The Lakes Region as a retirement area

KBoater · 06-20-2008, 02:49 PM

As an early retiree, I followed the advice of my mother who retired to Wolfeboro and then started another business there. She felt that winter in NH was harder as you get older and have problems walking on ice. This made her house bound on many days. She stilled loved NH but felt she was too old (85) to go south for the winter since she did not have an established base there.
When I retired 15 years ago, I chose to go to FL for the winter and establish a base there. I am most active in FL with many friends and do so much boating there that I do not feel the need to go out every day on Winnie. I do make trips on good days. I think I have “the best of both worlds”. Since I have lived in Wolfeboro a long time(40 years), I also have great friends here and love it is the summer.
Many of my friends in FL have 2 homes. When they retired, they sold their work home(not much to do in the Suburbs)

, bought in FL and kept their summer place to go to in the summer. They are from all over the country. It is interesting to realize that the lakes in the Midwest are used similar to Winnie.

winnitru · 06-21-2008, 07:20 PM

We count the days (1399) until our retirement to the Lakes Region. Once our second son graduates, our summer vacation becomes permanent! My husband has a business and we have raised our children in Florida (not to far from FL Boater, I think).
If it weren’t for the opportunities Florida afforded us, we would never know of the bucolic shores of Winnipesaukee. Yet if I could rearrange the universe, I would have raised the boys right here in NH. The vibe is more genuine, the population more grounded. People seem to embrace character and integrity and purpose. The change of seasons, even a change in the weather, here on the lake provides a gentle drama compared to dodging hurricanes or fleeing the oppressive humidity. Admittedly, we will likely always have a place in FL. I’m pushin’ 50 now and the knees and the back are complaining of the cold in ways unheard of heretofore!
For those of you fortunate enough to be here year round… hold the fort down we’re on our way!

Lakesrider · 06-21-2008, 08:18 PM

Have to laugh a bit...As the baby boomers age, and as there are so many of us, isn't every state going to become a retirement state? If you catch my thinking.
We bought a slip and a boat at Trexlers/Quayside on Moultonborough Neck, and then liked it so much we bought a house. then rented that out in hopes of having the rentals pay down the mortgage quicker so that we could retire.
Well that changed and we decided to move here. Life is just a bit slower most of the year, less stress, taxes are a bit cheaper...until next year and we become a donor town...Arghh. People are friendlier, willing to talk politics without flipping out like our friends in Mass do. So there are many reasons to retire here. Heck we even get a Hannafords now!

Newbiesaukee · 06-21-2008, 08:48 PM

Although NH does not have an income tax, there is a 5% tax on unearned income( such as interest and dividends) over a certain amount. I believe this amount is in the ballpark of $2400 per person or $4800 per couple. Although this may be neither relevant nor important to some prospective retirees, it should be taken into consideration for those it might affect.

Ropetow · 06-21-2008, 10:03 PM

My wife and I are both Mass----- by birth. We relocated to Rochester 4+ years ago...best move of our lives. She works in a neighboring town while I commute to MA 32 or so weeks a year, 4 days a week. Our boat lives on the Big Lake now and we will eventually. Thought about moving to Alton, but with the gas prices....we are going to wait a bit. If God were to establish residence on earth, it would be in NH...in spite of the temporary takeover of the State House by the tax-and-spend crowd.

dpg · 06-23-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

taxes are a bit cheaper...until next year and we become a donor town...Arghh.

I know there were other threads about this, in a nutshell what does it mean? How much do things go up, any figures yet?

06-20-2008, 02:49 PM	#1
KBoater Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 521 Thanks: 10 Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts	2 Places As an early retiree, I followed the advice of my mother who retired to Wolfeboro and then started another business there. She felt that winter in NH was harder as you get older and have problems walking on ice. This made her house bound on many days. She stilled loved NH but felt she was too old (85) to go south for the winter since she did not have an established base there. When I retired 15 years ago, I chose to go to FL for the winter and establish a base there. I am most active in FL with many friends and do so much boating there that I do not feel the need to go out every day on Winnie. I do make trips on good days. I think I have “the best of both worlds”. Since I have lived in Wolfeboro a long time(40 years), I also have great friends here and love it is the summer. Many of my friends in FL have 2 homes. When they retired, they sold their work home(not much to do in the Suburbs), bought in FL and kept their summer place to go to in the summer. They are from all over the country. It is interesting to realize that the lakes in the Midwest are used similar to Winnie. __________________ Home Permanently in NH

06-21-2008, 07:20 PM	#2
winnitru Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: SW FL and Wingate Cove Posts: 53 Thanks: 59 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	We count the days (1399) until our retirement to the Lakes Region. Once our second son graduates, our summer vacation becomes permanent! My husband has a business and we have raised our children in Florida (not to far from FL Boater, I think). If it weren’t for the opportunities Florida afforded us, we would never know of the bucolic shores of Winnipesaukee. Yet if I could rearrange the universe, I would have raised the boys right here in NH. The vibe is more genuine, the population more grounded. People seem to embrace character and integrity and purpose. The change of seasons, even a change in the weather, here on the lake provides a gentle drama compared to dodging hurricanes or fleeing the oppressive humidity. Admittedly, we will likely always have a place in FL. I’m pushin’ 50 now and the knees and the back are complaining of the cold in ways unheard of heretofore! For those of you fortunate enough to be here year round… hold the fort down we’re on our way!

06-21-2008, 08:18 PM	#3
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Have to laugh a bit...As the baby boomers age, and as there are so many of us, isn't every state going to become a retirement state? If you catch my thinking. We bought a slip and a boat at Trexlers/Quayside on Moultonborough Neck, and then liked it so much we bought a house. then rented that out in hopes of having the rentals pay down the mortgage quicker so that we could retire. Well that changed and we decided to move here. Life is just a bit slower most of the year, less stress, taxes are a bit cheaper...until next year and we become a donor town...Arghh. People are friendlier, willing to talk politics without flipping out like our friends in Mass do. So there are many reasons to retire here. Heck we even get a Hannafords now!

06-21-2008, 08:48 PM	#4
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,363 Thanks: 962 Thanked 575 Times in 300 Posts	Although NH does not have an income tax, there is a 5% tax on unearned income( such as interest and dividends) over a certain amount. I believe this amount is in the ballpark of $2400 per person or $4800 per couple. Although this may be neither relevant nor important to some prospective retirees, it should be taken into consideration for those it might affect.

06-21-2008, 10:03 PM	#5
Ropetow Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rochester, NH / Bartlett, NH Posts: 322 Thanks: 228 Thanked 33 Times in 13 Posts	My wife and I are both Mass----- by birth. We relocated to Rochester 4+ years ago...best move of our lives. She works in a neighboring town while I commute to MA 32 or so weeks a year, 4 days a week. Our boat lives on the Big Lake now and we will eventually. Thought about moving to Alton, but with the gas prices....we are going to wait a bit. If God were to establish residence on earth, it would be in NH...in spite of the temporary takeover of the State House by the tax-and-spend crowd.