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Post by Sheryl on Apr 4, 2014 21:05:08 GMT -5
I turn 50 in a few months... boo hoo... but beats the alternative as the saying goes!
anyway, I have lived below my means and been an aggressive saver. I realized that if I am willing to live economically, early retirement is definately a possibility for me. Like within the next 3-5 years.
I am very tied to the Seattle area, but it is an expensive area to live and I am getting tired of northern winters. I am thinking hard about living up here in the summer and sorta snowbirding (but with horses!) somewhere warm, sunny and horse friendly from say Nov to about May.
I recently visited a place in Mexico that would fit the bill, but really curious about places in the USA that I should consider.
This forum is such a wealth of knowledge and resources, I thought I would ask here!
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Post by Newfygirl on Apr 4, 2014 21:25:54 GMT -5
That sounds like it would be great! My parents have a condo in Fort Myers, FL. Within their complex is a woman who does exactly what you would like to do. She takes her horse with her and boards in FL when she is there for the winters.
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Post by Idaho Linda on Apr 4, 2014 22:50:34 GMT -5
Healthcare is going to be your biggest obstacle. Who knows how this is going to end up--certainly not me.
I had a friend who used to take his horses to Wilcox, AZ each year. That is a very interesting part of Arizona with lots to see. And, remember, there is no need to go to the same place each year. There is a lot of open country.
Wildfire lives down there, not too far from Tombstone. It might be worth seeing what he knows.
I've spent a lot of time in that area. It starts getting hot in April.
There are a lot of people who do this. And, you know, you have to live somewhere and eat somewhere that half of the year. Why not be able to enjoy your horses at the same time?
Have you seen the program "Best of America By Horseback" on RFD-TV? They go all over the US (and other places as well) showcasing great riding and great horse facilities. I've seen some beautiful riding spots on that show. And, in places I would not have put on my "short list."
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Post by Marci on Apr 4, 2014 23:47:38 GMT -5
I know quite a few snowbirds. Two with horses. Both go to so Cal. But I imagine Az or NV would be a good choice.
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Post by Frostym on Apr 5, 2014 7:16:53 GMT -5
Isn't the point of Obamacare that anyone can get health insurance and not be tied to a job? I think retiring early is a great idea but at 52? That's really young. Usually your fifties are your highest earning years. With your smarts and your drive would you be satisfied to do nothing productive? My fifties were my most exciting and productive years but I work in a family business that fascinates me, so that's just me. Anyway, keep us posted on this. Sounds interesting.
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Post by DorothyB on Apr 5, 2014 7:37:38 GMT -5
Great topic - not sure if I've said anything about it here as I'm trying to keep it relatively quiet - but I am retiring at the end of July this year at age 56 years 7 months. Sounds like you might retire just a bit younger than me. Like you, I had lived below my means for a while, etc. I had planned to retire in 2015 or 2016, but with reorganizations at work, etc. they decided I was "over-qualified" for my current position after it moved to a new building and had maybe 10% of it changed. So, even though I "exceed expectations" on my annual review, they weren't sure if they could find a new job for me - and if they did, it would likely be using a different accounting system, a different part of the business, etc -- so I decided to tell them not to look and will retire with a severance package including 6 months pay due to my length of service (over 25 years).  As Linda said, I think healthcare will be a huge issue. For me, I'm "lucky" enough to have company sponsored retiree medical. Hopefully that remains in force. Without getting into politics, I HATE Obamacare (and did before I found out last night that it is now against the rules for the church to subsidize our pastor's health insurance). The other big issues are: 1) inflation - the increased cost of living. It is amazing what inflation can do - at 2 1/2% inflation, if it costs me $51K to live in 2014 at age 56, that will become over $100K by 2042 at age 84 and over $150K by 2058 at age 100. Now, we do have impact over some of that. If apples get too expensive, we can eat pears. Others costs we don't have as much control over. We can drive less or adjust the thermostat, but only to a certain point. Things like property taxes or auto insurance or . . . are less in our control. 2) taxes - I keep hearing rumors that tax rates will be rising, but I've been just ignoring the issue 3) will social security be there for us? I'm assuming yes 4) purpose in life, etc - I've been doing some reading (if you can get Joy of Financial Security at your library, I recommend it). People who are active, have purpose / goals / relationships / etc after retirement live longer. You don't want to retire and find that you are just sitting around the house watching TV. You have your horses so won't have as much of an issue with that as some might. I LOVE the idea of retiring early and having time to ride, etc and not having the stress of work - I've discussed my finances with a financial planner and he thinks that I won't run out of money before I die. I'm considering buying a small patch of land near friends in Panama and putting a very small (500 sq ft max) house there. I won't "move" to Panama, but might stay there for a while at a time when it is too cold or too hot to ride in Texas |
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Post by Sheryl on Apr 6, 2014 21:21:54 GMT -5
I don't want this to become a thread about healthcare politics but we all recognize it is a huge issue. I am not thrilled with every element of the healthcare act...Obamacare..but I have personally seen benefits. My good friend who has run her own business for 25 years but doesn't get rich at it has always bought high deductible private insurance, what she can afford. Now at age 62 she can afford her first mammography and colonoscopy thanks to Obama care. I also love that I can keep my boys on my insurance a bit longer thanks to Obama care. If you want to fight about it, I think everybody would appreciate it it stays off the board and discussed in private messages but I have as much right to my opinions as well as sharing facts that round out the picture a bit as anyone else.
