Where do you want to retire to or have a 2nd home?

[utvolpj]

Will keep a place here in Florida and likely retire to my dad's farm outside Knoxville when that day comes. Will always have our hideaway on Cherokee lake too

I wouldn't mind a little place halfway up the mountain in AZ. Prescott, Chino valley, etc

 

[bignewt]

Sanibel Island FL

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Sanibel Island FL

I can't argue with that.

 

[volfanCLT]

Sanibel Island FL

 

[LouderVol]

Bavaria, Germany. or Austria. One of the smaller towns. Berchesgarden or some place similar, may avoid that town in particular for the history.

Landscape is phenomenal, it doesn't get hot and the people and culture are amazing.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

I really like Naples FL...

Me too. We had spot in Bonita at Pelican Landing. Loved it in the summers. Hated the season. Things really changed there after 2007 crash. So many places closed. Neighborhoods that had full strip malls anchored by grocery stores right outside their gates suddenly were surrounded by shuttered buildings. Some HOAs imploded when banks discovered end arounds to avoid HOA fees on repos. Neighborhoods that were still under development more or less reverted to swampland when developers went bankrupt. If I ever reenter that market it will have to be somewhere south of Vanderbilt Beach Rd. and west of 41.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Lot of South Florida have all three of those. Just curious why Naples.

I can tell you why I liked it first and foremost. If you're from the area of Nashville I'm from, everyone and their dog has a place along the panhandle because it's the closest drive. I did not want to spend my downtime hanging out with the same bunch of people and their kids and pets that I see every day at home.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Naples and Ft Myers area sucks. Stay far, far away.

Is anything happening in Estero these days development wise? When I was last down that was a few years back, I just remember seeing big strip malls that had video poker for their only tenant. I did always like the ice cream cone place near the hardware store.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

1st part is my plan --- no way will I live in a "retirement community"

it's easy to say that when we're young but as people age they tend to be ostracized by young people in general and they need the care and support of others, which often means going to where the care and support is rather than it coming to you. there's nothing shameful about it.

 

[volfanCLT]

Is anything happening in Estero these days development wise? When I was last down that was a few years back, I just remember seeing big strip malls that had video poker for their only tenant. I did always like the ice cream cone place near the hardware store.

Not as much in Estero as is going on in Bonita and Naples. Gulf Coast Town Center has really taken off with stores and a ton of new restaurants.

Now, if you haven't been to the area between Gulf Coast Town Center and Miromar (right near FGCU), you won't even recognize it. The amount of home/apartment development in that area is almost unbelievable. Some of the apartment complexes are absolutely beautiful.

Another area taking off is about 25 minutes northeast of the Ft Myers area. I'm not sure if you are aware of Babcock Ranch, but they sold half their property to a developer who is building a little self contained, self sustainable town. Its a pretty interesting little place that is solar and gas powered and targeting a more active clientele (kayaking, hiking trails, etc) If you're back in the area, go up and give it a look and take a tour. Homes, downtown area, and a couple schools are either already built or being built.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Thanks for the info. We have a relative who is still down there, lives near the old Registry/Naples Grand on a canal. If we go for a visit, I will make a drive.

 

[utvolpj]

Have passed the Babcock community several times going to the in-laws but never stopped. Really want to but always have the kids and they won't like it

 

[volfanCLT]

Have passed the Babcock community several times going to the in-laws but never stopped. Really want to but always have the kids and they won't like it

Yeah, the restaurant they have there is great. Really good food.

At this point, all the other activities are still kind of getting built up. I think you're correct about the kids not enjoying it yet.

 

[1972 Grad]

It has a Newland , NC address, but is called Linville Land Harbor. Boone is about 18 miles, Banner Elk about 10 or less.

At noon today, it was 62 degrees. It had made it to 65 when I left at 4:30 this afternoon. Beautiful sunny day.

 

[bigdaddy]

Boise Idaho

 

[knucklehead_vol]

Uruaguy or Southern Brazil.