Best ten CA towns to retire to

[DonTom]

Used to like visiting Oyster Point Marina, near your old place, when Chris had a live-aboard customer at the marina. But, as you say, traffic was an issue. OTOH the live-aboard worked in the city and didn't need to drive a car.

Yeah, Oyster Point was just a couple of miles from where Tom & I lived in SSF. Just under San Bruno Mountain.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

Definitely not. THAT makes the case for having 2 places. Winter in PS and summer in the PNW. But 2 places is more expense and upkeep. Is there anywhere that's perfect? lol

That is a big advantage to the full-timer RVers. Chase the best weather around the country.

Reno as well as Auburn can get very hot in the summer. Here in Reno, I am on the very top of a hill and right at 5,000' elevation. But it can still get very hot here.

But Auburn rarely gets that cold. I do not have to winterize my RVs in Auburn. I would have to here in Reno.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Firstime RVer]

Smithville NJ

 

[DonTom]

Smithville NJ

Whatever works for you. But that is NOT in CA.

I realize many will not consider anywhere in CA.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Firstime RVer]

Whatever works for you. But that is NOT in CA.

I realize many will not consider anywhere in CA.

-Don- Reno, NV

Somehow I knew I'd get a rise out of you.
LOL, I've lived on all four coasts of the USA and guess I'm stuck as a Northeast coaster.. Moved back here after all the travels to be with family. Love where I live, Climate People, maybe a bit crowded, but ocean and mountains are within an hours drive.
It works for me and has for years.
I can only hope that everyone finds the place they most want to be...

Safe travels and all the best.

 

[DonTom]

Our daughter lived in Nevada City, also in Nevada County. Neat little town, but she was up the mountain from the town.

Have you been in Willow Valley? I sometimes ride between here and Auburn by taking Hwy 20 to Willow Valley Road to get to NV City and then Hwy 49 to Auburn. I really like it in there inside Willow Valley.

But later today, I am headed to Auburn on my Kaw 650 (ICE bike for a change) via Kingbury Grade to South Lake Tahoe and to Auburn on Hwy 50 via Placerville.

Nice view of the valley below from Kingbury:

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

But 2 places is more expense and upkeep.

I used to own three places. In perhaps most areas, you gain by owning more than one house. When you sell the place, you usually get every cent back with a couple of hundred thousand bucks more than you put into it.

Owning an extra house or two is often one of the best investments. Usually, they do a lot better than the inflation rate.

IOW, don't worry too much about the cost as long as you can make all the payments.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Kodiak34SS]

I used to own three places. In perhaps most areas, you gain by owning more than one house. When you sell the place, you usually get every cent back with a couple of hundred thousand bucks more than you put into it.

Owning an extra house or two is often one of the best investments. Usually, they do a lot better than the inflation rate.

IOW, don't worry too much about the cost as long as you can make all the payments.

-Don- Reno, NV

No disagreement on the investment side. It could make sense with the right two places. But, not looking to make payments on a house at this stage in life. Maybe have two smaller places but then you have to think like people who still work. Income taxes. Time spent living/working in each residence. Available time in general.

 

[Tom]

Have you been in Willow Valley? I sometimes ride between here and Auburn by taking Hwy 20 to Willow Valley Road to get to NV City and then Hwy 49 to Auburn. I really like it in there inside Willow Valley.

Doesn't ring a bell. But we always took 49 from Auburn through Grass Valley to Nevada City. One time, I took 20 from Nevada City to I-80 at Cisco Grove.

 

[DonTom]

One time, I took 20 from Nevada City to I-80 at Cisco Grove.

I do that one very often. The gas station at Cisco Grove now has every type of charge station known. Back in 2017, they had one very low-capacity J-1772. They removed that and put in Chargepoints and Tesla Superchargers.

I sometimes stop there for a recharge on my smaller electric motorcycles that cannot make it all the way on a home charge between Auburn & Reno. As I have lunch in Gould Park. They also have a Subway sandwich shop there.

Willow Valley is shorter than staying on Hwy 20 to 49 in NV City. While shorter, it takes a little longer (~5 minutes?). Willow Valley Road is a small narrow road with a low speed limit.

I would love to live in Willow Valley. I didn't even know the place existed when I purchased my Auburn house in late year 2016. But I have yet to see a house for sale in the Willow Valley area. Perhaps nobody wants to leave the few houses in that area.

So many trees it is kinda dark in there, and a large creek, large enough to swim in at some areas, next to Willow Valley Road.

Very nice area--at least until it all burns down.


-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Sunnyfalls]

I used to own three places. In perhaps most areas, you gain by owning more than one house. When you sell the place, you usually get every cent back with a couple of hundred thousand bucks more than you put into it.

Owning an extra house or two is often one of the best investments. Usually, they do a lot better than the inflation rate.

IOW, don't worry too much about the cost as long as you can make all the payments.

-Don- Reno, NV

Yep...we always have and still do...in three different countries.

And this is also the reason we always avoided purchasing big ticket items that rapidly depreciate...like behemoth RVs. The best things in life are free anyhow...as long as you can continue to live free...

 

[Tulecreeper]

To answer the OP's first question - the best town in CA to live is dependent on what your needs, priorities, hobbies are. I lived in Marysville for 4 years as an adolescent, and in Oroville for 10 years as an adult.

