Where to retire?!

[Kilboars]

Yes, and RV trailer and hunt where I chose. Especially, since I don't think my wife is going to want to move to where I want to move.

Thats my dream, rent/buy and small conversion van/sprinter and hunt the other states.

 

[LaGriz]

Great thread everyone!

I have been researching this myself for a good while. Having grown up in Massachusetts and moving here for employment in 1979 I still enjoy every returning visit. New England is still dear to me but the TAXES, long winters, short hunting seasons, and left wing politics leave me wanting. I have great friends and family there but alas, the North East is out.

I have made my living in Louisiana for going on 39 years. Love the food Friends and Music, But truly loath the brutal summers. Will always have a connection to South Louisiana. I will return here often, but I'm not sure yet if this will be my base.

I'm a "hopeless elkaholic" with a passion for the mountains that rivals my health and abilities. Love Northern New Mexico and South West Colorado very much. The climate is nearly perfect in Santa Fe and parts north. The Folks I have meet in this region are warm for the most part. The only snag might be access to medical care for my Lady and I.

Idaho has caught my interest as well. So has Western Colorado.

I think I might do the "motorhome thing" for a while until I get it all sorted out. At 61, I still figure on another year (minimum) of full time employment.

Kind Regards
LaGriz

 

[Billinsd]

Thats my dream, rent/buy and small conversion van/sprinter and hunt the other states.

Those of you that live out of an RV is it difficult to find places to camp on public land without services, and without having to pay? I know it really depends on what state you are in and who owns the public land. It seems like in the West you can primitive camp for at least a couple weeks at a time in one place on forest land. You can't just squat somewhere forever, though.\

The big costs I see with traveling in an RV is the gas and having to pay to park it.

Thanks
Bill

 

[Kilboars]

Those of you that live out of an RV is it difficult to find places to camp on public land without services, and without having to pay? I know it really depends on what state you are in and who owns the public land. It seems like in the West you can primitive camp for at least a couple weeks at a time in one place on forest land. You can't just squat somewhere forever, though.\

The big costs I see with traveling in an RV is the gas and having to pay to park it.

Thanks
Bill

My thought is to have one small enough to drive and park anywhere and just sleep out of when opportunity arises. My wife is not that much into camping.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cnelk]

Most Natl Forests allow camping in one spot for 2 weeks before you have to relocate [if enforced] , and that can be a few hundred yards.

 

[HOT ROD]

If there was work there... I would live in Buffalo Wyoming Saratoga Wyoming or Duboise Wy... But work doesn't matter.. Since U are talking about retirement...

 

[Antlers]

I am looking heavily at Oregon. I love public land hunting, I love the ocean and I am pretty fond of daylight. So Alaska would look good but that whole winter thing kind of gets to me. Oregon seems to have a little of everything for me.
that being said... 6 months in alaska and 6 months in Kona does not sound lilke it would suck. Would love to make that happen.

I looked at Oregon several years ago and was disappointed in the OTC hunting opportunities - did I miss something?

 

[vanish]

Alaska residency - keep in mind that if you want to keep it, you have to spend more than 6 months of the year living in Alaska. That puts a hitch in the plan of some of the ideas listed in here. My uncle chose AK + AZ and every year it seems like he's drawn to stay in AZ longer.

 

[chindits]

You should move to colorado.....its great there

No offense intended, but I would never recommend CO for a retirement state and I live here. I don't know about where you live in CO, but where I live taxes and cost of living are no joke. There are many other states that get the nod for retirement selection if you are looking to stretch your retirement dollars. However, CO does get a fair amount of snowbird retirees with lots of money. That artificially improves our standard of living and longevity surveys nationwide. I think Summit County might have one of the highest longevity rates in the nation tied with some Foo Foo home for the rich place in CA. The traffic on the front range is absurd. The traffic in rural CO during summers is absurd if you live anywhere near tourist attractions. The state is the rocky mountain region prostitute of elk hunting with over the counter tags. However, despite hunters and fishers paying for the State's wildlife management, the majority of other recreationists think little of hunters and there are lots of recreationists in this state. Most of the legislation past in this state is decided by the Front Range and disproportionately effects the West Slope, think what they have done with trapping, bear hunting, and mountain lion limits. Now CO does have some pretty views. It also has a disproportionate number of transients and individuals seeking the alleged benefits of cannabis while the rest of the population pays for their mental health interventions and hospital bills. Lots of people result in lots of problems, but there are microbrews in every town and a butt load of weed dispensaries.

