A great place to retire

[Bizer]

On the Today Show this morning (Labor Day), they were doing a piece on the top-10 places to retire. Included were such factors as peace, ambiance, availability of medical attention, cost-of-living, taxes, etc. As expected, there were places in California, Florida, and Arizona mentioned. It surprised me that Lake Winnipesaukee, NH, was ranked number 8.

Incidentally, Ann Curry had a bit of trouble pronouncing it.

[Hermit Cover]

Thanks Bizer...missed that part of the program this morning and looked up the story on the Today Show website but it was not listed. Was there any other reference to a magazine article or news story made that might help find it? I'm not surprised the Lake was mentioned..

[DRH]

Guess we made the right choice ... we retired here last fall!
(Actually, we never had any doubt about this being the best place to retire!)

[madrasahs]

Here's the account for those who have given up on TV: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.p...etirementtowns (Winnipesaukee moved to 8th because they changed the scoring criteria).

Thirteen years ago, I was re-determined to retire here and considered shorefront places on "The Broads". (Less "flukey" winds and when the waves got super-big? A great show!).

One year later, we had the opportunity to buy our "olde", 1-acre place out of bankruptcy court at a bargain price -- even by 1992's depressed Winnipesaukee standards. Later I retired here, seven years earlier than most folks.

Would we do it again today? My olde (but younger) friend on The Broads gripes about the big waves/spray on really windy days (which thrill me), and the "noise-thunder", stagnant air pollution, ozone -- on calm days.

On this quiet shore, my gripe's Big Boats -- their trespassing noise, back-breaking wakes, eye-burning ozone/air, and shoreline erosion (of my mud).

But here's a quote in today's Union Leader story by somebody who remembers when New Hampsire was, well, New Hampshire (just as I remember it -- and I write texts, too):

"SOMEONE finally noticed New Hampshire isn't a quiet place to live. But the front page stories on noise pollution only indicate the tip of the iceberg. Noise is a statewide story too long ignored. Those who promote New Hampshire portray it as a quiet and idyllic place to live..."

More: http://www.theunionleader.com/articl...?article=43466

I'm not ready for Lake Tahoe yet, though Charleston, SC, is alluring. Lake Meade has fallen 60 feet -- marinas are closing or rebuilding closer. All of the Oregon coast is very nice (I've been to all of the places listed in the article), but Californians are selling their greatly inflated homes and moving into Oregon -- inflating costs and reducing Oregon's ambience. That Winnipesaukee made the "10-Best" list may not be good news for this area.

Boating has changed here, even by 1992 standards. To become #1 New Hampshire needs to fix New Hampshire .

[Outlaw]

Originally Posted by madrasahs

But here's a quote in today's Union Leader story by somebody who remembers when New Hampsire was, well,

Originally Posted by madrasahs

New Hampshire (just as I remember it -- and I write texts, too)

I remember when children played outside after school, and not in front of a television with an Xbox or Game boy or had so many after schools sports and classes to go to that they don't really get to be 'a kid' and play.

I remember when families only had 1 vehicle.

I remember when mom's stayed home and raised the children while dad worked.

I remember when the country side around this great lake was mostly farm land.

I remember when Route 125, White Mountain Highway was the main route (before 16).

I remember when TV's were black & white.

I remember when computers took up an entire room.

I remember when $5 would fill my gas tank.

I remember all these things (and more) fondly, and that's what is so wonderful about memories. But they are just that, memories. Evolution is inevitable and progression in society and technology moves forward - that is what makes this such a great place to be. No place is perfect on all accounts for everyone, but we are a strong, healthy, wealthy county and democracy gives us freedom (Live Free or Die -- right).

Originally Posted by madrasahs

On this quiet shore, my gripe's Big Boats -- their trespassing noise, back-breaking wakes, eye-burning ozone/air, and shoreline erosion (of my mud).

