"While the future of social security may be uncertain, some (baby boomers) who are retiring now are forgoing southern beaches in favor of western mountains. Reports in recent days have noted a new trend in baby boomer retirement: they're choosing to settle in the West..."
While this baby boomer isn't anywhere near retirement age (in mind at least), I found that to be interesting.
I live in an ocean paradise. It's an island completely surrounded by water and the only way off? One bridge that connects us to the rest of the world.
And there are a lot of retirees here.
The reason? The slow pace, maybe. The fact that it's a world off to itself, maybe.
Honestly, I never thought I'd want to live on the water. The fact I can't swim might have had something to do with it, but my main dreams and desires were to live in a cabin in the middle of the mountains. Any mountains, it didn't matter.
I have visited the mountains many times and each time I leave them, I swear that's where I want my ashes scattered. The air is different, the scenery is grandeur beyond grandeur and it's, well, just paradise.
And, then, I moved to this island completely surrounded by lapping waves, crying gulls, the strangest birds and wildlife I've ever seen, and I never realized just how beautiful it is living so close to the ocean.
If you step out my back door and the wind is just right, you can
actually hear the waves crashing upon the shore. I can stand on my deck and watch how high up and how low it comes to my dock and I can judge if it's high tide and low tide without listening to any radio report. I can watch egrits walking in my front yard and geese flying in a V-shape in my back yard. And I can watch the most beautiful sunsets that were ever put on this earth. You haven't lived until you've seen a winter sunset. You think summer sunsets are beautiful? Wait until a cold front has passed through and look at the sunset then. You'll marvel at colors - purple being the main color.So for this baby boomer, and I never thought I'd say this, I choose the ocean, but don't tell that to my beloved mountains because I still hold a special place in my heart for them, too.
Which do you prefer - ocean or mountains?
Actually, I prefer the flatlands of Illinois. I've lived here all my life, so I don't at this point care to relocate. When I retire, I won't have to worry about dealing with the snow and ice, since I can decide when to step out of the house. That would be the only reason to move somewhere else. Of course, the question is, when will I retire? Don't know. I'm 60 now and can't afford to retire. I would love to write full time, but so far that's not a possibility
ReplyDeleteMorgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
http://www.morganmandel.com
I've lived in the flatlands of the Mississippi Delta, on the beach in Puerto Vallarta and now, in the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. I love them all. I don't think I'd last long shoveling snow or walking on the beach in the summertime. It's good to sample them all - and Morgan, as long as you write you never retire.
ReplyDeleteJenny McGill
http://www.mjmcgill.com
jmjennymcgill@gmail.com
You're just a few years older than I am Morgan and I'm so surprised you have so much energy to do what you do...you're an inspiration. I have lived in Illinois for a total of 6 weeks when my ex was going to Air Force school at Chanute AFB. We lived off base and what a party that whole six weeks turned out to be. Maybe it was 2 months, I forget. But I remember all the flatland. Corn..my god, I think that state ranks high in corn. Everywhere you'd turn there'd be corn fields to your right, to your left, in front of you, in back of you...corn paradise!
ReplyDeleteWoohoo...thanks for stopping by, Jenny! I guess you could say I've lived everywhere myself and one day I love the ocean more, the next I love the mountains more..I just love traveling. One place I haven't been to is Mexico. Might come down and see you one day!
ReplyDeleteNot even a decision to be made, California girl here, couldn't imagine not living so close to the beach. There's nothing to equal standing on the shore line watching the sun set on the horizon, waves lapping at your feet with the wind blowing your hair, salt water spraying on your face and seagulls happily calling to each other. Oh man! I gotta go to the beach.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to live near the beach, but I've also wanted to live in a busy urban environment, like Manhattan. If I were really rich and famous, I'd live in all sorts of places, including a vineyard. But what I really want to do is have a mobile living space, so I can pick up and move whenever I want. Being a writer, too, I will probably never retire, which is good because I doubt I'll ever be able to afford to.
ReplyDeleteOh Becky, you are so right!
ReplyDeleteHaha...Anne! I also thought about one day just driving around in an RV, picking up odd jobs along the way if I had to. Wouldn't that be the life! But man Manhattan? I went there a few years ago and fell in love with the place. See how fickle I am?
ReplyDeleteCan't make up my mind, so I'll take a weekend house at the beach and live in the mountains the rest of the week!
ReplyDeleteLOL, Jessica, you sound like me!
ReplyDeleteI'll stay with my RV where I can spend winter time in the desert where it is warm but not hot, then retreat to the northwest in the summer where there are cool beaches and mountains, or just east of the mountains, another desert with it's heat. The "house" stays the same, I'm not living out of a suitcase and always sleep in my own bed, but the scenery out the window changes whenever I want it to. The best of both worlds.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the mountains. I grew up in Utah, and even though I'm living in California right now, I hope my husband and I will retire somewhere that has mountains. I love the trees, the smells, the whole thing.
ReplyDelete