Where To Retire In Proximity To NYC?

Mt. Kisco. My nephew bought a condo there; 2beds, 2 baths, 159,500. 45 minutes to grand central station, clean, safe, suny purchase for cheaper theatre stuff, lakes for kayaking, trails for hiking; he's going to die in his condo.

New Paltz is nice, surrounded by beautiful countryside, has a large academic population, was the first town in the country to make gay marriage legal and is 15-20 minutes to the Poughkeepsie train station.

North of Hudson, Kinderhook and the Chathams are beautiful.

I always loved Nyack, but don't know what it would be like to live there cost-wise.

Garrison. Plenty of West Point Cadets around on those cold, winter nights.

I have been to Nyack for the day (maybe a decade ago) and thought it was charming. I got the impression it's fairly pricey.

I hadn't really consider college towns, but that might be a good thing to explore.

Thanks for the thoughtful responses, people.

I love Kinderhook and the Chathams ...but they aren't convenient to the city.

OP, I 2nd Nyack. Great little downtown area. Close to the city. Has a few superb restaurants. The waterfront is great.

I'd also consider Kingston (tons of ex-nyc fags), Rhinebeck, Red Hook (the upstate Red Hook). Also, though it is right outside of Albany, Troy is having a renaissance with its brownstones, cobble stone streets, robust restaurant and art scene. The Farmer's Market in the warmer months is one of the best in the Hudson region. And its 10 minutes to Amtrak and then you're in the city in less than 3 hours (that still may be too long for you). But it's another little city with a burgeoning exNYC gay thing going on.

Philly or it’s suburbs. Much cheaper, everything you need, great hospitals, great public transport. And cheaper to get to NYC than from Hudson.

Second choice would be upper Westchester / lower Dutchess Co - but then you are not really getting away from expense of NYC and it’s taxes.

Are there any decent, affordable neighborhoods in Long Island?

Good point about Westchester County and its taxes: they are the highest in New York State.

Maybe - like Port Jefferson. But the prices and the taxes are not cheap enough to be conisdered “escaping NYC”

Bogalusa, New York

Port Chester

You really want to get away from the NYC area in retirement if you are on a limited income. Unless you have a free place with low taxes/fees or rent control and aren’t worried about losing 11% of your income to taxes. I get not wanting to be in the cesspool of FL. But there are a lot of cheaper places. Philly is an interesting option.

Guilford, CT 2 hours on metro north to grand central

r3, yes, Garrison looks beautiful, Hello Dolly was shot there. On those cold winter nights, Horace, you can snuggle up to your cash register. It's a little lumpy but it rings!

PA is a good choice because of lower taxes. We're thinking of New Hope for retirement.

A few places less on the radar might include Gardener, Hurley (lovely old stone cottages), Stone Ridge (ditto), Warwick (beautiful but tucked away), all of which are on the west side of the Hudson. The town of Catskill is a mini-Hudson without some of the more urban problems Hudson has. Millbrook is jaw-droppingly beautiful but very pricey. Pine Plains might be a cheaper version a little further north and both are close to the Harlem River line into Grand Central.

But the Hudson River Valley as a whole has so many little corners and nooks and unique houses that I would say almost anywhere has its hidden gems.

[R15] Check out two places - Doylestown, which is lovely, artistic and convenient to Philadelphia, and Milford, close to the NY State border, which is one of the best small cities in the country. The latter might be a bit less expensive but is still a cultured place in a beautiful setting.

Amityville, Sleepy Hollow, Crystal Lake.

Doylestown, PA. You won't be sorry. Charming town. Bus to NYC and Septa to Philly. All in walking distance and an excellent hospital. Near New Hope. Gay friendly.

Yonkers

or across the river to Newark.

I live in The Chathams R5 (not retired though) and we're super convenient to NYC. Midtown direct train 50 minutes, or a 40 minute drive. It's expensive for retirement though. A lot around here go to the Tom's River area or to NC to retire.

Hudson isn't as bad as DLers would have you believe, but it makes more sense to live outside of town, maybe 10-15 minutes away, in one of the nicer towns like Craryville, Livingston, or Germantown. Or, just south of Hudson is Mount Merino or, as it's known around here, Mount Mary, due to all the gays there now -- it is lovely and only minutes from the train station, yet feeling quite like the country.

I currently live in New Paltz - it is one of the more expensive mid Hudson Valley towns due to excellent school system/SUNY college and high property taxes. It takes about 2 1/2 hours to reach NYC via the Trailways bus. There is no train to NYC from New Paltz.But it is a nice college town, very gay/lesbian friendly, good choice of restaurants - and we even have a live theater now. But a day trip to the city will be about a 4-5 hour roundtrip bus ride.

Gardner - right near New Paltz, has become expensive as it is popular for second homes.

I have lived in Kingston - a city with a large population of impoverished minorities and two small gentrified white areas (Stockades and by the waterfront). Drug violence always an issue here - stay away from the Henry Street. Horrible hospitals - Medicaid death traps with few board certified doctors. Huge redneck population on outskirts. But better than Hudson.Full of a small colony of Brooklynites - it's like a Palm Springs for hipsters with kids and semi-retired gays. Rents and house prices in the gentrified areas have risen dramatically in the past 5 years. You have definitely missed the boat here.

Hurley/Stone Ridge - expensive stone homes. Not affordable at all. Surrounded by rednecks and opiates.

Catskills - opiates and meth, rednecks.

BTW - I am a doctor who treats opiate/heroin addicts. I have lots of patients who come down from Catskills/Kerhonkson.

Warwick - If you like Trump and dislike immigrants, this would be a good place. I had a teen patient who was half Arab and was being harassed at the HS there due to being Arab.

Port Jervis - best heroin in the Hudson Valley, but also most likely to be laced with fentanyl. I used to work at the clinic there and one month a bunch of my patients died due to fentanyl.

Another slave to New York. You won't go into the city as much as you think. You basically live in the suburbs with not great weather 6 months out of the year.

Retirement in New York sounds dreadful. Why do you want to live close to the city? Clubs? The theater scene isn't that great (and its expensive), there are good restaurants in other cities (and are much less expensive), and how often do you go to the museums?

I don't get it.

[quote] Where To Retire In Proximity To NYC?

Boca Raton, Fla.

Don't people who want to get away from city life simply move from the UES to the UWS?

Don't get me wrong. I love the Hudson, but I certainly don't want to give up what I have for an area so remote and uncivilized.

R21: Do you mean Chatham NJ? Others are referring to the Chathams in upstate NY.

Another vote for checking out Troy. Short drive to the Amtrak station and 2 hours 35 minutes to Penn Station. A lot of great brownstones, federal style architecture, and warehouses converted to loft apartment and workspaces. There’s also a mini building boom going on with new construction of apartment buildings downtown.

[quote]I'd also consider Kingston (tons of ex-nyc fags),

As someone who grew up in that area and still has relatives in Kingston, I would avoid it. It's on the west side of the Hudson, so the only transportation to the city is Trailways bus. You have to cross the Hudson River to catch Amtrak (in Rhinecliff) or drive to Poughkeepsie to catch Metro-North. The city is dying. Their mall is almost completely closed and there is zero shopping. Even their Olive Garden recently gave up. Plus, there are some areas that are heavy crime areas (Broadway down to the river). Kingston is a nice place to visit for 2 hours of history (it was the first capital of New York and you can tour the Senate House and the Old Dutch Church and have a nice lunch in one of the wine bars in uptown Kingston) but that's really about it.

New Paltz is a bit better because it's a college town, but has the same problem. It's on the wrong side of the Hudson River. So if you want to go to the city, it's Trailways bus or drive yourself.

Guilford, CT is nice, R13, but I would travel another 20 minutes north up 95 (ugh, its OWN issue...) to Essex.

What about Saugerties and Rhinebeck/Rhinecliff?

New Hope, PA is fun and gay friendly

Rhinebeck - rich, snobbish second homers. Very expensive. Good hospital just bought out by cheap chain so expect hospital quality to decline.