Just about anything on the water causes shore erosion, the wind being one of the leading culprits. It doesn't have to be Big to do this, and that is why many (if not most) cities and towns around the lake have very restrictive regulations about shoreline work and clearing of trees and plant life.

I don't know that noise can be considered 'trespassing' -- if that were the case than the sound of a voice, a bird, and a wild animal would fall in to your category of noise and thus be trespassing. Marine Patrol is without doubt doing their part in controlling this with DB checks and yes there could be more of this, but with so many lakes and limited staff this is a difficult thing. Ever think of volunteering for MP and doing summer duty (their web site has an application on line for those interested in contributing to this cause)?

Society is growing and that without doubt means more people on this beautiful lake (since it is such a wonderful popular place) and with that said, more boats of all sorts -- every boat creates some type of wake -- this is just a fact of water displacement. The more boats in one spot (and especially of it’s a windy day) the bigger the wakes.

I think boat manufactures along with car, fuel powered lawn equipment and the like are all working to make their machines compliant with the air quality rules and regs. For instance -- the four stroke jet skis and snow mobiles that were introduced -- they will become the standard in recreational toys. I guess all of us who own a leaf blower, weed wacker or chain saw are in violation of air quality.......if that's the case we should return to the old days of a rake, hand clippers and a hand saw.

The changes that made the lake so popular (tourism is encouraged with all the advertising the state of NH does and is also the lively hood of many people/businesses around the lakes region), the changes that progressed our country to the position of strength, the changes that gave us the ability to predict a hurricane, the changes that gave us faster and more efficient travel, the changes that gave us the ability to shop in our underwear, the changes that made our ability to communicate instantly certainly did not happen overnight, and the changes that are forth coming will also take time, and that I believe we call democracy and why we have the freedom to vote -- to elect those officials that can influence and make changes for the better. Not just for Presidential elections, but for your town/city and local officials.

We can't all live in the past, but what we can do is elect the right officials who represent our own opinions and help to influence the changes we feel are important and necessary to this great state of New Hampshire.

[PROPELLER]

Well said Outlaw. I presented these same arguments to Madrasahs a couple years ago (THEN KNOWN AS I.R. & WE ALL REMEMBER HIM/HER). Unfortunately for some Winni may be a victim of its own popularity & beauty. But then again you have to expect it when you have such a wonderful area with increasing population, how do you stop that.

Please I.R., do not take offense because it is not the intention of this post but in all seriousness there are many other beautiful more peaceful lakes that would suit your needs. Moosehead in Maine is a beautiful area also & is wilderness compared to Winni, Umbagog in Errol is another example, the Adirondacks in NY have many.

I know I intend to explore all these options when I am ready to retire.

[GrandmaBig6]

I always knew that NH is the place I wanted to spend my golden years and now everyone knows too. See you in 27 years . I'll just have to keep spending my yearly vacations up there.

[jrc]

Some of the ranking based on taxes and cost of living. I'm sure that these items weighed against Lake Winnipesaukee. As we all know NH's tax structure is more friendly to people growing their wealth, we have no income or capital gains taxes. NH is a bit harder on people preserving their wealth, taxes on interest and dividends, plus a high property tax. Other states might be a better retirement value.

[madrasahs]

(...and you not once mentioned lakewater quality).

Yes, yes, we live in a great country... yes, the MPs are doing their duty...yes, we need to vote...yes, we can't live in the past...yes, memories are nice...yes, nothing is perfect...yes, democracy gives us freedom...yes, anything causes erosion...yes, we can shop in our underwear...etc.

Originally Posted by Outlaw

"I don't know that noise can be considered 'trespassing' -- if that were the case than the sound of a voice, a bird, and a wild animal would fall in to your category of noise and thus be trespassing."

It was very still yesterday morning at 5AM. Far away, about ¾-mile, I heard a Barred Owl calling. ("Who, who, who cooks for you", it called).

