HOW MANY ON HERE REGRET FLEEING THE N/EAST AFTER RETIREMENT

[beachwear]

LAST WEEK I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A EX PARTNER WHO HAD RETIRED TO FLORIDA. AFTER ABOUT 10 YRS., THEY RETURNED TO NYS AFTER THE WIFE COMPLAINED ABOUT NOT SPENDING ENOUGH TIME WITH THE GRAND KIDS. HE TOLD ME HOW BAD IT WAS UP IN ORANGE COUNTY AND HE SAID THE WORST DECISION OF HIS LIFE WAS LEAVING FLORIDA.

I STILL HAVE A HOUSE IN THE CITY BUT FOR THE LAST TENS YEARS I HAVE GROWN TO REALLY HATE THAT PLACE. I WAS UP THERE FOR MY GRANDSON GRADUATION FROM THE FIRE ACADEMY IN SEPTEMBER BUT COULD NOT WAIT TO LEAVE. I LEFT WHEN KOCH WAS THE MAYOR, PROBABLY THE BEST MAYOR WE HAD WHILE I WAS THERE.

[dustoff262]

I go back north to visit the parents. They had a house down here, but sold it when they realized they werent going to move perm because health issues necessitated them to be close to their doctors. When i get up there, its as if I suffer color blindness. Down here its blue skies, green grass, palm trees, beautiful clouds and clean streets and driveways. There is virtually no visual or audible pollution. As soon as I enter NYC, its gray, dingy, dirty, loud, crowded, tall buildings casting shadows everywhere, yada, yada, yada. As a cop, I never truly noticed. I was immersed in the job. Everything around me was my office. As soon as work was done, I headed home and spent most of my time indoors (I lived in bklyn). Never had much to compare it to until I left.

When you leave NYC, its like getting out of prison with a second lease on life. Ive lost a lot of weight, feel healthy and strong. Recently told the wife, I could get back in the game again and she said no way. She told me she already did her time as a cop's wife. Then I understood. This life is not about me. It's about the patience she showed waiting on me to be with her. That makes going to NYC even worse. As soon as I arrive up there, within the first day I want to leave again.

[899xxxandretired]

I have regretted not leaving NYS for the last 10 years.

DO 262, unless you are Tom Brady, uniformed patrol is a young’s man/women’s game. If your over 45, and still in the game as a cop, your lying to yourself.

[dustoff262]

Apr 25, 2020 20:11:01 GMT -5 899xxxandretired said:

I have regretted not leaving NYS for the last 10 years.

DO 262, unless you are Tom Brady, uniformed patrol is a young’s man/women’s game. If your over 45, and still in the game as a cop, your lying to yourself.

I have a neighbor who is a LT. in palm beach.  We talked about 5 months after I moved here, and asked what I did, and stuff like that.  He was very interested and asked if I thought about joining the sheriff's office here.  As we were talking, my wife over heard the conversation and stayed quiet until I came back inside.  He said I could take a 3 week refresher course, and upon finishing he would pull me to his dept (apparently you are raffled off like some lottery down here) and work with him.  At the time I was overweight (60 lbs), my joints hurt alot and Im sure I was pre-diabetic too.  

Last year started to drop the pounds and get out more often biking, walking and recently running / sprinting with the dog.  Felt so good that I told my wife I think I can get back in the game.  It would mean I would have to re-do the academy, but I know I feel better now than when I was a rookie in the NYPD.  Seriously.  Not kidding.  It's like moving away from NYC, the NYPD and some time off can do wonders.  I miss working as a cop.  I liked helping regular folks.  I liked standing in the gap.  But my wife is right.  This is her time.  I couldn't ask her to come along for another ride.  It wouldn't be fair, even if it was for 5 yrs.  So why not enjoy the energy, flexibility, and good overall health with her instead.  And she is a beauty.  5 yrs younger than me, 25 yrs married and 28 overall together.

So, I hang around here with you old folks, trade some laughter, bust each other's balls.  I must admit that I would have loved to be mentored by the majority of you on here.  Such a wealth of knowledge and experience could have made me a much better cop.  And we would have had a blast on patrol to boot!

[saturn4147]

I doubt you will find anyone doubt or regret their decision. Families maybe. I left NY Shitty 20 yrs come June 25. I am in East Orlando . Love it here and am very happy. I got a job locally and make a decent wage. With the pension life has been good.

I visit once every couple of years. I like food at diners, coffee, hot dogs, pizza but after three days i get ancy and want to get out of there. Life seems so fast and complicated. Parking is a hassle, streets are dirty and noisy. People are all in a hurry and they look worried. I cannot believe i lived in the middle of that for so long. But when you do not know another world exists you do not know any better.

