Sounds about the same situation as I am in. Live in Utica (Starved Rock area) and travel around 400 miles to just south of Hayward. Its definitley doable but a drive. And I also got nabbed by the Wisco State cops speeding and it cost me a good bit so I tend to set the cruise about exactly as you do. But, I do not get the 6 months just yet. My parents live up there for 6 months so it definitely gets used. And as someone mentioned, you gotta put the hard work into getting it as maintenance free as possible or its just work trips and loses its luster.
Retirement Scenario
- Thread starter Magnumb
- Start date
We are just the opposite. We have a log home and it's maintenance central while our cabin is vinyl siding, metal roof, and tiny yard. Still always something to do though. And I always get annoyed when my wife or kids complain that I'm/they are always working on projects when we are up there. How do they think it maintains itself, magic??
As I have started to slow down a little, I told my kids and their spouses that one long weekend in late spring/early summer, is a mandatory clean-up, fix this and that, and repair winter damage, downed trees stuff, no questions asked. They are great about it because they can and do use it whenever they want, and it is their, and their children's future cabin when I'm gone. As far as maintenance, the cabin is cedar sided, 28' X 44' with a walkout lower level. Garage is cedar sided 24' X 40'. What works well for us is to stain and water seal one side of cabin and garage each year. Takes about half a day and doesn't overwhelm. Put metal roofs on both 2 years ago so that will never be a worry or issue.
skiroule
Well-known member
Lots of interesting perspectives here from people that are already retired, people that are close, and people that still have a ways to go.
I’m in the retired category and it’s kind of funny because of the strange twist it took. If you had told me a few years before I retired that we would be buying a cabin in Canada and moving back to our home town in northern MN, I would have accused you of being on drugs. But that’s exactly what happened.
A couple of visits to friends that had lake cabins on the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods was enough to convince us that it was something we would enjoy, so we bought a place of our own a couple of years before I retired to get a head start on renovating it. Since retirement we have split our seasonal residence time between the cabin and home almost evenly.
The move back to the home town came later and it cut our cabin travel time from seven hours to one. Because we both grew up in the area, there was no serious culture shock moving to a small town. There are some things I miss about the Twin Cities but my wife misses nothing.
I worked until full retirement (66), which is still relatively young by today’s standards but the advice some have given here about retiring as early as possible is great advice. I’m coming up on 10 years post-retirement and even though I try to tell myself otherwise, deep down I know that my first few years of retirement were my best years from a physical perspective.
It sounds like a lot of you are already in the cabin mode while maintaining a primary residence elsewhere, which is pretty smart, as it gives you a good idea if year-around cabin residence is for you.
I’m in the retired category and it’s kind of funny because of the strange twist it took. If you had told me a few years before I retired that we would be buying a cabin in Canada and moving back to our home town in northern MN, I would have accused you of being on drugs. But that’s exactly what happened.
A couple of visits to friends that had lake cabins on the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods was enough to convince us that it was something we would enjoy, so we bought a place of our own a couple of years before I retired to get a head start on renovating it. Since retirement we have split our seasonal residence time between the cabin and home almost evenly.
The move back to the home town came later and it cut our cabin travel time from seven hours to one. Because we both grew up in the area, there was no serious culture shock moving to a small town. There are some things I miss about the Twin Cities but my wife misses nothing.
I worked until full retirement (66), which is still relatively young by today’s standards but the advice some have given here about retiring as early as possible is great advice. I’m coming up on 10 years post-retirement and even though I try to tell myself otherwise, deep down I know that my first few years of retirement were my best years from a physical perspective.
It sounds like a lot of you are already in the cabin mode while maintaining a primary residence elsewhere, which is pretty smart, as it gives you a good idea if year-around cabin residence is for you.
Airman68
Member
Congrats on the Canadian cabin, sweet deal. Although my dream would be to live full time at a cabin of some sort after retirement, I just know my wife will never go for it. I have at best, 10 years to retire and my kids are just starting to have kids. It will be very difficult to convince my wife to move 3 or so hours from them as they are all in the GB area. That said, she is up for a place where we can all get together as a family on occasion. Who knows what the future will bring. I certainly didn't think our country would be in this kind of shape right now. Makes it a little hard to plan that far ahead. I can't complain though. I have a nice house and it's paid off. I have it better than most.
Interceptor
Member
Many excellent points being made by all who are experienced in making the move happen. One thing I haven’t heard mentioned but is extremely important in my opinion, is the availability of good health care “near by”. I am spoiled having excellent health care close to my home.
The other concern for retired and aging people… what happens if, and or when, a person can no longer drive. These two issues have prevented me from escaping to the great north……
The other concern for retired and aging people… what happens if, and or when, a person can no longer drive. These two issues have prevented me from escaping to the great north……
Excellent point regarding healthcare. Both my parents and in-laws were 2 hours from a hospital that could treat them. I recall Dad had at least one helicopter ride to the E.R. and a couple more in the ambulance. Otherwise they were on their own at all times of the day and night, good weather and bad. All of us, at some point, are going to need a doctor and the closer the better. Plan accordingly.
pclark
Well-known member
Here is our experience, as you know we live in MW, it’s 45 minutes to Minocqua where they have 2 hospitals, same up to Ironwood, MI. They are decent facilities, surgery, colonoscopy, etc. Keeping a steady doctor is the issue, I’m on my 2nd cardiologist, and am happy with him, lives in the area and has assured me he will be around for awhile. GP is awesome but comes up from Wausau, now leaving to go back to Wausau and we will continue to see him there as we will make the appointment and stop when we go visit our daughter in Naperville. Good dentist right in MW. Healthcare can be an issue anywhere you live, we just try to stay healthy, have great gym right in MW where I go 5 days a week. 4 miles a day on treadmill and weight program.
Other people might paint a different picture but that is our experience. We use xpress scripts for medications delivered right to our house or Walmart pharmacy in Minoqua.
Other people might paint a different picture but that is our experience. We use xpress scripts for medications delivered right to our house or Walmart pharmacy in Minoqua.
dfattack
Well-known member
Man you are my hero!
If you are seriously ill or can’t drive the WI Northwoods is no place for you definitely a consideration. Health insurance companies charge you more due to unfavorable outcomes in Vilas County. Sad but true the statistics tell the story. I had countless GPs in 16 years in Vilas mainly because the hospitals won’t employ them and they leave for greener pastures. There is excellent medical available in Wausau but 90 to100 miles away.
goofy600
Well-known member
Man good point to bring up health care, the live long locals will tell you we do what we have to most that move up north probably have a secondary plan, ie live there until healthcare is a real concern then move back by family in the real world. But as Pclark has said do your job and try to stay healthy as long as possible. As for myself and my wife that was a big part of pulling the trigger and moving at a somewhat younger age 53 and 51 so hopefully have a good 20 to 30 before we have to worry about real health care.
pclark
Well-known member
Agree with you Pete
pclark
Well-known member
Sent you a pm
pclark
Well-known member
Just trying to stay healthy, my wife is doing great as well, got off sugar and lost a bunch of weight. It’s just a commitment, we both lost our fathers when we were young. Want to be around to spend time with this little guy. He was born Wednesday!
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goofy600
Well-known member
Paul congratulates on the little one.