[quote]What about Saugerties and Rhinebeck/Rhinecliff?

Beautiful towns but way overpriced.

Rhinebeck was priced out in the 1990s and the creep has moved north. Corbin Bernsen now has a home in Germantown and if you want there, you need to buy now. But the more north you go, the less amenities you have. (Germantown has terrible internet service and when I was there I had one bar on my 5G ATT phone service).

Jersey City

The median home value in Jersey City is $480,900 on Zillow.com

OP would have to spend half of his retirement savings to buy some crap home in JC.

[quote] The median home value in Jersey City is $480,900 on Zillow.com

But they have a BJs Wholesale Club for shopping. What you lose in home, you save in groceries. Yes you'll have to haul home 20 cans of Campbell's Soup, but one must make sacrifices, mustn't one?

OP I live in New Hope, it’s lovely. I’d also recommend Doylestown or Lambertville NJ, (right across the river from New Hope)

Not sure what you plan to spend on housing but Lambertville NJ would be your cheapest option of the 3, with New Hope being the most expensive.

New Hope sounds great because you're only an 1.5 hour car trip from NYC and an hour from Philadelphia, so you have the choice of two great cities to visit.

Are the taxes and living expenses in New Hope less than the Hudson Valley?

Don't retire in the east, too cold in the winter.

[quote]Second choice would be upper Westchester / lower Dutchess Co

What are we, chopped liver?

The input is very helpful, especially from those with first-hand knowledge of these areas.

The economic situation is tricky. As a middle-aged gay man, I want to reduce my tax burden in retirement, not increase it, and genuinely don't care how great the public schools are. OTOH, a well-functioning infrastructure, nearby access to decent healthcare, and low crime/good policing are important to me.

I would avoid any area with crippling rates of opioid/meth use, for example.

R41 = OP.

New Hope has become strangely expensive and developed. Lots of McMansions. And no good public transport. And the gay bar closed. Doylestown would make more sense - train to Center City Philly. More practical but still nice. But both are on the expensive side for Philly.

Northwest Philly - Mt Airy is an interesting option. Urbane mix of people, great architecture, lower real estate taxes than Doylestown or New Hope. And great public transit - trains to Philly and connections to NYC. Can even Uber to Center City Philly.

Don't tell me The Raven closed!

(I haven't been in 20 years, but still....)

I checked it all out, OP. I bought in Troy, NY. The Capital District has a million people. There's a Whole Foods and there is a Trader Joe so you won't be in great shock. It's a hundred and fifty miles to New York City and a hundred and fifty miles to Boston. It is just 250 miles to Montreal. You can drive, or take a bus or train to all three. Easy.

How old are you, Op?

Mid-50s, R46. Definitely retiring within a decade, hopefully sooner.

58 here Op. I'm hoping to retire within the next 2 years if not sooner. I don't have as much money saved as you but I don't have any debt. I'm just south of Hartford.

I came on here to vote for Lambertville NJ . It’s lots cheaper than Bucks County and hasn’t been ruined by developers. Right next to Philly and 40 minutes from NYC.

Every place mentioned requites half the year stuck indoors because of the weather. And snow shoveling.

Oops R27 yes I meant The Chathams NJ in Morris County, lol. I didn't realize NYS had The Chatham too.

Port Charles, NY is the best.

Troy is okay but only just because it's better than it used to be, and it's better than Albany and Schenectady. The capital region is one of the most horrible, depressed, empty places I've ever lived (I was stuck there for a year). There is not one good thing to say about it with the exception of Troy's architecture, which is rather remarkable. It was once the 4th richest city in America and parts of it (the parts where you don't get shot) are nicer than Greenwich Village. But that whole metro area is just the worst.

Weirdly, all three cities that make up the Capital District loathe each other. Albany and Troy call Schenectady "Shitnectady." Troy and Schenectady call Albany "Smallbany." Albany and Schnectady call Troy "Troilet." As if anyone actually cares.

They also have to deal with WAMC-FM, the local NPR station run by a vile bully called Alan Chartock, making it impossible to listen to radio at all.

Op will either be in FL or in the same apartment 3 years from now. He is retiring with a limited amount of resources for such an expensive area. I'd also suggest Arizona if Florida is really not your speed or maybe South Carolina. Chicago could also work, big city with affordable housing. You can lie out your small town fantasy's with a 30-45 min Metra ride to downtown. You could also find a place on the far north end of Chicago where many elder gays go once they age out of the Boystown/Lakeview scene.

R38 New Hope is probably the most expensive place to live in PA. However I would imagine it’s still cheaper than Hudson’s valley Ny - tax wise and cost of living.

You could get a little townhouse here for 450k, or a nicer townhouse in the borough for 800k-1.2m. A house on the river will certainly be much more expensive. I live in the boro of New Hope on the river - which will cost more than if you’re further in towards solebury

Doylestown is a bit cheaper, which is approx 20 minutes away. It’s another very pretty town.

If you want to be on the Nj side there is Lambertville which is less expensive, but the town itself has become more run down over the past few years. It’s still a cute town just not as nice as the PA side

All of the above are gay friendly - new hope is the “most gay” of the 3 but Lambertville is pretty damn close to being as gay as new hope nowadays

[quote]Gardener

I have a house there and wouldn't recommended it for retirement. Ulster County has very high taxes and Gardner, while close to New Paltz, is a total bitch to get around, especially in the winter.

Ok about the Raven:

It’s closed. This is temporary. There is a lot of politics involved, big money developers and a certain liquor license involved which caused the temporary closing

Word on the street is - the river house (a new luxury club/building) bought the raven for the sole purpose of owning its liquor license so they could use it for “the river house” in town - they planned to use the Ravens parking lot for valet parking for “the river house” customers. I guess that’s how they get around using their license. Park the cars at the raven claiming it’s property of the river house

In the meantime we have all been assured that the new owners of the raven are giving it a complete renovation and it will eventually be re opening.

People hope this is the case.

This was a situation where big money wanted their liquor license and offered the owners big bucks just to get it. This is a small town and only a few liquor licenses are floating around,

It’s a sad situation all around however. Due to community backlash they keep insisting it will eventually be re opened after a big renovation

It’s a great place - pool and everything in the summer etc

And yes like many places new hope has gotten more expensive - it’s a well kept town. This is why Lambertville has become “more gay”... when new hopes prices went up residents moved across the river to Lambertville. It’s less expensive there.

Pretty but it hasn’t been kept up nicely especially over the past few years.

R49.. it’s about to be. The new (at least she’s a lesbian) mayor has just proposed the most outlandish looking municipal building that you can imaging.

Major drama going on right now about it.

Sorry if this was mentioned, but for CT locales; Greenwich, Sharon, or Cheshire are all reasonable commutes, plus given that you're looking at retirement the abysmal job market isnt as big a factor but you name any area from Litchfield down to Greenwich the real estate market is FLOODED. If you were to go a bit further from NY, West Hartford is a great area, but the odd thing about CT is that a town border/few feet could mean $$$$ more in taxes, so shopping around is a good idea.

People travel from New Paltz to New York by bus?

If you have a car, the Poughkeepsie train station is 20 minutes away. Takes you into Grand Central in an hour and 45 minutes. Infinitely better than the bus. Kingston, maybe 25 minutes from the train station.

The Raven ain’t coming back. It was barely sustainable as it was. No one is going to go out of their build a new gay bar - when 95%++ of the area is now suburbia, not the NY/Philly weekenders of yore.

Have to accept New Hope has been dying for 20+ years. While also becoming more expensive. Fine if you already live there. But given absence of public transport, increased strip mall suburbia development and distance to the good hospitals of Philly - or NYC - I wouldn’t recommend it as a retirement escape. Philly itself and closer in suburbs on SEPTA lines make more sense. Get the gayborhood, culture and vibrancy of Philly a mere 30 minute train ride from your suburban town.