[beachwear]

I WAS OFFERED BY THE CITY OF DAYTONA BEACH A FULL TIME JOB ON THEIR GOLF COURSE'S. THE PAY WAS NOT GREAT BUT I COULD RETIRE AT FIFTY FIVE WITH TEN YEARS OF SERVICE. AS I WAS ALREADY IN MY FIFTIES I WOULD ONLY HAVE TO DO THE TEN YEARS FOR A SMALL RETIREMENT CHECK. I THOUGH IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I WENT HOME AND TOLD THE OLD LADY ABOUT MY GOOD FORTUNE'S AND SHE SAID ARE YOU THAT STUPID. SHE ASKED WHAT HOURS? 6AM TO 230 PM. HOW MUCH VACATION? 40 HOURS AFTER TWO YEARS AND 80 HOURS AFTER FIVE YEARS. SHE THEN STATED ASSHOLE WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU ONLY HAD ONE WEEK OF VACATION. YOU WOULD HAVE STAYED IN THE SERVICE IF YOU COULD GET UP AT 0600. SHE THEN SAID THOSE WORDS "FULL TIME" AND IT HIT ME. I REALLY MARRIED A VERY SMART WOMAN. I'M 77 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A SEMI PRIVATE GOLF COURSE ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOUSE FOR THE PAST 23 YEARS. SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A GOLF CART LONGER THAN I PUSHED AROUND A SECTOR CAR. LIFE IS GOOD IN THE SUNSHINE STATE.

[gld101ret]

Put my papers and started my terminal leave on Jan. 15, 1984. After saying my good byes, my wife and packed the car and was in Palm Beach Co on Jan. 20th. I have gone back for the weddings of my 4 children, the birth of 5 grandkids, the funerals of 6 siblings, graduations and other family functions. I always returned HOME after 5 days on any visit. I have retired from 2 jobs here. I have come regard NY as a place to visit but not for too long.

P,S. How many times NT while visiting have you run into old friends (the ones who were not on "THE JOB") and after 30 seconds have nothing to talk about?

[dustoff262]

Apr 25, 2020 21:00:50 GMT -5 saturn4147 said:

I doubt you will find anyone doubt or regret their decision. Families maybe. I left NY Shitty 20 yrs come June 25. I am in East Orlando . Love it here and am very happy. I got a job locally and make a decent wage. With the pension life has been good.

I visit once every couple of years. I like food at diners, coffee, hot dogs, pizza but after three days i get ancy and want to get out of there. Life seems so fast and complicated. Parking is a hassle, streets are dirty and noisy. People are all in a hurry and they look worried. I cannot believe i lived in the middle of that for so long. But when you do not know another world exists you do not know any better.

Parking, or the lack of, in the city limits can change your social life.  It used to be you throw your plaque on the dash, and you could see a show or enjoy a fine dinner in the city.  As of late, you have to worry about getting tagged, towed and a CD.  Its a hostile job for cops, and even worse looking for parking.

[40nout]

The only thing I miss is good Chinese take out. The wife & I planned our retirement carefully....she retired in '05 and I left in '07. I didn't want to hang around LI and deal with the winters and the taxes and there was not much work in my next chosen profession. We looked at Nevada, Arizona and Tennessee. We settled on AZ for the climate.

The wife wants to go back because of the nieces and nephews (no kids of our own) Once I point out the housing costs, the winters and the taxes and the fact I'd rather pay for her relatives to come visit, she usually relents. I will never move back there....not to NY, not to the northeast and not east of the Mississippi. Now that my mother is gone, I can't for the life of me figure out why both of my sisters are still in NY.

[bohica9]

Once you leave, you regret you stayed so long !

[ninejuanjuan]

When I retire I'm moving up north, north of Houston and south of Dallas.

[meznoktoz]

I left 5 years ago. In Southwest Florida now. I loved NY and everything it offered. I loved the change of seasons, hated the length of winter. Loved close accessibility to the city, beaches,mountains, etc.

I also saw the hopelessness of the state government and the Socialist/Commies who would just gain more power. Taxes were rising, my town I was raised in and raised my family in was deteriorating. I was told by the Governor I was no longer welcome. I was forced to modify certain weapons so I could take them to a range.

We moved ripping my youngest out of school to start 7th grade in Florida. I won't lie, it was an adjustment. I missed family, I thought I missed the food and other things. I missed sugar coated memories of Long Island, every trip back I came to realize those days were over.

I can now say the heat doesn't bother me. November to almost May is dry and reasonable, winters beautiful. In summer I enjoy boating on empty bays and the gulf.
I pay NO STATE TAX
If not yet medicare age Healthcare can be a challenge but me and the wife have insurance under our new jobs.
State colleges extremely reasonable and the school systems bright futures is amazing. Much money saved here.
Enjoy boating and the beaches, enjoy dining out and weekend downtown festivities.
Joined the 10-13 met some great guys.

