Best cities for gay men to retire

Sarasota is good, some pockets of Pinellas like St. Petersburg or (little) Dunedin are too.

Puerto Vallarta!

Fort Lauderdale doesn't meet most of your requirements.

Palm Springs.

Wherever we have branch offices.

Miami. I hear there's a great senior community called "Shady Pines."

R2 Tell me more about PV. Went there for the first time on a cruise last month and would love to go back for a longer visit.

Cleveland! There's nothing like it for seniors!

Crime, lots of people who idolize Bin Laden, terrible weather, many Wal-Marts, no culture!

I would think Provincetown is awfully remote and bleak Nov - Mar; I never thought of The Hamptons as particularly gay.

First off you don't state your age so when would this actually happen? In 10 years, 20 years, twenty-five years? People change and their requirements change and age always plays a factor. Second you mention nothing about your retirement funds, do you plan to continue to work or are you set "to live anywhere" with a million and a half plus? If you truly want suggestions you need to give the reader more information. Additionally are you single or your hoping to "meet someone" to settle down with? After all one could marry at age 70 or 75 - it does happen. Other seniors often settle in their retirement to live in walking distance to a locale Adult Book store where they can go nightly and locate a booth and hopefully have some kind of sexual contact with strangers. It truly is at this age "whatever works" the same would be true if there was a locale Gay Bath house with a senior discount. So that having been stated, it makes a huge different in where can or should consider. Now for the facts: there is no "reasonably sized" gay community when you hit age 70 (this is a ballpark age since again you did not state at what age you were planning on your retirement). Palm Springs, CA or Florida (Key West, Miami Beach and of course Fort Lauderdale) these areas do have a gay population, some culture, temperate at least 6 months of the year. As for The Hamptons: what are you thinking? This has a very limited Gay population and becomes a ghost town in the winter! The same is actually true for Provincetown. I've been to both in the winter and although there are "seniors" living and breathing there; they are frozen and remain in their homes. They only have cable TV for their "culture" and daily contact with the mentally disabled person who drops off their Meals on Wheels. It was very depressing! There is a general lack of anything to do in that freezing wind for anyone; not just seniors to do, during the typical winter months. If you move there (if you in fact you have the funds to retire there - which you don't mention)then be prepared to freeze and die alone; watching TMC with a bottle of booze as your long time companion. It's truly sad. Many Gay men rethink their retirement and stay in NYC, Philly, Boston and West Hollywood.

Key West, Palm Springs, Miami, the Hamptons, Provincetown.

I have the same question, OP.

I don't like huge cities and I don't like winter.

I'm thinking about Savannah, GA, Chapel Hill, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, St. Augustine, FL, and other places of that ilk. I'm trying to avoid Asheville and Austin.

I'm more terrified of snow than I am of the deep south.

R8 is undoubtedly a coastal hick. There is more culture in Cleveland than in most bigger cities.Truly cultured people know.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is good if you have a partner.

[12]

YOU have got to be kidding! Even small cities have an orchestra and an art museum. Broadway shows tour everywhere and again, many even smaller towns have their own so called playhouse. Cleveland is so crime ridden and has the lowest performing schools in the state of Ohio...and some of the highest taxes anywhere...and no compensation or good services for those taxes. Plus terrible weather 9 months of the yeat. Do not get so bent. I bet you live in Cleveland Heights, right?

There is a beautiful town that meets all of your requirements, OP, called Guerneville, Ca. Between Santa Rosa and Bodega Bay, it is a popular place for retiring gay couples from San Francisco, a 45 minute drive away. Twenty minutes walk from downtown Guerneville, you'll find yourself in a Redwood grove, ten minutes in the other direction and you're at the Russian River, a 45 minute drive, you'll be at the beach, or in the wine country. Straight people are the minority in this town. I really couldn't think of another place better! Good Luck!

No, R14 I don't. Are you a former Ohioan who has moved to New York and now thinks he has achieved Nirvana?

PV has the mountains and the ocean, a walkeable downtown with great restaurants, bars (many of them gay!) markets etc.

PV has a large ex pat community and a pretty sizeable gay community as well. It's just a 3 hour flight to LA, so easy to get to the US. Weather is perfect in the winter and hot and humid in the summer.

Rent, and cost of living in general is much cheaper than the US. I wouldn't buy anything until you've rented for at least a year to test it out.

I'm not sure of the medical care there, but since it's full of canadian and american retirees, there must be some options.

Downsides: Summers are very humid. If you fo beyond the tourist borders, there is heartbreaking poverty.

And contrary to American Myth, there really isn't much crime here at all, very safe place

Why are you moving, OP?

I did live in Cleveland awhile. I do not live in New York; I think it is dirty and overhyped and overrated. Also filled with a lot of Eurotrash. It may think it is the center of the world, but I would say Paris is. I live just north of San Diego. Not valhalla, but pretty nice. No place is perfect. Question to gays in the south: I have relatives in Hilton Head and I hate that area and that state. I see so many rednecks in the south when I visit. How do you live with them?

r12 you are aware we have two major sports teams, the rock and roll hall of fame, the cosi museum, playhouse square where shock of shocks, broadway touring companies perform, the Cleveland Art Museum has one of the best collections of Asian and Egyptian art in the world and remains free to the public thanks to a 600 million dollar arts endowment, one of the largest int he world. A thriving foodie community with Michael Simon restaurants Lola and Lolitas as well as a host of protege's partners and new chefs. Several colleges of note including Case Western and John Carrol. World class medicine with the Cleveland Clinic, a leader around the world in health care.

The most important question: how much money will you have?

[quote]And contrary to American Myth

Yes, the 60,000 people murdered there between 2006 and 2012 are a myth.

[quote]Yes, the 60,000 people murdered there between 2006 and 2012 are a myth.

Not in PV, not even close to PV. You do realize that's like saying so many people are murdered in Detroit, so the US is an unsafe place to live?

The border cities are bad. I've been all over Mexico without ever feeling threatened.

[quote]the cosi museum

This is in Columbus, not Cleveland, you dork.

