I got up from the computer and waltzed into the library -- ready to explain it all to Henri. You know, all about the same standard of living; average monthly expenditures for food, transportation, medical bills, entertainment, clothing, and personal care at the same level; and the $1000 for household expenses.
He just stared at me. I think he may have actually been speechless for a few seconds.
Then he laughed, “Where did you have in mind, dear? San Francisco? New York? Boston?”
I rushed on, “Funny! We can have a Plan B which means that we can live on our Social Security and figure out a way to make extra income for travel and extravagances. It shouldn’t be that hard.”
He shook his head as he regained his power of speech. “You’re kidding right?
”
"No! There HAS to be places where we can live for that" I said. . . I want you to remember as you read this that I have been accused of being an incurable optimist.
The sixty four million dollar question was would we want to live in one of them? I have never lived in any place where there is snow. For the last 40 years I have lived in Southern California I don’t do cold. I’ve never lived in a rural area, I like people. I am an unrepentant populist and agnostic.
Henri grew up in a rural community with lots of snow—he claims he walked to school barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways throughout his child hood. . He isn’t about to start shoveling snow again.
After a serious discussion we agreed that we had nothing to lose. If we went come place, rented for at least a year we could try it out with a minimal amount of risk. So we sat down and created some criteria to guide our search:
The absolutes:
Temperate year round climate
Town of 40,000-100,000 people
Low crime rate
Adequate medical care
Decent houses for rent in the $700/month range
Residential properties available for Sale under $200,000
The preferences:
College town
Walking town (not dependent on our car all the time)
We were off to start the search.
He just stared at me. I think he may have actually been speechless for a few seconds.
Then he laughed, “Where did you have in mind, dear? San Francisco? New York? Boston?”
I rushed on, “Funny! We can have a Plan B which means that we can live on our Social Security and figure out a way to make extra income for travel and extravagances. It shouldn’t be that hard.”
He shook his head as he regained his power of speech. “You’re kidding right?
” "No! There HAS to be places where we can live for that" I said. . . I want you to remember as you read this that I have been accused of being an incurable optimist.
The sixty four million dollar question was would we want to live in one of them? I have never lived in any place where there is snow. For the last 40 years I have lived in Southern California I don’t do cold. I’ve never lived in a rural area, I like people. I am an unrepentant populist and agnostic.
Henri grew up in a rural community with lots of snow—he claims he walked to school barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways throughout his child hood. . He isn’t about to start shoveling snow again.
After a serious discussion we agreed that we had nothing to lose. If we went come place, rented for at least a year we could try it out with a minimal amount of risk. So we sat down and created some criteria to guide our search:
The absolutes:
Temperate year round climate
Town of 40,000-100,000 people
Low crime rate
Adequate medical care
Decent houses for rent in the $700/month range
Residential properties available for Sale under $200,000
The preferences:
College town
Walking town (not dependent on our car all the time)
We were off to start the search.
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