 

[vanish]

I think he was joking about CO

 

[Blockcaver]

Colorado was home from 1973 a 2009. It was a great place to bowhunt. Glad I lived there and had a chance to hunt bow hunt elk every year (over 30 bagged), arrow a couple bighorns and goats, some nice whitetails, antelope, mule deer, bears and cats. I'm glad to be out of there now and enjoying what BC has to offer the past 8 years. We retired in the dry interior here in 2014. 16 species (of the 29) of big game reside here, along with some grouse, chukars, wolves, coyotes, bocats, lynx and wolverines. Salmon and trout fishing are available if you have the time.

A winter getaway in the camper for Coues deer gives a shot of sunny days and shortens the winter. Life is good! Good luck with your decision.

 

[BroodBuster]

BC's Okanagan valley was at the top of my list. Unfortunately the rest of Canada already got that memo and I'd doubt I could afford it. Awesome country though!!

 

[Ndbowhunter]

As a retiree at 28 years old (now 31) we've tried a whole bunch of options. Rv living is in general more expensive then just renting and cruising.

My first pick as a medium old retiree age (say mid fifties) would be silver city New Mexico. Fixer uppers are cheap, weather at 6,000ft is ideal and you are close to cheap Mexico services. It's a great place to year round

Second choice for someone that wants to do short 3 month winter trips and have the highest quality of life would be Wyoming. Best state in the union.

Being an expat has huge baggage. Mexico's corruption gets old fast. Bulgaria is cheap and kicks ass but not much hunting. Most other options that are affordable you'll either have exclusively expat friends, or an insulating experience being a non native speaker.I'd seriously reconsider any notion until you've spent at least a year abroad.

New Zealand is unreal, we've wintered over the last three years. It's too far though to full time for us. Living there year round isn't cheap either.

Hawaii in my mind doesn't have much upside. Gets old being a haole fukka. I lived good part of 3 years in Hilo half a mile from honoli'i. do miss filling up a backpack full of rambatans and other fruits for 20$ After morning surfs.

 

[Billinsd]

No offense intended, but I would never recommend CO for a retirement state and I live here. I don't know about where you live in CO, but where I live taxes and cost of living are no joke. There are many other states that get the nod for retirement selection if you are looking to stretch your retirement dollars. However, CO does get a fair amount of snowbird retirees with lots of money. That artificially improves our standard of living and longevity surveys nationwide. I think Summit County might have one of the highest longevity rates in the nation tied with some Foo Foo home for the rich place in CA. The traffic on the front range is absurd. The traffic in rural CO during summers is absurd if you live anywhere near tourist attractions. The state is the rocky mountain region prostitute of elk hunting with over the counter tags. However, despite hunters and fishers paying for the State's wildlife management, the majority of other recreationists think little of hunters and there are lots of recreationists in this state. Most of the legislation past in this state is decided by the Front Range and disproportionately effects the West Slope, think what they have done with trapping, bear hunting, and mountain lion limits. Now CO does have some pretty views. It also has a disproportionate number of transients and individuals seeking the alleged benefits of cannabis while the rest of the population pays for their mental health interventions and hospital bills. Lots of people result in lots of problems, but there are microbrews in every town and a butt load of weed dispensaries.