Both towns are farming communities with no appreciable business infrastructure. Both towns are low on the household income chart. Both towns have low rent/property prices in comparison to larger metro areas even less than an hour away. Both towns also have a reputation for being centers of illegal drug activity. Both towns do, however, have close access to hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities which is of utmost importance to me.

I don't know where the writer of the article got their stats, but I personally would have zero desire to live in Jamestown, Healdsburg, Ojai, or Julian. As a matter of fact, as a native Californian I have passed through every town on the list and none of them interested me in any way other than as a tourist site.

 

[DonTom]

.in three different countries.

Which are the three?

-Don- Placerville, CA

 

[DonTom]

And this is also the reason we always avoided purchasing big ticket items that rapidly depreciate..

Such as my $161,500 Class A. But I see it differently. Buy what you want, keep it for life and never resale and then there is no reason to care if the value drops to two cents.

Not only a very bad investment, but I always need to pay for it, even after paying for the thing in cash.

But I couldn't care less. There is more to life than saving money and looking for more good investments to die rich with.

-Don- Placerville, CA

 

[Sunnyfalls]

Which are the three?

-Don- Placerville, CA

Oregon USA, Costa Rica and New Zealand.

Love all three. Love inflation. Love diversity.

Hate depreciation and people who blame and complain after making poor personal life decisions.

Life is about making great memories with those you love and the quality of the ones you leave behind.

 

[DonTom]

Hate depreciation and people who blame and complain after making poor personal life decisions.

Well, I expect vehicles to be very poor investments. But that doesn't stop me from now owning 16 motor vehicles (11 motorcycles, two RVs, a pickup truck and two cars) at this time. I couldn't care less about resale value of any vehicle. I usually keep them until they are junked.

I never thought of any of them as poor decisions. But I knew they were all poor financial decisions before the buy--especially when I usually (but not always) buy as new.

FWIW, I think I am done buying vehicles for life.

Costa Rica

Tom & I went to Costa Rica for two weeks in Y2K. Was a very nice trip. Been to Oregon countless times. I have never been to New Zealand.

What part of Costa Rica?

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[DonTom]

Nice view of the valley below from Kingbury:

I stopped to take my own photo. All the way up, you can see the valley. This was less than halfway up to the Kingbury 7,375' summit:

Was a very nice ride, but took twice the time to get to Auburn. But I am in no hurry.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Sunnyfalls]

Well, I expect vehicles to be very poor investments. But that doesn't stop me from now owning 16 motor vehicles (11 motorcycles, two RVs, a pickup truck and two cars) at this time. I couldn't care less about resale value of any vehicle. I usually keep them until they are junked.

I never thought of any of them as poor decisions. But I knew they were all poor financial decisions before the buy--especially when I usually (but not always) buy as new.

FWIW, I think I am done buying vehicles for life.


Tom & I went to Costa Rica for two weeks in Y2K. Was a very nice trip. Been to Oregon countless times. I have never been to New Zealand.

What part of Costa Rica?

-Don- Auburn, CA

Well yeah, you ultimately do what makes you happy. But it's a slippery slope if what makes you happy is expensive, depreciates and is funded by high interest loans. I can tell you don't have that affliction.

Our family retreat is near Santa Ana. It is at a higher elevation and has a cooler climate than many other locations in Costa Rica. There is also good infrastructure, medical care and much to do and enjoy there. And Costa Rica is relatively small so one can enjoy the entire country easily. And the entire country is beautiful with great people so I don't think you can go wrong with other locations either. Guatemala is also very nice too. We tested our hydraulic ram pumps in Guatemala for many years:

https://www.borstengineeringconstruction.com/Landis_Hydraulic_Ram_Pumps_for_Sale.pdf

at this eco resort:

https://www.fincaixobel.com/en/home-en/

Anyhow, there are many other places to spend quality time other than only the USA.

 

[DonTom]

Well yeah, you ultimately do what makes you happy. But it's a slippery slope if what makes you happy is expensive, depreciates and is funded by high interest loans. I can tell you don't have that affliction.

Our family retreat is near Santa Ana. It is at a higher elevation and has a cooler climate than many other locations in Costa Rica. There is also good infrastructure, medical care and much to do and enjoy there. And Costa Rica is relatively small so one can enjoy the entire country easily. And the entire country is beautiful with great people so I don't think you can go wrong with other locations either. Guatemala is also very nice too. We tested our hydraulic ram pumps in Guatemala for many years:

https://www.borstengineeringconstruction.com/Landis_Hydraulic_Ram_Pumps_for_Sale.pdf

at this eco resort:

https://www.fincaixobel.com/en/home-en/

Anyhow, there are many other places to spend quality time other than only the USA.

Well, I don't owe a cent on any vehicles, but it wouldn't bother me much if I did, as long as I could easily make the payments.

Places that I recall we have been to in Costa Rica are Fortuna, Lake Arena, Tortuguero and of course, high crime San Jose, where our hotel told us don't walk around there at night. But there are such places in the USA as well. Lots of retired Americans in parts of Costa Rica. I do not recall being in Santa Anna, so I wonder if that is such a place.

We been to many other places during our two (or was it three?) week trip in Costa Rica, I just don't recall all the names of the places. I recall places that had no roads and had to go via boat, with the many caimans in the river.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Kodiak34SS]

We haven't considered a home in another country, although, perhaps Canada will be accepting refugees soon.

Coffee and real estate listings this morning...still waiting for the perfect place to pop up around PS.