How Far South?

[Eagleye]

                So as we deal with the winter storms here in the northeast (and other frigid regions of our beautiful nation) our thoughts often wander to thinking about the ideal sailing location.  Don't get me wrong. I grew up in the Catskill Mountains and I totally love country living but as retirement looms closer it makes us think about warmer climate, LESS TAXES and a place where we don't have to cover our boat for 6-7 months in the year.
   It seems that if you go too far south the summers are to hot to sail comfortably so is there a place in between, east of the Mississippi, that:

-   one could sail 10 or 11 months in the year
-   has reasonable taxes (compared to NY—that's easy)
-   is not over crowed

Am I asking for too much?
What is your opinion, Folks?

-Allen

[skip1930]

Kentucky
North Carolina
South Carolina

Lines of constant latitude with in those general east coast areas listed above. I don't care for salt water.
And the same 'lines' on the West coast. Which I have never looked in that direction because their too liberal.

Texas is out unless being fried alive appeals to you.

skip.

[atrometer]

FL - NO State Income tax, low property tax.  Northern Fl is MUCH cooler than Southern FL by 15 degrees, so you can live in one area and visit the other when the heat/cold gets uncomfortable for you.  And as a trailer sailor it's easy to head to St Augustine, Key West, Pensacola, St Petersburg/Sarasota all with good sailing and more importantly great restaurants. I'm prejudice tho' 

[BruceW]

I live in NC, and it's hard to go further south, due to heat and humidity, or further north, due to cold in the winter.

I look around a lot, and if you are a coastal sailor, NC is better than SC or GA.

Lakewise, well, Kerr Lake is good up here. I like the river sailing of the Neuse the best.

Not going further inland or north, that's for sure.

PS, I moved here from MO, worst of both summer and winter.

[brackish]

The upper Gulf of Mexico.  From Apalachicola FL, to Bay St Louis, MS.  My favorite would be the Port St Joe/Mexico Beach area.  Not crowded, you have a couple of months of relative heat and humidity, but that is also when the tourists are there unlike South, FL.  the rest of the year you have it to yourself and the weather is great.

In Mississippi, if all of your income is pension, SS and a moderate amount of investment income, there is no State income tax and the property tax is about the lowest in the country.  Sales tax is 7%.  I'll end up in Ocean Springs, MS, only because I can't talk my wife into Mexico Beach.

St. Joe Bay, Wild Goose bay, Pensacola Sound and Bay, Mobile Bay, and the Mississippi Sound offer some of the best sailing grounds with lots of barrier islands and other destinations.

Yes every 30 years or so there is a Katrina or Camille, however, you don't have to go too far inland to isolate from them.

BTW, I currently live in North Mississippi and it is periodically very cold in the winter but not too much snow.  Has to do with the Jetstream always dipping in a loop to pick us up.  That said, I am looking at Wed./Thurs this week as potential sailing days.  The move south is primarily to get year round access to the Gulf of Mexico.

[BruceW]

Very cool info, Brackish; I have looked at those areas as being interesting, but didn't know that much about them.

I'm about to give up on any collaboration with a move anywhere. Doesn't seem like my wife can get over the hurricane thing. Yeah, we have 'em; she brings up a hurricane as an objection no matter where it is. If there's EVER been one, it's too risky.

Well, as we get older, I'm thinking, what about a long-term lease instead? Wonder if that is a possibility.

[jthatcher]

great question, Allen,  as  we prepare for another weak system with the potential for 3 more inches  moving in tomorrow night!    we still plan on heading north..  contrary to just about  everyone else's opinion..     I guess that the taxes in Maine are not all that favorable for retirees,  but we will be low income retirees, so there won't be much for them to take!   

North Carolina sounds appealing for lots of reasons..   sure are a lot of nice folks on this site from north carolina.. that would be something to consider   

Don't give up on NY just yet..  we still have to stop by for a visit!    jt

[Tim Gardner]

Having lived in NY both the Finger Lakes, The North Country, and the city; Texas (Houston & Austin), Louisiana (Baton Rouge & NO(favorite for food)), and now SW Virginia (Smith Mountain Lake) for the last 28 years, I would have to say VA is the best.  While TX has no income tax, there is Pers. prop. tax, MUD tax, School tax, Sales Tax, and Real estate taxes That ARE Excessive.  Louisiana - Has income taxes, gov't is corrupt, it's hot, humid, rains a lot, and FLLLAAAATTTT.  And wet, did I mention it rains a lot?

