O/T Where to go when I retire...

John B.

Well-known Member
My wife and I are considering moving to Minnesota when we retire say in 6-8 years. We live in Illinois just 30 miles East of St. Louis Mo. We're getting tired of the humidity when mixed with warm to hot temperatures. If it's 70? here with 80% humidity you don't want to be outside. Does Minnesota have high humidity levels? If not what's a good part of the state to move to. I like to be outdoors quite a bit and don't mind the cold weather. Some people that have never experienced high humidity with warm weather say it doesn't make any difference. Boy are they wrong!!! There's a big difference between High & Low humidity levels.
 
(quoted from post at 22:17:08 08/17/16) My wife and I are considering moving to Minnesota when we retire say in 6-8 years. We live in Illinois just 30 miles East of St. Louis Mo. We're getting tired of the humidity when mixed with warm to hot temperatures. If it's 70? here with 80% humidity you don't want to be outside. Does Minnesota have high humidity levels? If not what's a good part of the state to move to. I like to be outdoors quite a bit and don't mind the cold weather. Some people that have never experienced high humidity with warm weather say it doesn't make any difference. Boy are they wrong!!! There's a big difference between High & Low humidity levels.

I don't know about MN but I'll vouch for you on the humidity or actually the dewpoint. I live about 200 miles south of St. Louis and this year the dew point has stayed above 70 since the 1st of June. I'll take 100 degrees and a 50 degree dewpoint over an 80 degree and 75 degree dewpoint any day. My daughter moved to LaCross Wi 10 years ago to get out of the Arkansas summers. She says she will take the cold over our summer.
 
You are right. I was born and raise in Nebr. Moved to Colo after high school (1963). Worked the farm again still living in CO from 2000-2007. Hated going back there. In CO we lived at 9000' until two years ago, and now live at 8000' It is known as the banana belt. Get out of the humidity you will feel like a new person.
 
I would look for western states with low humidity an reasonable winter temperatures.

MN with all of it's lakes can be humid too. I liked the Dakotas but traveling miles to do anything is a draw back. Also you need to think about health care. Many states do NOT have as good of medical coverage for seniors as IL. If you have good private insurance that you KNOW will cover your for the majority of your retirement then it does not make much difference.

Good friend lives just east of Clinton in IL. He hates the cold and likes hot/humid. He looked into going south into the Carolina's and his share of his medical cost would have been much higher and he could not afford the move.
 
Welcome to Minnesota the "Land of 10,000 Taxes". All BS aside. It isn't a bad state to retire to. If you are Military your retirement military pension is now tax free. I live in the SW part of the state just north of I-90 and mid July to the end of Aug the humidity is brutal with the crops maturing. After that it is constant wind. Ideally from the climate you are looking for is anything north of I-94. Good Luck and Welcome if you chose our state.
 
I agree with the heat combined with humidity. Almost makes me sick to be outside. Let the humidity drop to a decent level and I feel like a different person.

I live in Arkansas and this year has been brutal. Cooled off now with lower humidity. Hope the worst is over with.
 
Stop by cIllinoiz on the way by.

Still trying to decide if I/We want to "live" anyplace else??? ☺
 
We live near Bemidji MN and love it! Yes we pay fairly high taxes but the quality of life is worth it! There is good medical care here and if it isn't good enough the Mayo clinic is only 5 hours away. Today we had 83 for a high but the humidity was only 45, a little better than normal. We have good highways and county roads and not too much traffic. Grocery costs are a little higher than Arizona but better than smaller towns. We do most of our fishing and hunting in N MN where we own property but I used to ice fish and catch a few walleyes in Lake Bemidji.
 
John B,

At times it gets hot as Hades and as HUMID as Florida, here in tropical southern Minnesota.

Conversely it gets cold as the Arctic at times in the winter.

Also there can be times of incessant winds... the kind of wind that takes your breath away when you walk across the yard, or kind of blows you around as you walk.



But then, to balance it all out - there are times when the weather is sunny and 75 with low humidity... beautiful, heavenly days - absolute perfection! And there are LOTS of great tractor shows/clubs in Minnesota.

I actually do love this land - I was born here, I'll likely die here... BUT I surely do hate the weather at times. Guess I will retire here - simply by virtue of: A.) my husband would never move and B.) our kids and grandkids are here. So I guess "here" is where we will stay.

If I had no family, I'd likely move to a state that has less extremes in the weather - especially LESS humidity. I don't know where that would be though...