UH [20] Cosi is not in Cleveland; rather, Columbus. Cleveland does have a lousy science museum and the awful Rock Hall, which has often teetered on closing.

Check your national art museums on Ancient Egyptian art...Cleveland's is quite small and insignificant...try U of PA and U of Chicago for Egyptian Art; also the Met Museum in NY, Boston Museum of Fine Arts and Toronto, among others. I am a musuem junkie and know of what I speak! Also the Louvre and The Cairo Museum AND The British Museum.

I SAID that Cleveland, like MANY cities, gets all the bus and truck downsized Broadway shows, with the usual gang of unknown players.

Is the Cleveland Clinic anything to brag about? Do you have any personal experience?

Employment opportunities-zilch; bad weather, roads in terrible shape despite being under construction and orange barrelled constantly, bad schools, snotty attitudes by people who think they are New Yorkers or something, lousy newspaper, no decent shopping unless you drive to Columbus or Chicago, crime like you would get in a big city...how much time do you have?

Travel some and you will see how bad Cleveland is.

Who is Michael Simon?

Is he one of the harpies on The Chew?

Oh dear me.

Who uses the word "foodie?"

R10 needs to move to a city where they have paragraph breaks.

Um, by R30-R33 or so, could we get over the character attacks and back on topic?

Uh, R28, there ARE no R30-R33.

[quote]Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Winters in NW Arkansas are brutal.

[quote]Rent, and cost of living in general is much cheaper than the US. I wouldn't buy anything until you've rented for at least a year to test it out.

I always thought foreigners weren't allowed to buy property in Mexico in coastal or border areas.

Fort Lauderdale/Miami is the logical choice for anybody east of the Mississippi.

Ohio?

The climate's not ant better than Canada.

R17 - I would have to agree about Puerto Vallarta, I'm in my early 40's and I'm starting to think about retirement and where I would go. I'm wondering if buying down there now would be a good idea.

It is a small town though - I've heard medical care there is excellent. I've been a few times and it's mainly Canadians and Americans - more Canadians than Americans.

R30 - you're right - but you can buy 99 year leases of land in Mexico, if I remember correctly. You don't actually own the land - so there is a question mark, but I don't think they would throw out the hundreds of thousands of North Americans who have bought property there and support the economy.

Uruguay is very progressive and gay enlightened.

R34 - have you been there? I wouldn't say so at all - despite the recent laws.

Uruguay has been very conservative - don't equalize legislation with general culture.

When I was there it wasn't a very welcome place for gays.

[quote]but you can buy 99 year leases of land in Mexico

Yes, but when you buy, its not automatically reset at 99 years. You might buy a house and find out it only has 10 years left.

Also it has become way more dangerous in the past few decades. Even American companies are moving their factories out of there. Lots of beheadings of innocent tourists from the drug cartel to show the police they have no control.

I vote for Palm Springs, it have become the place to be if you are 40+.

Low cost of living, low humidity, lots of sun, vibrant gay life and good health care. 2 hours from a major city.

Only real drawback is the heat. It's not like that all the time but 3 months out of the year you will want to be inside.

Daddies all up in that bitch!

There is a LOT of lost irony and humor in this thread.

Retire? What's that?

Fantastic video, r37! Thanks!

Koh Samui

Any further thoughts on Guerneville Ca? Sounds very promising. My only concern would be the flooding from the Russian River.

Definitely not Sydney unless you have some wealth behind you. Australians are expected to self fund their retirements - entitlements for seniors are barely enough to scrape by.

Guerneville Ca in nice, if you are into bears. Black Bears, Polar Bears, Otters, Wolves and Honey Bears. If not, you are screwed.

My partner and I are planning a cross country trip from NY to Guerneville, CA. We will be making this trip next winter, and will be checking out the area with Retirement in the next two years in mind.

Guernville = Lazy Bear

OP, I've no idea if it meets all of your requirement, but have you considered the Berkshires in Massachusetts? You will not have an ocean side beach, but there will be four seasons, spring and fall are lovely.

There are museums, music, theater, and more to enjoy.

They landscape's lovely.

Winter can be brutal, but if you ski, you can get to the slopes.

NYC is probably 3 to 4 hours away, you could take the train (MetroNorth makes it's way north, ending in Wassaic, NY).

Expensive housing, but not a bad cost of living overall.

OP, is you're considering South Florida, I'd recommend Lauderdale over Miami.

Miami has become completely overcrowded & if you aren't Spanish-speaking, you're at a social disadvantage. The traffic is absolutely horrific too & it's gotten pretty expensive.

Lauderdale is more suburban-ish. Wilton Manors is the gay epicenter of Broward County. It has the highest % of gay peeps of any city in the nation, relative to its population.

The nightlife here entertains everyone from their 20s-70s, so there are places everybody feels comfortable in.

Depending on where you're coming from, the housing prices are now higher than they've been since the Great Recession, but very cheap compared to NY,SF or LA. We also have no state income tax in FL.

Contrary to popular opinion, our climate IS temperate at least 6 months of the year, but it's very hot & humid in summer. But only OUTSIDE. It's nice to BBQ in January when the rest of the country is freezing its ass off.

There are quite a few cultural opps all year: theater, art shows, traveling Broadway shows, etc.

And regarding the arguments above...no one in their right mind would EVER consider retiring to Cleveland. There's a reason why it's called "The Mistake on the Lake".

But Ft. Lauderdale is just not a particularly attractive place. Inexpensive housing, strip malls, the beaches aren't even that pretty. Maybe I haven't seen the right parts but Wilton Manors seems seriously depressing to me.

R36 - you're talking out of your ass. Of course you can find out how many years are left - they only incorporate the rule 20 some years ago, so there's little chance of having 10 years if the 99 year lease was started 20 years ago.

And Puerto Vallarta is very safe - I would say more so than most American cities. Those beheadings are elsewhere.

Another Winter in a Summer Town.

The winters in Eureka Springs are not brutal, silly drama queens.

OP - Start with geography and climate. Identify areas of the country that meet your standards.

Then look for cities with a major university that has a well respected medical center. (Like it or not your healthcare needs will changes as you get older.)

