Where to retire?

[VersGuyAnon]

On 12/1/2023 at 2:07 PM, Spunkinmyarse said:

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!

If only people in the UK still had options to live in the EU without restriction.

If within the UK, favourite options? 

[RawUK]

10 minutes ago, VersGuyAnon said:

If only people in the UK still had options to live in the EU without restriction.

If within the UK, favourite options? 

If only @VersGuyAnon. My retirement plans were shot to blazes when the UK voted to leave the UK.

Now I fear I won't get to retire how I wanted to as my right to live anywhere in the EU has gone. Yes I could apply for a visa, but there is a minimum annual income attached to that option, which I fear my pensions won't get to.

But hey, haven't all our lives immeasurably improved since we left, not. I'm still waiting to find one British person who can tell me how their individual life has inproved since Brexit.

Edited December 2, 2023 by RawUK
.

[Spunkinmyarse]

Yes, if we want to retire to Spain or anywhere else in the EU we’re now bound by the same restrictions that apply to US citizens or any other non-EU citizens: no less, no more- a certain minimum retirement income and a sufficient level private health insurance cover. In this regard, Brexit has certainly been a huge inconvenience, but not one that should necessarily dictate a nation’s destiny, and I think it will be many years before we can truly say whether we were right of wrong to take the decision that we did in 2016.

Personally, I favour @NLbear’s approach, and aim to take extended breaks in Gran Canaria over the winter months, while continuing to reside in the UK. Having spent many years living abroad, I have come to appreciate the benefits of roots: the UK is my home and remains the place I want to be in my old age- appealing though Gran Canaria is, I quickly tire of what it has to offer and could not see myself living there full time.

As far as moving somewhere within the UK specifically for retitement, I don't see the point: it's small enough that you're never that far from where you want to be.

[RawUK]

9 minutes ago, Spunkinmyarse said:

Yes, if we want to retire to Spain or anywhere else in the EU we’re now bound by the same restrictions that apply to US citizens or any other non-EU citizens: no less, no more- a certain minimum retirement income and a sufficient level private health insurance cover. In this regard, Brexit has certainly been a huge inconvenience, but not one that should necessarily dictate a nation’s destiny, and I think it will be many years before we can truly say whether we were right of wrong to take the decision that we did in 2016.

Personally, I favour @NLbear’s approach, and aim to take extended breaks in Gran Canaria over the winter months, while continuing to reside in the UK. Having spent many years living abroad, I have come to appreciate the benefits of roots: the UK is my home and remains the place I want to be in my old age- appealing though Gran Canaria is, I quickly tire of what it has to offer and could not see myself living there full time.

As far as moving somewhere within the UK specifically for retitement, I don't see the point: it's small enough that you're never that far from where you want to be.

Great points made here, and yes 90 days over winter in GC would be a great option. Question now is which 90 days? November-January, December - February, January-March?

[Spunkinmyarse]

I quite like Christmas at home, and I love daffodils- so in an ideal world, I’d probably spend early Nov to early Dec in GC (taking in winter pride), and then all of Jan/Feb.

[TallAussieBtm]

Sydney Australia! Retired mid-22. Moved to Syd Nov-2022. Well, I guess coming from Canberra it was a no-brainer. Entertainment options. Vast social options. Sex options. Large gay community. No freezing winter weather! Hospitals and doctors readily accessible (including gay doctor options).

[BootmanLA]

23 hours ago, TallAussieBtm said:

Sydney Australia! Retired mid-22. Moved to Syd Nov-2022. Well, I guess coming from Canberra it was a no-brainer. Entertainment options. Vast social options. Sex options. Large gay community. No freezing winter weather! Hospitals and doctors readily accessible (including gay doctor options).

I can't speak to Sydney's attractions (which may be wonderful), but as I understand it, Sydney is on the expensive end of places to live. For a retiree on a fixed income, or with resources that may not last decades, that may not be quite so appealing.

[BootmanLA]

All retirement choices, of course, are a balancing act - there's nowhere (as far as I know) that is gay-friendly, is culturally alive, has lots of opportunities for older men to be very sexually active, has good weather most or all of the year, and is both affordable and unlikely to rise in cost dramatically over the course of retirement. Everyone has to balance his own budget, interests, and so forth.

That said, I think it's worth remembering that some aspects and issues you'll be considering are longer-term than others. For instance, if you're 65 and about to retire, you may well have 10 years (give or take) of being really sexually active. Some men may be fortunate to remain active even longer. Some, though, will find themselves with a flagging libido or performance issues long before that; and if you live well into your 80's, you may have as much time (or more) when sex is unimportant or almost impossible as you had for a final sowing of oats.

