Parades anyone?

[mtsoxfan]

I've always enjoyed parades growing up, still do. Of the 3 major parades, Macys on Thanksgiving, Rose Bowl on New Years, and the Mardi Gras, which do you enjoy most?
I prefer the Rose Bowl parade.
Macy's seems to be stuck in tradition, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but seems stale and boring to me. The balloons seem commercialized and I'm out of touch with cartoon characters. Great, if you're a kid.
Mardi Gras is entertaining, but I tire of seeing all the drunks and the shenanigans.
The Rose Bowl seems to always bring a new look each year.

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[woodworker]

Don’t watch them but the team decorated my 30 foot GN trailer several years and I pulled it in the Smithfield Christmas parade several

 

[woodworker]

Don’t watch them but the team decorated my 30 foot GN trailer several years and I pulled it in the Smithfield Christmas parade several

 

[woodworker]

 

[AzScorpion]

I really never watched them even as a kid but Annie still does. I'll watch the Rose Bowl game does that count?

This is the only parade I've watched in years. The golf carts and side x sides parade up & down the streets here decorated for Christmas. After they all meet up at the pool for drinks then a bunch of drunks drive back through the neighborhood.

 

[mtsoxfan]

That's got me written all over it. Our stay in Vermont will be ending in the next year or so. Researching places more like that, plus easy access to restaurants, shopping and more important, quality and plentiful healthcare. driving 1.5 hours will get old, as we do.

 

[woodworker]

That's got me written all over it. Our stay in Vermont will be ending in the next year or so. Researching places more like that, plus easy access to restaurants, shopping and more important, quality and plentiful healthcare. driving 1.5 hours will get old, as we do.

Brother and his wife lived in Brattleboro and worked at VY till it closed. They got tired of the four seasons (June, July, August, and Winter) and moved to NC.

 

[AzScorpion]

That's got me written all over it. Our stay in Vermont will be ending in the next year or so. Researching places more like that, plus easy access to restaurants, shopping and more important, quality and plentiful healthcare. driving 1.5 hours will get old, as we do.

The only thing you'll regret is not doing it sooner! I lived in the country (8,000 population) back in MA and while I loved my house and community I couldn't take the cold, snow, high taxes and long commutes anymore. So at 51 I moved away and never looked back nor have I ever been back. lol

They don't call it Taxachusetts for nothing! Just to give you an example my last house there I built it in '97 1,800 sq ft on 3 acres and it was $5,200/year in property taxes when I sold it in 2011. The house in AZ was built in 2007 1,700 sq ft and was $1,300/year in taxes. Roughly the same size but 10 yers newer and 3/4 less in taxes. When I sold my last house in AZ the property taxes only went up to $1,650/year. Your retirement budget goes a lot farther moving out of the N'east.

 

[mtsoxfan]

The only thing you'll regret is not doing it sooner! I lived in the country (8,000 population) back in MA and while I loved my house and community I couldn't take the cold, snow, high taxes and long commutes anymore. So at 51 I moved away and never looked back nor have I ever been back. lol

They don't call it Taxachusetts for nothing! Just to give you an example my last house there I built it in '97 1,800 sq ft on 3 acres and it was $5,200/year in property taxes when I sold it in 2011. The house in AZ was built in 2007 1,700 sq ft and was $1,300/year in taxes. Roughly the same size but 10 yers newer and 3/4 less in taxes. When I sold my last house in AZ the property taxes only went up to $1,650/year. Your retirement budget goes a lot farther moving out of the N'east.

You are correct. We did our research before moving here from CT, we knew what we were getting into. Life/health changed as well as our desire to live in peace and tranquility at the price of convenience. I don't want to be a retired worker bee anymore, although my mindset my whole life has been self worth. Health change has been a struggle on that front, so I am willing to give up all my chores that I create for myself. I would have to have other ways to occupy my time, and outside doing anything fits me well. Wife, who hates winter, is interested in NH for the taxes, or lack of. I'm ready to give up my 4 (or 5,6 seasons) and find a 3 season area.

 

[AzScorpion]

You are correct. We did our research before moving here from CT, we knew what we were getting into. Life/health changed as well as our desire to live in peace and tranquility at the price of convenience. I don't want to be a retired worker bee anymore, although my mindset my whole life has been self worth. Health change has been a struggle on that front, so I am willing to give up all my chores that I create for myself. I would have to have other ways to occupy my time, and outside doing anything fits me well. Wife, who hates winter, is interested in NH for the taxes, or lack of. I'm ready to give up my 4 (or 5,6 seasons) and find a 3 season area.