Major university offers the culture you want. Plus the communities tend to be LGBT friendly.

Charlottesville, VA and Chapel Hill NC come to mind.

I'm planning on Cuba. Fidel can't live forever, and as soon as the embargo is lifted, I figure there's an apartment in Havana with my name on it.

I hate when people say Palm Springs has 3 months of heat, it's fucking hot here from May thru October. I've been in the desert for 10 years, I'm heading back to the northwest. ...if I need to warm up, I can visit ps and stay at one of the resorts for a week.

Guerneville is nice, though it sort of had a musty smell from all the floods. It's beautiful and normally quaint and cozy but per a linked photo they have lots of gay parties and festivals. You're not too far from SF and wine country...so that would be awesome.

Florida, however, is more comfortable IMO. No state income taxes. My vote would be St. Pete. I adore the Dali Museum which is right downtown on the water surrounded by boutiques, galleries, restaurants and clubs. Nice farmers market on the weekend. One can easily drive to Sarasota which has the Ringling Museum which is outstanding and also has an art school.

Plus Miami is becoming an international hub for modern art...it is well established for high fashion.

You'd be close to the Florida keys, and Walt Disney world, the happiest place on earth. Seriously, if you ever get depression...hang out on Main Street. You can't help but feel better. :)

I second R56. We're Gulf Coast bound in that general area, hopefully in just a few months.

[quote]Plus Miami is becoming an international hub for modern art...{bold]it is well established for high fashion.[/bold]

Because if there's one thing retirees in their golden years love, it's the almost electric frisson of catwalks and high fashion.

[quote]You'd be close to...Walt Disney world, the happiest place on earth. Seriously, if you ever get depression...hang out on Main Street. You can't help but feel better. :)

So that when OP isn't being fitted for the the latest couture, he can carry gay infantilism into his golden years.

R58: You're showing your complete ignorance if you think Miami is full of retired ppl. Not at all. Hardly any these days, in fact.

Ever heard of South Beach?

Since when is Miami close to Disney world?

That's like saying NYC is close to Washington DC.

[quote]That's like saying NYC is close to Washington DC.

It's all relative. For flyover folks like me, it is close. I'm almost 3 hours from the nearest airport with jet service.

+1 to Eureka Springs, AR. Large gay population, very friendly and tolerant, scenically beautiful, and ultra-cheap real estate.

I retired to Bend Oregon at age 50. High desert with proximity to the mountains and ocean, great outdoor sports and a surprisingly tasty food scene. Three hours drive to Portland. Certainly not to everyone's taste but if you like to ski and mountain bike, there's no better place at this price. Not very gay, though the community is growing.

R58, my recommendation was St. Pete, not Miami.

Both Miami & Disney World are weekend trips from St. Pete.

Disney World has gay days in June. A large percentage of their workforce is gay...certainly their creative directors. It's actually quite homo friendly.

For me, any location with snow, excessive heat and/or humidity is automatically out. So I think I'm stuck with coastal California.

Santa Fe.

"Stuck" with coastal Cali...? It's one of the most beautiful places on earth.

how about Lewes Delaware or Rehoboth?

Lewes is about 3 hours from NYC I think? Maybe 2 hours from Philly Airport?

I'm in CT right now about 2 hours from NYC but REALLY don't want to venture farther south than MD/VA.

Puerto Vallarta is intriguing.

R68, you do know that Puerto Vallarta is south of Maryland and Virginia, right? It's not in Canada.

I would love to retire to Palm Springs in about 10 years. But I'd like to still work part time while I'm still in my 60s. I just can't figure out what kind of work I could possibly do in PS at the ripe old age of 60-something.

I'm telling you - you need to be close to really good comprehensive healthcare providers.

Unless your plan is to move if you get sick.

Santa Barbara, CA is gorgeous, a beach town, SoCal weather. Has it's own gay scene but also is only a couple if hours from LA.

Belize. I know, don't say it.

R72 But it's VERY expensive.

Why not the South of France

You might want to consider massage therapy R70. A lot of elder gays seem to be in the hand job business in PS, at least based on the local gay rags.

Or perhaps you could work at a hotel. There are a million of them in PS.

What if you are in a middle sized city in California and gay just retired and trying to find a network? It us so hard and it has been so boring. The Bay Area is priced out of sight. I live in my own affordable home. Aprrox. 1 hour Sacramento and 1hour SFR. Any responces from similar situations...

R77 Where are you? Vallejo? Fairfield?

Those of you looking for an elder/retired gay network need to connect with SAGE - they're nationwide now.

SAGE, now a subsidiary of DataLounge.

R77 .......worst Stockton CA.

Palm Springs. Started splitting time between here and Seattle. Seattle lost. I just prefer the ease of life here: little traffic, close to LA and beach cities, DRY weather year round. I don't mind the summer heat yet, 105 in PS is tolerable, 90 in Seattle is too hot. I do like waking up to blue skies 350 days a year.

R77 Oh, OK, you're right. It is worse.

If Montreal didn't have such a severe winter...

Hi thought Palm Springs is very expensive, is that true? U need to retire and Fl is just too humid for 6+ months of the year. Oppressive heat+ humidity makes me feel ill.

Palm Springs is lovely, but entirely unwalkable, and very dark for those (like me) who don't see well at night.

We went the St.Pete route, actually north of there in Dunedin (trolldar me upstream) and we are very happy. We use the car every several days, otherwise we walk. When we do drive at night the roads are very well lit.

Palm Springs is nice, but entirely too hot in the summer.

OP - if you're still there, what is your budget?

I will state again - I think Puerto Vallarta is an excellent choice.

There are no words for how much I can say about staying away from Florida. There is something so strange about that state. Very right wing in many places, seriously questionable healthcare, horrid heat for 8 months a year, I cant even explain how much I hated it.

I visited PV on a cruise for the first time this year and liked it a lot, but I don't think I'd like to live in Mexico fulltime.

That's nice, R89. We'll be sure to move tomorrow.

R90 - not to discount your experience, but you were there for how long?

Let's not dismiss something based on a few hours. There are tons of Canadians and Americans who winter down there.