You forgot the new magazine restrictions and Magpul pulling out of there. I've probably spent more time hunting and skiing in Colorado than anywhere else. I shot my first buck 20 miles west of Crested Butte. My dad and I flew into Gunnison and rented and old jeep at the airport. I remember when Telluride was a tiny town and very rural. I learned to ski at Purgatory near Durango. I liked Durango too!! Lots of great hunting and it was just Denver the folks didn't like. I'd still much rather live in Colorado than California, however Colorado is not on my go to list anymore. Utah politically is very nice, same with Idaho, Arizona is pretty good, and Nevada. And of course have good hunting and lower taxes. Damn shame about Colorado, however there is a lot of hunting opportunity, but not lots of quality. I love hunting Mearns quail in So Arizona, and bird and big game in Idaho. Very fun to dream about moving out of California. My wife's sister moved near SLC, and although there are tons of people, they are mostly conservative.

 

[elkduds]

Irony and hypocrisy. "UT is better because it is more conservative politically." How often do residents get to hunt in UT, where hunting is for sale to the highest bidder? How many Utards depend on CO for their annual big game hunting? What state politically leads the national movement to privatize the public land where we hunt?

CO offers good hunting opportunities for NRs because of its politics. If it were more conservative, hunting access and tags would be for sale to the deepest pockets. Liberal public land hunting opportunity is not a conservative value.

 

[kicker338]

After reading threw 4 pages of comments, i'le stay with my first post on page one, staying right here in Nth. Idaho, love it here.

 

[Billinsd]

Irony and hypocrisy. "UT is better because it is more conservative politically."

No irony and no hypocrisy at all. I like Utah better overall than Colorado and would rather retire there, spend time there, and spend my money there than Colorado, even if the access and quantity is better in Colorado, because I like the folks and government in Utah. That's just me and my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

." How often do residents get to hunt in UT, where hunting is for sale to the highest bidder?

Do you mean all hunting, or big game hunting, or premium hunts? Utah sells some premium auction tags. I'm not crazy about it, but I don't really care.

How many Utards depend on CO for their annual big game hunting?

I have no idea? There are lots of general hunts and cow and doe hunts in Utah, you probably mean hunting for a nice buck or bull? I'm sure some do go to Colorado, some go to Idaho, Montana etc. Yes, there is more opportunity for elk and deer hunting in Colorado, but the quality is far better for elk in Utah. So what is the price of tea in China?

What state politically leads the national movement to privatize the public land where we hunt?

Russia, Russia, Russia? Actually I think California leads the national movement to transfer more federal land to the states. McClintock and my Congressman Hunter are big on that.

CO offers good hunting opportunities for NRs because of its politics.

Absolutely!!!

If it were more conservative, hunting access and tags would be for sale to the deepest pockets

I don't think you understand what Conservatism is. I think that you fiercely oppose anyone or anything that you believe may interfere with your hunting opportunity and that is extremely selfish. I am generally a conservative on most issues first and second I am a hunter, fisherman, mountain biker, etc. What I mean by that is I would never vote for a liberal candidate, even if they promised things that I liked and could benefit from.

Take a look at this definition,

American Conservatism is a broad system of political beliefs in the United States that is characterized by respect for American traditions, support for Judeo-Christian values, economic liberalism, anti-communism, fascism, advocacy of American exceptionalism, and a defense of Western culture from threats posed by "creeping socialism", moral relativism, multiculturalism and liberal internationalism. Liberty is a core value, with a particular emphasis on strengthening the free market, limiting the size and scope of government, and opposition to high taxes and government or labor union encroachment on the entrepreneur. American conservatives consider individual liberty, within the bounds of conformity to American values, as the fundamental trait of democracy

 

[TheHunt]

I am about 3 years out from retirement. We are planning on a van conversion what I will do and add 4X4. We should be able to travel all over and play. Living close to our kids and fishing for salmon and steelhead are a priority. I plan on working at an outdoor shop a few days a week for discounts. But leaving for 3 months to Alaska would be a hoot. I think you also need to see what you expect to spend a year. Most folks think 100K a year for retirement is the ticket. I think we can live off of 80K a year until my SS kicks in at 70.

 

[young7.3]

Tagged

 

[Gobbler36]

2nd colorado