Retirement area question

[CigarGuy]

My wife and I are pondering our retirement and where (what lake/area) we want to live. I was pretty certain it was going to be the Ash River/Kab area, however, I'm rethinking if we(she) needs to be closer to a decent size town. My thought is, were retired, lets make a day out of it shopping, having lunch, etc. By that time I'll be ready to "get home".

So, for those of you that live a fair distance from a decent size town, how often to you make the trip and is it a big hassle? Any of you live on Kab, Ash River or Crane Lake? If so, dumb question-do you love it?

How about other lakes/areas? I want big water or a chain of lakes. The lake needs to have some character-islands, bays, areas to get out of the wind when it's blowing. Need good fishing, walleye and panfish. Want something "up north". I like how quiet it is around VNP, I'm worried the further south I go, the more populated and busy the lakes will be. Had a cabin on Osakis several years ago and want someplace further north where I can deer and bird hunt out my back door-more woodsy than central Minnesota. Were in our early fifties and could possibly buy something-either land or a modest lakehome in the next year or two or three. With 2 kids going thru college for the next few years, we would like to find a lake lot, but hard to come by in the Kab area.

Kind a long winded, but what are your thoughts on other areas? Thanks

[Wanderer]

Are you planning on living there year round or just summers? I ask because you mention shopping and such. The further out you get the less you'll have to do in the winter unless you both really like snowmobiling and ice fishing.

Not that you shouldn't but most wives aren't into that as much as others.

One of the mods on this site had the same question to address several years ago and picked the Walker area. Not only for the fishing opportunities but for the medical resources. Something I hadn't thought about at my age at that time.

We've planned on Ely ourselves - and there's a hospital there. But it does get quiet in the winter. I don't have a problem with that but I know she would.

[pushbutton]

I agree with Wanderer's inference.....find out how far off the grid SHE is willing to go, and you will find out how far "up north" you should go.

[Raider4ever]

Try the Grand Rapids area. A bazillion lakes within a 45minute drive of the Blandin Plant. You've got your choice of more remote lakes or more "civilized" lakes.

[CigarGuy]

It will be our full time residence. My wife has a sister who lives in Myrtle Beach and the deal we made is that she will move that far up north if she (or we if I want) will go visit her sister for a month in the winter. I enjoy ice fishing, 4 wheeling and snowmobiling. Will have to buy a couple sleds. She will go ice fishing and we use to have sleds, but the older we get that might not be an option. Will maybe to get to the ice house and back. I like quiet-doesn't bother me one bit, she will need to get out one in a while. We will have to go a resort that is open in the winter for dinner once in a while.

[JohnMickish]

My wife and I have talked about this as well. Being somewhat remote would be nice, but remember, as you get older you go to the doctor alot more often, sometimes weekly visits. How many miles do you want to drive? How far away from a good clinic do you want to be? I know it takes the fun out of planning your location, but after watching both of our mothers retire and get old it has changed how we plan to retire.

[Tom7227]

I knew a guy who built a beautiful place to spend his retirement. It was fantastic. He retired and went and finished it up. When he got home a month later the locks had been changed and he was served with divorce papers. He forgot to check with the Mrs. when he formulated his plan. He ended up selling the lake place and moving in with his mother - at like 60 years old.

I would give some thought to renting a place for a few months and checking out how well it worked out for both of you before I took the big leap.

[Northlander]

Rainy Lake.

[Finns]

X2. Wife wanted/wants to move to the Ely area. Year ago she rented an apartment for one year. That was almost too much. With the grandchildren birthdays and holidays she was on the road most of the time comeing back to see everyone. Spent close to seven grand renting but it was worth it. A heck of a lot less than buying a place for seventy thousand or so and then finding out that it might not be what a person wants.

[CigarGuy]

We were already lake home owners, so we know what we want for the most part. She loves lake living, we just sold because we were sending our kids through school and the septic system was condemned and it would have needed a new roof in a few years-plus both of us wanted something further north in the woods. Just wondering if we need to be closer to civilization?

I thought about Rainy, but usually just fish the Canadian side up in the Spawn Inlet area-not familiar with the US side. Was thinking about the Duluth area. Steve, how is Island lake or the other reservoirs? I thought about buying a travel trailer and trying several areas, but the wife wants no part of that. She said "pick your lake and/or area and research the heck out of it". She mentioned Brainerd, but way too commercialized and expensive. Before we brought on Osakis, we were out bid on a lot on Big Sandy, like the size of the lake, fishing can be a challenge. Whats up in the Grand Rapids or Bemidji area? Leech, Cass and Winni are all big, not too familiar with them, maybe too open-not enough bays and/or islands without crossing big water.