I don't want to totally disillusion you... so I'll fess-up that Minnesota is beautiful! Both the south and the north land! If you like hunting and fishing, head north. If you like sea faring vessels, head even farther north to the Duluth area.

Southern MN has Mayo Clinic - so excellent medical care for one's "golden years" (though of course it's expensive... same as everywhere else). In the southern half, we have great farmland... that is WHEN it's not to wet/too dry, too hot/too cool. (GRIN)

And lastly, in reality, I guess that central heat and air conditioning actually remedy most of the "weather issues". :)
 
like the old saying "Snow, hoe handle deep the very first blizzard, and colder than a Minnesota well digger's gizzard"
 
I'm so. central Mn. born and raised. Lived here all my 62 years so I think I have some credibility with my words. You would be jumping from one fire into another.
 
We are gone for 3 months in the winter and the last 2 years when we come home we drive right in our driveway, about the first of March. Nothing has melted yet and no snow removal! But we do drive a Subaru Outback! But I think I remember some years that were different!
 
I live in semn, just 10 miles from the Mississippi River and 8 miles from the Iowa border. It can get very humid here in summer. A lot of dew points around 70, even close to 80. Property taxes are very high here because the state has lowered income taxes for the wealthy and cut funding for local governments and schools so they raise property taxes. No sales tax on clothes. People are some of nicest you will ever find. Hope your not afraid of -20? You can see snow from October through April is normal.
 
I thought most people when they moved for retirement they choose a warmer climate. My parents thought about moving from Illinois to Florida. Even though they lived at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers it wasn't humid there.
 
My suggestion is to move to Louisiana. After a year anywhere north of Arkansas will be cool and dry.
 
(quoted from post at 19:17:08 08/17/16) My wife and I are considering moving to Minnesota when we retire say in 6-8 years. We live in Illinois just 30 miles East of St. Louis Mo. We're getting tired of the humidity when mixed with warm to hot temperatures. If it's 70? here with 80% humidity you don't want to be outside. Does Minnesota have high humidity levels? If not what's a good part of the state to move to. I like to be outdoors quite a bit and don't mind the cold weather. Some people that have never experienced high humidity with warm weather say it doesn't make any difference. Boy are they wrong!!! There's a big difference between High & Low humidity levels.

Spent almost 40 years of my life east of the rockies....you won't see me moving back. I love the low humidity, no tornadoes, no floods, no mosquitos, wide open spaces of the west!
 
I've often thought about a house boat think of all the rivers you would access to. Go south in the winter and north in the summer just a thought but probably just stay here
 
Over the years I have often had this same thought. For years I checked the national temp map on NOAA.

Day in and Day out this place looks like the best, Temperature-wise. It's always in the 50's to low 60's year 'round. I think it is Monteray Bay???

I don't like a lot of people around me and that is the killer for me. But temp-wise it looks awesome!
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Spring, summer and fall are great in central Minnesota. Winters can be tough if you don't enjoy playing outdoors in the winter. The snow birds usually head south after the Christmas holidays and return in mid April after the frost is out of the ground. Some snowbirds go the the same place every winter, others travel around or rent a home in a different state every winter. Saint Cloud and Rochester areas have a lot to offer. Duluth is a great vacation destination or for young adventurous people to live year around. Myself, I would look at lakeside homes within a half hours drive to Saint Cloud, I would stay there year around.
 
There is one heck of a fire, I think 82K acres, just south of Monterey. Monterey is crazy expensive too. It also shakes. Great aquarium. CA law is restrictive (I sometimes think CA stands for Crazy America).
 
If I were you I would look at Montana. Humidity levels will be lower and the winters are quite mild with not a lot of snow in many locations. We used to live in Southern Alberta just north of there and would travel down into Montana quite often.
 
If you dont mind snow look at northern west Michigan. It is much warmer in the winter than MN, much cooler in the summer. Along the lake shore it is very rare to get a tornado, but we do get lake effect snows. never more then 3 miles from a body of water,great fishing and beaches. I live near Ludington and have the Badger crossing the lake twice a day in the summer. State park, light houses, beautiful CLEAN beach. Clear waters. Voted one of the nicest vacation spots in the country. Summers can get busy, but winters are laid back. My family has farmed here for over 110 years. Never got rich, but not sure I would leave. Check out Ludington online and see what I mean, Al
 
Remember, there isn't any "perfect" place on earth, but some are more tolerable than others.
 
You're right anyone who has lived in Illinois doesn't have a clue what REAL humidity is all about.I love the humidity really nothing like a good old hot humid night
you can hear the watermelons growing.
 
