tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post7808189311034212373..comments2023-07-01T06:21:34.201-04:00Comments on it's life....: Win $30 Gift Certificate/Help Us Retire!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-64863760711856749492007-08-24T21:13:00.000-04:002007-08-24T21:13:00.000-04:00I know this contest is over, but I am personally i...I know this contest is over, but I am personally inviting you to move to Asheville, NC!! You would love it here, and it meets all of your guidelines! Wanna come to my monthly stampin' meeting? :DTrudeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05669766197332959768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-14109649613685876102007-08-21T19:08:00.000-04:002007-08-21T19:08:00.000-04:00My vote for Austin, TX. has been taken several tim...My vote for Austin, TX. has been taken several times over! There are so many advantages and so many opportunities for great living experiences in nearby smaller towns. Give it a try!<BR/><BR/>MaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-6409137924974723672007-08-21T14:20:00.000-04:002007-08-21T14:20:00.000-04:00ditto to Seattle.I can't guarantee the Al Qaeda ta...ditto to Seattle.<BR/>I can't guarantee the Al Qaeda target thing though. ;)AJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092050102818165845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-22141162879876719422007-08-20T14:54:00.000-04:002007-08-20T14:54:00.000-04:00I know your contest is over, but you may want to c...I know your contest is over, but you may want to check out this site: http://www.findyourspot.com/<BR/><BR/>Good luck!Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17426010180179555340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-77359624179578748322007-08-16T01:29:00.000-04:002007-08-16T01:29:00.000-04:00Ooh, and we have lots of cultural stuff. There's t...Ooh, and we have lots of cultural stuff. There's the Kimball Art Museum, Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, Bass Hall, & all the stuff on the Dallas side. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-55719204775316755392007-08-16T01:28:00.000-04:002007-08-16T01:28:00.000-04:00I gotta post here even though your blog candy is o...I gotta post here even though your blog candy is over. I think you should move to TEXAS!! You could move to Granbury, which is close to Tarleton State University, no hurricanes or disasters, sunny weather, no cold winters (trust me...), and close to DFW Airport. Flower Mound is also a great choice which is close to University of North Texas, Texas Wesleyan, and Texas Womens, to name a few. A little further south and you have Texas Christian Univ. I love it here!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-76158527100104010492007-08-14T16:43:00.000-04:002007-08-14T16:43:00.000-04:00I would also recommend Boise, Idaho to you. We mo...I would also recommend Boise, Idaho to you. We moved here from the Phoenix/Chandler/Tempe, Arizona area seven years ago. Boise has four seasons and not nearly as many people as the Phoenix metro area. It does get hot in mid summer but it's dry. Winters are very mild. Since we've been here, we've never had enough snow to actual shovel or interfer with travel. A few inches if we're lucky. What makes Boise ideal is even though not a huge city; its the largest for hundreds of miles in any direction so it has all the services you need - medical, university, shopping and air travel. I love our airport, not a hub but easy to navigate. Boise itself is much more liberal than the rest of Idaho if the sterotypes bother you.<BR/>If Arizona stikes your fancy, check out Prescott. About 90 minutes from Phoenix with its own hospital though no university. The weather is mild. <BR/>In Oregon, I would recommend Bend. A beautiful place.<BR/>My only question is would you like the west? It's a whole different culture than back east, very dry and in many place quite brown. Good luck with your search.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-8695903893641561772007-08-13T15:59:00.000-04:002007-08-13T15:59:00.000-04:00Well if you want almost everything on your list th...Well if you want almost everything on your list then San Antonio, Texas is your town. It has everything on your list but the bug thing. The bugs here can get big. But you can do what I did and hire an exterminator so you don't have to deal with them at all. We have a company that guarantees no bugs or they'll come back out to your house and redo the treatment. There treatments are safe for pets (a must for us because our youngest "son" Georgie is the cutest little yorkie you've ever seen.) There are colleges here the housing is cheap compared to DC, low crime, everyone's friendly, large stamping community (check out SCS), tons of culture, tons of sun, great hospitals, several aiports close by one in San Antonio and one in Austin (1 hr away) another in Houston (2hrs), never heard of any mention of SA in Al Qaeda threats, lots of sun, mild winters, no real threat of such weather. Tornadoes maybe but not that i"ve heard of here in the city. So you see, SA is the way to go. Good luck with your search. We love it and plan to retire here when DH retires from the military... two years left!!