OMG....I live in Manhattan and was just telling a friend earlier today that a day trip to New Hope would be nice when the weather warms up a little more. I enjoyed dinner at the Raven and having a drink at the bar in front. Now I have no idea where to go for a gay day trip. Maybe Asbury Park?

Asbury Park - or Philly - are your best options. And both are a train ride away. New Hope lost its gay weekend appeal in the 90s. Now it’s officially dead.

New Hope and Lambertville are just two sides of the SAME TOWN.

No, R64. They are two separate towns in two separate states with two very different tax codes.

If you want to buy there, consult your accountant as well as your real estate broker.

Real estate taxes are no joke. And tbh real estate prices in New Hope ...and Doylestown...aren’t cheap either. Not the best places to escape the economic pressure of NYC. Lambertville would definitely be the better of the lot.

[quote] They are two separate towns in two separate states with two very different tax codes.

It's basically one town that straddles the border, they just gave each side its own name.

R63 I moved from NY to Philly, big mistake, it's not like NY where you dont have to drive or worry about everything that comes with having to own and maintain a vehicle because the public transport was pitiful. JMO, it's the kind of place where you need a car which I hated. Also, it didn't feel like a city to me. And what the hell is with all of the churches?! They're packed all weekend! And I found more anti-vaxxers there than any other place I've lived. Its not my kind of city.

It's Gardiner, not Gardener or Gardner.

Why would anyone live in retirement in a high tax and high cost state? That's crazy.

Anyone missing the raven check out The Salt House

The former owner of the Raven, Steve, opened The Salt House - a really great restaurant/bar in the boro.

Because if you live in a 'low tax' state, there is a fee attached to every goddamned thing you encounter to compensate for the deficit created by the low taxes?

R67 They are not the same town New Hope is much more expensive, more kept up than Lambertville

Lambertville is in NJ. It’s become run down. Still quaint - but it’s beginning to look like a dive

Darling, you can get a lovely little place in Port Ewen for less than 1M.

Port Ewen is a good location for exploring the area but the village itself is something of a dump, truth be told. Of all the true Mid-Hudson river towns it is by far the dullest.

[quote]It's Gardiner, not Gardener or Gardner.

Eh, who cares. No matter how you want to spell it, I still have a house there and it's still in high tax Ulster County and it still sucks.

And the bus from New Paltz to NYC is only an hour and a half.

New Rochelle, NY

R12 is describing me. When I "retire" (the word doesn't really apply to me) it won't be with a significant amount, as little as $500K, but it could be more, because my different areas of money making as an artist are diverse and that could suddenly get larger over the years.

Regardless, I live in a rent controlled high-rise with a staggering view in Manhattan. My rent will never be more than $600-900 a month. I feel I already have retired, in more than just proximity to NYC, but in the heart of NYC. With a view.

Why not Princeton ? It’s a much nicer town than Lambertville, which agreed os a bit run down. And only an hour from NYC.

I would think it’s the perfect idyllic place to retire. And there’s a lot more to do there than some of these other places.

I think Lambertville is bit maligned, but Princeton is okay, I guess.

Lambertville is a five-minute walk over the bridge (and the state from NJ to PA) to New Hope. And if you have a car, to Bucks County, PA. Beautiful. But not cheapp. Like NYC.

*But not cheap.

There are many great locations in Westchester County, and access to NYC is very convenient. Property tax is high, but quality of life is excellent in most places by most metrics.

Jesus, between taxes, real estate prices, harsh winters, and the general cuntery of Datalounge hating everything, there are NO options at all.

Suddenly I feel lucky to have a rent stabilized oversized one-bedroom in Brooklyn. More and more, it seems like maybe the answer is to just STAY PUT. Leave this place feet first.

R79 -Princeton is beautiful however much more expensive than Lambertville.

"People travel from New Paltz to New York by bus?"

Oh yes they do R60. In fact, every day the commuter parking lot by the thruway is filled with the cars of those taking Trailways bus to the city.

Getting to the train station in Poughkeepsie, especially in the AM, takes quite a bit of time, at least 30+ minutes. Remember you have to cross that old bridge which bottlenecks. The trip to Poughkeepsie then the train ride won't save you any time vs the Trailways bus (which only stops once in NJ if you get it in NP)

Hundreds of thousands of people commute into and out of NYC every day by bus. Whaddaya think the Port Authority Bus Terminal is for?

Some of you need to get over your fear of living outside of proximity to NYC. I get it - I was charmed by the city and thought I could live nowhere else when I was in my 20's.

But NYC is not the center of the universe for things like it used to be. 1.5 million could afford you a nice retirement in many places around the country, but not in proximity to NYC.

What do you think you're going to do in your 60's and 70's in the NY suburbs? You either will go into the city very often and wonder why the hell you moved out. Or you won't go in very often at all (most likely the case) and you're stuck in some small berg, convincing yourself - well, at least I'm close to the city.

NYC is not the only city. It's the NY provincialism (yes, most NYers are very provincial) that boggles my mind.

Says R87--NOT a NYer. Your own provincialism is not surprising, R87.

Here are some things about living in proximity to New York.

You usually have a strong liberal tilt to the population.

It is usually gay-friendly.

It tends to skew better educated.

There are - believe it or not! - lots of cultural centers and things to do, in part because of cultural, academic and economic overlap with New York. I live within 20 minutes of great museums, live theater, plenty of public programming, fantastic hiking, canoeing, nature walks, public gardens, historic sites and restaurants on a par with those in the city.

I did not want to move to some fucking tax dodge haven and be surrounded with plumpie-trumpies walking pudgily around from golf game to golf game and gossiping with Madge about how I done loves that butt-sex thing the perverts do.

I'm also not crazy about 90-degree weather in April.

Arizona is a beautiful state, but I like trees. Florida has fantastic things, but I like autumn and winter.

If shoveling snow and paying taxes are abhorrent to you than we probably don't have much in common.

OP, check out the Capital District. A snow blower is only a few hundred dollars. And if you rent or buy a condo, you won't need one at all.

OP - the cranky New Paltz resident here. I would check out NP. It really is a nice place to live. I walk a lot, and they have expanded nature trails and rail trails here. It is an easy drive to Minnewaska State Park, which is so beautiful and you can swim there in summer. Having a SUNY campus in town means lots of young people and professors. SUNY NP has an excellent MFA program so there are art-related events here if that interests you. I am a vegetarian and this is heaven for me in terms of eating out.

Liberal, educated population and we elected Antonio Delgado to Congress! And we just elected a democrat DA for Ulster County (David Clegg) who supports criminal justice reform.

It is an easy drive to Catskills for hiking and camping. Kayaking on the Wallkill River ( you can rent kayaks in NP along the Wallkill).

I live in the New Paltz Garden Apartments. Rents for a 1 bedroom run about $1250/month - big apartments in a nicely landscaped setting, with a pool. The main reason I live here is it is pet-friendly. I have a big dog and a wily cat and pay an extra $50/month for pet rent. I walk to my office except when the weather is bad.

I am always looking at houses for sale, but I want to live in the village and houses in the village are expensive.

The biggest issue is WINTER. It is colder and snowier here than in NYC. Winter is long. I have a friend who lives in the Florida Keys and I am able to escape down there during winter. You will need to have somewhere to go in winter in order to keep from getting depressed. You must figure that into your budget.

R88 - my mom's from New York and I lived there for over 15 years. So, yeah, I'm the one who is provincial.

Er...it has snowed two (2) times in New Paltz this year. The weather has been gloomy, but unseasonably warm.

That, of course, is a different topic.

Gardiner resident who is in Western PA this week...is it supposed to get very cold there this week?

Key word: LIVED. You lived in NYC, R92. And yeah, provincial. You're the one throwing the word around to begin with.

R93 I have lived in New Paltz many years and there have been winters with a lot more snow. I appreciate the snark, but if you enjoy spending every winter in the cold (It is 21 F today - yes sunny but awfully cold) then it is no problem.