Full year round? I don't know. Although on one of my trips, I was there in October and it was Hades hot. But - still an extremely large gay scene, nice people and I know there is very good medical care there.

Some of the best doctors in Mexico have a place or are in PV because of the American and Canadian money.

Portland oregon, unless you don't like rain.

+2 for eureka springs, arkansas. Quaint, quiet. If you need culture, Ft. Smith and Tulsa are only a couple hours away by car!

R94 - Ft. Smith and Tulsa have culture?

Aix-en Provence, France.

I won't retire to any state without legal same-sex marriage. That rules out Florida, and just about the entire South.

Hawaii might be nice, but for some reason many people go to Hawaii and then return to the mainland...rock fever, racial tension (weird stuff going on there), it might just get...boring.

I'm going home to Massachusetts to retire. People think I'm crazy, but I love the seacoast, four seasons, gorgeous fall, wonderful summer, endless winter, cold, wet, muddy spring, proximity to New York, Montreal, the other New England States and even non-stops to Europe from Boston.

One of the problems with retiring outside the US is that Medicare won't cover you if you're outside the country. (After you're 65, of course.) I guess if you have private insurance as well, they could cover you.

Vienna, Austria

[quote] I won't retire to any state without legal same-sex marriage. That rules out Florida, and just about the entire South.

If the SCOTUS rules in our favor, this may be a moot point, but I agree with your sentiments.

I won't live in an area where there are no workplace protections for LGBT persons, and my elected representatives are comfortable advertising their anti-gay feelings.

I plan to retire right here in NYC. I'll never need a car and I will finally have the time to do the things I've never had time for since I work 50+ hours a week. If it's too hot/cold, anything can be delivered, and I'll always be surrounded by young handsome men to ogle.

Key West is turning into a shithole from overbuilt cheap cruise ships, hillbilly tourists, and a dying out gay generation. Plus, it'll be underwater with 20 years. Avoid.

Key West, like GV, Castro, and any other Gay hotspot, they get ruined by the masses of hetero scum.

PV is fine for a visit but you couldn't pay me to live there full time.

It doesn't matter what the attractions are, a city rampant with crime is still a city with crime.

Ithaca, NY is where I'm planning to retire. I lived there for a few years about 15 years ago and would move back in a second if my career would allow it. One of those small, progressive college towns where the gay community thrives but is concentrated enough so that it's not too cliquey or trendy, just healthy and (at least as I saw it then) friendly and welcoming.

Of course, I don't mind snow and cold in the winter and know how to drive on icy hilly roads

Where can we retire in Florida? Someone said Orlando? Gulfport?

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Tacoma Washington, affordable housing, friendly, less attitude than Seattle.

Port-au-Prince Haiti. It's GORGEOUS!

This may surprise many, but Oklahoma City has a thriving gay community and is becoming the new hot spot for gay retirement.

Re: Guerneville and the Russian River in general. Yes, yes and yes. My husband and I have lived here for 3 decades. It is gorgeous and friendly. The homes are still affordable. The weather is extemely comfortable. The flooding can be a problem, but not very often. You can always buy outside of the flood plain like we did. Unlike years ago, the welfare homes have been replaced by vacation rentals. We have our area completely to ourselves 90% of the year. Lots of local art and theater. The gay community is very healthy and mostly assimilated into the communinty. You will hear some bash us, but we know the truth. The Pacific is a lovely 20 minute drive west. Cannibis is cheap and plentiful. Great wine is everywhere if that is your thing. It is wonderful.

Any places in Florida?

Why do people suddenly want to move when they retire?

Munster, Go Home! was one fucking funny ass movie too.

[quote]Why do people suddenly want to move when they retire?

A lot of people are tied to horrific jobs for large parts of their lives. They want to run as far as they can from the scene of the crime, so to speak, and grab a few years of contentment before the Grim Reaper pays a visit.

I really envy the people who already live in charming towns and cities.

Prince Edward County, Ontario

Actually I'd like to live in Windsor, Ontario, so I'd have a front row seat for the implosion of America, and giving aid to desperate starving skeletons swimming across the river. That is to say, you guys in 20 years after Republicans take over.

But for that we have to get rid of Stephen Harper.

Can't you have charming towns without the heat though? I guess you just chalk that up to the each his own philosophy. I would never live anywhere that doesn't have a Winter. Then again, maybe in 29 years, I'll change my mind.

Detroit is becoming the new gay mecca and is reasonably priced.

Fort Lauderdale is looking better...

Step 1. Decide what kind of climate you like and list the states in that climate zone. 2. Pick states that do not have an income tax and that don't tax retirement income. There are several online guides to help with this. 3. Decide what size city/town you like. Keep in mind the larger the city the higher the taxes (generally) will be. There are online guides to compare city cost of living to your current city. 4. I recommend cities/towns with larger college and/or an "artsy" reputation. You will usually find more culture here and a more accepting atmosphere. 5. Once you have your list of places, visit each one for a week or more to get a feel for what it would be like to live there.

By the way guys and gals, there is more to this country than Florida and California. Lots of gay people living good lives between the coasts.

We live in Fort Lauderdale, and have been here for 14 years because I have a great job. I have also lived in Palm Springs for 3 years, and love Maine in summer. I am originally from NYC, which I love, but cannot afford. I would not retire here; it is miserable in summer, lots of trashy malls, cheap houses, and the most awful beaches in FL. The gay community is more shallow and bar-oriented than any other place I have been. More wanna be's, hustlers, druggies and fakes than anywhere I have lived. Restaurants are subpar, and general cost of living is high. No walking anywhere.

Our goal is summer in Maine (Ogunquit/rental) and condo in Palm Springs the rest of the year.

Another vote for Guerneville area. If you drive those 20 minutes out to the coast and travel on up to Mendocino you will pass some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. The rugged coastline of northern California is stunning. Mendocino is a fantasy village.

Florida and Arizona are good because they are warm, cheap, and don't tax retirement benefits. (Check out which states tax retirement benefits to help make a decision)

They are bad because they are Florida and Arizona.

