What factors did you take into consideration when choosing a location to retire?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 May 2018 14:27:18 -0400

I'm still 8 or so years out from leaving the Army for good but the wife and I are starting to think about where we want to put down roots when all is said and done. I imagine cost of living plays into most people's decision, but what other factors (climate, access to top notch healthcare, etc) come into play? My wife is from Northern California, which seems a little on the pricey side for a retirement destination. I grew up mostly in Missouri and while I love to go back and visit friends (most of my family has left the area) I can't see myself living there again, even though it is pretty inexpensive.

Response by LTC Steve Mannell made May 19 at 2018 2:52 PM

LTC Steve Mannell — Sat, 19 May 2018 14:52:30 -0400

Jobs. People. Place wasn't too important to us.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 19 at 2018 2:55 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 19 May 2018 14:55:16 -0400

Two main factors: the location of my wife's job and easy access to a VA hospital.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made May 19 at 2018 3:24 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sat, 19 May 2018 15:24:12 -0400

Pretty simple, follow the money. As a retiree, most of your benefits go with you.

Response by Lt Col Louis Botta made May 19 at 2018 3:28 PM

Lt Col Louis Botta — Sat, 19 May 2018 15:28:43 -0400

I'll probably be different than most on this board but we love cold weather and our favorite family sport, which is skiing. I am not at all comfortable in sweltering heat. As a matter of fact, I loath heat. Yes, we go to the beach, travel to Florida in March or April, and then return.
Our number one concern was quality of life. A place where we can enjoy the outdoors, live with no fear of crime and have neighbors who have similar education, values and standard of living.
Our number two concern was health facilities, the immediate availability of high-quality medical care as we're not going to get any younger. As a matter of fact, with our activity level, sustaining an injury is quite possible.
Our number three concern was culture and amenities - probably a part of quality of life - but enough of a concern to be a separate one.
Our number four was taxes and how much of four separate pensions we'd be able to keep.
Five was ocean and mountains.

Response by Maj John Bell made May 19 at 2018 3:32 PM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 19 May 2018 15:32:01 -0400

I did what my wife told me to do.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 19 at 2018 5:00 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 19 May 2018 17:00:55 -0400

I take it you'd stay a practicing PT once you'd be out? Also, are you DPT, I'd wondered, or were you under the older schema of Bach or masters level PT? I'd been aware of the whole DPT trend for some time now, I'd just wondered, if you were gonna still practicez, would you go private, hospital based non VA, or try for vet preference to go VA? I'd also been curious as to tat as well, many thanks....

Response by SSG Brian G. made May 19 at 2018 5:13 PM

SSG Brian G. — Sat, 19 May 2018 17:13:24 -0400

As a retiree your benefits follow you, no matter where you go. You get your pay, you have your medical coverage albeit through Tri-Care, you also have your college fund and GI bill if eligible.

Past that it will matter as to each individual service members requirements. Some are pretty well screwed up due to deployments and the fatigue that the job requirements puts on a body over the years. So some look for the VA coverage and the accessibility to a VA hospital. Some look for the nearness to the closest large military installation so they can still utilize benefits such as commissary and PX/BX privileges. Once you retire those become more critical as your pay can be cut in half as you lost BAQ/BAH, HDP, Jump and other pay bumps that do not follow when you retire.

Personally I looked for the above but also took into account the weather as I did not want be shoveling snow every single winter.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2018 3:15 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 May 2018 03:15:43 -0400

All the NCOs I knew that were getting close to retirement had two things in mind when moving: jobs or weather. And that seemed mostly predicated on age - that is to say, the older NCOs were usually the ones worried about what kind of weather situation they were looking at when moving. Hot places like Arizona and Florida were always high up on the list. Which makes sense, what with the enormous retiree communities in those places.

If they didn't go south or wherever a nice job took them, many of them would just end up in a town close by their last duty station. Two really great NCOs that mentored me now live within an hour of Ft. Campbell, another very close to Ft. Bliss. Not sure if they have any specific reasons, but I'd wager that it feels nice to be near big vet communities makes them feel better about getting out. After all, it's a lot that you're putting behind you.

Response by SFC Andrew Miller made May 21 at 2018 4:16 PM

SFC Andrew Miller — Mon, 21 May 2018 16:16:40 -0400

We looked at proximity to family, jobs, education, and quality of life. We also compared the benefits available from each state and/or city in the region we were interested in.

We ended up choosing Wisconsin, for most of those reasons. Jobs are a plenty, and there is a diversity of manufacturing, agriculture, white collar, and service. We settled in a small town about 20 minutes from two small cities and 45-60 minutes from 4 medium/large cities.

Benefits wise, you can't beat Wisconsin. Military retirement isn't taxed (common among many states). We have accredited Veteran Service Officers in every county (only in 19 states). We have the Wisconsin GI Bill, which all eligible veterans receive 128 s.h. of tuition remission from any state school (eligibility means joined from Wisconsin or lived 5 years in Wisconsin post service, plus honorable or general discharge), family members are also eligible for the Wisconsin GI Bill if the veteran is rated at 30% from the VA (same requirements for veteran also apply), lots of fun and recreational opportunities offered as well.

I won't say that you get tired of winter by the end of the season, but it is great having 4 distinct seasons and enjoying all of the fun stuff around.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2018 12:20 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 May 2018 12:20:23 -0400

Taxes, taxes, taxes. If you are legit starting from a blank slate, look at the various tax policies of the states. All the state income tax rates vary (also county, city, municipal, property, etc. taxes) from none to stupid. I would not make that the ONLY factor, but I would definitely have that information available for consideration.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2018 12:24 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 May 2018 12:24:16 -0400

Employment prospects. Community that was worth raising my kids in. Climate.