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17959886363973178553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-52806164352958713432007-08-12T14:41:00.000-04:002007-08-12T14:41:00.000-04:00Lots of people said Phoenix/Chandler, but I'd have...Lots of people said Phoenix/Chandler, but I'd have to suggest Tucson, AZ instead. Great university, small-town feel with all the amenities you need. Affordable housing,major air transport, medical facilies, culture, shopping, etc... I lived there for several years and enjoyed many quality theater performances, concerts, art shows. Also, the restaurant selection is fabulous! After moving away, several friends and I returned for a vacation and ate ourselves silly at great places. Good luck deciding!MelissaShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830791841334744251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-16567963839857691682007-08-12T00:29:00.000-04:002007-08-12T00:29:00.000-04:00Well I would have said State College but the airpo...Well I would have said State College but the airport ruled that out, so how about the Harrisburg, PA area?<BR/> <BR/>Lets see how it measures up to your requirements:<BR/><BR/>1. Near a university. Check. Penn State Harrisburg, plus several other close like Dickinson.<BR/>2. No super cold winters. Check - only a couple of degrees different than DC weather most days.<BR/>3. Housing cost of living MUST be less than the Washington DC area. Check.<BR/><BR/>4. Must have an active arts and culture scene -- music, art galleries, etc. Check - symphonies in both Harrisburg and Hershey, galleries not so sure about but I think so<BR/>5. No huge bugs. Check<BR/>6. Decent amount of sun (can't be cloudy or rainy most days). Check<BR/>7. Would be nice to have an active stamping community but this is optional (I'll just form one!). Not sure, but there is a great stamping store in York (Stamp-ede, just 20-30 minutes down rt 83) so I expect you'd be able to find a group.<BR/>8. Close to excellent medical care and not farther than an hour from a major airport (not taking no stinkin' little planes anywhere!!).<BR/>Check (Hershey Med center less than 30 minutes) and Check (HBG Int'l airtport - not super huge but that has it's advantages)<BR/>9. Must not be on known Al Qaeda target list (living through 9/11 in DC is not something I care to repeat...) Hmmmm ..... don't think it would be on that list<BR/>10. Would like to avoid major risk of: earthquakes, fires, mudslides, tornadoes, hurricanes. Am willing to trade this for active stamping community, however!! Check - for the most part; there's a rare tornado every once in awhile.<BR/><BR/>Not too bad. Maybe 8 or 9 out of 10.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-63462946896624330492007-08-11T22:13:00.000-04:002007-08-11T22:13:00.000-04:00Hi!Best of luck on your retirement!!!And thanks fo...Hi!<BR/>Best of luck on your retirement!!!<BR/>And thanks for offering a terrific prize!<BR/><BR/>I would recommend Arlington, TX. I lived there for several years...I think it meets all of your criteria. And I know there is a stamping group there. <BR/><BR/>BTW...your cock-a-doodle-do card is priceless :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-81474048029911786062007-08-11T21:01:00.000-04:002007-08-11T21:01:00.000-04:00The Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem Highpoint and Gr...The Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem Highpoint and Greensboro)or Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill) areas of North Carolina are both fabulous areas! Houses are very nicely priced in each area. Mild winters, lots of sun, no major storms, a good # major universities & medical places (Duke, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, ASU, ECU, UNC...) are close by along with several mid to larger airports. Most bugs are small to normal sized that I know of and there is lots of art, music and historical stuff. I'm not sure where the area stands on a target list - I wouldn't think its too high. <BR/><BR/>And as far as the stamping community goes, well I'm here!!! LOL! There's lots of fabulous stamp/scrap stores and tons of friendly people that stamp. And a great highlight is that you're very close either mountains or the beach for your choice of vacation! Each just a 2-3 hour drive at most!<BR/>You now have about 5 years to visit some places to help you decide!!! Have fun! Hugs to you!<BR/>~AngieAngie Z ~ Duckwaddlequackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13795808867524836714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-83582742208986843492007-08-11T20:12:00.000-04:002007-08-11T20:12:00.000-04:00Hello! I think you should come here and help me st...Hello! I think you should come here and help me start that stamping group! I live in Yorktown ,Virginia and we love it! We are retiring here.I think you would love it here! We are 20 minutes from Williamsburg and not to close but not to far away from Norfolk and Virginia Beach and having been stationed near Washington,D.C.,I know we are not as expensive as D.C.......! Good luck in what ever you decide...ElizabethElizabeth Glasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16074674647068319329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-50203301117461896662007-08-11T18:38:00.000-04:002007-08-11T18:38:00.000-04:00Well, just