Hi all,

What about a gay 55 yo single (a widower) who has lived in Chicago, NYC, Pittsburgh, Columbus, OH and Cleveland, and wouldn't mind one more move. BTW, I'm looking in the Midwest states - I like winter! Would like a small to midsize city, safe, cultured, affordable, and with some colleges. I teach theatre and creative writing on an adjunct basis. Thoughts? Thanks!

r126,

You should visit and spend time in Appleton and Madison in WI, Iowa City, and Bloomington and Indianapolis in IN to see how you like them. Many of those cities are also near LAC's not just universities that you might be able to get work at. There's also St. Paul.

What's your problem with New England? There are cheap areas there, too.

If you're considering relocating, consider that California has mega taxes and high cost of living and lots of regulation. Florida and Texas have no income tax at all and no inheritance tax either. Cost of living is far less in most of Florida and all of Texas.

Poster above is right about Sydney. Also has NY level property prices: a minimum $1 million to get a decent apartment and decent houses start at $1.5. As the poster said, govt entitlements are minimal apart from basic healtcare so you'll need an additional million for a bare bones retirement and another $500k to make it comfortable. Winters are lovely, but the summers have crushing heat & humidity. A very body fascist very driven beach city: breathtakingly gorgeous in the desirable (and expensive) areas.

[quote]...when you hit age 70... although there are "seniors" living and breathing there [Provincetown, the Hamptons]; they are frozen and remain in their homes. They only have cable TV for their "culture" and daily contact with the mentally disabled person who drops off their Meals on Wheels. It was very depressing! There is a general lack of anything to do in that freezing wind for anyone; not just seniors to do, during the typical winter months. If you move there (if you in fact you have the funds to retire there - which you don't mention)then be prepared to freeze and die alone; watching TMC with a bottle of booze as your long time companion. It's truly sad.

Even in a place that doesn't become a ghost town in the cold of winter, do most people in their 70s and beyond fill their days riding bicycles, weeding gardens, picking apples, volunteering at the art museum, toasting friends in smart newly opened bistros, upping their personal goals at the gym, and sucking cock? If so, a lot of people in their 50s, 40s, even 30s had best start weaning off their TVs and their sofas and their bedroom slippers.

Thinking of a Puerto Vallarta for retirement, anyone living there and luv it or have comments? Is there any social life, or all beach, bars, and sex for pay?

Spartanburg SC

Spartanburg SC? Really? Why?

Puerto Vallarta is the best for retirement

Havana!

Mason City-Clear Lake Iowa area.

We got trouble, right here in Mason City...

Bitches, in NYC it's all happening in Beacon. New York.

Just described to me by a broker as "the new Brooklyn!" Very groovy, arty, G&L friendly, interracial-friendly, university town type of community. Lovely houses for not outrageous sums, but it wont' last. And you have access to to NYC, you can even commute 5 days a week, but it's a drag.

All the arty middle-aged G&Ls are flocking to Beacon.

We have lived in northern New Jersey (7 years), San Francisco (9 years), and the Tampa Bay area (20 years), and would recommend St. Petersburg and Tampa as ideal locations for gay couples who wish to live "ordinary lives" in retirement. Fabulous theater, extraordinary restaurants, numerous GLBT events (including the largest annual gay film festival in the United States), great climate, low taxes, wonderful museums,... What more could you wish for in your golden years?

[quote]What more could you wish for in your golden years?

1. No humidity

2. No rainy summers

If you want good summer/spring-like weather YEAR ROUND, and access to gay communities but not overwhelmed by them, and very affordable retirement, consider living an exciting life as an expat in either San Miguel de Allende (north of Mexico City DF) or the Lake Chapalla area (slightly south of Mexico's 2nd largest city and gay mecca, Guadalahara). Check these two cities out easily via viewing the multitudes of YouTube videos acailable. Reason the weather is so great year-round is thatSan Miguel is about 7000 feet above sea level, and Lake Chapalla is about 5000 feet above sea level. Then, if you want the beach.... hop a cheap flight to PV, Sayulita (for surfing), or Cancun. It is just too Damn hot and muggy at the Mexico beaches to be able to live year round on the coast at sea level. Be bold, get it all... live cheap, learn a new language and culture, have spending money to travel.will want to visit.

What about Puerto Rico?

Oaxaca, Madrid, Barcelona, Tel Aviv, Austin, Madison, Santa Fe, Portland, San Diego, Istanbul, New Orleans, Phoenix, Lisbon

Not all of the above are for everybody, obviously, they are simply for OP's consideration

R126 it sounds as if you'd like Minneapolis.

My partner and I are moving to St Simos Island, GA this spring. We have vacated many times on the island and find it very...New York. That could be because most residents are from New York. But honestly I am a bit nervous. We have both worked hard our entire lives and are done with new England winters.

[Quote]vacated

Oh, dear!

I've heard that there is a lot of pollution from the Salton Sea that is blowing towards Palm Springs these days, and likely to get worse. Otherwise, PS would be great, at least for 9 months of the year.

r125, doesn't Florida tax investment income (retirement money or not)? If so, then I think your point is pretty much moot on Fla.

The Marigny, St. Roch or Bywater neighborhoods of New Orleans are wonderful areas to retire but are swiftly becoming unaffordable as New Orleans continues to make an amazing comeback in the 10 years since Katrina. Great openminded people, food, bars, culture, music, etc abound. But if you go right outside of New Orleans in some of the other parishes, you can find great affordable old homes galore.

I'd be more worried about the threat of dust storms in Palm Springs than pollution. I saw an enormous dust storm in the Coachella Valley last summer. The pollution in the Saton Sea is in the water, not the air. It's runoff from the huge farms in the Imperial Valley so it's full of agricultural chemicals. And the New River from Mexico, the filthiest river in America, is full of toxic chemicals, bacteria and viruses and drains into the Salton Sea. But this is a long way from Palm Springs. If the Salton Sea were allowed to go dry, like the Owens Lake was when Los Angeles stole its water, then winds could blow the dry contaminants to the Coachella Valley and possibly as far as Palm Springs. But that's unlikely and if it did happen that woul be a long time from now. The real problem with Palm Springs is the relentless heat for half the year and the boring "tasteful friends" culture.