I also heard what sounded like a Waring blender -- right across the lake from me. It only "buzzed" for a few seconds, but repeated every 15 minutes or so. Once I had a bearing on it, I believe I heard an automatic bailer in an inboard -- ½-mile away!

(I've lost most my high-frequency hearing. My family can hear the sound that those electronic mosquito-repellents make -- I can't).

Contrast that with Labor Day on the lake when I had to hold a radio up to my ear in order to to hear it. Now that's a NOISE.(Apologies to Crocodile Dundee).

Boaters won't believe how their noise travels across water.

Originally Posted by Outlaw

"Ever think of volunteering for MP"

Sure, I'll volunteer for the Marine Patrol, but that website is "under construction." Got a better URL?

[Outlaw]

Originally Posted by madrasahs

Sure, I'll volunteer for the Marine Patrol, but that website is "under construction." Got a better URL?

First things first; State of NH web site -- this takes you to the Seasonal Help PDF for the Marine Patrol (at least while their site is under construction). http://www.state.nh.us/safety/ss/seasonalmarine.pdf
This takes you to their employment page: http://www.state.nh.us/safety/ss/eo.html and this is for the application: http://www.state.nh.us/safety/ss/employmentapp.html. Even for seasonal help you have to go through all the testing etc. (better be safe than sorry, I guess).

Originally Posted by madrasahs

Boaters won't believe how their noise travels across water.

Have to agree to disagree with you here. If you venture out to the area on the South side of Timber any given Sunday in the summer season you'll see Marine Patrol and a number of boats that are having a DB test that day. Noise does travel FAR across the water. When I sit on my porch at night I can just about hear every word the people in the boat on the other side of the bay are saying, sounds like they're right in front of me. But that's also when everyone and everything is asleep and the world is quiet, so any noise will sound amplified. Mind you, they can hear me too.

Labor day on the lake - don't know how you could depict one noise from another - this is vacation / tourist country and they are what make up a good portion of the economy around the lake, for the shop owners and such. So I welcome them, boats, motorcycles, SUV's, Horses and all... I may not like it all the time, but NH has this big beautiful lake and lots of big beautiful mountains. Would you rather we barricade them off so only the people who are registered voters here can enjoy them???? Without sufficient industry in the Lakes region (other than tourism) the residents would not have the employment they need. Those of us who are not retired still need to earn a living and without tourism we wouldn't have all the conveniences we have (no dunkin donuts, no mickey D's, don't know if we could even justify a Walmart (sorry fatlazyless). Geez - go to the LINKS on this web site and just look at all the things listed under Attractions. Are they here just for us voters - I think not, after going to the Polar Caves or Storyland a few times -- I'm tapped. So my patronage is certainly not going to pay to keep these places open and for the people to work there.

As long as the demand is there and boat manufacturers will build them (gas powered boats) people will buy them. It's always been that way -- even back in the day of the old wooden boats, with straight through exhaust, were the thing to have on this great lake of ours(now that's trespassing isn't it?).

Do you realize that some of these are actually peoples weekend/vacation homes, people that for whatever reason choose to spend their time on their boat right now -- maybe there's a point later in time where they will buy real estate, but for now they love the lake and want to be on it, and this is a great way to do it.

[madrasahs]

There's been an interesting confluence of threads here at the Forum: Noise trespass, Rudeness Trespass, and Pollution.

It seems that NH's olde approach to "The People's Right to Bother Residents" will need reappraisal -- just like the recent taxing/hosing of lakefront property on Winnipesaukee.

1) The MPs are testing noise [pollution] off Timber Island. (But what's to keep the few offenders that were actually ticketed from reinstalling the required quieting muffler portions temporarily?)

2) "Reasonableness", it seems, has been bulldozed right up to the beaches at Timber Island (by Sschaar, Belmont Resident, among others.)

Can't say I'm surprised...in fact, it was inevitable -- given the swelling numbers of Big Boaters and rack-boaters. (I called "rack-boaters", "demand-boaters" a couple of years ago here. Looks like still another term for the same thing, "valet-boater" has taken a nasty "Entitlement" turn).