I drive my mom and dad to their doctors appointments and some are over an 1/2 hr away, I think I would rather drive 45 minutes in the country than a 1/2hr in the cities when it's my time.

[Wanderer]

Well, Ely then.

[Brian-Mn]

I have a seasonal on Ash River Trail. I drive 4 hrs. one way to get here. I love it. Couldn't get my wife here with a gun to her head.

That said..........real estate is obscenely over priced on the trail. I would look to I-Falls. I know you wanted to live in the country, but living on the out skirts of town might be just the ticket. Short hop into town for shopping. Hospital close by. World class fishing both on Rainy and the day trips to LOTW. Lots of public land to hunt. Being a mile out of I-Falls will save you a ton of money compared to being anywhere on the trail.

Good luck, I envy you and what your future holds.

[delcecchi]

Vermilion sounds like it might be a fit. Some parts are pretty woodsy and Cook has a hospital with a bigger one 25 miles away in Virginia.

It is a big lake with many islands, good fishing for everything but lake trout. And you don't have to drive 50 miles to the grocery store, or hardware store.

[Down Deep]

You don't indicate if you like being out in the boonies. If you do then Kab would be ideal for you. You do infer that you would like to be near or at least an easy drive to shopping, medical, entertainment, etc. An area in far north Minnesota wouldn't be the place I would choose for that kind of access. I-falls is not that far, but its shopping and entertainment options are very limited. Also you would have to love a long hard winter and a non-existant spring. Sure there are lots of fishing opportunities, but you better make sure your wife is on board with the lifestyle of remote and very rural living.

I would have to go along with the previous suggestion of the Walker area. There are ample nearby quality fishing opportunities, the climate is more moderate, and the twin cities is an easy shot. There are also many more entertainment options. There are lots of good deals on cabins right now.

Don't forget that older people need more medical care, so don't underestimate the value of having quick and easy access.

[mn_bowhunter]

FYI, I've seen walker mentioned twice and it should be noted that there is not a hospital in walker. Park Rapids and Bemidji both have hospitals that are accessible from Walker.

[chasineyes]

I have 2 uncles who "retired" to Longville and Two Harbors about 5 years ago. Guess what they have sold their places and now rent a place in the metro and a place in Arizona. Unless you REALLY love winter and I mean getting your butt outside when it's -10 and going sledding or cross country skiing etc.. it will make for a very long winter inside. One other item...Do you want to be around your grandkids??? My parents are re-thinking moving to Walker since we live in Shakopee and my sister in LaCrosse. Life IMHO is too short to miss those moments because you "live" too far away....

[Raider4ever]

Grand Rapids has just about everything you need. No "big" shopping stores but enough to cover all your needs. Looks like a nicer hospital. As far as lakes go. You can live in town on Pokegema or as far out as Effie, MN. A variety of lakes with a variety of sizes, access. Some butt up against the national forest (limits the amount of development on the lake), some are ringed. Some are ginormus, some aren't. I would seriously give the area a good look.

[CigarGuy]

Good thoughts and ideas. My wife and maybe I, will head south for a least a month every winter, she has a sister in Myrtle Beach and I have one in Florida. We aren't that big into going shopping and needing entertainment. I was thinking more about groceries, hardware stuff and as long as were in town, maybe going out for lunch or dinner, the Falls would more than fit the bill. Vermillion is too spendy for me.

I'm a little worried about healthcare, etc., what's in the Falls. We could always grab a bite to eat at a resort thats open year-round on Kab for our weekly entertainment needs. I do like the Grand Rapids area, just don't know too much about what they have to offer-as far as fishing/lakes. Grand Rapids has always been kind of the half way point for heading to LOW or Red. I just really enjoy the peace and quiet of VNP. We were up for 5 days over Labor Day, saw 2 different bears swimming between islands. What are some bigger lakes in the Grand Rapids area that have some character-islands/bays etc-something similar to Big Sandy or Minnetonka.

When the weather gets bad, we don't mind hunkering down with a nice fire in the fireplace and rubbing noses . We don't want to live in town or in the country, has to be on a lake. My sons loves the outdoors as much as I do, he will visit us, my daughter, that might be a different story.

[bturck]

you didn't mention Lake Vermillon. One of the most beautiful lakes if not the most in Minnesota. I haven't been there in many years, but the memories still linger.

