Where to retire?

[415hawaiiboy 2.0]

If I were to stay in NorCal as a home base, and I really wanted to leave the City (I don’t, I love urban), Healdsburg in Napa or Lodi (cheaper and less wildfire risk).  There’s something about Lodi - I used to say from a real estate investor perspective. 

[FresnoFacts]

On 1/9/2025 at 9:01 PM, Supersix said:

35 minutes north of Fresno

 Without being too specific, I know a veteran who wanted to retire in California years ago.

Part of his decision making was convenient, easy access to a VA Medical Center (not just a VA clinic) for his individual situation. But he did not want to be in the large coastal urban areas.

That left him looking for a location within a short drive to either the Fresno VAMC or Sacramento/Mather VAMC. He found himself a nice home with an easy drive to the Fresno VAMC.

Since CalVet opened a California Veterans Home in Fresno he is even happier with the choice. He likes having the option as a Vet, if needed, of a nearby location for Assisted, Skilled, or Memory Care.

[Supersix]

A two-hour drive north of Fresno brings you to Seaside, CA, minutes from Pebble Beach.

[Supersix]

50 minutes up the hill, you're snow skiing at China Peak in Fresno County.

 

[Supersix]

It's a 60-mile drive from Fresno Yosemite Park. The tunnel enters Yosemite, which we call the Fresno entrance.

[CoachKenFTW]

My extended family and I are leaving California. 

Top domestic picks as of this post:

Texas. Probably the Houston area.

Florida. The Clearwater area and Jacksonville are where my interest is at right now.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Las Vegas.

For popular tourist destinations like Vegas, Clearwater, or Myrtle Beach, we'd probably hedge the housing market by buying in intervals before we move, then rent them out if possible.

International:

Bahamas and Grand Cayman. 

Bahamas I could do right now, if I had to. But my heart of hearts is set on Grand Cayman. I'm hoping to be able to comfortably meet the requirements for permanent residency there within the next few years.

[SalinasSpartan]

On 1/11/2025 at 10:17 AM, Supersix said:

A two-hour drive north of Fresno brings you to Seaside, CA, minutes from Pebble Beach.

Seaside would be an expensive ass place to retire.

[CPslograd]

On 1/11/2025 at 9:13 AM, 415hawaiiboy 2.0 said:

If I were to stay in NorCal as a home base, and I really wanted to leave the City (I don’t, I love urban), Healdsburg in Napa or Lodi (cheaper and less wildfire risk).  There’s something about Lodi - I used to say from a real estate investor perspective. 

Lodi has a surprisingly nice downtown and some nice dining options.

[415hawaiiboy 2.0]

On 1/11/2025 at 9:50 AM, FresnoFacts said:

 Without being too specific, I know a veteran who wanted to retire in California years ago.

Part of his decision making was convenient, easy access to a VA Medical Center (not just a VA clinic) for his individual situation. But he did not want to be in the large coastal urban areas.

That left him looking for a location within a short drive to either the Fresno VAMC or Sacramento/Mather VAMC. He found himself a nice home with an easy drive to the Fresno VAMC.

Since CalVet opened a California Veterans Home in Fresno he is even happier with the choice. He likes having the option as a Vet, if needed, of a nearby location for Assisted, Skilled, or Memory Care.

Just wanted to say this observation I made, since the topic is retirement. 

 

The best deal in private pay senior living is the “second person fee.”  Especially if you are a couple, or you can even be good friends, you can share a unit and the second person pays only around $1,200 - $1,750.  
 

This is for independent living, but also assisted living if there are no care requirements.  If there are, each individual has their own care plan to pay on top of the base unit rent.

For the roughly $1K per month, that second person gets meals (2 or 3 per day), activities, housekeeping, use of all the amenities.  The point is to not stay in your unit all day anyways.
 

Food alone if you price out everyday at $40 is that expense.

 

Best deal in senior living. 

[Rebelcuff]

We are planning on moving to the villages. Don't have any children so we will need a place set up for old people. 

[tailingpermit]

On 1/12/2025 at 4:19 PM, Rebelcuff said:

We are planning on moving to the villages. Don't have any children so we will need a place set up for old people. 

I surly hope you will join their flying blue angels golf cart club!

[tailingpermit]

I’m never leaving Florida, will one day take the MIL’s house in Sanibel and rent our current place out. Would love to have my kid grow up with that small town feel with an incredible fishing backyard. 

[azgreg]

Starting to really warm up to the idea of building a ADU in the backyard of my Phoenix property.