Note to Cabin4

[Questor]

Cabin4:

You had mentioned that you'll be moving to Idaho at some point after having lived in California. I did a version of that about 20 years ago when I moved from Florida to Minnesota. The problem now as I contemplate retirement is that Minnesota is not suitable as a retirement home because of the long winters. After I've got more time on my hands, one of the major criteria will be that I need to live in a place where I can go for a walk every day. I can't do that here during the winter. We really do need to move to a more benign climate eventually. You may want to consider mobility of the aged before committing to a place like Idaho.

The situation is positively tragic for many Minnesota seniors who become shut-ins. When I compare that lifestyle to the vital active lifestyle seniors have in places like Florida and Arizona, there is no comparison. The people in the warmer places have the far better lifestyles.

[Cabin4]

Questor,

Very fair assessment and I don't disagree. My wife and I have gone back and forth on this. She wants to stay in more hospitable climate and for me, at least at this point in my life I don't feel the winters will hold me back. Having been born and raised in the northeast and lived most of my life in the upper Midwest (Illinois & Wisconsin) and 9 years in Pennsylvania, I'm use to the cold and being out in it. I actually like the winter and was always an avid ice fisherman, hunter and still like snowmobiling. Of course hunting is my real passion so winter means hunting. I understand your point, I know many folks in northern Wisconsin and winter to some of them means hibernation.

In any case, your points are still valid. As we age, some of the activities we like simply become harder to enjoy or just simply become not doable. Idaho would be my first choice for a number of reasons. Maybe only for 10 or so years and then move on to the south. We also talked about having two places, one in Idaho and one in the south. I'm open to other areas of the country but I need to have a good balance. It’s important to me that I live in a rural mountain area and it be compatible with my life style and political views. To this point, I'm open to areas of the old south as well as southern Colorado. I'm also seriously considering a run for political office (state legislature) so I'm also considering this dynamic as well. I'll certainly need to be in a deep red district and Idaho is full of these.

We are planning a trip next summer to explore more of the west on the point mentioned above. I should be open to Utah and like I said earlier S. Colorado.

Appreciate the advise and input...
Thanks
C4

[Questor]

Cabin4:

The way I see it, no home is permanent. I really would like to spend some time in Montana dedicated to trout fishing and some hunting, and perhaps long range target shooting. Likewise, I like the warm ocean for fishing and some of the great outdoor activities there. I considered getting an RV and traveling with it, but realized that it wasn't what I really wanted. The best option I can think of is to pick a place and rent an apartment or similar room for several months and really live in the place similar to where I may want to settle again.

My wife is a life-long Minnesotan, and it's going to be hard to get her out of here. I believe she is beginning to see some wisdom in living in a more senior-friendly place eventually. Her mother is now a shut-in still living on her farm. That's what she wants out of life, but it's a pretty hazardous existence for an old-timers. Her mind is not what it used to be.  I've been gently working on my wife and showing her places. Part of my sales pitch will be gardening year round. Walks and bike rides year round. Another chapter of life.

It's a tough problem.

But let's say you're 50 something and 60 something and you want to hunt elk and perhaps ski. That's perhaps a 20 year period you can be living your dream in Idaho, perhaps planning for another chapter of life later on.

I guess my point is don't get too attached to Idaho, there may be another move after that.

[searlock]

it says this guy has 5877 posts. is that a record here?

[Cabin4]

Actually the pole position on this record is currently held by Quickdtoo at over 27,000 followed by GB with over 18,000.

If you click on the Members tab and then click on the posts tab it will sort the members in post order....take a peek.

[nw_hunter]

it says this guy has 5877 posts. is that a record here?

Well! Like he said, the winters get cold where he lives and a shut-in has to have a hobby........

[Cheesehead]

Cabin4,

What brought you to Wisconsin?

Cheese

[williamlayton]

My wife, The Hen, and I had this very same conversation a number of years ago.
I am 68 and Ann is 65--now.
I will recognize that everybody is an individual and what conclusions we came too are not for everybody.
Our first consideration was the children. Since they have not moved off, but continue to live near us, that made moving a strong disadvantage---even a 100 miles.
All we enjoy in life is close at hand in Houston.
We have good doctors that we have gone too over the years.
We do not enjoy the cold--me in particular.
We both enjoy going--if nothing more than just getting out each day for several hours.
I can suffer from serious cabin fever if cooped up more than 24 hours.
The heat is a thing we both enjoy---then we have A/C.
We decided to stay put even though we travel at least once a year. May not be far or long but we move around and see things.
Pardon me for interrupting such good conversation---and, I have enjoyed the read.
Blessings

[Cabin4]

Cheese,

I purchased a place outside Mercer Wisconsin and after rehabbing it, later turned it into a hunting/fishing camp. Partnered with a couple local guides so I spent allot of time there in the spring/summer/fall working, driving back & forth to home in northern Illinois. At the same time I maintained my full time job remotely which was back in Elk Grove Illinois. I worked for a large computer corporation that was very advanced in being able to work remotely even back in the 90's. My job was global so I had little problems making this work out. After moving to PA in late 1997, I left that area and was only able to come back occasionally to Mercer so I sold out in 2004.

