Yes! That avatar! Good sleuthing!
Oh my gosh - the really best nights out when I was a kid were when we visited Petersonās (Galloping Hill Inn) in Kenilworth for hot dogs and fries. My mother had a flower shop in Mountainside center, just down the street from Chroneās.
1 Like
And no HOA fees. 
You get that house in my area for < $230k
1 Like
Wonder what happened to her. She hasnāt posted in almost two years.
I only mentioned Columbus because @thumper1 did. I do have 2 kids who currently live in great city neighborhoods there.
But in a HEARTBEAT Iād also recommend Michigan - especially western Michigan and Northern (not UP). And @deb922 is 
about the Michigan vs Ohio politics - and Iām not just talking football!
2 Likes
Ann Arbor, yes. Columbus, just no.
Go Blue!
1 Like
What you mean someone wouldnāt want to spend 1.3 million on a tract house, 12k a year in property taxes, and another 2k a year in hoa fees??? Welcome to my life. You all make me want to move!
2 Likes
@socalmom007 , Iām with you. We keep looking at housing up here (SF Bay Area) and your 1.3M sounds like a steal! Sigh.
Iām in the Los Angeles suburbs, nowhere near city center or my house would be 3 mil.
Another thumbs up for Columbus (former resident).
A former co-worker had a theory that any town that has both the state government and a major university is generally pretty nice.
@Schadret , there was a thread last year that discussed some up and coming small towns:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/t/up-and-coming-small-cities-large-towns/
3 Likes
Is the house next door to you available?! 
2 Likes
Hi guys!! I got an email alert that I was tagged so here I am. As it happens, visiting D-HSā15 in Utah who is now almost 26 and pretty settled in her career 
S-HSā12 is also settled, in Chicago. None of us are in Ohio anymore except their granddad. I still homebase there, but am rarely actually there.
Did someone have a question? I couldnāt go back far enough to see one.
Itās nice to be missed 
14 Likes
@OHMomof2 someone mentioned your ādownsizeā plan which was sort of moving around. Maybe you can give the detailsā¦or some idea what you do!
It sounds intriguing for many of us who just canāt figure out if we want to relocateā¦or where!
1 Like
Welcome home! 
This was my post where I was sharing what I thought I remembered of your journey of living in different locales and exploring!
ā There was a CCāer - female I think - that sort of when from city to city staying several months or so before moving onā¦ she kept a home base where I think one of her college aged kids lived (trying to remember for sure) but she chose different areas - she may have actually been like house sitting - and could work wherever she landed.
I canāt remember her name! Her avatar was unique.ā
3 Likes
Well hello! I still travel most of the time. During the pandemic plus a bit more I was mostly in Puerto Rico. My kids are pretty spread out but I visit them or meet up with them about 3x a year.
Headed to Taiwan this week, then around SEAsia for a bit. Back to Ohio end of summer, back to PR, then perhaps Turkey in the fall.
I still enjoy traveling a LOT but I really like my downtime in Ohio, and for sure seeing my kids who both have guest rooms in cool places
10 Likes
We keep coming back to our community. DC burbs, great medical resources for me, access to major airports for our sons (one 3000 miles west, one 5000 miles east). The house is paid off, but itās not age-in-place friendly. Downsizing would not be cheaper. Weāve been going out towards coastal MD/DE for day trips and hikes and like that area, but I donāt think weād want to head all the way to the coast.
If I were solo, Iād consider the Philadelphia burbs (we used to live there ā house prices are lower, I have friends in the area, great medical resources) or lately, Iāve been looking at Elizabethtown, KY, where my younger sister lives. Itās an hour south of Louisville, a blue spot, and house prices are extremely reasonable. Itās a poke for medical stuff and a Jewish community, though, and a pain for both guys to fly there (except via SWA). I also love Chico, CA ā we have friends nearby and itās a charming place.
6 Likes
Madison, WI. S2 lived there for 10 years and I grew to like it very much. Also, @great_lakes_mom, who was extremely helpful to S2.
6 Likes
Madison WI, and Carmel IN seem to rise to the top of so many ābest ofā lists (retirement, small cities, places to raise a family, etc.). I began to wonder if their local Chamber of Commerce or Economic Development organizations worked overtime. Not particularly impressed with Carmel (a suburb of Indianapolis). Madison is nice, albeit cold!
We loved our 38 years in the DC suburbs. If either of our kids had stayed (or returned) there we would have stayed. Most likely we would have downsized into something smaller/possibly closer in. Unfortunately it is expensive.
3 Likes
I really hope I never have to move again. Iām within two blocks of a major university with a wonderful music program, two blocks to public transportation, and a few blocks to the beach. I can walk everywhere - market, doctor, dentist, shops. Great medical resources as well.
I know we wonāt be able to age in place in our current house (4 stories so not practical at all), but I hope we can downsize to a condo in town. There is also a wonderful senior community here if we need care.
7 Likes