Where ever you move to. Do the locals a favor. Don't complain and tell everyone. How much better things were. Where you came from. Got a couple in my part of Texas. Moved down from Ohio.Some in town would like to take up a collection and send them back.
 
John B

I'm not a fan of humidity either. In Indiana I have Dew on grass and grass mold, which I'm allergic to.

I have two sisters that live on a lake in central Florida. They cook in summer and high humidity and mold. Winter they still have humidity issues.

Went to the Grand Canyon and wasn't a fan of no humidity, skin dry, nose bleeds.

Will you be trading your humidity problem for snow and colder winters? My arthritis doesn't like the cold.

When you find the perfect place, let us know. Good chance the perfect place will be packed with people, or cost more to buy a place, or have earth quakes and wild fires.

The only reason I don't move is family, Grand Kids.
 
A lot of times, where you move to, can depend on your finances. I moved out of the Northeast to the Midwest mainly because I couldn't afford to retire in CT. One other incentive was that both our families were still there and I wanted to get as far away from them as I could afford. One thing that can help you to decide was a recent article I read on AOL that rated each state as far as 'freedoms' go. Combinations of 'financial freedom', 'regulatory freedom', and 'personal freedom'.
 
Hi John,
I live in southern Minnesota. Yes we have the same high humidity and hi dew point weather here. This summer has been nasty for that this year. I think northern Minnesota is much different. Wish I was further North myself many days myself. Like the others say, no perfect place, but I do like it here, even though the winters seem to last 6 months. Hope this helps.
Kow Farmer Kurt
 
My bro in law lives in Puget Sound area,,,, they do not install air conditioners, the cool weather and no humidity. also beautiful area.
 
That was gonna be my suggestion. Most anywhere north of US10 would be where I'd start looking for the way of living the OP is talking about. Nobody quite understands lake effect weather unless they live here.
 
I hear Alaska's nice. Central Mn is at the tail end of the humid season. You can pour the water out of your shoes when you sleep in the straw pile. When I worked in Montana in '94 I realized that the weather west of central Montana is affected by the coastal air pushing across the Rockies and is far less humid. when it drops onto the plains headed East all that Antelope juice must make it humid.
 
I'm from southern Minnesota. We have had some brutal days here this summer, but we've also had some WONDERFUL ones! I would concur with everything SweetFeet said.
Come on up! We'd love to have you.
 
Having lived there for most of my life you have to put up with the fog and wind coming off the ocean. It has a type of cold that chills you to the bone. Median temperature is 68 degrees and a few warm days tossed in.
 
When I retire I'll be the smiley happy guy wearing a frock greeting people at Wal-Mart. Cool in the summer and heat in the winter - what more could you ask for?

This would be my welcome line:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUeu8Yp0MXg
 
I live in the western part of MN in what's known as the heart of the lakes area. It runs from Detroit Lakes in the north and Alexandria in the south and from Fergus Falls in the west to about Wadena in the east.

We can get humid here from time to time but it's not all day every day. The last couple of days have been that way but a couple of weeks before were very pleasant. Supposed to drop back now this next week. The only thing wrong with our tourist season is that they don't tell us what the bag limit is.... :lol: ! Lot of fishing in the area. I can hook up to my boat and in under an hour be at at least 30-40 different lakes with pan fish, bass, walleye, northern and Muskie in the lakes plus cats in the Mississippi and Red on the MN ND border. Isn't much in the way of small game hunting over much of the state but good waterfowl, deer and bear. I'm located about 90 miles from both Fargo and St Cloud. I laugh when I here people yell about property taxes. Compared to CA or NJ they are nothing. Winters according to the US government when they opened up MN to settlement can be "brisk" :shock: ! No, they can be brutal! Getting to -20F in the winter is normal with NO wind chill. Plus we can get a little snow. It can hit as early as late Oct (the kind that's here till spring, not very often) and we can still get nailed in early Mar. But we can in other years not see snow till late Dec or early Jan too. One thing to remember, about 90% of MN drivers totally forget their winter driving skills over summer! Every year! So the first snowfall or two you really have to watch out for them. Lot of tractor shows up here if that's your thing too. The one at Rollag MN is fantastic and takes several days to see everything. Not very high crime unless you live in the cities. We've had 2 murders in the county I live in sense 96 and 2 police shoot outs in the same time. I remember well, I retired from the Army and moved back here in 96.