For many people, cold weather is an issue - but you know that. I suspect your nana lives in Florida and you go down there to get away from weather like today.

After 20 years of living in NYC, I bought a house in Westchester 12 years ago with the intention of retiring here, and snowbirding somewhere during January, February and March. My taxes are ridiculously high but I am in one of the best public school districts in the state so will ensure decent resale value. I took the high taxes into account with my retirement planning. However, now that there is a cap on the property tax deduction, I may have to rethink my plans about staying here when I retire. Also, seeing my parents age into their 80s has me rethinking my plan as well. I love my house and property, but it is a lot of upkeep. I might not always be able to do it and it may get expensive to maintain. I also have to drive everywhere on dark, winding rural roads. There is a cute little downtown area but it's a 5 minute drive. 15 minute drive to the local train station. I may not be able to drive in my 80s, and I can't imagine living here without a car and Ubering everywhere. Let's hope self-driving cars are an attainable reality in 25 - 30 years.

I bought here when I saw how much I could get -- a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house on 2 acres with a pool and hot tub, 2 car garage, finished walk-out basement -- for less than I was going to spend on a 2 bedroom apartment in NYC. I go into NYC frequently for work and to socialize but honestly I prefer to stay here. I have friends visit constantly, it's like a retreat for them to get out of the city for a day. There are tons of non-family oriented things to do. I probably wouldn't miss NYC if I couldn't visit regularly but I would miss my house and living in this area.

R59 westport & weston within 60 min of NYC are totally flooded with some great properties. East of new haven is way cheaper btw.. Cheshire is a tough drive anywhere for some reason!

[quote] Whaddaya think the Port Authority Bus Terminal is for?

Seriously? You’re asking that question on DL?

Back in the day I Dated a guy from Warwick NY. I was aghast that he had to take a BUS into NYC to Port Authority. It just seemed so icky compared to the metro north trains.

I'm staying in Manhattan (with a place on the West Coast). When I get really old (if I last that long) eventually Manhattan only. Easiest access to medical care, in home support and of course I live in an apt that is small, I own it, and it's convenient to everything, much by foot.

R100 - I know that sounded bitchy but it's true. The buses are just that - buses, and sometimes you have to stand because of no seats. And they're still subject to whatever pain in the ass traffic is going on.

Trains have much more seating and they're much more on time and reliable.

Plus, the Port Authority is just a gross area inside and out. Lots of shady characters.

Bless your heart. You have good intentions but you’re so delusional. You won’t “go in to the city” on a monthly or even quarterly basis. Once you leave the island you’ve decided to give up on life and get busy dying. Too bad you don’t have enough money to finish your life there. Check out Fort Lauderdale or Palm Springs if you’re on a budget.

R100 has never ridden a Metro-North train.

MANY of the buses are nicer, more comfortable, and far more convenient.

Nobody retires in NY. The taxes are killer. If u have a place up there make sure you have a residence elsewhere.

I actually think location-wise the Capitol District is pretty good. Close to mountains, lakes, not far from Boston or NY. Vermont is close. It's a good location.

R104 - why do you assume this shit? Yes, I've taken Metro North many times and NJ buses as well.

Why, R100? You ask why?

[quote] It just seemed so icky compared to the metro north trains.

That's why. That and the fact that Metro-North trains are shitty.

Metro-North would stop running at the mere mention of snow flurries.

Completely untrue, R105. I know many retired people in NY.

A lot of semi-retired ex NYC people have flooded the Hudson valley. Also, I happened to be near one of the Albany gay bars one summer night last year and there was some bear event going on. Was surprised at the number of good-looking 40-60 year olds there were.

I grew up in Westchester and have lived in NYC since grad school in the early 90’s. I now plan to retire to a suburb in CT. I have a few gay friends in the Greenwich area and now I’ve looked at places in Greenwich. I was surprised how ‘gay friendly’ the town has become

OP, why not just stay in NYC?

Because he's poor, R 113

What an embarrassing defeat to have to leave your city because you can’t afford it in retirement. I’ll happily stay in Downtown Austin when I retire.

Shout out to Craryville at R22

You do that, R115.

A lot of the places mentioned in this thread aren't in close proximity to NYC. Anything north of Poughkeepsie is going to be a bitch if you want to go into the city for a doctors appointment. For the theater, concerts and dinner dates, you're going to have to get right on the train back afterwards. It would make more economic sense to move somewhere affordable where your $1 - 1.5 million will last longer and vacation in NYC (and other places) throughout the year.

and, R115, the rest of us will spend our retirement in a state that isn't backward, bigoted, homophobic, and Trump-loving. Have a nice time when your parter isn't allowed to visit you in the hospital, or you're shot by some homophobe who gets away with it because locals hate "them thar perverts."

I agree that anywhere more than 90 minutes from Manhattan means that you probably won't be visiting as much as you think you will be. Who wants a regular three hour commute? Sure to see friends, or a show or exhibit, but there are diminishing returns. It's easier to plan annual or biannual trips to NY to do those things in one fell swoop.

I live in Queens now (in NYC since 2000 after growing up on LI) and I would love if there were an alternative place for me to live. The South is too hot, California too expensive (and on fire), every other place seems to be either Trump Town or Methville or a place that would target me for being gay.

I lived in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, for many years. It took a minimum of 90 minutes by train to get to a friend's apartment at 96th and Riverside.

It now takes me only an hour longer to go from Albany to Penn Station.

In any event, where do the New Yorkers go in the summer? The Hudson Valley, often times. There is no shortage of summer arts offerings here, arts offerings that you would not see if you were holed up in your apartment in the City because getting out of NYC on a summer day is so miserable.

R119 - typical. Do you know how crazy you sound that you think the rest of the country is like that? Clinging to the belief that only NYC has intelligent people, arts, etc.

R115 - you see the delusion on this thread. Let them be happy to feel like 'they've got it all' by being in proximity to someplace that they will rarely visit or use. How many times a year do you go to the theater? Museums? Other? Not often or enough to justify their choice. But hey, if they move, they can no longer have the superiority claim of being a New Yorker - and god forbid they should ever lose that!

OP, find yourself a little apartment to buy in Manhattan and stay put. This one is a real find in Gramercy Park. It's listed as a studio but has "private sleeping alcove" which is realtor speak saying the space is too small by NYC code to be called a bedroom, and a separate "eat in kitchen". I'd snap this one up if I was in the market.

R123, is one allowed to move the bathroom door in a building like that? If I was allowed to move it to living room entry then this would be cute. Wouldn’t want company coming through the bedroom to get to the bathroom.

R121, how it could have taken 90 minutes on a regular basis to go that distance? I know trains can be fucked up and if you were on a train line that was undergoing track work and you had to take a couple modes of transportation, maybe, but according to Google Maps, that distance should take an hour tops on the train.

You also have to factor in the cost of taking a train or bus too NYC.

*to NYC

I don't understand gays who want to move to states like Texas or Florida or South Carolina where homophobia is written into state laws, and where there are no rights for us whatsoever.

Could someone please explain that psychology to me? Is it just because these are people who have family in those areas, or who simply don't care about their rights?

I really don't get it.

I think we all should be concerned about how the progress we have made as gay men and lesbians could be easily reversed or curtailed. It's happening now.

We retired to Massachusetts for this reason, and also for the accessibility of health care if the ACA should be struck down.

In Trump's America, it's all a scary reality.

People are lemmings they just follow their friends to Florida or Arizona. I couldn't fucking live in either place for more than 3 months. I'm starting to like winter her in the Mid Atlantic. It's not very harsh but I'm not a huge fan of the natural world around here. I love Upstate NY.

Three trains, R125. Three trains, two transfers. Each way. Yes, 90 minutes, with transfers, if trains were running regularly. Of course, if one, or two, of the trains were not running, the trip grew longer.

The Trailways bus is pretty comfortable, and it is not like a city bus with standing room. They sell out the seats and that's it, you can't get on the bus without a seat. From NP to NYC there is one 3 minute stop in NJ.

