I'm pushing 60, my wife an I will probably want to move out of Jersey in 5 years and are starting to wonder where to retire.
I am looking for somewhere cheap with lots of destinations for good day trips (my wife won't ride with me now, as long as the kids are still dependents, I don't anticipate she will ever be up for more than a 2 or 3 day trip ever).
I want somewhere with a long riding season, though not necessarily 12 month, 10 would be fine.

My current thinking is Southern Appalachia, maybe around Knoxville, TN. It looks like there is lots of good riding, 4 hours in any direction, plus good interstates when I want to get out a little farther.
FL, has maybe the best weather and economics for retirement, but the terrain seems awfully boring. How many times can you ride to Key West?
The South West also seems like a good alternative.

Thoughts?

 

My line of thinking is firstly anyplace that it does not snow. That way I could ride every day, 365.

Next is I do not want to cold or too hot.

The above alone puts me into central to northern Florida.

There is good riding all over the place there. Nor will it take all day to get out of Florida as it does down in the South Florida area.

Nothing out West because too hot is just too damn hot unless it was Southern California but to me California is not even an option.

So maybe something central to northern Florida. Oh, and another thing my friend, the tax benefits of being in Florida is better than the northern states I understand.

 

BuzzCap7 is right on point, I love where I am at, and can ride most any day. I can't stand riding in the big city's though and avoid them if I can

 

Good thread!
I am retired and having the exact same thoughts so keep the suggestions coming

 

Arizona----around Sun City and outskirts---weather will cooperate ,you'll have plenty of options of riding

 

WOW!!! DonnieM.............................. ......WOW!!

I gutta digress for just a moment. DonnieM, you are likely the 1st possibly 2nd but more likely the 1st EVER to get my name right. EXACLTY RIGHT!! THAT like NEVER HAPPENS!!!!!

I am 100% fine with all of the other variations. But when I saw u get it right, 'me eyes nearly popped out of 'me head.

So cooooooooooooooool.

It's not like it is complicated or anything. You got me by surprise mate.

Ok, I am over it..........now back to your regularly scheduled program.

(Still cool.)

 

South of I-40 and you can't go wrong as far as riding goes. The Carolinas are a happy medium for me.

 

The Mountains of Western NC (Asheville area, just not in Buncombe County) is a great relatively inexspensive living area with lots of good riding in all directions for probably 9 to 10 months of the year. I moved ther from LINY to that area at age 56 and lived there for 19 years. Unfortunately, when I lived there I did not own a bike but my son sill lives there and loves riding in that area. For you at age 60 this area fits your wishes. Then when you want a more subdued lifestyle, like I have now, after 10 or 15 years, just move further South.

I'm now in Central Florida (and bought my bike at age 75), and althought it is year round good riding weather, you are correct, it is quite flat and boring. BuzzCap7 is correct, Northern Florida and maybe even Lower Georgia might offer a longer riding season with better access to good riding.

I'm not sure a East Coast Jersey resident would find "out west" to his liking.

 

Draw a line from Knoxville to Chattanooga. Anywhere along that line or to the east of it is a lot of great riding.

 

I've been down here 30 years and only rode to Key West one time. That was enough for me.