On the flip side, access to good medical care is never going to be unimportant. In fact, that's one thing that you can almost guarantee is going to grow in importance over time.

Another thing: costs tend to rise, especially if you're going to be renting rather than owning a home. Moving to X city may well be an affordable option today, when you can rent for X. If X increases by 10% or 15% a year, as it does in some places, you may well find yourself priced out of the market long before the end, or you may be reduced to living on (meager) public assistance in order to stay housed.

Given that very few people who are not yet retired have any sort of traditional defined benefit pension plan, careful attention to where things may be in five or ten or fifteen years is really important. If there's a significant market downturn (like we had in 2008 and following), while you're drawing funds from a defined contribution retirement plan that may therefore be declining in value, having chosen a more expensive place to live may mean a dramatic reduction in circumstances along the way.

[onlyraw]

On 12/1/2023 at 10:16 PM, BergenGuy said:

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.

I agree

The 2024 election will have a huge impact on all of us.

Living in a blue state (Massachusetts - where we now have a lesbian governor looking out for us) is great 

but …. For those of you living in a Purple state (or a purple district in a red state) - very selfishly I ask …. Can you stay there until after the election… and then move to your retirement dream town?

if I could afford to I would move back home to Wisconsin to vote… and then of course I would move back to Boston … I would- states

like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania… they will be crucial to what happens to us in 2025 and beyond 

[bouncybttm]

It looks like France and Spain are hoping to change the 90 day rule for brits who own homes in their countries… how likely they are to succeed I don’t know but would be nice…

[think before following links] https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/good-news-brits-could-soon-be-granted-longer-visas-for-spain-and-france-112723

[RawNYTop]

On 12/2/2023 at 3:42 PM, ellentonboy said:

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.

I understand how you feel. I'm also hesitant to make a move because I've put so much effort into my current home, and I still have plans for further improvements. It would be hard to leave it all behind.

My current location on Long Island is ideal for me. It's close to the Hamptons, NYC, and Fire Island, and I really appreciate experiencing the distinct seasons here. Plus, New York during the holidays is something special that I cherish. I feel comfortable and familiar with what I have here.

If I were to consider relocating to Florida, I would want to find a similar type of house—a place with at least a quarter acre of land, beautiful landscaping, and an inground pool. However, I worry that finding a comparable home in Fort Lauderdale would be expensive, possibly around a million dollars or more.

[cockcuddler]

If he looked further north towards St. Cloud/ Orlando area he might fight that type and acreage.  About 25 years ago I hooked up with a guy who lived in St cloud in a ranch style house. it had an indoor pool and from what I can see plenty of acreage. Beyond that I am not much help. I feel like I moved to NYC to learn how to live alone And with my current apartment being my longest residence ever(12yrs), I've i may need a more nomadic life or go crazy. Good luck 

[hntnhole]

1 hour ago, RawNYTop said:

possibly around a million dollars or more

Given the parameters you laid out, I'd guess that's a reasonable figure.  Small, 60,70 year old houses (2 br, on a decent-sized city lot, some have had pools added) are running around half that figure or more these days.  More, if there's a pool, less if it's a rundown dump that needs total renovation.  Many of the houses in the "hood" have been renovated, quite a number with pools added.  

[PozBearWI]

I am retired, and love living in Wisconsin.  Generally cooler temps (perhaps too cold for some but for me; 65 degrees is a perfect temp).  We've abundant potable water here and having lake Michigan to the east tends to attenuate nasty storms.  

When I look around the nation from here; while perhaps on a blizzardy winter day those places appeal to me; we have less crappy natural events here than the majority of other places.  So while a winter AZ visit (or NO, or the Island House in the keys) is a pleasurable warm up; I don't have to deal with the intense heat, fires, flooding elsewhere.  

That said, I discourage anyone from even thinking about relocating to Wisconsin...  

[theplayerking]

A lot of people on this thread a quick to dismiss the northeast because of snow. I would point out that, apart from places that get lake-effect snow (like Buffalo), snow has decreased significantly over the past decade. And if it really bothers you, you get a relatively inexpensive furnished apartment in Mexico or Colombia for a couple of months a year. 

That way you can benefit from cooler summers, more varied geography, cultural amenities and a more favorable political climate. I know that not everyone has the resources to be a snowbird, but if you’re strategic and do the right research, it’s less expensive than many suppose.