San Miquel is a very good place. Santa Fe is not bad. Charleston

San Luis Obispo is a scenic university town with a sizable retirement population. You'd have to visit to see if the gay community is sizable enough for you, but it exists.

Santa Barbara is closeby and LA, Palm Springs, and SF close enough for weekends away. My main concern would be driving the Cuesta Grade to get anywhere else as I got older.

r151, which of the numerous San Miguels are you referring to?

To retire in California requires a sizable amount of money. The cost of living and taxes there are not for retirees who plan to get by on Social Security and modest retirement savings.

R148: Florida has no tax on any income.

I really love a hot, dry Mediterranean climate. I always thought we would eventually move to Palm Springs. We're not really into partying, except with ourselves and a couple of close friends on occasion. I'm thinking we wouldn't have a big problem with finding PS 'boring' especially as we get older and look forward to more quiet time around the pool, hiking, or shopping. I think that would be enough. But another part of me kind of dreads moving across the country.

Palm Springs is intolerable a good 6 months out of the year, it is extremely dusty, utilitty costs are high, and it take a good 2 to 3 hours to get to anyplace interesting.

Louisiana doesn't allow gay marriage why would it be a great place to retire to. My partner and I live in Chicago and we love New Orleans but the politics are corrupt and it effects the everything. so why is Blanche saying that those cities are good options?

Vermont is a great choice, but can actually be considered expensive to live here.

Utica, New York, is a beautiful city with a huge gay population where all of its residents are above average.

An elderly relative broke her hip in FL, in the Sarasota area. Care for her was so bad that she was advised to return to Michigan and obtain the care she needed there.

Many people I have met who have lived in FL have not had good things to say about the state. This includes people born and raised there.

.

This may sound crazy, but Ferguson,MO is actually a fantastic place to retire. The riots were an anomaly. Ferguson has great scenery, wonderful museums and restaurants, inexpensive real estate, and a bustling gay community.

St. Simons is very nice, but remember you are in the Deep South and will have to deal with anti-gay intolerance for the rest of your life. It's like Southern racism, it's ingrained in people's minds and institutions. I blame it largely on religious beliefs.

Same goes for Asheville, Eureka Springs and New Orleans. The cities themselves are tolerant places, but they are surrounded by hate, especially in their state governments.

It is crazy. Now, University City MO would be a good retirement place. Or Columbia, for that matter.

Vienna

(R164). We love st Simons. Have a second home on the island to retire to soon. We have never been subjected to any hate. As two gay men we feel very comfortable here and know many neighbors and locals. Do you live here now?

What about San Juan PR?

[quote]Vienna

It waits for you.

R167 I've visited St. Simons often in the last 20 years, never lived there. It's very beautiful and peaceful, and I've found the residents to be tolerant of me and my gay friends. That's not the way it is off the island, however, in the immediate vicinity.

I also love the historic district of Savannah but not the rest of the city, which has a completely different vibe.

I can't see myself ever living in a state like Georgia where the state and most local governments are so adamantly anti-gay. Plus there's the Southern brand of racism that is still so prevalent.

I'm 51 and am seriously considering Santa Fe, NM; Savannah, GA; and San Miguel de Allende. I've spent multiple months in different years in each (I can work from anywhere via laptop).

As someone posted above, San Miguel is great if you are partnered. And there is always something going on -- a concert, a lecture, a festival.

All three are walking towns, each with a strong sense of community.

Regarding crime in Mexico: In the 2006-2012 period mentioned, something like 100,414 people were murdered in the U.S. Those murders tend not to be reported in the sensationalistic way the drug-related murders in Mexico are reported. I have always felt very safe in San Miguel, even when walking home late at night, alone. Yes, crime happens there. It happens everywhere.

I regularly contemplate Florida, but ultimately I think it's not for me.

Lots of helpful info at www.bestplaces.net -- including a tool that allows you to compare various factors in 2 different cities.

Ending up in Bend, Ore., is a possibility -- really love spending August there. Don't know about the winter months.

The locals call it "Bend-over, Oregon."

Is there really a perfect place to retire? Make the most of what you can where you are/ can.

[quote]Palm Springs is intolerable six months out of the year.

Bullshit, R157. Maybe four, but you stay inside. It's like having to stay inside during winter.

You can get to LA in 1:45.

Give me a summer in Palm Springs over a winter in Chicago any day.

Austin or Ithaca, NY

my two "sense"..Russian River is beautiful but very quiet and the weather can be a bit fogged in...San Diego or near by is amazing but yes areas around that part of so cal can be costly, try towns 20-30 mins away for better real estate deals. Palm Springs is really high on the list! Non rush hour you can get there from LA in less than two hours. I do it all the time. Housing is 30-40% of the cost of LA. the summers, not 6 months but 3-4 months at most, suck with the dry hot air. The rest of the time the weather is amazing, the restaurants, culture, community, etc. all has it going on for it's size. So what to do during June-Sept? Rent a place on VRBO in San Diego, or NYC, or San Fran, or a Greek Island, or Montreal, or Barcelona, or Hawaii.... or, a combo of a month here or there. A simple one Bedroom for a month or three won't break the bank. It's a great way to be active and soak up culture and broaden one's horizon. You have to have the adventure in your gut tho..and it's not like you need to be away all summer every year..Thats my plan anyway...

R177 I've thought about doing something along those lines. I have a house in the LA area, but would like to rent a place in other parts of the country/world during the summer months. How much of hassle is it to leave your house unattended for long stretches of time?

Ultimately we want to do something similar, R177. We're in a complex full of snowbirds, so leaving for a period of time is no big deal.

We're here in FL full time but want to get away July-September. We have friends in WI so maybe there, or PA so we can get into NYC to visit the friends we left behind when we moved last year.

Just vacationed in Palm Springs. Thriving downtown--surprisingly large. But hot as hell and it's only May.

Plus California is running out of water. This is a serious issue for anyone considering a move to the state

A many one consider the Carolinas? South Carolina can be batshit conservative but North Carolina has some hope.