It would be the F or G train and the 1/2 train usually, R131.

Actually, 1, 2 or 3 train.

r104 is correct. Some of the Trailways buses have internet and plugs at each seat to charge your electronics. Metro North has none of that. Plus people bring their dogs onto Metro North like it's a day train for pet tourism.

[quote]It's listed as a studio but has "private sleeping alcove" which is realtor speak saying the space is too small by NYC code to be called a bedroom,

They used to be called Jr. Bedrooms. But I think in order to call it a bedroom, it has to have a window?

R133, tell us all where the F train connects to the 1 train. Which station would that be?

Try this. F to the A at Jay Street or West 4th. A to the 1 at Columbus Circle. Not the 2. The 1. Local. More stops. More time.

Okay, true R137. However, it doesn't take 90 minutes to go everywhere in NYC. The farther reaches, where you have to take more than 1 or 2 trains, sure. But people don't always have to do that. I'd still rather be in the city and commute around then live in, oh, say, Albany. to each his own.

R138, try Jackson Heights to Columbia University. Try to get to Queens College from anywhere. If you isolate in Chelsea, then, yes, everything is close by. But NYC is huge.

R123 - that's a fabulous small place and a very good price. But over $1200/month in maintenance? Ouch. Otherwise, it's a great find.

I'd say lower Litchfield County all day long. Lots of bargains to be had. Prices in CT have cratered.

R139 is right. I go to Queens College and live in Woodside, Queens. It's a 45 minute commute, easily.

The Hudson Valley and adjacent towns in CT and Mass are very sophisticated with galleries, theatres and great restaurants.

What about Asbury Park, NJ OP?

Has a large gay community, is gentrifying so still inexpensive in spots, has lots of bars and restaurants.

Direct train to Penn Station takes about an hour.

And you are there at the beach in the summer.

[I have never heard Chatham, NJ referred to as "The Chathams" but either way it's an affluent suburban town people move to when they have kids and then look to move out of once they are empty nesters and no longer need a 5 bedroom house. Does not seem like a place anyone would want to retire to.]

Litchfield County is terrific. Good prices, lot of gays.

Again, R139, you don't go to the same places all the time. And honestly, I'd rather commute in NYC then be someplace that's the same distance or more away.

[quote]that's a fabulous small place and a very good price. But over $1200/month in maintenance? Ouch. Otherwise, it's a great find.

The maintenance isn't that bad considering it's a doorman building and it has that nice space in the backyard.

I don’t know if these have been mentioned yet, I don’t have time to read through whole thread, but seriously check out Beacon and Cold Spring. Both on Metro North, an hour from GCT. Cold Spring is a little more charming but both have very friendly and gay residents.

We bought in Croton in Hudson a few years ago and it’s boring as fuck. I wish we had looked more at these two places, but husband didn’t want that commute to the city.

^^ sorry, Croton-on-Hudson

As I get older, I care less about what NYC has to offer. I actually find Texas cities OK because they have all the basics you want - in multiples - and you can live on $50,000 instead of $100,000. You save 11% of yourself income in taxes - and the additional sales taxes, etc. are largely not an issue since I buy less every year. The majority of my friends have left NYC in the past 10 years as well - so that personal connection reason has faded. The main issue about leaving NYC is the the absence of good public transit. If driverless cars happen within 10 years, it will make the decision much easier.

Litchfield Co is beautiful. But very little support services - Home Depots, restaurants, Supermarkets, contractors. And no public transport anywhere near. Good housing prices - but don’t think about reselling because the market has been steadily downhill and isn’t going up anytime soon. Only buyers left are NY weekenders. Which is why it’s cheap.

"The maintenance isn't that bad considering it's a doorman building and it has that nice space in the backyard."

yes but the maintenance will only go up. a couple of friends of mine who own apartments like that are going to sell when they retire. they complain their maintenance fees would make it impossible to live too long in NYC comfortably.

OP - here's another suggestion - don't laugh. The Bronx or Riverdale. You can get a solid one bedroom for less than 300k with low maintenance fees. Riverdale in particular. It's 20 minutes to or less to the upper west side. The river is beautiful. A nice mix of people - young-ish families and older people. As for The Bronx, it might not quite be there yet but it's only a matter of time. I know quite a few people who sold their Manhattan or Brooklyn places and moved up there. Again, it's in NYC, has a surplus of gorgeous art deco buildings - a TON of gays are up there, etc.

R152 Riverdale is in the Bronx.

Yes yes...my bad but mindset neighborhood-wise, they are thought of differently. People still might recoil at the idea of The Bronx (which to many means South Bronx). But Riverdale has a whole other connotation.

Though yes, again, my mistake.

[quote]What do you think you're going to do in your 60's and 70's in the NY suburbs? You either will go into the city very often and wonder why the hell you moved out. Or you won't go in very often at all (most likely the case) and you're stuck in some small berg, convincing yourself - well, at least I'm close to the city.

Agreed with this point. Either try to stay in NYC by downsizing or some economnic trickery, or move far enough from NYC to reap real savings sufficient to justify the move.

Or retire to, say, Portugal, make it your residence (visas and resdency permits are easier than elsewhere in Europe) and keep a small NYC apartment or rent a 2 or 3 months a year. You have to file taxes in both countries but pay only in one in most cases thanks to reciprocal agreements.

Two and a half hours by bus or even an hour and a half by train is enough bother that you are unlikely to be zipping back and forth for parties and theatre and museums, etc. Maybe it makes more sense to visit NYC for a few weeks or.montjs at a time than to plan for commutes and the unforseen circumstances of retirement years.

OP you’re trying to juggle two completely separate things and eventually you will drop both. It’s obvious you can’t afford to stay in the city (no judgement as most can not). Why not do something completely different? I have friends that retired in PV Mexico and are loving it 7 years in. Yes they fly to NYC once a year, but this is enough for them now.

OP some questions in the past 90 days (1) how many times have you gone to a gay bar (2) gone to a museum, Broadway show, big name concert, symphony or the like (3) had any kind of gay sex (4) went to a relatives house (5) went or did something with a friend (6) went to any type of group or organization to which you belong?

R158 - Great questions. I’m not the OP, but I can guarantee you the answer to your questions is ZERO. His youth is now gone and these are the things he wishes he still did.

The big issue is automobile ownership. In the City... not needed. You can get by with the MTA, though it is not always dependable or comfortable. Or cheap.

If you leave the City, you must have a car or you really will be a shut-in. You cannot sustain for long doing everything with a car service. You will really have NO social life.

Don't kid yourselves about how great the City is for retirees. It's great so long as you are healthy. But one significant illness and you are screwed. You won't be going to art museums or the theater and you certainly won't be going down into the subway to bounce around town.

There’s reasons why people flee the city in old age for Florida. The warmth, the larger living spaces, the cost, and the early-bird specials. The city is for young, energetic, free-thinkers; it doesn’t need your old energy.

This thread is brought to you in part by the Florida Association of Realtors.

Aside from all this can I just say how sad it is that even with 1.5 million, one still has to sweat and fret around where to live. It’s really sad and a bit scary.

Back to the conversation ... the luckiest people of them all in nyc, who aren’t rich, are those with rent stabilized apartments. I have a friend who is a retired teacher and her One-bedroom on the upper east side is 1200 a month. She has a 60k a year pension and lives pretty fabulously,

“The city is for young, energetic, free-thinkers; it doesn’t need your old energy.”

Hahahhahahahaj. You missy are a retard. Lots of old people live here under all sorts of circumstances. My dad lived to 83 in his upper east side co-op and it was the best thing for him.

And you get Extra retard points for thinking that the young people here now are “free thinkers.” They all eat chik-fil-a, swill Bud lite and work 15 hours a day hoping to get rich.

Manhattan is a wonderful place to retire

My grandmother is 87 and still pretty together, lives on the UES.