so happens I just retired, and many of ...Well, just so happens I just retired, and many of my hopes mirror yours. My town of choice is Prescott, AZ. Housing prices are edging up though. Let us know where you set your sights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-77715926444574960782007-08-11T03:30:00.000-04:002007-08-11T03:30:00.000-04:00Anywhere around Portland, OR would meet ALL your r...Anywhere around Portland, OR would meet ALL your requirements. Everyone thinks we have a lot of rain, but we're actually a very mild climate. Texas, the South, DC, the midwest, all get more rain than we do. We just like to tell people we get a lot of rain so they won't come flooding in (excuse the pun). Since you're a stamper, we'll make an exception -- tee hee!Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07217506183451642192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-13615775307453943542007-08-10T23:26:00.000-04:002007-08-10T23:26:00.000-04:00Cedar Rapids or Iowa City, Iowa would meet most of...Cedar Rapids or Iowa City, Iowa would meet most of your qualifications (except for the "no small planes). And I suppose, being an Iowa resident, my idea of "no super cold winters" may be different than yours. I'm enjoying reading all of the recommendations.<BR/><BR/>http://ingeniousinkling.typepad.com/SmilynStefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01803913506632383364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-2779710543355571332007-08-10T23:17:00.000-04:002007-08-10T23:17:00.000-04:00The Hampton Roads area of Virginia is great an mee...The Hampton Roads area of Virginia is great an meets your needs! This covers Williamsburg, VA all the way down to VA Beach. Great winters--cool, not frigid...maybe 1-2 cold months. LOTS o' sun, no big bugs. Universities: William and Mary in Williamsburg, Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Housing costs here have risen terribly like many parts of the country, but it's significantly better than DC. As far as healthcare, good strong community hosp in Williamsburg, nationally ranked hospital in Norfolk ( see July 16 issue of USNews) particularly in cardiac (ranked high the last 8 yrs)and this year in kidney disease/treatment. Will admit I work in cardiac and am partial to that :)<BR/>Lastly, we have an awesome symphony and opera in Norfolk....and really, only a 2-3 hr drive - depending on where you start - back to DC to see old friends.<BR/>Would be happy to answer questions if you need.<BR/>Jeannechinamomxtwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14707288612240662022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-52046151539790675352007-08-10T23:15:00.000-04:002007-08-10T23:15:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.chinamomxtwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14707288612240662022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-15007397647365934372007-08-10T22:52:00.000-04:002007-08-10T22:52:00.000-04:00I think Columbus, Ohio is the PERFECT place for yo...I think Columbus, Ohio is the PERFECT place for you, because I'm here and dying to meet you and your family, LOL. We only have gray days in the winter, but we could get together and stamp to let the sun shine in. CMH-Columbus<BR/>International Airport is down the street from me...notice the international? Housing cost are amazing compared to the northeast. We have THE Ohio State University which also has an EXCELLENT hospital with a lot of great research and new ideas surfing all the time. We also have an A1 Children's Hospital. We have Ballet Met, Columbus Symphony, Picnic with the Pops, Columbus Museum of Art, a Gallery Hop on Friday Evenings, and the BEST restaurants. Also Stampin' Up demos and good malls. Oh yes, and DICK BLICK, ARCHIVER'S, Jo Ann, Michael, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and I can't think anymore. We'd love to have you here in the midwest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-31863831259366791982007-08-10T22:44:00.000-04:002007-08-10T22:44:00.000-04:00Hello, I think Newport, RI is your place. We have ...Hello, I think Newport, RI is your place. We have Salve Regina University, lots of cultural events, the Jazz Festival is this weekend, the Folk Festival was last weekend. No bugs, wonderful beachs. We have beautiful seasons here, fall especially.<BR/><BR/>Good luck,<BR/>DeniseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-25928279727701786932007-08-10T19:42:00.000-04:002007-08-10T19:42:00.000-04:00There are some nice places near Dayton, Ohio (Nort...There are some nice places near Dayton, Ohio (North to be exact) that meet your requirements. OSU is fairly close, there's the Dayton Art Museum, the Dayton Air Show and best of all our winter's are pretty mild. I've heard there are a lot of stampers in Ohio too. Oh, and the house you described can be had for about #300,000 give or take (new). Happy Retirement!L8ybug2https://www.blogger.com/profile/13848247595752404349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-36869254144893582752007-08-10T19:40:00.000-04:002007-08-10T19:40:00.000-04:00I say Arizona!! Aournd the Chandler/Phoenix area!...I say Arizona!! Aournd the Chandler/Phoenix area! That's the same place we're headed in four more years too!