R181 Oh dear, here we go again about the myth of North Carolina being a moderate state.

The truth is that the state has always been as socially conservative as its Southern neighbors, just not as aggressive. It is full of Southern Baptists and other evangelicals and fundies who now have a stranglehold on state government.

There is a strong liberal element in a few pockets of the state, but they are outnumbered by the anti-gay zealots overall.

Trust me fellow gays, as a native North Carolinian, it's hard to be happy there no matter how many friends you might have. Save yourself a lot of grief, and pick somewhere else to live.

What about a pretty area around Seattle? It's been rated as the gay-friendliest area in the country. And you have gorgeous Vancouver nearby.

"Give me a summer in Palm Springs over a winter in Chicago any day."

Or a summer in Chicago.

Gulf coast of Florida?

As an FYI, my husband and I recently retired to Hawaii. Yes, it is expensive, but we are coming from an expensive city (New York) and with some considerations, it's working out very well.

1.) We've owned an affordable condo outside of Honolulu for almost 20 years.

2.) We have no debt, and we both receive (small) pensions along with our social security.

3.) There really is an "aloha spirit". It's been difficult to let our natural New York defenses down, and enjoy the lack of confrontation and the general ease of life. Seniors engender respect within the community - something you don't often experience on the mainland.

4.) The weather is great.

5.) Like any expensive place, you learn how to avoid the tourist traps and the overpriced amenities, and live more like the locals.

6.) Medical care is good, especially for seniors.

Our biggest challenge has been making new friends, but that would be difficult anywhere. And we do get a lot of our old gang coming out for visits!

Is this thread titled "Best cities for wealthy gay men to retire"?

R171 - isn't 51 really young to be considering retirement? My parents are 61 and it's not really something they're considering. I mean it's great that you have enough that you can stop working, but why would you want to live in an area with lots of 70 and 80 year olds?

r56, DisneyLand in Calif. is The Happiest Place on Earth. Disney World in Fla. does not use that slogan.

For those of you retired to PV (or elsewhere in Mexico), isn't it a pain to drink bottled water all the time? And I've heard when you take a shower, your skin absorbs a lot of the stuff filtered out in bottled water. Get sick much with the water?

California is running out of water which is a real problem if you want to resettle there. It also taxes retirement benefits. Find states that don't like Florida or Arizona

How about Puerto Rico?

[quote]DisneyLand in Calif. is The Happiest Place on Earth. Disney World in Fla. does not use that slogan.

And Disneyland isn't spelled the way you did. (And the one in Florida is called WALT Disney World.)

r193, They Don't spell Walk in all caps.

[quote]What about a pretty area around Seattle?

Bellingham. The San Juans, although it's pretty expensive there. Port Townsend, maybe. I'm sure there's more.

[quote]we love New Orleans but the politics are corrupt and it effects the everything. so why is Blanche saying that those cities are good options?

What happens to New Orleans when Cuba really opens up? How can the French Quarter compete with Havana?

Winter is very hard on older people. Also stay away from high altitudes, as older people tend to have oxygen problems.

A warm place with constant moderate humidity is best. Hawaii works great. San Antonio would work better than anyplace on the Gulf Coast or Florida. Little Rock actually gets a little more sun that the rest of the SE.

Relative humidity.

Snow (less is more)

Where should we look? Sorta boring couple together for a long time. We want warm weather. We have a condo in NJ suburbs now.

[QUOTE]The Lake Chapalla area (slightly south of Mexico's 2nd largest city and gay mecca, Guadalahara)

If Guadalahara is a gay mecca, then why hot choose Guadalahara?

R200 Monterey, CA and surrounding towns. it's a quaint environment, seaside suburbia... plenty of perks for the aging or retired crowd and only a short drive to larger gay community.

Thailand

For those who've mentioned Charleston, SC, it's surprisingly expensive to live on the Peninsula, which is the part with the walkability and historic charm. That said, real estate seems like a good investment, because the city is growing by leaps and bounds. Very pleasant place to live, and lots of cultural activities. Still some old-guard snobbery, but it's easy to avoid.

Is Charleston mostly black?

No, R205

R200 Monterey is nice, and has decent weather, but it's (1) expensive, and (2) a long way to anywhere, including a major airport.

And the good people of South Carolina and Charleston are very welcoming to gays and minorities. Oh, occasionally a Klansman or other white supremacist fundie will massacre people he hates. But other than that, it is a charming city, full of old world reminders of its slavery past. They are proud of their heritage and intent to keep it that way.

If you're an Italian Married-With-Children senior gay on the down-low, may I suggest Belleville, NJ?

What about "Walt," La Pedantica R194?

r207 the surrounding cities aren't. Well, depends on what you mofos think is expensive? Most 'retirement' areas are quite a ways from major airports.. or what's far. If you're looking to chase twinks in your walker, then go for Palm Springs or Miami.. which you likely couldn't afford either. There's affordable houses on Ibiza, but likely too far for the old or chronically chemmed to enjoy. Same to be said for most other areas. Personally, I prefer St Kilda over Sydney... but it might be a bore to a boring couple that still wants a wider range of hos to compensate for their lack of interest in each other So, what exactly is it you want? your price range? walk/transportation/amenities score? etc

[quote]the surrounding cities aren't.

You mean like Carmel? Pebble Beach? Get real. The only affordable place near Monterey is Salinas, which is a shithole par excellence. And Palm Springs is MUCH more affordable than Monterey. And has better air service.

Retired gay men are moving into Detroit in droves and you should considers doing it also.

Try Mecca, you bunch of fucking Muzzie lovers!

There is a large gay population in St Pete, Fl. Some areas may be sketchy.

Menton France.

[quote]but I don't think they would throw out the hundreds of thousands of North Americans who have bought property there and support the economy.

By the way, not to quibble, but Mexico, and thus Puerto Vallarta, is in North America.

Two things to consider when retiring:

For California, read up on the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Short answer: don't live in it.

For Florida; southern Florida is slowly sinking into the ocean.

There's an excellent New Yorker article for each, one by Kathryn Schulz, the other by Elizabeth Kolbert.

