My Big Southern Retirement Adventure
Category: Retirement Planning
Editor’s note: Over a period of years we watched our friends Jeff and Paulette get ready for retirement. They thought about it a lot, made field trips, and discussed it thoroughly. Not without a little trepidation, their careful plans to retire to Greenville, SC came to pass this last summer. We are very pleased that Jeff was willing to contribute his account of how a Minnesota boy came to be retired in the heart of the South.
By Jeff Alden:
January 6, 2017 — I first started coming to the Upstate of South Carolina in the seventies to visit my future wife’s family on holidays. She was a young professor at the University of Minnesota, where I was in graduate school. I grew up in St. Paul and never questioned that I’d spend the rest of my days up North, in the country I knew so well. But every Christmas or Thanksgiving, we’d travel down to Greenville to spend time with her folks
Comments on "My Big Southern Retirement Adventure"
Barbara says:
You're a very good writer, mister!
Caps says:
Exactly our sentiments, moving from Mn to TN, except for the politics; we were outstate.
Rich says:
Nice story -- it sounds to me like you have possibilities in your new home! :<) I too was a transplanted Northerner (or rather a lifetime, military-based, world-traveler at 13 when my family moved to NC). Unlike you I didn't want to be here and had that youthful easy rejection of what I didn't like. But I WAS young and I adjusted and 12 years later after HS, college, military service and with a new family, I realized that I had become a Southerner. (Remember that old Shake and Bake commercial? "Ah lo-o-ove Shi-ike 'nn' Bi-ike! I realized it actually sounded right!)
It is an adventure as you say -- and after 55 years I feel I'm still living it... Best of luck!
HEF says:
We are planning a similar adventure, only in the other direction. We have lived in SE Tenn. for work, these past 10 years and found we do NOT have an affinity for the heat, grits, ham or sweet tea. Due to a diagnosis of Parkinsons 3 years ago, my husband (just 60) will be forced to apply for disability with in a year or two and our plans are to pack up and go north - out of this debilitating heat and humidity.
I did research and started a spreadsheet to compare locations and with family up and down the east coast we were open to suggestions. We decided that we cannot afford to go back to Connecticut or Rhode Island where we lived previously - they tax EVERTYTHING, so our plan is to head to Portland, Maine. There are still more taxes but SO much more to do! We have spent some time there checking out the medical and other things we want to do and hope to go house hunting some time this spring. The internet has allowed us to reach out and "meet" people - we had several lunch dates with new friends. We are very excited to make this change and like the folks above we hope it goes well.
If there is anyone from Maine on this site - would love to "meet" you too!!
Colorado Living says:
Jeff,
Perhaps a new vocation calls. A Minnesota Yankee barrister deliberately finding his way in the heart of the Southern Tier. Perhaps a yarn with a legal spin. The imagery of your prose is vivid and compelling. So, when will you publish?
Caps says:
We don't claim "Yankee, " we're Midwesterners!
Caps says:
Jeff,
Some nearby neighbors (from MT), tease us by telling us to "get our hillbilly on ;*)" when we act like invaders from the Northland. We just laugh!
Jeff Alden says:
Thanks, Barbara and Colorado Living for those generous comments. Really nice of you!
SandyZ says:
Enjoyable article and similar to our move from Maine to Beaufort SC. We had not checked out Greenville in our searching days a few years ago. However, during Hurricane Matthew we evacuated to Greenville and loved it, especially the downtown area. Very lively, many restaurants, and options for exploring nearby. We did not enjoy the heavy traffic however - we were glad to return to our island in the slow lane! We do plan to return to Greenville and to Asheville, NC, an hour away during the summer. Keep us updated with your suggested activities in the area! By the way, did you bring your snow shovel for this week-end's "BIG" storm?
Bob Porter says:
Enjoyed the article. We just returned to KY from SC as getting older and family felt we needed to be closer to them. But, I miss SC every day. Beautiful area, beautiful people and lots to do. We lived at Keowee Key, Seneca SC about 45 miles from Greenville. Greenville is a fun city, booming downtown with lots of great restaurants, friendly city etc. Seneca is only about 1.5 hours from Asheville-another wonderful retirement city. Seneca is also close to Atlanta-about 2 hours. Great area for retirement.
Lynn says:
Sad to say Greenville has been "discovered". We also fell in love with the place after we visited. The town has been on so many of the "best places" lists that the real estate "vultures" have invaded. We have been monitoring house sales. Folks are buying up run down houses, doing cosmetic renovations, and flipping them for literally $100s of thousands of dollars more. Buyer beware, as these overpriced houses will become anchors if there is another crash. Rentals are also ridiculously high priced. I think this happened in Asheville, too.
Norma says:
HEF, I live in Maine - work in Portland, as a matter of fact. We have been back home after spending 12 years in the Memphis, TN area. We are both very much happy to be back in Maine. If you have any particular question, you can reach me by email at umograd83@aol.com. :)
Steve says:
Jeff,
Okay Jeff want to meet some like minded friends? Look and see if Greenville has a Drinking Liberally group.
If not start one. Look up Drinking Liberally.
Here in Wi.. I Live in the reddest part of the state and we have a group. Supposedly it's the largest Drinking
Liberally group in the country.
Kevin says:
Jeff as my wife and I are in the initial stages of planning our retirement and move south I keep coming back to Greenville as the logical spot. We are currently in Ohio and have visited Greenville once. Since we do not have any friends in the area we would love to be able to reach out to you with questions as our retirement approaches. If that is something you would be willing to do let me know.
Thanks for sharing your story above it sounds very similar to the journey we are on.
Kevin January 21 2017