Prior to all this, I spent allot of time in the Birchwood & Hayward areas hunting & fishing with friends who had places in these areas. I had been going back and forth between WI & IL for some time when I was a kid/young teenager. My Dad used to take us fishing & camping all over WI and staying with family freinds.  I could go on an on and even had a stint going back to Long Island for a while piloting a clam boat on the south bays.... I feel like I've been all over the place and likly to move on again here within the next couple years......

[Graybeard]

The deep south is not a bad place to live. It is kinda hot in summer and at times for me a person who has spent a life time here a bit too chilly in winter. I'd really like an area that tops out at least 10-15 degrees less in summer and bottoms out almost that much less in winter than it does here in NE Alabama. If it never dropped below freezing and never climbed above 80 I'd be a happy camper.

We had plans to retire to the west somewhere and had a general area in mind tho had not gone there to verify it was what we'd want and had merely selected the area due to the lack of people there. I've now seen some tho by no means all of the area and am not sure we'd have moved after looking it over better but still perhaps had the money been there we would have.

I retired early, too early perhaps, and the funds for the move just were not there as they would have been had I not retired early. Unless some rich old GBO member dies and leaves me his fortune tho I'll never have the money to move west or any other direction in this life time. Still as retirement areas go this one isn't so bad. My single biggest regret is that I did not find a way to buy a large enough piece of land to live on so that I could hunt on my own land, take long walks and ride our bikes on our own land without having to go elsewhere to do it. I misspent my youth and the money made then doing other things always assuming I'd be able to do that later after retirement and now can't. I'm sure glad tho I'm not stuck in some really cold climate area.

[Sourdough]

When I was a young man I lived for winter.  I thought nothing of going camping during the winter.  When I first moved to Alaska I thought it was a little too cold, but once I got used to it I loved the winter time.  Skiing, snowmachining, snow shoeing, I loved winter.  And the summers in Alaska are great.  Temp in the 70s, 80s, and sometimes in the 90s.  So the wife and I bought our retirement home, here in North Pole.  It is great, and we love our home.  BUT

I have gotten arthritis since retiring.  It hurts to go out when it is really cold.  I noticed I am not going out like I used to in December, January, and February.  We have talked about moving south.  Michelle wants to move to Virginia, No way I am going to move there.  Too many people, mostly In-Laws.  I want to move to southern New Mexico, she refuses to move back there.  She grew up there and does not want anything to do with it.

So we compromise.  She goes to virginia twice a year to visit her brothers and sisters.  I go to Florida the 1st week of January and stay till mid March.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Cabin 4 , Since reading this thread, you have good goals and are certainly moving toward them. Having traveled over most of the west except Calif. Idaho is not a bad spot to live. Compared to much of the west the elevation is rather low. I think Boise is like 2500 feet. While there is some winter, it is not like Minn. I have gone though much of what has been hashed over here. While I love the west, the winters can be long. I like sometime in warm weather. Personally, I thought of the second home, but things in local areas change and sometimes ones interests change. I plan to maintain a home in the west as it is paid for, but when I considered a second place in Az., I am glad I did not buy. My main reason looking at Az. was the quail hunting. Now the quail are really on a down cycle especially in the area I wanted to buy the home. My solution was to purchase a modest travel trailer and go to the areas in the southwest and south that are attractive each year. So far we have spent time in Fla., Tx, New Mex, and Az.
Plus a brief stay in Miss.  The southwest is still my favorite. I can do some fishing and hunt predators for some hunting, and I prefer the dry climate over the wet, snake, bug infested south. (Sorry guys, there is much I love and admire about your area, but it is not for me....) With the trailer, one can hit the oceans, desert, or mts. as it suits. With quail on the down swing, I am looking at some exotic hunts in Texas and New Mex. The one thing with Tx. is very little public land, while in New Mex. there is lots of country to roam over.  No matter what we plan or want to do, unless we are very, very well to do, the hunting and fishing on public land is going to continue down hill. It will still be there, but not as good as the past, but it is better than nothing.   

[BBF]

I love cool and cold weather at least I used to.
Having lived in central Europe, Penna, Illinois, Arizona, British Columbia and now here in the Maritimes, winter has lost its appeal big time at my present age.
I know I could not stand the heat and moisture of the US southeast all year and the southwest gets dry and boring and I have no intentions to learn Spanish. So if I hade my choice in the US it would be Hawaii.

I've never been Down Under either inOz or kiwi land, something I regret.
I've done the liveaboard thing on a boat, regretably that didn't work out anywhere as long as I wish it would have.
That leaves RV'ing which can be costly.
Having two residences if you can afford it sounds like a winner to me.

[Questor]

Sourdough:

That's the arrangement we may end up with, and for the same reasons. Do you rent a different place every year when you go to Florida? How do you manage to do it, if you don't mind me asking.  Thanks.