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06648518456038548507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-26644550264461141662007-08-10T19:05:00.000-04:002007-08-10T19:05:00.000-04:00How about Seattle? They have a wonderful art scene...How about Seattle? They have a wonderful art scene, very diverse culture, fantastic medical care, housing is less than DC, and there is so much to do there. There are multiple universities there with lots of opportunities for retirees to audit courses, etc. It's "rainy" (picture light drizzle) from November to February, but I would not call it gloomy and the summer's there are heaven on earth!<BR/><BR/>Shawn K.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-19717348942319492072007-08-10T17:54:00.000-04:002007-08-10T17:54:00.000-04:00Got the perfect place for you!1. Near a university...Got the perfect place for you!<BR/><BR/>1. Near a university.<BR/><BR/>We have Whitman College (classifies as a university) and Walla Walla University (used to be college but recently made a university). Both are outstanding schools.<BR/><BR/>2. No super cold winters.<BR/><BR/>We have a few cold days now an then. No more than a skiff of snow now and then. Of course we are only 30 miles from some of the best snow skiing so you can get to winter easily. We are warm enough that the wine industry thrives.<BR/><BR/>3. Housing cost of living MUST be less than the Washington DC area. To give you an idea, a 4 bed, 2.5 bath home around here goes for about $600,000 give or take a couple of hundred thousand depending upon the exact location. Must be LESS than that.<BR/><BR/>A nice home for your description would be around $250,000 in a very nice neighborhood.<BR/><BR/>4. Must have an active arts and culture scene -- music, art galleries, etc.<BR/><BR/>We are known for our symphonies, concerts, galleries, plays, etc, due to the tourist that come with our nearly 200 wineries and our 2 universities and one college.<BR/><BR/>5. No huge bugs.<BR/><BR/>An occasional mosquito--have yet to be bitten this summer. Sometimes a small spider. Nothing nasty.<BR/><BR/>6. Decent amount of sun (can't be cloudy or rainy most days).<BR/><BR/>We do have some cloudy foggy/winter days, but most of the time is quite nice. <BR/><BR/><BR/>7. Would be nice to have an active stamping community but this is optional (I'll just form one!).<BR/><BR/>Oh yes! I'll join your group and you can join my 2 clubs. Big stamping fun here.<BR/><BR/>8. Close to excellent medical care and not farther than an hour from a major airport (not taking no stinkin' little planes anywhere!!).<BR/><BR/>10 minutes to an airport that can take you to Seattle in 45 minutes, but we do have 2 very outstanding Medical Centers right here.<BR/><BR/>9. Must not be on known Al Qaeda target list (living through 9/11 in DC is not something I care to repeat...)<BR/><BR/>They don't want us. All we have are sweet onions, wine, asparagus, wheat, and baby boomers.<BR/><BR/>10. Would like to avoid major risk of: earthquakes, fires, mudslides, tornadoes, hurricanes. Am willing to trade this for active stamping community, however!!<BR/><BR/>Nope, have never seen any of these in the 30 years I have lived here.<BR/><BR/>Come on over!!Donna C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10713824991010064694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25216224.post-11689642554701387152007-08-10T16:34:00.000-04:002007-08-10T16:34:00.000-04:00I gotta start with a plug for Newark, Delaware, be...I gotta start with a plug for Newark, Delaware, because, well, I live here. And I like it. A lot. And it's close to everything (that really should be our state motto...). 20 mins from Wilmington (up and coming, up and coming...) 45 to Philly, 2 hours to NYC, and if you head south, it's 1 hour to Balto, and 2 to DC. Actually, it's about 1 1/2 hours to the Greenbelt station, and that's usually what we do... love the Metro.<BR/>AND, it's the home of the University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens. Did I mention no sales tax? We're also only 1 1/2 hours from the best beach in the world, Rehoboth.<BR/><BR/>Now then, if you're tired of the East Coast all together, I have two more suggestions, both places I've spent significant time: the Phoenix, Arizona area, (except for the killer heat, and the fact that scorpions are considered a minor nuisance (excuse me?!)), and Asheville, North Carolina. I didn't read all the comments, but I'm sure somebody already recommended Phoenix, because it's awesome. So, yeah, have a looksee there.<BR/><BR/>Asheville is where I took refuge between my Bachelor's and Master's degrees. I spent a year there, and, if not mired here with kids and family and such, would move back in a heartbeat. Fabulous weather, terrific scenery, a couple of colleges nearby, great art scene, and, oh yeah, it's where Trudee lives, so you could stamp with a Dirty Girl. And I never saw a bug bigger than my thumb. Definitely within squashing size. With somebody else's shoes.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure you've gotten a ton of great ideas, but I'm also sure mine are the best. I'm kidding, I'm kidding.. everybody settle down.<BR/><BR/>Good luck picking somewhere great!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com