Rick
 
I was born in west central Minnesota but moved to western Montana when I was 11. Settled in SW Missouri at 23, been here in Springfield since. We have a cabin on a lake 3 miles from our Minnesota farm, we go there just about every summer on vacation.

I'm not a fan of winters in Minnesota, love the summers. Skeeters are tough on the wife but don't get after me as much. Some humid days there in the summer but not like here in Missouri. I understand being sick of humidity.

Dad moved us out of Minnesota to escape feeling like crap from the weather, among other things. He loves western Montana and the weather. NO BUGS! No humidity. If its hot during the day in the summer, the temperature will still drop down to the lower 60s at night. Winters aren't bad either. The bottom of the valley is about 2600 feet elevation but you can go up to 8000 in a hurry if you need to play in the snow. I'm almost 45, as soon as I can get it arranged, I'll do everything I can to get back out to Montana. I never thought I'd even consider that when I left at 23, lol.
 
The wife's cousin is moving from the Chicago area to Arkansas in a couple of years. They bought land and are building a house there to retire to. He said even with two pensions, etc. they can't afford to stay in Illinois after retiring.

I think we'll be staying in Ohio on our little farm after we retire in 2-3 years.
 
...Get a little snow... That's esoteric if I've heard one. We won't tell them our snowfall potential. Let's just tell them to keep a shovel handy. MinnesOta's got a lot of different scenery and land scape. Parts are flat. Parts are hilly. Parts are wet. In winter when it snows it gives us something to do with our tractors when we're not hauling them to shows.
 
. We got out of N ILL. middle of June looking for something cooler, felt good, might work for you summers, can't guarantee you'd like winters though.
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Well im guessing North Carolina would be out of the question if you don't like the heat and humidity. The heat and humidity has been awful here this year.
 
I've moved over 12 times in the last 45 years living overseas and state side in Kansas (twice), Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois (O'Fallon), North Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana(twice), Georgia, California (LA), and Texas (twice). I retired to East Texas where I produce horse hay as a side business to keep sane and busy. Most states have lots to offer but I don't like places where it is cold more than a few months. East Texas is a beautiful area with year round fishing and golf, mild temps except for hot summers (not a lot of humidity) and nice summer breezes. We live on a ranch but our local small town has a school of excellence, low crime, and mostly hard working families with excellent medical facilities. Best of all, we pay no state income tax, have reasonable gun laws, benchmark business environment,and outstanding high school, college and professional sports programs. In fact, I hope none of you move to Texas as we are doing just fine. LOL
 
South west Colorado for me. Not much different than where I am now in Flagstaff, AZ. but my hobby tree farm will keep me busy and if I don't like what's going on out side the tractor shed will be plenty warm to work in.
 
No kidding. When I was in the Marine Corp at Pendleton, it was 45 degrees and raining and felt more cold than ever, and I am from the Chicago area.
 
(quoted from post at 20:17:08 08/17/16) My wife and I are considering moving to Minnesota when we retire say in 6-8 years. We live in Illinois just 30 miles East of St. Louis Mo. We're getting tired of the humidity when mixed with warm to hot temperatures. If it's 70? here with 80% humidity you don't want to be outside. Does Minnesota have high humidity levels? If not what's a good part of the state to move to. I like to be outdoors quite a bit and don't mind the cold weather. Some people that have never experienced high humidity with warm weather say it doesn't make any difference. Boy are they wrong!!! There's a big difference between High & Low humidity levels.

Take a look at W. Colo. from Grand Junction south to Colona and west to Utah border (stay away from Aspen [Yuppieville] and Ridgeway[too close to Telluride]) 8)
 
Since you are in Illinois, you are already used to the abundant corrupt politicians. In one congressional precinct in Keith Ellingsons district, there were more votes cast for him than registered voters. Again like IL, the abundant metro area runs/ruins the state!
 
It must be all in what you are used to, I guess. We'd love to have 70 & 80% right now. Last Saturday morning, Petersburg, VA., 40 miles south of me, the weather reported 80 and 100% humidity at 7 AM! It was 100 @ 3 PM Saturday and Sunday!
 
