Our Retirement Story

How finances, health, and quality of life shaped our decision.
What we did about the last-third of our lives. where to retire. I guess it dawned on us that Chicago wasn't cutting it any more and another place might fit our back third better.

About thee years ago, Terre and I GOT serious about

My wife and I are  retiring to Oregon from the Chicago metro area. Precisely to Troutdale, the eastern edge of the Portland metro area. Since they have master regional planning this is as far east the metro will grow. A half of mile to the east begins the Columbia Gorge, national scenic area.
Yes we considered several other areas during a nine year search.  But for me, my mind was made up about three hours after hitting town in 2010. While I may appear to be rationalizing our decision my real goal is to share our thoughts and considerations as well as offer a candid, open and honest decision making process for assessing their retirement situation and hopefully making the most of it.
They say Portland is a young persons town but I strongly feel it can serve as a mecca for aging baby-boomers who are seeking a more rebust, nature-oriented retirement lifestyle. a place were I saw a whole lot  of peers.

 In the end the decision was largely the result of gut-check and inttuition; what do we like, want and can afford for our last third of our lives. (30/60/90).  It had the 'feel' right.
So what were our requirements, resources and issues, plotting out how to cut-loose, move and re-establish oneself in another place going to happen.  Well, fear not because I'm a master at the  planning, logistics and operations of moving.
In all candor, health issues and the economic collapse influenced our decisions overwhelmingly.

Part 2 - the mine-field of issues.
Part 3- the puzzle, creating and putting together the pieces.

It can feel like an overwhelming task to physically relocate especially the older one gets. Besides while I had moved a great deal throughout my life, Terre hadn't ventured far from her origins - like just a few miles.

Moving involves several distinct elements.
- Picking a place.
- packing/disposal - what to keep.
- new residence
- actually moving
- setting up and getting established.
- what  to do with your time once settled.

First, let me describe the field of play:
- cancer survivor
- birth issue
-  heart issues/weight
- employment/ age discrimination
- economic collapse of Fall 2008.
- poor accumulation of assets.
-lived off of savings/ slow cutting of expenses.
- student loan debt.
- health care debt.
- frustration/mild-depression.

So reached a conclusion that the presnt ebvironment wasn't working and as I have done in the past -plotted a new location. My partner, frozen in hestitation at the thought of moving still desparately wanting to move,

What motivated us to chose Oregon -

COST OF LIVING
- the perception and reality of affordibility.
- relative to where we were(are)
- fixed expenses vs. total income.
- trade-offs - taxes/energy/food/congestion/availability
My research indicates places generally don't differ much by 10% in costs. If its better than 10% less expensive than that's a very good sign. Fixed costs ideally should come in around 50% of total income.

THE SUPPLY OF PUBLIC/PRIVATE ANEMITIES.
- generous supply of assets.
- the stuff you need to live
- gov't/business/social-cultural/financial/healthcare/employment

LOCATION APPEAL
- nicer than where we are at present.
- ocean/ mountains
- ecologically fascinating bordering on beautiful.
- adequate sized urban/suburban environment with sufficient and unique satellite cities.
- an attractive, reasonable scale social environemnt, more humanistic.
- stronger economic basis than mid-west or Pgh.
- good growth potential (economis/social/cultural)
[ the areas arounf the tri-met are all primed or in the process of being developed - urban nodes build on a station much like the 19th century america around the railroad (station). I expect a population growth of 5-10% over the next decade absorbed principally through these nodal density upgrades.]


THE MIND-SET
- liberal/progressive attitude
- magnetism

CLIMATE/WEATHER
- can be outside more than not
- no extremes
- limited summer in the AC.
- lower need to warm in the winter,
- rains more frequently but no strong storms.
- ability to be more physically active.
- less precipitation than chicago/Pittsburgh/ Wilmington.
- Besides I look better in a sweater than in speedos,
- ignore climate change/global warming all you want - along with increasing energy costs I don't want any physical destruction or high energy costs.
- pull out a us map - where:
no Gulf Atlantic coasts/ no deep south/ no rural-great plains

Troutdale is surrounded on two sides by other suburban cities - Wood Village (retail/residential) to the west and Gresham (retail/residential/mass-transit link) to the south mixed with adequate/some open space. Both offer 80% of what we need on a monthly basis (the amenities) within a five mile radius. Troutdale itself has a gentrified downtown (upscale/toursit) with half undergoing rehab/redevelopment. To the north there is the Interstate crossing east to west, an encased outlet mall of 25 stores, scattered warehousing/transporation, parks and the river. about half developed/half open space.
Eastward - zoning protected, sandy river - nature-water corridor, farming/rural residential, national secenic area-protected forest/natural beauty.

THoughts on Education

Four things:
- reasonable attempt to reach each child.
- is child there and ready to learn.
- size of the group. Major problem.
- does the teacher know how to teach.