[xz2y]

Hi, I'm wondering if the Traverse City area is welcoming to new retirees. I know that there are plenty of year-round retirees living in the TC area, but I'm wondering if it's a reasonably friendly area in general. Any thoughts from those residing there?

[rotwein]

Hard to answer when you do not provide any information about your self and/or what you are looking for.

[xz2y]

Originally Posted by rotwein

Hard to answer when you do not provide any information about your self and/or what you are looking for.

Good point. Sorry to be vague. If I decide to retire there, I'd be looking for ways to get involved in the community and perhaps volunteer, and I would expect to utilize the public library frequently as well as the senior center, downtown activities, attend festivals, etc. I'm in my early-mid-60's and an active retiree. I think my question is really about how people in a smaller town/city welcome newcomers. I know TC is a tourist area and I have visited many times, but visiting is different than living there full time. Staying in a hotel and going to the cherry festival or film festival is always fun, but mostly I was interacting with other tourists. Vacationing for several weeks is a good way to get the know an area in some ways, but input from those who retired there is helpful too.

My experience in Minnesota a few years ago was "interesting" in this regard. I was thinking possibly of retiring there and moved out there in 2009 to work on a project for an old prof from grad school. However, after the project was over, I was still in a one-year lease, so I started sub teaching in area schools as a part-time job and as a way to meet people. People I was working with would literally ask me, "Why are you here in Minneapolis?" There was a perpetual sense of being an outsider, even though I was working in the same school nearly every day for several months. I would tell them that I went to grad school there, that I had moved there for a project and was considering retiring there, etc., but it didn't seem very welcoming to have a lot of questions about "why are you here?" I moved back to SE Michigan after the one year lease was up, for several reasons, not the least of which was the incredible traffic congestion, blight in the center city, and high cost of living.

Anyway, after that experience, I'm interested in learning what I can from others who might live in the TC area as a retiree. TC is on my short list of options for retirement.

[malamute]

I think they might ask you that same "why are you here" in Traverse City but maybe it's not really to be rude but because they would wonder why you went there. There are quite a few people who moved from SE or SW Michigan to Traverse City so it's not as though there wouldn't be plenty of other transplants to associate with if you didn't hit it off with the natives. For some people if you didn't go to one of the local high schools, you're always going to be a bit of an outsider - but really you shouldn't let that stop you.

[sellinginmn]

We moved here from Minnesota a year ago and the community is so much more friendly and welcoming than Minnesota (I love Minnesota but it isn't very welcoming for newcomers.) We aren't retirees, but love it here.

[xz2y]

Originally Posted by sellinginmn

We moved here from Minnesota a year ago and the community is so much more friendly and welcoming than Minnesota (I love Minnesota but it isn't very welcoming for newcomers.) We aren't retirees, but love it here.

Good to hear you like TC! I like MN too, it's a great state, but like you, I didn't feel welcomed. Maybe the large urban area is part of it, but in any case, over on the MN forum, there have been discussions of the "MN freeze." I'm pretty outgoing, so I was surprised to be met with so many questions about "why was I there." It's funny, because retirees move all around the country to retire, for all kinds of reasons, and even if you move somewhere just because it's a nice place, that should be enough of a reason. Why would any newcomer need to explain themselves to locals? Anyway, if I end up in TC I'll at least be able to say I lived in MI for over 25 years!

[Jswee]

Not a retiree but have lived in TC all my life. Volunteering is a great way to introduce yourself. TC has a very active volunteer community. Some places to consider volunteering would be Dennos Museum, Munson Hospital through the Munson Auxiliary, Old Mission and Leelanau Conservancies, area watershed council, TC public Library, the museum in the old public library, local schools, athletic club boosters, all of the normal service organizations, TC Rotary club, the VASA. SCORE, TC Film Festival, Cherry Festival Ambassadors, the list goes on and on and they are all great ways to meet people. If you play bridge, there are several local bridge clubs that are always looking for members. Chances are if you have a hobby or interest, there is a local group already established, from wood turners, to gardeners to square dancers.

[xz2y]

Originally Posted by Jswee

Not a retiree but have lived in TC all my life. Volunteering is a great way to introduce yourself. TC has a very active volunteer community. Some places to consider volunteering would be Dennos Museum, Munson Hospital through the Munson Auxiliary, Old Mission and Leelanau Conservancies, area watershed council, TC public Library, the museum in the old public library, local schools, athletic club boosters, all of the normal service organizations, TC Rotary club, the VASA. SCORE, TC Film Festival, Cherry Festival Ambassadors, the list goes on and on and they are all great ways to meet people. If you play bridge, there are several local bridge clubs that are always looking for members. Chances are if you have a hobby or interest, there is a local group already established, from wood turners, to gardeners to square dancers.

Wow! That's very encouraging and one of the great things about the area. I went to volunteermatch.org and found a lot of good ideas for volunteering in many areas I'm considering. Your list is much longer, and I appreciate the suggestions. I do plan to volunteer and I have several hobbies.

I have to make some phone calls to find out how hard it would be to find a doctor who will take new medicare patients, which is an increasing problem. My worry about TC in that regard, is that it's a smaller city. Munson is highly regarded, but are there primary docs willing to take new Medicare patients? I'll have to make some calls and see what I can learn.

I also have to check out rentals, and see what might be affordable, safe and a nice place, maybe within walking distance to downtown, though that might not be possible to find.

And I bleed blue, so I'll have to get a sense of how progressive TC is. I don't expect it to be Boston, but hopefully there is somewhat of a liberal vibe, or at least a mix of political viewpoints.

Thanks again for the suggestions. TC is really a beautiful part of the state.

[Jswee]

Grand Traverse County is generally a red area, inside Traverse City itself, though, there is certainly a fairly strong and vocal progressive element. Very strong support for the arts and cultural enrichment, the environment, active locavore movement, organic farming, downtown definitely has a micro-urban vibe.

[xz2y]

Originally Posted by Jswee

Grand Traverse County is generally a red area, inside Traverse City itself, though, there is certainly a fairly strong and vocal progressive element. Very strong support for the arts and cultural enrichment, the environment, active locavore movement, organic farming, downtown definitely has a micro-urban vibe.

Good to know. Yes, I have seen the maps of Michigan after the 2012 election by county, and the northern part of the state is mostly red, but am glad to learn that TC has some progressives and that some of the urban folks are involved with issues that I support.