. While I like it very much I don't think I'd want to retire there. I am a big city guy and like the fact that from Valencia I can be in Barcelona or Madrid in two hours by train for a weekend sexcursion. But I appreciate your suggestion very much.

I've also thought of Lisbon and perhaps other smaller cities in Portugal but there's the language problem. I've never been able to master more than a few phrases in Portuguese although I'm extremely conversant/nearly fluent in Spanish.

 

[Spunkinmyarse]

1 hour ago, BradStevens said:

I'm very familiar with Malaga and have been a number of times. While I like it very much I don't think I'd want to retire there. I am a big city guy and like the fact that from Valencia I can be in Barcelona or Madrid in two hours by train for a weekend sexcursion. But I appreciate your suggestion very much.

I've also thought of Lisbon and perhaps other smaller cities in Portugal but there's the language problem. I've never been able to master more than a few phrases in Portuguese although I'm extremely conversant/nearly fluent in Spanish.

 

I’m not sure Lisbon has the same kind of gay scene that some of the Spanish cities do- it’s not that great for cruise bars and that kind of thing. However, it’s very much ‘on trend’ right now, and it’s certainly a beautiful and very interesting city, which all sorts of other stuff going on!

[NLbear]

I'm thinking about spending a good time of the year after retirement in Play del Ingles, Gran Canaria. Nice climate all year around. Gay hot spot and good flight connections to cities in Spain and the continent.

Maybe not to live there permanently. I like a change of seasons. But rent something for a few months a few times a year is doable.

[Dondick127]

i was in spain and it cool for everything

[BergenGuy]

On 11/30/2023 at 8:57 AM, hntnhole said:

Note the recent elections in the East/Midwest states:  really pissed off women (and their supporters) came out in droves to vote the R's out. 

If those women had been as motivated in 2016 as they are now, we wouldn't in this mess.  When a party says that they're going to screw you if elected, believe them.

I think that the 2024 election will have a great impact on where LGBT people decide to live and retire.  Living in a blue state offers more protection than living in a blue oasis in a red state desert.

Edited December 2, 2023 by BergenGuy

[ktopper]

I am retired in a small city/large town in an otherwise rural area. It is what I like. I have never lived in a big city during my entire 70+ years. I have visited several of them and love the sexual variety of cities but don't want to live in one. I know rural living is not for everyone, to be honest it has no appeal for most. Having lived in rural fly-over areas in several states I have learned that just about everywhere has a gay scene, but it is different than being gay in a large city. In cities no one cares if you are openly gay. Small towns do care. So I stay "closeted," which is a huge deal breaker for most gays these days. Bath houses and such are non-existent, but there are always cruisey areas. And once one gets known to the gays in the area opportunities open up. Everyone gay is on the down-low but there privately hosted sex parties and gang-bangs and other private affairs going on. It's a matter of adjusting to the environment. The variety and convenience may not come close to what cities offer but a certain percentage of the population will be gay. I've fucked enough cowboys, loggers, and good ol' boys and even bible-thumpers to know from experience. That group of rowdy gay bashing construction workers in the bar? At least one of them is either taking dick up his ass or fucking someone in the ass on a regular basis.

I have also discovered that a lot of Hispanics are gay or bi.

I realize this probably has zero appeal to most but I am comfortable with it. It is what I grew up with and know, and prefer. And some of these country boys are almost as piggy as I am.

[Willing]

Retire in my hole 👄

[ellentonboy]

I'm incredibly afraid to leave where I am at.  I watch the news and see tornadoes and floods and I think, "do I really want to move there?"  Now, remember I do live in Florida, and I dodged Ian last year as well as other tropical and Cat 1 and  2 storms for years.

Everyone tells me it is just a matter of time.  The numbers will work against me, kind of like playing card games at a casino.  But where do I go?  I am clueless, and not embarrassed to say that.  I have limited financial resources, I can survive month to month and be just fine, and afford one vacation a year.  But other than that, there is not much sitting in a bank account for an emergency.  I have maybe three months worth of bills and rent saved in the bank.  I have been told that is common with many Americans.

I have been here for sooooooo many years, I have NO sense of direction (thank God for GPS) and I have had some friends make recommendations.  South Carolina, North Carolina to name two.  But will my doctors be as good, will the specialists be as good, will I make new friends?  

I am always willing to talk to BZ members about what my life is like in little, boring Saint Petersburg, FL, and I have the stats on that.  I am afraid if I leave I could never afford to come back.  So for now, I stay put.  Despite Gov. DeSantis - I really am clueless as to where I can go on the amount of money I get each month and have in the bank.

It's easy for me to recommend places where friends have moved to, because I get positive feedback.  But I don't know the financial particulars (nor would I want to) to ask "is that affordable for me"?

I think about leaving every day, and as I grow older I keep thinking I need to just stay where I am.

[hntnhole]

25 minutes ago, ellentonboy said:

"do I really want to move there?"

There's no easy answer, is there?  Given the eventual hit of a serious storm, sure - I'd move to somewhere safer, but where ?   The climate is worsening everywhere on Earth these days ... where would be better?  

I loved living in Chicago, but the winters were just frozen hell.  I love living in SoFl too, for a number of reasons.  Prices for houses in my neighborhood are up 8x more than I paid a few years ago.  But, move to where?  I don't want to have to learn a new language.  

I like my house, my neighborhood, the friends I've made, all of that, I like all the raw sex, I like my life here.  Peddle it all and move to where ???

I'll most likely wind up taking the storm-hit when it comes, pick up the pieces, and stay put.