The area of AZ we're in now is really nice. There's only 23,000 here and in the spring that's cut in half when the snowbirds leave. At 3,000' elevation the summers aren't to hot and the nights actually cool down. Winter so far has been perfect with nights in the 40's and days around 68 and some mid 70's. I haven't even turned the heat on yet!

Just about everything you need is right here and Tucson is only a 25 minute drive up the 19. We have a Recreation Center that most houses have to join (it's attached to the house when sold) that's $545.00/year. With that you get access to 15 different Rec centers which have everything from workout rooms, billiards, ping pong tables, all sorts of crafts, tennis and pickle ball courts. They also have an entertainment center where they have comedy shows, trivia nights and tribute bands which is separate from the casino that also has tribute bands that are free. I just purchased tickets for the Eagles, 3 Dog Night and the Beatles tribute bands all in February. These are better bands (they travel the country) than the casino has but well worth it for $30/each. Then there's endless hiking, biking and golf. You really can't be bored here.

 

[Chris M]

You are correct. We did our research before moving here from CT, we knew what we were getting into. Life/health changed as well as our desire to live in peace and tranquility at the price of convenience. I don't want to be a retired worker bee anymore, although my mindset my whole life has been self worth. Health change has been a struggle on that front, so I am willing to give up all my chores that I create for myself. I would have to have other ways to occupy my time, and outside doing anything fits me well. Wife, who hates winter, is interested in NH for the taxes, or lack of. I'm ready to give up my 4 (or 5,6 seasons) and find a 3 season area.

We have summer, fall, and spring here in the PHX area.

 

[mtsoxfan]

The area of AZ we're in now is really nice. There's only 23,000 here and in the spring that's cut in half when the snowbirds leave. At 3,000' elevation the summers aren't to hot and the nights actually cool down. Winter so far has been perfect with nights in the 40's and days around 68 and some mid 70's. I haven't even turned the heat on yet!

Just about everything you need is right here and Tucson is only a 25 minute drive up the 19. We have a Recreation Center that most houses have to join (it's attached to the house when sold) that's $545.00/year. With that you get access to 15 different Rec centers which have everything from workout rooms, billiards, ping pong tables, all sorts of crafts, tennis and pickle ball courts. They also have an entertainment center where they have comedy shows, trivia nights and tribute bands which is separate from the casino that also has tribute bands that are free. I just purchased tickets for the Eagles, 3 Dog Night and the Beatles tribute bands all in February. These are better bands (they travel the country) than the casino has but well worth it for $30/each. Then there's endless hiking, biking and golf. You really can't be bored here.

We got married in AZ, and loved the area. Sedona, then traveled north to GC, Flagstaff etc. Wife wants to stay east-ish in case grandkids appear. That's a fight I can't win, not sure if I should even try.

 

[mtsoxfan]

We have summer, fall, and spring here in the PHX area.

PHX is a strange area, at least when we were there. As in nobody downtown at the 3 oclock hour. Too hot, And 115* the day we were there. I'd rather have cold then that kind of heat.

 

[AzScorpion]

We got married in AZ, and loved the area. Sedona, then traveled north to GC, Flagstaff etc. Wife wants to stay east-ish in case grandkids appear. That's a fight I can't win, not sure if I should even try.

Nope, sometimes you have to pick your battles and I found when it comes to kids or grandkids the woman usually wins those. lol I just can't do humidity anymore. I thought I could but I was wrong so anything east of the Rockies are out for me.

Sedona is one of our favorite places, we've been there over a dozen times and we never get sick of going there. We stay at a golf course resort in Cottonwood which is only 16 miles south of Sedona off 89A. It's a nice small town with shops, local restaurants and a few wineries around and way less money than up in Sedona. Good luck with your search and move!

 

[mtsoxfan]

Nope, sometimes you have to pick your battles and I found when it comes to kids or grandkids the woman usually wins those. lol I just can't do humidity anymore. I thought I could but I was wrong so anything east of the Rockies are out for me.

Sedona is one of our favorite places, we've been there over a dozen times and we never get sick of going there. We stay at a golf course resort in Cottonwood which is only 16 miles south of Sedona off 89A. It's a nice small town with shops, local restaurants and a few wineries around and way less money than up in Sedona. Good luck with your search and move!

It was 2008 when we got married. We stayed 1 night on a good looking par 3 among the rooms. I won't do humidity in FLA. As long as I don't have to live inside due to humidity or cold, I'm good. I really liked the Flagstaff area for weather. Sedona was nice, lots of gypsy type shops, incense, mud baths etc. beautiful area. We actually got married in a state (?) park along a river. Moon Canyon or something totally different name.

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