I realize I made the right decision. Still miss family and friends but they are slowly leaving NY too.

I'd like to get something small in the Carolinas or maybe PA, or Upstate NY someday to bounce back and forth.

But right now, glad I am a Floridian in an area of the state still very very Conservative.

[retico]

My wife has 2 yrs to go to get her teachers pension ( does not work in NYC schools) we are selling our Westchester County home and making Jupiter/ Tequesta our home base. I currently rent my Tequesta home but will not renew lease so we can make the transition. I can’t wait to homestead that home and make FL my permanent residence. If I never step foot in NYC again that would be just fine by me!!!

[899xxxandretired]

MZ,

WTF happened in the last election for Gov? To damn close. Still a hell of a lot better than NY.

[meznoktoz]

Apr 26, 2020 8:04:39 GMT -5 899xxxandretired said:

MZ,

WTF happened in the last election for Gov? To damn close. Still a hell of a lot better than NY.

Yeah. We are the #1 state for people fleeing the north. Unfortunately a lot of Democrat voters sneaking in too, trying to destroy us too. Miami, Broward and Orlando our challenge.

But right now, we have good state government. 

[hapd]

Combat Information Center Watch Supervisor

anything north of Yorktown Virginia is behind enemy lines. treat it as the enemy camp, because it is. 51 years in the shitty and it just became a cesspool. rudy let us go and we saved the shitty and still crappy raises. under bloomdouche and deblasswhole the shitty just seemed to become more hostile to people that can actually think and work, against Cops and the Military with a corrupt leftist media. no need to go up. won't go up. end of story.

[899xxxandretired]

HAPD,

There’s the other state that pissed me off. Good ole VA. What a disgrace your Gov is.

[nypdblue]

Still here living in NY shitte, property taxes are just under 11k, water bill is $80 per month, kids are going to catholic school 2k per month...cannot wait to get the fcuk out of here, to think 4 generations of my family were born in this once great city. I must support the grievence industry. LOL  The united federation of teachers run NYC and they have done one hell of a job fcuking it up they are responsible for big bird deblasio. Recently I had a long conversation with my buddy who has fled NYC....explaining the whole hustle with illegal immigration.....I told him take NYC if the children of illegal's who by virtue of being born on American soil are now citizens disappeared the entire NYC school system would collapse as 50% of the students would disappear. Every state wher democrats are left unchecked are completely done.

[iftheyonlyknew]

Apr 25, 2020 21:32:45 GMT -5 dustoff262 said:

Apr 25, 2020 21:00:50 GMT -5 saturn4147 said:

I doubt you will find anyone doubt or regret their decision. Families maybe. I left NY Shitty 20 yrs come June 25. I am in East Orlando . Love it here and am very happy. I got a job locally and make a decent wage. With the pension life has been good.

I visit once every couple of years. I like food at diners, coffee, hot dogs, pizza but after three days i get ancy and want to get out of there. Life seems so fast and complicated. Parking is a hassle, streets are dirty and noisy. People are all in a hurry and they look worried. I cannot believe i lived in the middle of that for so long. But when you do not know another world exists you do not know any better.

Parking, or the lack of, in the city limits can change your social life.  It used to be you throw your plaque on the dash, and you could see a show or enjoy a fine dinner in the city.  As of late, you have to worry about getting tagged, towed and a CD.  Its a hostile job for cops, and even worse looking for parking.

Plaque on the dash!!! Good ole days for sure DUSTOFF!! Ranger game...Broadway show...Dinner...Shopping with the wife!! Lol 

[Pressure Point Cop]

So I think a better name for this thread topic is not if you regret it, but what you wish you knew before you made the jump. I'll throw my lessons learned out there, for the four plus years I've spent here in Palm Beach County:

1. If you are happy in New York, despite the high taxes and political environment, and it works for you then STAY. New York still has a lot going for it (if you can afford it and don't mind paying for it); most notably, most of us are from the NY metro area, and that is where a lot of our family and network is. If that is the most important thing, then plan for a retirement in New York. Think about downsizing if it's the right thing to do, and tailor your investments (unless you are really savvy, a financial planner is a must) to a high tax, high regulation environment. New York does have good medical facilities, great restaurants, culture, etc. and if this is important to you, consider keeping either a full or part time presence in New York. If you are not happy staying in New York, read on:

