Here's some advise from someone who has lived in small towns all of my life until now (Salem is the capital of beautiful Oregon). In small towns, everyone is related (I exaggerate). Don't ever enter into gossip because you will be talking about someones cousin, brother in law, step mom, step sister or step brother. You get the picture. Zip the lip and listen carefully.
Source: I was a hairdresser in a beauty shop before I retired.
By hopeful from Salem, OR
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
We have 8 years before the hubby retires. We are looking to move out of California; are there any towns out there like Mayberry any more?
We are looking for somewhere with trees and that doesn't get a ton of snow. We are hoping for a community where shopping is available, there is a hospital in town, and we don't have to travel an hour just to get food.
Are there any towns that will welcome out of towners? We know of 3 people that moved to a small town (2000 or less) and the town snubbed them cause they didn't grow up there. Is there such a town now a days? So far we love Missouri and Arkansas.
By tammy
The Greenbrier section of Chesapeake, Virginia has everything you want.
Also look into Edenton and Wilmington, both in North Carolina(but don't be fooled by Carolina's "no personal property taxes" -- they make up for it with other taxes).
Savannah, Georgia is not a small town but it has a small town feel.
Williamsburg, Virginia is another possibility.
Dothan Al is the best & cheapest place to live, go to their website. You will find lot of info there. We love it. Everybody is friendly country people, you can even buy fresh veggies in spring & summer at the farmers market, email the mayor or the city manager.
Located a few short miles from the state lines of Florida and Georgia, Dothan is one of the region's most progressive cities. The community offers a mild winter climate, affordable housing, low property taxes, and a wide variety of products and services that includes healthcare, education, shopping and cultural entertainment.
The Dothan area embraces the best that life has to offer, providing its residents not only modern conveniences and amenities of much larger cities, but also retains the charm and friendliness of the South. Whether you are visiting, a resident, considering moving to Dothan, or contemplating a business venture, the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and our surrounding communities welcome you. If you decide to make Dothan your home, we hope this section of the web site will help to make your transition a smooth one.
Dothan is one of the region's most progressive cities. The area embraces the best that life has to offer, providing its residents not only modern conveniences and amenities of much larger cities, but also retains the charm and friendliness of the South.
Located a few short miles from the state lines of Florida and Georgia, you are within a three-hour drive from the foothills of the Appalachians in Birmingham or on the sugar white sands of Panama City Beach, located 78 mile south of Dothan.
You can find a fishing and hunting paradise within a 25-mile radius of Dothan. Golf is also very attractive at four public golf courses, including Highland Oaks, a stop on Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Leisure recreation and all its amenities are beautiful in Dothan.
Being on a fixed income, retirees also fall into a lower Alabama income tax category. Income from specified retirement systems and benefits received under a "defined benefit plan," as defined under Section 414(j) of the Internal Revenue Code, are exempt from Alabama income tax. For federal retirees, there is no state tax on such income. lelentrader.com
The only thing that stands out to almost all newcomers in Dothan is the people. Nowhere will you ever find a community of people who are friendlier and more caring. Residents that move into the area discover something wonderful about Dothan...it's the perfect place to live.we have 2 large hospitals here. good luck.
How about Mount Airy, NC, the actual "Mayberry"? :-D
I have a friend who lives in CA in a town called Morgan Hills which is near San Jose and loves it. There is no traffic to speak of and still has the shopping available.
I am sure you will find some place. My town of Nipawin, Saskatchewan pop about 5000, would be one, but I am afraid that the climate would not be to your liking. We have lovely trees, lots of recreation facilities, good stores, but -- we do get lots of snow and cold weather. However, we like it. We cross country ski, curl, downhill ski, snow mobile, ice fish, old time dance, take classes, and so on in the winter.
Good luck in your search.
We live in a small town, With a board of Selectmen, A firechief with the bad case of the "I wants". and the same with the Police Chief. Our Property tax bills are over $30.00 per $1000.00.( Very High)
Small towns are not all that great. Don't come to Allenstown, NH, you will not be happy.
We are getting out of this town. Allenstown, NH is not getting better, but much much worst. To many game being played, as they say, with the resident . Make sure you do your homework and research everything about the town. Ask alot of questions about everything. Example I live in a flood zone, two flood in 11 months. Homes have been buy-out due to flooding & thrown down, But, A newer home in this area is up for sale. The listing states Flooding is "U" unknown. AGAIN be very careful in your relocating to a small town.
Sorry, Tammy, I don't have suggestions for you about where to move; but do think twice before you move to a small town because I've also heard of a lot of people (nice, friendly people) who moved to small towns and were snubbed by the people there because they (the newcomers) didn't grow up there. From what I hear it happens most of the time: they say that people are friendlier to newcomers in huge places like NYC than they are in most small U.S. towns.
