If you could retire with unlimited funds....

[The Sultan]

Does anyone have some insight on the US Virgin Islands? 

My dad lived there for a year when he was in his mid-20s. After about eight months, he was ready to leave.  He had seen everything and been everywhere.  There just wasn't enough to do.

Obviously that was sixty years ago and it's different now. But St. Thomas is only 32 square miles - compared to Oahu's 600. So it's tiny. Charlotte Amalie only has 15,000 people.

[Goose]

The Lens

Manhattan has always been number one for me, but it is not entirely the same to me post pandemic. It is still on my list and there are now others I am considering for my first pick.

I agree on truly being embedded and that has always been my thought. I definitely want to have some type of job in the location that we pick, even if only 10-15 hours a week.

[MuggsyB]

My dad lived there for a year when he was in his mid-20s. After about eight months, he was ready to leave.  He had seen everything and been everywhere.  There just wasn't enough to do.

Obviously that was sixty years ago and it's different now. But St. Thomas is only 32 square miles - compared to Oahu's 600. So it's tiny. Charlotte Amalie only has 15,000 people.

Ya...that's kind of what I assumed. 

[MuggsyB]

I like Santa Fe but don't think I could live there year round.  Plus I would probably gain weight with the food there. 

[Lennys Tap]

Naples, FL next door to Lenny!!

I, Mrs. Lenny and the entire community would welcome you with open arms!

[Goose]

Thanks, Lenny.

[MU1in77]

With both our boys and grandchildren living in the Milwaukee area we would want to be near them. But with unlimited funds we could fly back at least once a month. That leaves cities with direct flights so I would choose between Charlotte & Salt Lake City. As much as we love skiing, Charlotte is a shorter flight and closer to the ocean.

[pbiflyer]

Does anyone have some insight on the US Virgin Islands?

I used to travel there for work all the time. I always told coworkers that I'm happy to let them take my place.
There are some nice beaches. If you want to spend a year drinking on a beach in hot weather, it's great. Anything else? Not so much. Third world infrastructure. Economy is geared almost exclusively for the cruise ship crowd. Oh and you get to deal with cruise ship crowds almost every single day from 8am to 5pm.
Iguana meat is plentiful!

[MuggsyB]

I used to travel there for work all the time. I always told coworkers that I'm happy to let them take my place.
There are some nice beaches. If you want to spend a year drinking on a beach in hot weather, it's great. Anything else? Not so much. Third world infrastructure. Economy is geared almost exclusively for the cruise ship crowd. Oh and you get to deal with cruise ship crowds almost every single day from 8am to 5pm.
Iguana meat is plentiful! Tastes like manatee.

Okay.  Hard pass.

Please delete your last sentence pbi. 

[Sir Lawrence]

I used to travel there for work all the time. I always told coworkers that I'm happy to let them take my place.
There are some nice beaches. If you want to spend a year drinking on a beach in hot weather, it's great. Anything else? Not so much. Third world infrastructure. Economy is geared almost exclusively for the cruise ship crowd. Oh and you get to deal with cruise ship crowds almost every single day from 8am to 5pm.
Iguana meat is plentiful!

St. John > St. Thomas.  No cruise ships.  Mostly a National Park that one of the Rockefeller's donated.  But one of the hurricanes hit it hard if I'm remembering correctly.

[The Sultan]

St. John > St. Thomas.  No cruise ships.  Mostly a National Park that one of the Rockefeller's donated.  But one of the hurricanes hit it hard if I'm remembering correctly.

But you can't really live there.

[MU82]

But you can't really live there.

Why can't one live on St. John?

[The Sultan]

Why can't one live on St. John?

I guess you can if find a place. But it's 95% national park.

[lawdog77]

Why can't one live on St. John?

You can.I have a friend who moved to coral bay. Loves it.

And before one asks. yes I do have friends

[MU82]

I guess you can if find a place. But it's 95% national park.

It's actually about 60%.

https://www.nps.gov/articles/virginislands.htm#:~:text=Virgin%20Islands%20National%20Park%20covers,the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands.

We've been to St. John a couple of times, and there are definitely residential areas as well as a pretty large commercial/tourist zone. It's a great place to visit and I could see someone wanting to live there. The frequent hurricane scares would be enough to dissuade me.

[The Sultan]

It's actually about 60%.

https://www.nps.gov/articles/virginislands.htm#:~:text=Virgin%20Islands%20National%20Park%20covers,the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands.

We've been to St. John a couple of times, and there are definitely residential areas as well as a pretty large commercial/tourist zone. It's a great place to visit and I could see someone wanting to live there. The frequent hurricane scares would be enough to dissuade me.

Ok. My bad. That's me going on memory and not looking it up.

[MUBurrow]

You can.I have a friend who moved to coral bay. Loves it.

And before one asks. yes I do have friends

St John is gorgeous. Some of the best quarter day hikes and snorkeling off beaches I've ever seen. Highly recommend for a week-10 days.

But I do think it would be tough to live there. You absolutely can, but it suffers to a pretty moderate extent from a lot of the things that plague other Caribbean destinations - namely that everything is expensive and not especially fresh bc it needs to be brought in from St. Thomas and that trickle down economics hasn't worked so the local folks haven't really benefitted from the tourism and expats, and imho don't have particularly fond feelings toward them.

[pbiflyer]

Yeah St John's is great to visit.
St Croix suffers even more of the trickle down effect.
You could also spend time in the BVIs but would soon run out of places to visit, things to do.

[GOO]

With both our boys and grandchildren living in the Milwaukee area we would want to be near them. But with unlimited funds we could fly back at least once a month. That leaves cities with direct flights so I would choose between Charlotte & Salt Lake City. As much as we love skiing, Charlotte is a shorter flight and closer to the ocean.

In reality, most likely, we end up in a condo in downtown Milwaukee. Could travel for a few months in the winter - but  as long as Marquette ball is relevant - I'd probably spend most of the winter in town.

Since I'm violating the question rules already, I would be interested in checking out Lisbon and Mexico City for long term stays.  Never been, heard great things.

[pbiflyer]

I loved Lisbon. Great weather even in January. But.....hilly. Not an issue today. 10 plus years from now? Not so sure.
That being said, we avoided the big hills for the most part, but it seemed like housing was either a bit outside the city or on a hill. Never investigated logistics though.

[lawdog77]

1 Loire Valley
2. Marbella

[MU1in77]

In reality, most likely, we end up in a condo in downtown Milwaukee. Could travel for a few months in the winter - but  as long as Marquette ball is relevant - I'd probably spend most of the winter in town.
GOO - the problem is they are not building condos in downtown Milwaukee. We have looked at a few but the market just isn't there, all the new construction are apartments..

[SoCalEagle]

The Lens

Manhattan has always been number one for me, but it is not entirely the same to me post pandemic. It is still on my list and there are now others I am considering for my first pick.

I agree on truly being embedded and that has always been my thought. I definitely want to have some type of job in the location that we pick, even if only 10-15 hours a week.

Goose, your plan is a good one, especially the part about being embedded in a location.  That would be a great way to learn the culture and get the most out of each location.  I would love to do that, but I think about three months would be the max amount of time I would enjoy without coming back to my home base and checking in with family. 

[Jables1604]

Chilmark, MA. Martha's Vineyard

[Goose]

Eagle

Just because we are embedded in a city does mean that we can go home. Plus, I hope our kids love the idea and come home and visit.