What I really want to discuss is horse communities with super active retirees. I want to go to the same place and make friends. That is much easier if many people just moved ... tend to be more socially open. I am from the Seattle freezezone...there really are differences!
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Post by Idaho Linda on Apr 6, 2014 21:49:27 GMT -5
Sheryl, I agree--I am not discussing healthcare on this board--other to mention that it is a huge early-retirement issue and whoever is considering retiring needs to understand the issue.
I've shared all I know about taking horses south for the winter--other than, I too would really like to do that.
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Post by DorothyB on Apr 6, 2014 22:37:00 GMT -5
Sheryl, sorry - I wasn't really trying to get into the politics - but the changes could impact our retirements.
Two differing thoughts on the horse communities - 1) the option of going a different place (or places) each year or 2) building relationships by going the same place each year - in many ways I like the second option better. Plus you won't have to find a vet & farrier in different places.
Can you afford boarding (or work in exchange for board?) for your winter home? Of course, that will depend on where it is. Maybe the first year or two you can spend a month in AZ, a month in TX and a month in FL?
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Post by Idaho Linda on Apr 6, 2014 22:56:59 GMT -5
Sheryl, there is a place I have thought seriously about. That would be either Lewiston or Clarkston (take your choice of states.) You aren't that far away, but you have much better weather. Very horse-friendly area.
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Post by Sheryl on Apr 7, 2014 8:26:01 GMT -5
Sheryl, there is a place I have thought seriously about. That would be either Lewiston or Clarkston (take your choice of states.) You aren't that far away, but you have much better weather. Very horse-friendly area. Very interesting but too snowy. They average 25"a year and I am shooting for zero. I like your ideas though so will check out more. It is important for me to find an area that is socially open...easy to meet people. I have the benefit of being able to check some of this out while I am still working if I want. |
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Post by ride4fun on Apr 7, 2014 9:31:49 GMT -5
There are snowbird horse communities in AZ. A retired couple from my sisters trail-riding group out of ND winters in one but I don't recall the name. Perhaps it is not really a big deal in real life but I think it would be a much bigger hassle to take horses back and forth across the international border than going to AZ, NM etc. Need proof of some vaccines and a detailed health exam/horse visa I believe. As opposed to getting a Coggins test and basic health cert for state to state travel.
Plus towing back and forth might become an adventure, not sure the highway infrastructure and security is all that once out of a smallish radii of the tourist or retirement enclave areas. Unless you were thinking of buying a horse there and boarding it remotely while back in Seattle and boarding your Seattle horses out while you were down south.
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Post by Idaho Linda on Apr 7, 2014 10:44:23 GMT -5
Sheryl, Here is a better look at the climate in Lewiston. It does not get 25 inches of snow a year. You got some bad information somewhere. I've been down there in January, sitting in 6 inch high grass soaking up the sun. I have friends who live there. However, I agree, it may not be what you are looking for. The advantage was that it was close for a "trial run." And, since you have the option of Clarkston, you don't even have the hassle (and cost) of crossing the state line with horses.
What you will find down in the southwest is wind. Be sure to put that on your list of things to check out.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2014 13:51:54 GMT -5
I have always wanted to look into Aiken, South Carolina. From what I've heard (which may be completely outdated by now) a lot of northern horse owners winter there. There is supposed to be a very large city park (I think 2000 acres?) that butts up (can I say "butt?") to the town. You can literally ride for hours and then come to town and tie up and have a nice lunch. The downside is it may be pricey. But it might be something else to research! |
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Post by pamz on Apr 9, 2014 11:17:27 GMT -5
Retirement?? Hell, I'm just getting started in my new venture.  |
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