[Mcfin]

Grand Rapids or Duluth will meet your requirements.

[gfishin]

Wow what a great read. This is my first posting on this site.

My wife and are are in the same situation. We are currently located in Rochester and our three kids live in the metro area. We have considered a cabin for many years but the thought of driving through the cities to get to a cabin has stopped us. Many folks in Rochester go to Wisconsin, but please I am not going to live in a cheese head state and be like many locals who have to root against the teams in the state they live in.

As we are now in our fifties and can start to think towards moving north and down sizing both jobs and house, we have been looking to stay within a couple of hours of the cities so that our kids and grand kids will come visit and we can make it to some ball games, birthdays, etc... But the cost is pretty high in close in areas. And like someone mentioned the lake has to be big enough to hold one's interest for fishing many years. Or as my son suggested, buy off the water, much cheaper, then you can pull you boat to any lake in the area and not feel tied to a single lake.

We rented a home on Island Lake a couple of winters ago. It appears to be a beautiful lake, but I believe most people do not own the property and is owned by power company.

I hope this posting keeps active as having medical close by was not even considered.

[Raider4ever]

What do you want to fish for? Walleyes? GR has a bazillion walleye lakes. Bass? GR has a Bazillion bass lakes. Lake Trout? GR has a bunch. Panfish? GR has more than one could count. You want numbers? Size? GR has it. Deer, grouse, bear? Yes, yes, yes. Plus it has Highways 2 and 169 for easy east-west or north-south travel. You get a place on the edge of the national forest, it's as quiet as VNP. Granted, Kab area is fantastic. I-Falls does have Essentia (formerly SMDC, formerly St. Mary's) out of Duluth with most specialties coming up as out-reach clinics so quality medical care is available but at what driving distance and those Docs are there on a limited schedule (usually once a week max). So you could end up with Heart day on Wednesday, hip/knee day on Friday, etc. Honestly, give a serious look into the GR area. I don't think you would be disappointed. If I were retiring (like that'll happen) and wanted to stay where there was snow (iffy right now), GR would be it for me. Even my wife likes the area.

[Kettle]

I have noticed that accessibility to health care has been brought up, and I strongly agree that access to a hospital is import, with age comes body deterioration, it begins as early as thirty, which is scary. Keep in mind that small towns with small hospitals do not always have what is needed for certain cases. Heart attack, you need a cath lab, stroke you need clot busters and a neurologist, broken bones, hips, femurs etc need a orthopedic surgeon. I live in a rule area and constantly see people move up here and far out of town and the accessibility to a hospital is low and sometimes ambulances are 40 minutes away. I would suggest the Hibbing area, it's nice, close to Rapids, close to Duluth, you have a small community hospital and a medical helicopter in town that if worse comes to worse and the community hospital doesn't have all the necessary tools you can be inflight and to Duluth (2 level two trauma hospitals, have surgeons and cath labs) in less that 15 min by air. It is not always a bad idea to plan for the worse

[shortfatguy]

Grand Rapids area does have everything anyone could want. From solitude to town in minutes. Good fishing, hunting, Nature. Another place to check out is the side lake chain north of hibbing. Its about 5 lakes joined by navagable channels with decent fishing and hunting.

[Northlander]

We were already lake home owners, so we know what we want for the most part. She loves lake living, we just sold because we were sending our kids through school and the septic system was condemned and it would have needed a new roof in a few years-plus both of us wanted something further north in the woods. Just wondering if we need to be closer to civilization?

I thought about Rainy, but usually just fish the Canadian side up in the Spawn Inlet area-not familiar with the US side. Was thinking about the Duluth area. Steve, how is Island lake or the other reservoirs? I thought about buying a travel trailer and trying several areas, but the wife wants no part of that. She said "pick your lake and/or area and research the heck out of it". She mentioned Brainerd, but way too commercialized and expensive. Before we brought on Osakis, we were out bid on a lot on Big Sandy, like the size of the lake, fishing can be a challenge. Whats up in the Grand Rapids or Bemidji area? Leech, Cass and Winni are all big, not too familiar with them, maybe too open-not enough bays and/or islands without crossing big water.

I drive my mom and dad to their doctors appointments and some are over an 1/2 hr away, I think I would rather drive 45 minutes in the country than a 1/2hr in the cities when it's my time.

Islands a nice lake but the walleyes are small on average. It can be a chalange to fish wich is fine but I dont fish it much due to lack of size.

Houses on there can be pricey but they are on any lake.