Originally Posted by Outlaw

Platitude #11(a)

"...we have the freedom to vote -- to elect those officials that can influence and make changes for the better. Not just for Presidential elections, but for your town/city and local officials."

Union-Leader, today:

"Real solutions to unnecessary pollution have been offered, but the well-connected polluters have flexed their muscles with New Hampshire House and Senate leadership again and again to defeat the proposals.

"...it’s time to elect people who will work to reclaim our air and water. Environmental degradation has gotten a lot worse in recent years. Thanks to short-sighted current policies, pollution...

"But in terms of New Hampshire polluters taking personal responsibility for the pollution they cause, that has yet to happen...preventable pollution is spewed out every day. This November, let’s make sure we elect legislators whose priority is to protect us, not the polluters profits.

You didn't read the article, I guess:
http://www.theunionleader.com/articl...?article=43711 (Jet-Skis, ozone, asthma, included).

Lobbyist pressure groups is what I mean when I say that "New Hampshire Needs to Fix New Hampshire."

[Island-Ho]

Also from the same article: "And under the current administration, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has become more accommodating to the polluters." The current administration in Washington has bent over backwards to decimate the clean air act and other similar legislation, bowing to pressure from the 'pollution' industry. Let's act this fall to not only elect local legislatures who will help clean up NH, but put someone in Washington who will help them with their monumental task.

[madrasahs]

Originally Posted by Outlaw

Noise does travel FAR across the water. When I sit on my porch at night I can just about hear every word the people in the boat on the other side of the bay are saying, sounds like they're right in front of me. But that's also when everyone and everything is asleep and the world is quiet...

And when you're in your boat, you hear what? You hear only your engine!

We've seen that Winnipesaukee is #8 (out of 10) for retirement. Let's see if the Big Lake can be brought up -- not down -- by the things folks retire for.

Lakeside retirees don't want to feel their floors or lungs vibrating, don't want to smell the enhanced gases of over-muscled boats, don't want to hear the blat of "legal noise", or see indecent acts.

If they wanted to have the feeling, the smell, and the sound of Greyhound buses, they would retire next to I-93, save a bundle, and read about Winnipesaukee as it slides off the chart.

[Outlaw]

Originally Posted by madrasahs

And when you're in your boat, you hear what? You hear only your engine!

I give up...what???

Originally Posted by madrasahs

We've seen that Winnipesaukee is #8 (out of 10) for retirement. Let's see if the

Originally Posted by madrasahs

BigLake can be brought up -- not down -- by the things folks retire for..

Contradicting ones self by fussing about all the people, the boats, the boats, the boats, but yet you want to make Winni a more popular retirement spot. What about all the trash and recyclables -- there aren't sufficient resources in place to handle this yet.

Originally Posted by madrasahs

Lakeside retirees don't want to feel their floors or lungs vibrating, don't want to smell the enhanced gases of over-muscled boats, don't want to hear the blat of "legal noise", or see indecent acts..

The internal combustion engine dates back as far as 1680 http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aacarsgasa.htm and it's not going away anytime soon, certainly not in my life time. Today's "ready to retire" folks come from the baby boom generation http://www.aginghipsters.com/. Many of the 'boomers' are now empty nesters and can afford the time and have the money for the toys they have waited for. Do you think some of these toys may be boats, jet skis, snow mobiles, sports cars, RV's, and motorcycles......

Originally Posted by madrasahs

If they wanted to have the feeling, the smell, and the sound of Greyhound buses, they would retire next to I-93, save a bundle, and read about Winnipesaukee as it slides off the chart.

Now there's a thought, but I would suggest farmland in the back woods country somewhere in Vermont or Connecticut -- on second thought, senior citizens in their golden years like the warmth, so how about Florida --Florida in the Winter and New England in the summer and they can ride back and forth in the comfort of their 5th wheel on 93.