She figured out how to use Uber (not rocket science) and often takes the bus like other seniors.

She can walk a lot of places (MD appointments, supermarket, synagogue, museums, friends apartments) and not have to worry about driving and isolation.

She has a place outside Sarasota for winters but there are a lot of retirees in Manhattan and a lot more will be coming too as people who moved to the suburbs to raise kids return as empty nesters.

R163 -- In the same boat , about the same money -- once thought that $1.5M would be plenty, and it certainly still means we won't be homeless. But, it isn't enough to live the way we've lived before, and given that Social Security is no longer a sure bet for the rest of our lives, it really means having to figure out how to get by. If I had bought an apartment years ago, like most of my friends, things would be much better. Likewise, if I had a pension -- several friends were teachers or city workers and they'll get $50 - 60K a year and given their cheap rent apartments or low monthly coop fees they're in great shape.

Perhaps gays of a certain age will end up sharing apartments, and expenses, to get by. Sounds good to me.

I would never “share” an apartment. I don’t think many would.

R165 - sounds like your mother has quite a bit of money or a cheap place. Even she leaves for the winter, so it's not exactly a great comparison.

Face it - some gays have convinced themselves that they cannot breathe any air outside of the NY metro area for fear of murder by some Trumpster.

It's your own prison, but you'll realize that your cell door is unlocked.

I’ve held onto my rent stabilized NYC apartment even though it’s small - despite wanting to live elsewhere occasionally over the past 33 years. Primarily so I can retire in NYC cheaply. There are times I think how how pathetic it is to live in 500 square feet - but then I see the assisted living places most of my elderly family live in and they are about the same size. But they are stuck in the middle of nowhere with minimal ability to leave the confines of their “warehouse for the elderly and infirm”.

You can actually live somewhat cheaply in NYC. The main issue I have is the taxes. I could save 10% of my income if I moved to FL or TX. But then I would also have buy a car - which is both expensive and increasingly restrictive as you get older.

I actually do go to a gay bar once or twice a week. I find some cheaper interesting food 2-3x week. I enjoy the parks and the people watching. I go to the free galleries. Once or twice a month in non-winter months, I’ll take a train to a new neighborhood in an outer borough (even after 30 years, there are a lot of,places I’ve never been).

I agree if I lived in The suburbs or upstate, I would be unlikely to bother with the city. I agree with those above who say just get out of the high cost NY area unless you are staying in the city itself.

R158/R159, both like-minded in their idiocy and also very similar in their cuntiness, think things like getting older is for losers and it won't happen to them. LMFAO!

I’m very fortunate I don’t have these problems (portfolio just north of $3 million). Main residence in HK, second homes in PS, FLL, and East Hampton. Funny enough, now that I’m 70 I spend most of my time right here in Hell’s Kitchen.

R170 - you have reading comprehension issues. They're pointing out that all the reasons listed for staying in the NYC area are not things that they do on a regular basis. Essentially, there's nothing really keeping them there except "but if I want to, I could". But they don't. And that's the point.

It's not a comment about aging.

Can YOU read, R172? I quote R159: "His youth is now gone"

That's not a comment about aging?

I like the idea of small apartment like the example provided by R123.

The recent DL thread about living in a hotel has some appeal in this situation, I think, offering a possible way to stay in the city that has been your home and that you like while being mindful of expenses. (I know, it's not exactly cheap, and I don't know if it might work or be out of the question for OP.) Taking a small place that's just big enough avoids the compromise of finding that farther and cheaper place that you don't hate too much or that doesn't seem too potentially disruptive. Early in retirement you could take some time for extended travel and, in that way, ease into a smaller space if downsizing.

The apartment is roughly 500sq.ft. but laid out with some thought to useful divisions of space. To me it's a more attractive option than some larger, more suburban model in Florida or Arizona or Texas or one of those shitty thresholds to death.

R173 - it's not a slam about aging, it's that a lot of the things you cling to as reasons for living in the city are not things you do as much as you get older.

It IS a comment about aging in the sense that you need to let go of the city nostalgia of things you did when you were young. Those memories don't justify staying some place that you can't really afford.

They never said it wouldn't happen to them - just pointing out the delusional thinking on this thread.

I see more and more people - older people - moving into the city....I'm in DC.

Wrong, R175. R159's post drips with contempt.

I don’t think people are saying they want to stay in the city so they can live like they are young. In fact, I find this whole debate utterly bizarre. I’m the one who posted up thread about my dad living out the rest of his days in his NYC co-op. His retirement years were fabulous. He Indeed went to the museums, galleries, and theater. Had fabulous little dinner parties for his friends - all of whom were old, retired and living pretty much the same life. Dad was right near Lenox Hill Hospital so when he got really sick it was beyond convenient. He took the subway until the age of 80, then cabbed it everywhere.

There’s a reason why there is an influx of empty nesters into the city. They sell their houses once the kids are gone, buy a one or two bedroom then live a very full life. It’s not that hard to understand.

R177 - I’m R159 and I posted my thoughts with zero contempt. I am, however, a realist and extremely intelligent (MENSA) so I know what I’m speaking of.

MENSA. Hoo boy. Here we go.

R178 - this thread isn't about empty nesters moving in to the city though. This is about someone moving out of the city - up to 2 hours away - for retirement so they can be 'close' to the city.

Not the same thing. No one is saying you can't retire in the city and live a good life, particularly if you have enough money. How muich money did your father have? I would bet a pretty good amount.

This thread is about retiring 'in proximity' to NYC.

The biggest problem around NYC are that taxes are high everywhere, whether Long Island, Westchester, or NJ.

In Connecticut, they are a bit lower, but housing prices are high.

To get cheaper taxes, you have to move north of Westchester, which will take you farther from NYC.

"I am, however, a realist and extremely intelligent (MENSA) so I know what I’m speaking of."

Hmm. MENSA. And yet you do not seem to know that you do not end a sentence a preposition with.

I’ve lived in NYC for 20 years.

Can’t wait until retirement when I can get the fuck out.

Different strokes, I guess.

“ It IS a comment about aging in the sense that you need to let go of the city nostalgia of things you did when you were young”

My comment was in response to the above.

“ The city is for young, energetic, free-thinkers; it doesn’t need your old energy.””

And this comment as well

I can’t imagine being old in NYC. While things might seem convenient, NYCers hate old people

The "it's cheaper", "it's warmer" stuff belies "it's a cultural wasteland", "you can't live without a car", and all the sad old people shuffling around. When I've been in San Diego, LA (sunny but not cheap), and various parts of Florida (sunny and cheap), I've always been impressed by the large numbers of older people who looked to be radiating sadness. Cars are depreciating objects that become ever more expensive with time and that has to be weighed against "savings". I have friends who moved to the Delaware shore--lots of gay friends, groups etc. there but they have health problems and constantly commute to DC (boring, congested drive) or Philly (not much better drive) on a very regular basis.

I also know people who have bought houses in retirement destinations, which just seems ridiculous unless you're really into gardening and even then I know people who have to paysomeone to do what they used to do themselves.

I’d consider a retirement in Ft Lauderdale but it’ll likely be washed away before I get to retirement

R188 - what are you going on about? Do you think you can live without a car an hour to two hours outside of NYC?

There are also sad old people shuffling around in NYC. What's your point?

I have to admit I’ll be going to Fort Lauderdale. I love an evening cocktail and a piano bar. There’s a built-in sense of community in Wilton Manors and you’re not looked down upon for being old.

R179 thinks saying "His youth is now gone and these are the things he wishes he still did" is just a statement of fact, when, in fact, it's condescending, completely ignorant based on not knowing anything of the OP, and in general, cunty.

And like Trump, if you feel you need to advertise your wonderful qualities, R179, then you don't possess them.

[quote] I can’t imagine being old in NYC.

Go to the residential neighborhoods and you’ll be amazed by the number of older people (80+) that you see walking around. That’s the thing about living in the city; the amount of exercise it demands keeps you in surprisingly good shape as you get older.