R218 = Henny Penny.

And if you're going to worry about the Cascadia Subduction Zone, forget about Washington and Oregon as well - they'll get it worse. Forget about anywhere near the New Madrid Fault zone.

Please move to the subduction zone, R219. And install a tsunami-activated webcam -- I'd love to watch as the wall of water carries you away!

Someone asked me about Gulfport Florida? NJ shore?

I'm surprised that Puerto Rico and Costa Rica aren't talked about much on this thread. I'm not sure I want to retire in the US so I'm researching non-US places that are less expensive, decent climate and fairly gay-friendly.

St. Petersburg, FL or Sarasota. My gay uncle lives there, and I want to go when I retire!

From NYC and seriously considering Houston -warm weather, great medical care, walkable area near Montrose. Prefer diversity and vibrancy of Houston to NY/white trash element of FL. Already have a place in Deep South Texas near border - but health care and remoteness are a concern as I get less mobile.

Also considering Philadelphia. Cheaper than NYC but very walkable and great medical care. Maybe a cheap 1br in Philly and a cheap 1 br in Houston.

I don’t understand Mexico. If you get sick or in trouble, it must be horrible to be in a foreign third world country. Same for Costa Rica. I definitely would want the amenities and great health care in the US.

I live in Los Angeles and almost everyone I know here plans on retiring to Palm Springs. Many already have a vacation home there, so for them, it will be an easy transition. as far as the summer heat, as long as your home/condo/apartment has a pool, you're good. IMHO Palm Springs is only going to get gayer and gayer over the next few years

Love Palm Springs - but looking at prices there, it doesn’t seem like it’s cheaper for anyone not from NYC/SF/LA. And even for us, it’s not accomplishing the goal of taking a chunk of cash from real estate equity to live on for 20-30 years. Assume that’s the attraction to FL, Mexico and cheaper places. Except for the top 5%.

> For Florida; southern Florida is slowly sinking into the ocean.

Oh, please. Give the eco-masturbation fantasies a rest. Florida isn't going anywhere.

As sea levels rise, we'll just dig deeper lakes & canals, dump the fill dirt on lower-lying areas as future hurricanes destroy them, and build new million-dollar homes on top, like we've done for the past hundred years. The entire state was terraformed out of swamps & sandbars to begin with. A few more feet of water won't change that. A hundred years from now, coastal Florida will be a Coruscant-like concrete mountain with 70-100 million people.

Understand this: Floridians don't, and never HAVE, valued "the natural environment". We see a mangrove swamp & think, "this will look really nice someday when it's a bayfront shopping mall next to a sprawling marina ringed by skyscrapers & golf courses."

I was born and raised in Tulsa and have lots of friends here. Couldn't drag me away with a pick-up truck. Nice people, inexpensive and not snobbish.

Palm Springs really isn't a walkable city and I would fear the intense heat during the summer months. Aside from drinking, what else is there to do there for gays? That said, I like the idea of retiring somewhere where lots of other gays are going.

I'm looking at cities OUTSIDE the US - so many decent options.

Sadly, crime in Mexico is on the up and up.

(But maybe semi-legalizing drugs up north will help.)

Tax-Friendly States

Point Roberts, Washington: A little slice of the U.S., only accessible through Canada

Florida's tax-friendliness is somewhat of a myth.

Yes, we have no state income tax... but if you're retired, your actual taxable INCOME in most states is almost nil anyway.

Property taxes are a mixed bag. If you're like my parents (paid $80k for house in 1970s, now worth $1.2 million, taxed as if it were worth $180k thanks to homestead exemption), it's a low-tax state. If you're like me (paid $200k as crash began, now worth about $220k after bottoming out around $120k, currently taxed as $150k home & going up about $10k/year), it's not quite as good of a deal. It might be 15-30 years from now if property values skyrocket, but otherwise my taxable value will just keep chugging upwards until it matches the assessed value (my parents, like many older Floridians, were grandfathered in under a much better deal). On the downside, when I eventually inherit their house, I'll *have* to sell it quickly, because I'll need the money from the sale to pay the property taxes for the remainder of the year.

Plus, insurance in Florida is a BITCH. I have a house with a LITERAL cast-in-place reinforced concrete roof ~15 miles inland, with all available premium reductions (impact-glass windows, etc), in the FEMA "500-year" flood zone, and my insurance STILL costs more per year than my mortgage+taxes. And *that's* through Citizens (the state-run insurance pool that keeps trying to shed me to a private company that would be marginally cheaper for a year, then double my premium or more once I'm no longer eligible to go running back to Citizens... it's pure "bait & switch". Read the horror stories online).

To wit: Florida is "low tax" vs urban California, but unlike CA, you'll feel like you're getting NOTHING WHATSOEVER for your tax money. At least California has good roads & some semblance of a social safety net. If you're in a field like IT with a volatile, cyclical job market, you'd have to be INSANE to relocate to Florida... Florida has the. most. MISERLY. unemployment. benefits. you're likely to ever see in a first-world country. And ZERO official protections against overzealous noncompete agreements (mostly unenforceable, but in Florida you can easily get dragged into court to defend yourself in scenarios where CA would say up front, "no, that's unconscionable & we won't enforce that").

R234 - thanks for the useful info. I always debate Texas- no income tax and not Florida. But just can’t see myself being happy outside NYC. Almost feel like I’d be giving up my life to extend my savings a few years. But those years would be spent living someplace that is not ideal.

And good to be reminded of the perks/benefits of living in a higher tax place. No matter what happens with Obamacare, in NY we can always get insurance (as was the case before Ocare).

Has anybody left a gay city for the hinterlands of Texas or Florida or Arizona and had a good experience?

A friend has been in Tucson for 10 years and really likes it. I find it a bit generic and there are two months out of the year that are WAY too hot, but people are friendlyand liberal, it's cheap, there is enough to do, you can drive in a day to San Diego and they have great healthcare.

The South still has active KKK membership. Virginia and the Carolina's have way more klansmen than you realize. Even the fancy parts of Virginia near Middleburg. Not my idea of a "White Party"