Then there's Virginia - 300 +/- sunny days Sailing from March to December, some days in Jan and Feb (not this year except for New Years Day (unusual)).  The income tax is low ~5% sales tax is low~5%, No gasoline tax Low pers prop tax only on boats, cars and trucks.  No independent local school taxes, County real estate tax rate is ~$0.50/hundred.  Mine are less than $1500/yr for waterfront property (y'all have seen pics of Timothy's Cove Lighthouse and Marina)

Need I say more?  YES! Too many ex NJ & NY residents that like all of the above but want the intrusive Gov't zoning and other restrictive ordinances they had in NJ or NY.  (I suppose that casts a poor light for you, Bob)

But I wouldn't trade this area for anything.



That's about all, Folks!  TG

[peterg]

Hey Tim- speaking for myself (former NJ, current VA resident) AND for the infamous Bob23, neither of us appreciate onerous government intrusion and regulation of our affairs! We had even considered arming our Compacs on Barnegat Bay and marauding the Governor's Mansion on those hallowed shores! The Admiral and I are loving the Deltaville area for all the fine reasons you mentioned........don't go painting us Jersey expats with that broad liberal brush! I've been trying to get Bob23 to visit down here, but he is afraid that he might not go back to NJ!! 

[Bob23]

   This is very interesting. Tim, I just bought the place next to you! Hahaha!!!!
  Believe it or not, I really like NJ. In 3 1/2 hours one can drive from coastal plain to glacial mountains. Ok, small mountains. It has great seasonal changes and unlike Skip, I like salt water. The problem here is that it's so expensive to live here.
  Most of you guys probably haven't seen the best parts of my state. The Pinelands are expansive and wonderful. The sailing is great...we don't have to deal with light or no winds in the summer.
  Having said that, I'm looking into Delaware as a possible retirement move. I still have lots of family here that I don't want to be too far away from. (Some I'd like to be REALLY far away from!)
 I'm gonna closely follow this thread.
Bob23
(ps: Just read P23's post while I was typing. NJ is a very interesting state in that the Northern and Southern parts are almost as different as the North and South of the country. I'm in the southern half
and one thing we like to mention to the northerners who visit: "Don't tell us how you do it up north!")
(pps: I might not come back!!!)
   

[Craig]

Don't rule out SW Fl. We live in Punta Gorda and sail year round. Frankly we have not found the summers to be any worse than DE where we lived for many years. The temp rarely gets above 92-93 and being near the water, there is usually a light breeze. We have been here for three years having moved from the Finger Lakes. Taxes are very low and the area is retiree friendly. The keys are a few hrs and an easy drive away as is NW Fl. We love it here and have never looked back!

[Jon898]

We went through a similar exercise a few years back as I was planning to retire from my 10-year sentence in Indiana (previously NJ, IL, PA, TX, Europe).  The solution (for us) came out to be a very "right-brain" one as the final location doesn't have the gee-whiz retirement dream of overlooking the water and seeing the boat on our own mooring.  In addition to the usual Goldilocks temperature criterion (not too cold for too long and not too hot for too long), we had a couple of others:
- reasonable airport access
- not part of a major metropolis
- genuinely friendly people
- decent boating access (lake and ocean)
- some cultural access
- far enough inland to avoid the brunt of hurricanes
- a community/development that wasn't centered on golf
- fewer thunderstorms (our home in IN burned down after a 2:16am lightning strike)

After a lot of looking we ended up just south of Chapel Hill, NC.  We're a bit over 2-1/2 hours from the Neuse and 12 minutes from the sailboat ramp at Jordan Lake, so garage to sailing on the lake is about 40 minutes singlehanded and less with crew.  I was sailing in November, and there were sailboats racing on Jordan in January.

Taxes did not sway things significantly either way once we had eliminated FL (personal decision...summer temps, storms, insurance costs, distorted real estate market).  I figure governments get their money somehow, and unless there's another source (tourists in FL, gaming in NV, oil in TX and Alaska) they'll get you anyway.

We're happy with the decision we made, but this is all very personal.  Many absolutely love FL and others don't (in NC they're sometimes referred to as "half-backs" since they moved to FL from the northeast and then moved "half way back" and ended up in NC).  It's going to be whatever floats your boat (sorry, had to say it ).

Allen, I'd recommend listening to all opinions, come up with a shortlist and then spend some time in those locations at as many times of the year as you can.  Above all though, have fun!

Jon

[tmorgan]

Virginia is great.  Four seasons. Sailing from March to December on Smith Mt. Lake.  Short trip to sail on the Chesapeake Bay.  We live in the mountains (Lynchburg) and can easily visit Richmond, Williamsburg, Norfolk and Washington, DC.

[atrometer]

PS  Moved here from Plattsburgh, NY, Sister lives in Buffalo. and I went thru grade school there.

[Eagleye]

Wow!   There is a lot of great input on this subject, folks.  I am feverishly taking notes.
Thanks for all your opinions.

Atrometer... I have a cousin that has lived near Ft. Myers for over 20 years.  She is moving back to upstate NY but for family reasons.

-Allen