Ideal ski towns for the future factoring in all issues?

[Puck it]

I have lived in nh my entire life and really don't ever see leaving. Always figured I would retire in the MWV but not sure I want to be that isolated from an airport and medical specialists. Spent some time in Plymouth last summer and enjoyed that side. I would like to spend some more time in littleton, hear good things. NH does not tax retirement income and there are ways around the high property taxes. You can also access DHMC if needed from littleton and Logan is a reasonable drive for a few west/europe trips per year. Also doesn't hurt that NH seniors ski cannon midweek for free. Jay and Burke are also within day trip range.

Also small hospitals in both littleton and Plymouth, wife works in medicine and is the type to never retire. I could see her working a few days a week, well past retirement age. Opposite of me, closing in on 100 days this year; friends joke that I am already retired at 42.

Can’t agree more. That is why we chose Franconia. We are already considering selling our MA house.

 

[deadheadskier]

I have lived in nh my entire life and really don't ever see leaving. Always figured I would retire in the MWV but not sure I want to be that isolated from an airport and medical specialists. Spent some time in Plymouth last summer and enjoyed that side. I would like to spend some more time in littleton, hear good things. NH does not tax retirement income and there are ways around the high property taxes. You can also access DHMC if needed from littleton and Logan is a reasonable drive for a few west/europe trips per year. Also doesn't hurt that NH seniors ski cannon midweek for free. Jay and Burke are also within day trip range.

Also small hospitals in both littleton and Plymouth, wife works in medicine and is the type to never retire. I could see her working a few days a week, well past retirement age. Opposite of me, closing in on 100 days this year; friends joke that I am already retired at 42.

I've thought about the Plymouth area or more specifically Holderness. If I can afford something modest on the water with access to Squam, I'd like that. Littleton is nice, but lacking in amenities compared to Plymouth.

 

[2Planker]

It's NH for us.
50 years in MA/RI makes it an easy decision.

Wifey is college admin. so Plymouth State is on the list

 

[Newpylong]

I hear lots of votes for moving to NH. Might be time to subdivide my 25 acres and retire early...

 

[thebigo]

I hear lots of votes for moving to NH. Might be time to subdivide my 25 acres and retire early...

Is it in current use?

 

[ss20]

I hear lots of votes for moving to NH. Might be time to subdivide my 25 acres and retire early...

Nah...AZ Shantytown/Auto Park. We'll all put in $100 each but rather than build any shelter we'll just build a 500ft long bar and a fire pit! Then we'll bitch about Epic, Ikon, grooming, Attitash/Wildcat, and talk about the Holy Lands of Magic, MRG, and Platty all while drinking Lawson's.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I'm in!

 

[Zand]

I'm among those who once dreamed of Denver or SLC, but I couldn't deal with that traffic and crowding, or house prices either. I'm also on the NH bandwagon. The outdoorsy person in me is interested in the Ashland/Holderness area but the realist is thinking Concord/environs (more work opps plus right on I-89 for easy access to VT) or maybe Tilton. Truth be told, other than a good Cannon I've never been a fan of NH skiing compared to VT. But I love NH in the summer between the great hikes and the lakes (I'm more of a Squam person than Winnipesaukee person). Plus Concord is the same distance from Boston as I am now (although I absolutely despise that city, only go there for Bruins games and direct flights to SLC).

Thought about Maine but it goes from super hipster/too many Boston people/big money in the southern part to "way up there in Maine" pretty quick and there isn't much middle ground like the Concord area. Plus I like road tripping in the summer and Maine is far from literally anything else.

On another topic (slightly) if I could ever afford a condo at a resort I would pretty easily pick Killington. Long season, good amount of restaurants, easy access to Rutland, and smack in the middle of VT for quick runs to the MRV etc.

 

[snoseek]

Littleton checks all the boxes for me. It went from a town I could buy into a couple years ago to nothing for sale.

 

[Newpylong]

Is it in current use?

Everything but around 1.5 acres.

