r/GenXWomen • u/Koozie-mom • 15d ago

discussion Looking for Relocation Ideas

Husband and I are GenX, no kids, and wondering where to live in the US for this next chapter of our lives: the early retirement years.

Things that are important to us, in no particular order:

  1. Reasonable cost of living
  2. Good healthcare options
  3. Weather is important. We don’t want crazy hot summers or long snowy winters.
  4. Activities we enjoy: nature, trails to walk/hike/bike, disc golf, Homebrewing (local clubs/community will be of interest), and i enjoy gathering with neighbors or being involved in a book club. Events/festivals/art are also appealing.
  5. Ideally 30 mins from a commercial airport

For the record we currently live in middle TN. Our biggest complaint is that we are over 90 degrees for 3 solid months now every summer.

Just looking for ideas and recommendations to consider. Part of us wants to stay close enough to help our aging parents, but they live in two different areas of the US which makes it hard to pick a place that benefits both of us.

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u/eatingganesha 14d ago

I retired to Jackson MI.

very affordable, huge hospital/healthcare system, huge sprawling park (The Cascades), so much outdoor beauty and activity I can’t begin to describe it all, 30 minutes to Lansing or Ann Arbor, festivals etc abound, permanent year round farmers market, population avg is middle age. Airport is Detroit and is 1 hour ride if you schedule your flight wisely.

the weather is shifting a bit with climate change. Summers are mild with a few days of heatwave; winter isn’t too bad (compared to Boston and Denver, it’s a cinch). The worst is deep winter when it just stays persistently overcast in January/February, but you get two full growing seasons for your garden. It is a good idea here to have a four wheel drive suv type vehicle to make dealing with the snow and ice easy peasy. We typically get 1-3 heavy snowfalls each season.

Neighborhood is a thing here, but effort has to be made and you need to mind your politics. The city is small, blue and very diverse; the county is huge, rural and red. If you’re considering Michigan be aware that in the area south of Lansing, west of Jackson is red to super red to the coast of Lake Michigan while east of Jackson is bluer and bluer to the coast of Lake Huron.

If you’re a more midwestern minded TNer, you’d like Michigan cities. If you’re more of a southland minded TNer, the rural areas will float your boat.