My grandmother is pretty well off R168, but my point was more that nothing she does really requires a lot of money--maybe Broadway shows and opera/ballet tickets, but those are not outrageous.

The Florida place was something my grandfather wanted, he was a golfer and she had a group of friends who went down there with them, though it seems she recently confided to my mom (her daughter) that most everyone she knew down there is either dead or senile and so it's sort of lonely, she's thinking of coming back to NY earlier this year (she usually comes up for Passover.)

Living in a city is, of course, a wonderful thing for older people-- a wealth of public transportation and culture, nearby hospitals, parks--all this provided they don't live in a walk-up and have unreasonable rent. Burt living in a city is a great thing and is a good way to keep mind and body active.

R192 - shut the fuck up already. You already claimed you live in a really cheap rent-controlled apt in the heart of the city and already feel retired.

Good for you. You'd be talking a different game if you didn't have that $600-$900 per month apt to live in. The rest of the world doesn't have that. If you paid actual going rates for rent or a mortgage, you'd be hard pressed to justify living in the city as you get older unless you had a ton of money.

*But living in a city

R194 - no one is arguing that if you have enough money it isn't great to live in the city. And Broadway tickets and Ballet tickets ARE expensive if you're on a limited retirement budget, which most people are.

This thread isn't about retiring in the city for people who can afford it. Jeesh.

R194 - wow you’re grandmother seems to get around very well for someone who must be almost 90! I was I. The same situation last year (90 year old healthy grandmother) and she went from watching the Kardashians on TV and doing the NYT crossword to dead in 2 months. Please cherish her now (I know it’s cliche) but I’m so glad I visited her before she passed. My brother did not and regrets it. He thought she’d live another 5 years.

R196, there's no need to be bitter. And I said, IF people have reasonable rent/maintenance or a rent controlled situation. That's not nearly as rare as you let on.

R198, you also don't have to have a lot of money. There are all kinds of perks to living in a city--you can reduced tickets to things, and if you're a senior, you get discounts on public transportation, movies, etc.

Agree R191. Thanks for being honest. I’ve thought about it and know a TON of guys who have moved there. The one surprise I had is its surpringky expensive. I thought I could get a simple concrete block house near the Strip for $300k. They are more like $600-$700k! I was shocked.

R201 - wow did not know they were so expensive!! I do love the area, maybe I’ll look for a small condo.

Ballet tickets and theater tickets are available to seniors at discount R198

And it's not as if people are seeing one show a week or necessarily like Broadway shows or the NYC Ballet (e.g., there's off Broadway and more avant garde dance companies.) Museums have free or discounted nights.

There are plenty of seniors who get by on a limited budget in Manhattan where another bonus is access to the best doctors and medical facilities in the country.

Yes, if you've been sharing a walk-up apartment with roommates your whole life then it's probably best to look elsewhere. But you certainly don't need to be anything more than middle class to have a comfortable retirement in Manhattan

^^Also R193's point is very well taken. There are many NORCs (Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities) in Manhattan and the ability to walk everywhere does keep seniors in much better shape than in places where they are housebound and driven everywhere

Exactly what R23 said.

^^^Sorry, exactly what R203 said!^^^

Fun fact: MENSA is Latin for two different words. The first is table, the second is give me money and I'll tell you how smart you are.

I know a gay couple who moved to Saratoga, Florida from NYC. They kept their NYC apartment. They fly up every Jan or Feb and see a whole bunch of operas and Bway shows, eat at great restaurants, view big museum exhibits, and then fly back after a month.

This way, they get the sun and beach AND the best of NYC

That's nice,R208, but all the New York DLers are poor. They just pretend they're rich. Hence, the "inexpensive" alternatives being discussed here.

What kind of fucking moron would leave Florida to spend January and February in New York City?

April through October? You bet. Straight through New Year's, if you have really close ties to NYC. But January, February and March... if you have a home in Florida, you should be there.

R208: I've no interest in Florida, but if I were to live there 10 months of the year I would not pick January and February as the months I spent in NYC.

Ok let’s stay on topic here boys. The OP is running out of money, and has to leave Manhattan, but doesn’t want to leave the state of NY (since she went to college there or some nonsense). Where can she live that’s close enough to fabulous Manhattan so that she can brag to all of her friends and relatives that it’s an “easy train ride” to all that the city offers?

I think OP is a man actually R212

Does OP qualify for Section 8?

I live in NYC and cannot wait to exit, just like the earlier post.

R213 - I know OP is a man. I was referring to “her” in a flaming gay way.

R151, you're crazy if you think Litchfield County is only inhabited by weekenders. I'm here full time now, after living in the city for many years. Many people I know and am friends moved here full time simply because the area has a lot to offer. Yes, you may have to drive 20 or 30 minutes or so to a big box store, but they are here. Our small towns out here are our greatest asset, along with the people that inhabit them. There is little need for public transport when you have to have a car in the country. These are towns of fewer than 10000. Sometimes much less. A city here is 50000. The deficiencies you note, few support services? No restaurants or shopping? Dig deeper. They're all here, and for the most part, locally owned. I have a small movie theatre I can walk to, a wonderful butcher and an incredible bakery within minutes. We have good small local hospitals affiliated with larger ones in the city. Good art and music scenes with people you'd never guess would be here. .Connecticut is still losing population, this is true. But at its core, the area is still very special. It's why the area has been branded the anti-Hamptons and also why celebrities still flock to it. I'd rather age in place in a blue state surrounded by like-minded people than in some sterile subdivision in Florida.

And I knew you knew OP was a man and were being a self-hating gay who sees all gay men as "less than" real men

"That's nice,[R208], but all the New York DLers are poor."

Speak for yourself, bitch R209.

What's stopping you, cunt R215? Nobody wants you.

Section 8 is winning the lottery in midtown.

OP should hold off until after the election in November. If Fatso is re-elected, OP may prefer Uruguay.

Dictators or even dictator wannabes don't make the majority of people want to leave, and that usually includes gay people. As long as they can get by.

R190: Clearly touched a nerve. I'd guess you're in some sunny, cheap destination that has turned out to have social and financial costs you dodn't expect.

Can you even get section 8 in Manhattan? I doubt it very seriously. They send you to the bronx.

R224 - Hardly. The post made no sense - going on about how sad old people look in SoCal and Florida. As if older people in NYC are living like the movie Cocoon, smiling from ear to ear with the physical agility of a 20 year old.

And the car depreciation isn't germane to this conversation. The OP will be living an hour to two hours outside of NYC. He will have to have a car.

No nerve hit - it was just a stupid rambling post making a lot of assumptions that made no sense.

R225 Manhattan Plaza is Section 8. Middle of Manhattan.

This thread is making me HORNY AS HELL!!!!!

There's Section 8 all over Manhattan.

My munt ‘is Section 8. Hard to get into but super cheap.

My munt ‘is Section 8.

Translation?

I think R230 means his cunt is in Section 8.

Aunt that raised him as a mother?

Timmee Chalamet is a section 8 cunt!

Man cunt. Munt.

Mussy.

How does one get section 8 in Manhattan? Asking for a friend.

Never mind, there is a 150,000 families on the waiting list.

Please tell me Bill DeBlasio is not running for re-election.

He can't, R239, unless he can buy himself a third time like cunt Bloomberg.

*buy himself a third term

R238, "families" don't have any more of a priority in Section 8 housing than single gay men.

They stopped taking names for the waiting list in 2009? Two thousand and NINE!

but they’ve been building luxury towers by the dozen?

DeBlasio ran on a single issue and he hasn’t moved the needle a single inch. Complete failure. He should be tarred and feathered and forced to resign in disgrace.

Agree R243. I hate DeBlasio with a passion. Which is odd because he is supposedly a progressive like me. But his complete absence of accomplishment of any thing of any importance that he promised - and his complete ineptitude and waste of space as mayor - has created a burning hatred for him that is only slightly less intense than Trump.