2. Spend some time searching prospective states and cities. I spent a month driving around Florida. I looked at the Tampa/ Hillsborough County area, Fort Myers (Ghetto, no thanks), Naples, and South Florida from Jupiter all the way down to Miami, encompassing PBC, Broward and Miami Dade. I did not investigate Orlando/ Orange County, as I had no interest in the House of the Mouse. If you want to go by the pension section numbers, Palm Beach County and Broward County are the Number 1 and 2 county destinations for NYC pensions outside of the State of New York. Try to get an understanding of what you want, and more importantly, what you DON'T want. Naples was very nice, but too far from an airport (45 minutes to Fort Myers/RSW Airport, and over an hour across Alligator Alley to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood. My parents are still alive and in New York, and easy access to airline service is important to me. Some areas are quite rural, others are very urbanized. There are advantages and drawbacks to both. Don't be afraid to try different areas out because the results might surprise you. The only way to really know what you want is to spend time in your research. The results might surprise you.

3. House, Condo, Apartment, Rental, Buy....all have advantages and disadvantages. Talk to other retirees and see what their experiences are. Taxes are far more favorable in the South (or pretty much any red state for that matter) but it is important to understand how HOA fees work and what the deed restrictions are on properties in Florida and elsewhere. The term "Condo Nazi" is a real thing, and one thing that I find that is most problematic on Condo developments is the personalities and conflicts that sometime arise. But not having to worry about things like yard work, repairs, etc. has its advantages as well.

4. If you find an area you really like, spend a week at a hotel or whatever and try to spend a simulated week at home. Try to understand the people, the pace of life, the locations of things that are important to you like doctors, theaters, shopping, recreation (golf, boating, whatever) and see how the pace agrees with you. There are two times of the year in South Florida- "Season" and "Off Season". Season is roughly Christmas to Easter. Roads are crowded with snowbirds, it's hard to get a table at a restaurant some days, and things seem more crowded. Off Season is far easier, but a lot of locals complain about the heat. I really don't think the heat in August here is as bad as people make it out to be. The buildings are built for heat (central air, pools, etc) more than they are in New York. I watch Channel 7 online regularly from NYC and there are days in August that it is hotter in the city than it is in South Florida. But again, it's a personal thing.

5. Don't be afraid to reach out to the 10-13s for direction. I belong to both the Palm Beach and Broward County 10-13s. They are always ready to put out a question to the membership, whether it be recommendations for a given issue, contractor or whatever. Charlotte NC also has a very vibrant 10-13 club and I see mailings from them regularly. Speaking of cops, a word about the police here- by and large, the mentality is very different from what we are used to. "Doing the right thing" doesn't seem to mean the same thing here as we understand the term.  I don't speed and try to observe the traffic laws closely. My feeling is that professional courtesy is more or less a hit and miss thing, mostly miss. You should be aware of that. Also, the same goes for getting certified as a Florida police officer. PM me if you want a lead on training, but my feeling is that in this day and age, being a cop is so much more dangerous (politically speaking) than when I came OTJ, it's hard to see why any of us retirees would want to go back into that mess again. There is no civil service protection here, and as a right to work state, Florida (Tennessee, Texas and others as well) hire and fire at will. It's simply a different mentality.

So, while my thoughts are based on Florida, I think most of it can be applied to any state. Do I regret the move? Not in the least. Do I miss New York? I do. I miss the autumns, the City (before Deblasio destroyed it), Long Island delis (they simply exist nowhere else) and the food in general. But that's what short weekend trips up north are for. Sorry for the length of this, but maybe it might help someone in their thought process.

Finally, if Salerno reads this...please don't come here. No cowards wanted, thank you. :-)

[hapd]

Combat Information Center Watch Supervisor

salerno is to much of a puzzie to move from under his sea shell of cover.

[40nout]

+1 on PPC's comments. The only thing I would add is to rent for 6 months to a year just to make sure you like it. This way if you decide to head back north (or east in my case) you are not faced with the prospect of trying to sell a house. It will also give you time to explore the area you want to live in.

[dustoff262]

We should have a 10-13 thread from members and post their links. I know I would join.

[saturn4147]

One word of caution. If you have kids, especially HS aged kids do your HW. Florida’s schools as a whole are substandard. Most of us retirees want to keep taxes low so your teachers and civil servants have low salaries.

I made the mistake of moving 20 yrs ago with a HS kid and had to send her back to finish her HS.

If your kid is doing well in high school or is about to go to HS they will not have same educational opportunities down in FL.

Kids out of house? Retired? Come on down to God’s waiting room

[blackcoffeenosugar]

I have been in renting in the great state of Tennessee for six months now and do not regret escaping from New York.

My only reason to go back and visit New York is my son who works and lives in Manhattan, he is making a lot of money so he is not going to leave.

I have three brothers and three sisters, one in Florida, one in Texas, one in Nevada, one in Massachusetts and two in Northern NJ. We are all over the place, but I'm in the middle of them now.