Interesting topic. But, I do have a few things to add.............
First off, I have seen the climates over a good share of the country in all four seasons. Most of the south has brutally hot summers. Most of the northern states have brutally cold winters. There is a trade-off. Up north they have BUGS!!! Mosquitoes that have to have FAA licensing and tail numbers. Gnats, chiggers, black flies, and all sorts of itchy little critters. Down south, they have lizards, spiders the size of dinner plates, and cockroaches the size of house cats.
Climate seems to have as much to do with altitude as anything. Parts of West Virginia never get warmer than the low 80s. Parts of Massachusetts get regularly into the 90s in the summer with coastal humidity to boot.
So, there is probably no ideal climate for all year around. But there is one thing that I came to realize before I actually did retire. Where I am is HOME. Little things like all of my friends accumulated over a lifetime are here. I know where things are - like the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker. I know my way around the streets of the city as well as the more rural areas around me. So the thought that came to my mind was "why would I want to leave here?" So that I can start all over again getting to know people, finding where to shop, where to get my car serviced, where the best gas prices are, who has the better produce, ands a host of other everyday things that we usually never think about. At this time of my life, there really is no other place that I would like to live. Many places I would like to visit, but THIS IS HOME!!!
 
Plus,,your shelves are full of that great tomato sauce and all .Too much trouble to pack all that up and move! lol...(you make the best tomato sauce I have ever had)
 
(quoted from post at 05:02:04 08/18/16) Where ever you move to. Do the locals a favor. Don't complain and tell everyone. How much better things were. Where you came from. Got a couple in my part of Texas. Moved down from Ohio.Some in town would like to take up a collection and send them back.

Boy, I will second that! What I could never figure out is WHY did they move HERE when they were living in Heaven on earth?
:twisted:
 
I've lived in eastern Wyoming for better part of 17 years. Very low humidity, which makes the summers bearable. It does get warm here. We do get snow in the winter, but it does not stick around like it does in North Dakota/Minnesota. It will snow one day, then the temps get above freezing and the snow is gone. My biggest gripes about living here is the
frickin' winds in the winter and not a lot of trees.
 
My wife and I are looking for a place to stay in the summer months when we retire. I've lived in Arkansas my whole life but I hate the summers. The heat isn't too bad and I don't worry about the humidity but the dewpoints are miserable. This year it has stayed above 75 and a couple of times got above 80. The insects and snakes have been worse this year but are always pretty bad. On the other hand the fall and winters are usually great. Sometimes we have a few weeks of snow and cold but not often.
We love the Rockies in the summer and are looking for a spot that we could set up a travel trailer for 3-4 months, western Montana is one of our favorite summer spots.
 
My wife and I will be staying at a BNB there in Ludington in 3 weeks. Then we want to ride the sand dunes in a rental Dune Buggy.
 
Well I read all of your posts and they were all very interesting to read. I want to thank all of you that commented on my thread. I didn't expect this many replies. I have always had in the back of my mind it would be Montana or Wyoming. So all of you have helped me narrow it down. Thanks again everyone!!
 
I've lived in NE Minnesota all my life (66 yrs). I'd love to get out of here, but don't know where to go.
Winters are rough usually. We have at least a month more of winter than southern Mn. Many people have moved here, especially in the summer months. Most are environmentalists with ideas different than us natives. They don't want any one to use the natural resources is their biggest peeve. We have a foolish governor (Dayton) and many politicians from the bigger cities on his side. There has to be better places than Minnesota.
DWF
 
(quoted from post at 19:49:08 08/19/16) Well I read all of your posts and they were all very interesting to read. I want to thank all of you that commented on my thread. I didn't expect this many replies. I have always had in the back of my mind it would be Montana or Wyoming. So all of you have helped me narrow it down. Thanks again everyone!!

Spearfish canyon or Custer area in western SD would be my choice before WY...both have no state income tax. Sheridan WY would be my choice if I lived in Wyoming, Casper suburbs second. Billings suburbs or Missoula suburbs if MT (no sales tax), Boise suburbs or Coeur d'Alene area in Idaho (low property tax), Spokane area in WA (no state income tax), St George UT (Low property tax)...LDS are clickish, but they are getting watered down by outsiders. Mesquite, NV (no income tax). If you are a lib, the Willamette valley in OR (no sales tax) would suit you. Northern CA if you must :)
 
My wife and I have a friend who lives in Winona. We're going to visit next weekend again and I love it there. Honestly tempted to move that direction once the farm is sold. Hardest part is finding a job that's worth the move, but being a machinist I've got some skills that pay decent.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
States have to have a source of income. States with no income tax, do they have a sales tax instead? How much?
 
(quoted from post at 09:08:41 08/20/16) States have to have a source of income. States with no income tax, do they have a sales tax instead? How much?

MN has both.

MN and ND have the same dream too. They both dream of having a professional foot ball team...... :lol:

Rick
 

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