It’s why I don’t mind the idea of a Bloomberg. He is actually an effective manager who gets things done. I fear that Sanders will be like DeBlasio and ride the scam of progressive rhetoric to office - but be completely inept at accomplishing anything. At least Bloomberg would get something done. And is better than Trump.

Completely agree, R244.

OP, have any of these suggestions swayed your thinking?

OP!!!!! What have you decided based on our input?

This thread has made me reconsider the idea of retiring near NYC. Moving somewhere cheaper and visiting once Every other month for a long weekend would probably suffice.

Just a suggestion OP

This is an anonymous board

No one knows who you are nor will they ever know.

If you had provided some more detailed income figures and housing expenditure figures (e.g., how much is your current home worth, do you own it, how much would you make from selling it in the current market, how large a place would you need, what sort of retirement income, if any, will you have beyond interest income and social security) you would have gotten more and better targeted answers.

DeBlasio just bought a house in Guilford, CT. Even he is getting out of NYC!

Because he will be run out of town if he doesn’t, R250

True, R249, but you never know quite what someone wants, even when they tell you. Maybe OP wanted exactly what he got, maybe something else entirely, maybe he wanted only a sounding board to help shape some ideas in his own head, maybe he was half-hoping for some off the wall idea that he had not considered fully.

But of course one thing we know is that however much information OP offered, it would never be enough for the DL. Someone would want to know what color his cat was, how big his boyfriend's dick (does it need a separate room, perhaps?), why he had so much money in bonds for so long, why wasn't he born a Rockefeller, why had he not bought an apartment in a better part of town., or whole buildings during slumps?

We checked out this new retirement community in Westchester. The original building where the amenities are was an old hunting lodge built by some Gilded Age tycoons. They have independent living apartments for the “younger” retirees, and assisted living when the time comes for that.

Absolutely STUNNING.

One bedroom apartment is $7,500. LOLOLOLOL!!!!

I am shocked at how expensive these assisted living places are. It’s insane! Just to have poorly paid, barely certified women available if you fall. I looked at them for my mother and was confused and appalled by how they were able to charge 2-3x the going rate for a 1BR apartment just because there were a few poorly paid staff. And the cost if you ACTUALLY need care - after you fall - is even more.

This is why I’m keeping my small NYC apartment. Elevator, food delivery, hospital transit, and if necessary daily check in - for less than 1/2 the price of living in a planned community in the suburbs with no ability to walk anywhere.

r254, completely agree. If you don't need skilled nursing care, it's much less expensive to stay in your own home and pay for the services you need.

Amen, r254. I was wracking my brain thinking of where my partner and I might move to down the road like the OP. Then it hit me: we have a really nice, rent-stabilized one-bedroom, top floor with an elevator, in Brooklyn. Yes, the hospitals here can be sketch but that just means you take the cab a little further to a nicer one. Right now, we get all of our check ups, blood work and services from Mt Sinai in Brooklyn Heights. They are fab and I love my GP.

In short: the answer was staring us in the face the whole time. Yes, the city is burning us out - but the alternatives sound dire based on this thread. Better to age here and travel as much as we can while we are strong. Then Uber everywhere as an old fart.

NYC can be the perfect retirement community. And allow interactions with people of all different ages. Assuming you don’t need to cash out your real estate equity. The one benefit of never having bought an apartment here and persevering in my rent stabilized apartment. I’m not sitting on a pot of gold that I can liquidate.

This thread seems so quaint now.

Houston.....no riots, no fires, no property destruction, no boarded-up shop windows.

Chatham, Summit, or Short Hills, NJ. Or Maplewood, beautiful suburbs, very gay friendly, short train ride to Manhattan.

Anywhere but here.

Westfield, Red Bank, or Ridgewood, NJ

Yonkers? You can get a view of the river.

Coney Island, Long Beach (LI), or maybe Inwood

Union City NJ

Someplace like this?

Pond Eddy NY, Sparrowbush, NY, Glen Spey, NY, or Mill Rift PA

I just blocked R259, the type of human scum i detest

I visited a friend in Chatham. It was boring.

I must say about Chatham that my friend had a great house with garage that had an apartment above it, lots of land & a swimming pool for less than $300k. But when he needed to sell his house after living there for about a dozen years, he could only get the same amount he paid for it and it took a while for it to sell.

Chatham NJ R260? I live there and paid 400k for my very average 3 bed split in 2002 and now it's valued at over 700k. Look at house prices there. You can't even find a teardown for less than 500k.

R268 ^

-R269

Litchfield County, CT

R7 we're sure you meant to say "ON Long Island."

Litchfield County is gorgeous

OP should read: where to go to die.

This is an offbeat suggestion, but Meriden, CT is worth looking into. It's an old industrial town with decent and reasonably priced housing. Equidistant from Hartford and New Haven (about 25 minutes drive either way). Amtrak and bus service to NYC. Both the Merritt Parkway and I-91 pass by the city.

Is Maplewood NJ a walkable city? I'm looking for a condo near NY with a walkable main street. I hate driving and love walking.

Saugerties is a really sweet town with restaurants and vintage stores.

Long Beach on Long Island has many condominiums and is entirely walkable.

Milford, PA: 55 miles from NYC, 1 mile from NJ, and 6 miles from NY State (Orange County)

Google Milford PA - Wikipedia article.

Check Google Maps for location.

Why the need for proximity to NYC? Maybe this thread was started years ago, but there’s no more Broadway, no concerts, no sporting events since the pandemic started. Aren’t you just lying to yourself saying “I’ll go into the city at least once or twice a month,” and in actuality will never go? Maybe it’s time to be realistic and realize your youth is over and it’s time to move to Florida with your fond memories.

Meriden is on Amtrak, but nearby Middletown is a much nicer place to live.

This is probably fodder for a separate thread, but the idea of moving into assisted living should be discussed in more detail.

It is expensive, and if you can afford it, you have to consider what life will be like there for you. It isn't just that there is a staff on hand for help with medical-related issues. Your rent generally includes meals and weekly housekeeping. So if you are fit and in generally good health, assisted living might be more than you need right now.

I had friends who moved into a very nice assisted living facility, they were a gay couple who had been together for decades. They made the decision when they were in their mid-80s, and began having difficulty getting up and down stairs in their longtime apartment building. They had a comfortable, sunny unit in the new place and brought their own furniture with them. The meals were okay, not terrific but certainly acceptable. There were organized activities, museum and concert trips, etc., which cost extra.

The biggest drawback for them was that there were no other gay men among the several hundred residents of the place. The population was overwhelmingly female, and most of them were either widows or retired professionals - teachers, nurses, etc. The other male residents were husbands or widowers, and not particularly gay-friendly. My friends missed the easier socialization they enjoyed in their old apartment building. They only lived there for about five years. One passed away, having developed Alzheimer's (and the assisted living staff was very useful in that matter). The second one lived on about 18 months beyond his partner, then died in his sleep.

I think about them when friends talk about what to do 'when we get old.' Assisted living sounds like an appealing option, but there are other factors to consider if you are gay. If the choice were mine, I would postpone it until a health issue mandated it.

Gay retirement villages sound good to me.

OP on the train home from New York, 2 weeks after moving.

Inwood, Riverdale, Bedford Park are fine. You'll find more space and still be able to take the subway.

Cold Spring, Beacon. Maybe Newburgh, although that'll be very cold.

Asheville NC, Savannah GA (probably too expensive but lovely).

I loved Santa Cruz and could see myself living there, although I'll have to drive. I prefer walking.

Philadelphia might be the easiest for me for retirement.

Tax-wise, PA is probably the best place for a retiree to live. Many people commute from PA to Manhattan everyday, or did.

Savannah and Asheville have nice centers surrounded by unwalkable sprawl which have all the useful shopping and other basic needs. Savannah will be miserable in summer. Asheville will get icy in winter. Charleston seems like a more popular retirement destination than Savannah---more to do but it's also a nice center with the useful stuff in sprawl.