So my question is to any ThriftyFunners who've lived in a small town all their life: why do so many of you react that way to newcomers? (Not judging, got no plans to move to a small town any time soon because of this very problem; but I'm just really curious about why people react this way, maybe something hardwired into humans from our tribal days?)
Consider Alabama. I live in Decatur, north Al. My town is probably bigger than you would like, but we have some charming small towns nearby. Hartselle, Athen, Trinity and Moulton. All are close to Huntsville.
Check out this town, Perryville Mo. About 80 miles south of St. Louis and 35 miles north of Cape Girardfeau, MO
www.perryvillemo.com/
CBS Sunday Morning did an excellent show on Ashville, NC.
Asheville, N.C., May 17, 2009
Not Your Grandfather's Retirement
Aging Baby Boomers Aren't Content Spending Their Post-Career Years Idle And Are Finding New Ways To Retire
here is the link: www.cbsnews.com/
It is definately a place I would consider!
I live in Missouri and am familiar with Arkansas. I can suggest some towns in both areas for you to visit. You should be able to see them all in a couple of days if you fly into to Missouri and rent a car. Clinton Missouri is a quaint small town with a town square that seems to be thriving. The population is around 9000 people and is not far from Truman lake. Boonville Missouri is a small bedroom town not far from Columbia- where the university is located- looking over the Missouri river.
Ozark Missouri is located outside of Springfield Missouri and has a small town feel to it. Moving into Arkansas Eureka Springs, Holiday Island are both very pretty places to live as is Mountain Home and further south Hot Springs. My advice to you is to take a vacation and spend an afternoon in each place.
Don't talk to realtors or town leaders on your first trip. Go to the hardware stores, the gas stations, and the small business located in the area. This will give you a real feel of the people not just what they want visitors to see. I have lived in rural communities my entire life and understand the good and the bad that comes with it. No one is more loyal then a small town nor is any place more dramatic. Good luck to you. Feel free to drop me an email if you need more info.
The Tri Cities in south central Washington State. It's about a three and a half hour drive to Seattle, Washington or Portland, Oregon and there is an airport here if you don't want to drive and also a Greyhound bus and train service. The population for the Tri Cities is about 240,000. The draw back for you might be that there are not a lot of trees but the people are very friendly to outsiders. I know that first hand ;-)
There's lots of places to shop, some museums, theater, wineries and three major rivers merge here. When it does snow (rarely) it doesn't stay on the ground for more than a few days and is never more than four or five inches. Since you're speaking of retirement age there are also excellent doctors and hospitals. The best part is that it's totally economically reasonable to live here!
If you like attending plays and concerts, you might want to consider a town with a college or university. Think about what you will do with your free time, is it close to an airport if you want to travel some? Keep in mind how far your family will be from you, and if it will be convienent to get together
If you are the type of person who leaves friends behind, you will be able to make many new friends.
Like the previous poster I wanted to advise you to also look at property taxes, state taxes and any other tax for the State/town you are considering. As a retired individual your income is limited (or not if you have other income) and to be stuck paying high State, sales property etc taxes would not be offset by living in a quaint town.
I personally like TN Smoky Mountains foothills area. Very quaint small towns, low property taxes, no income tax but sales tax are about 9%. What ever you do please do not come to South Florida! It is no longer the retiree mecca.
Good luck hope you find your dream town!
Just curious, should have been a sociologist, I guess, but why should Tammy, or any other retiree, not go to South Florida, Annae? Is it because you live there and don't like the place or you live there and do like the place but it's the "small town not wanting outsiders" thing again? (No offense, just curious; been hearing so much, both in the media and from people I know, about unfriendly small towns lately.)
I have lived in a small town, less then 300, for 10 years now. I still do not feel I fit in with the women that live here. I am a widow. My husband got sick almost soon as we moved here and died soon after. During that time I was home-bound caring for him. A few ladies did try to make friends with me at that time, out of their christian duty I suppose. They were very interested in me joining their church and bible study. When I resisted that they lost interest. Not that I do not believe in God, I do I am just not much of a joiner of anything.
The only other way to get to know people is volunteer fire department ladies AUX. Ugh, I attended a few meetings. I got to helping pick-up our town highway trash. At first I had a helper and then I got 4 miles of road to pick up by myself! Come on ladies. But several of the ladies had quit, so we were all short on help.
Then I got Lyme disease. I was very sick. It took 2 years to get a positive lyme test. So for all that time I was sick as a dog and had no idea why! So I became pretty much home-bound. Nobody seemed to notice I was even sick let alone alive. lol
Now I am feeling better, but am just kinda stuck in a rut about not having anything to do with anyone. Is it time for a move or what?
By Barb