Real estate here is out of control too. My wife purchased and renovated 3 multi unit buildings and they were rented before a hammer was picked up.

Easy access to highways, skiing, lots of water, outdoor recreation, and decent shopping has it's highs I guess.

 

[tumbler]

Really liked the vibe of Moab but not sure how close skiing is to there.

 

[snoseek]

Really liked the vibe of Moab but not sure how close skiing is to there.

Telluride and powderhorn are reasonable day trips. Lasals for backcountry

 

[Puck it]

Littleton checks all the boxes for me. It went from a town I could buy into a couple years ago to nothing for sale.

There are still things for sale but a lot need major work.

 

[Puck it]

Littleton is nice, but lacking in amenities compared to Plymouth.

I disagree. The town is changing and getting more amenities. The other thing is that most people don't know here is anything past exit 32. I would like to keep it that way for the masses.

 

[1dog]

a friend does that now. he's not retired, just spoiled and out of touch.

6 months in Mexico, 6 months in Chamonix, 4 months in Japan, 1 month at Burning Man, come 'home' to NYC for 3 months, etc.

he's been in Tulum for all of COVID. its taxed our friendship. there's a huge community of ex-pats in tulum behaving like peter pans and as if covid doesn't exist.

and they cancelled Peter Pan - the ultimate 'Pat' from old Saturday Night Live. . . . next up? Bard, Shakespeare, Homer . . Permanent Vacation gets old quick. . . but you can't tell most people that. Everyone wants what they don't have. Well, almost everyone . .

 

[abc]

Everyone wants what they don't have. Well, almost everyone .

I see the reverse.

People only TALK about wanting what they don't have. The moment what they "want" becomes a possibility, they stop "wanting" it! It's more of a phantasy world most people dreamt up to get through their daily grind.

The people who really want something, I see them working to GET IT! Then they stop talking about it. They're too busy working towards what they truly want

 

[mikec142]

I see the reverse.

People only TALK about wanting what they don't have. The moment what they "want" becomes a possibility, they stop "wanting" it! It's more of a phantasy world most people dreamt up to get through their daily grind.

The people who really want something, I see them working to GET IT! Then they stop talking about it. They're too busy working towards what they truly want

This is like the Monday morning of responses. Give me more of the Friday afternoon vibe.

 

[drjeff]

I would have expected much higher rent in Fairfield county. $1200/ month for a 2 bedroom is really inexpensive compared to many places in New England.

I think the key thing that SS20 said is that he's in UPPER Fairfield County. And there are communities in Upper Fairfield County, as opposed to down along the Coast where the cost of living isn't the crazy high numbers that many of the lower Fairfield County towns are famous for

 

[deadheadskier]

I disagree. The town is changing and getting more amenities. The other thing is that most people don't know here is anything past exit 32. I would like to keep it that way for the masses.

Opinions vary. I spend several days a year in both towns for work. Littleton has come a long way, but I still think Plymouth has a bit better dining scene overall and it also has the Flying Monkey, which is a very good live music venue. That's important to me. Most important though is the boating opportunities are far better with Squam and Newfound lake nearby and Winni not too far either. Littleton has Moore reservoir, but there's no marina on that lake.

I'd sacrifice proximity to skiing and hiking locating near Plymouth vs Franconia and Littleton area, but it's still only 35-40 minutes from Cannon, which is fine for me. Overall though the Plymouth area just fits what I want for year round living more than further north.

 

[raisingarizona]

I have no interest in moving to Salt Lake City. Reminds me of Plano with (crowded) mountains in the background.

There’s a lot more to a place to me than just its access to outdoor activities. I’d love living in Santa Fe, NM as a result. Great food and culture, good skiing and hiking, access to Texas where I still have lots of friends/family, and less of the “fleeing the cities” vibe/more of a sense of place.

The smog has become really gross. East Coast folks for whatever reason seem extremely fixated on SLC and the Cottonwood Canyons. I get it, the skiing is really good and the access is convenient but it’s an urban skiing environment imho. There’s more attractive places that are far off most people’s radar, those are the places that are still special.