Retiring To Palm Springs?

[MitchMiller]

Looks like I'm on target to meet my goal of retiring at age 58 with Aug 15 hopefully the last day I work for someone else, at least full time.

I'm most likely going to relocate to Palm Springs, CA (from LA area).  Seems like an "age appropriate" place for me.

I'm wondering if anyone else out there lives in or around Palm Springs?  How's the health care?  I haven't been under medical care since 2008, so hoping to start seeing the doc again once I get settled in PS. 

Also, any hints on what the AC bills run for a small studio or 1Bdrm apt?   

[GSOgymrat]

Congratulations on your retirement!

[Jeff G]

Congrats on the retirement ! . I would vote for Palm Springs for AMG if it ever came up .

[mitch777]

Congrats Mitch!

I'm thinking that Palm Springs may be an option for us down the road a bit. Hope someone gets your questions answered as I am curious as well. The downtown area seemed to be struggling a bit during our last visit about 4 or 5 years ago. Hope things have improved. Beautiful area though.

[MitchMiller]

Thanks for the replies.  Hopefully all goes well.  Seems to be a lot more physicians in the area that I expected.  There's an active HIV assistance facility in Coachella Valley.  Palm Springs has a very large concentration of gay households.  However, the total population of PS is under 50K.  Unfortunately, the summers sound pretty brutal, but don't sound much worse than Atlanta, where I lived for eight years.  The cost of housing is really affordable, given it's retirement and tourist town only.  Not many jobs there.

It's REALLY difficult to be at all interested in work when I plan to walk away Aug 15 (but they don't know that yet in case things go wrong before then).  Should be working this weekend, but cannot get motivated.

[mitch777]

Can't blame you for not having much interest in work at this point. Countdown.

"They" say that your body will adjust to the heat. Not sure myself as I have only lived in Minnesota and Connecticut. You need to report back! 

Glad to hear that there were more docs than expected. I guess in a retirement community that should be expected, especially with a high concentration of gays.

Good luck. I hope you find that the move works out well.

[Denver Toad]

We live other side of Mt. San Jacinto in Hemet.  Not quite as hot as PS, but close.  We've a thousand SF home,  newer construction, I added additional attic insulation. Hottest months (July, Aug, Sept)  we average mid one hundreds for electricity.  We now participate in level bill program and pay $108 per month. We're really conservative about temp, never set thermostat lower than eighty. Our next door neighbor runs their AC nonstop from now until October and she pays $190ish per month under level pay plan.  Ouch :-(  Window AC units are the least efficient and most expensive, avoid them at all costs. 

I accessed medical care through Desert Aids Project for better part of 2012, and had wonderful care.  I wouldn't hesitate to use them again. Dr's Scheibel or Hurst are among the best I've seen. I'm now on Anthem BCBS HMO, I found access to ID specialist's problematic in both PS and Riverside County. Between HMO network restrictions and Dr's not accepting patients I ended up in Redlands. Could be worse. Excepting ID I've had no hassles with medical.

Hope that answers your questions, if there's anything else just ask.  PS is a fantastic place.  Plenty to do, and casinos in the area draw good shows.  DAP has a lot to offer both medically and socially. Queen of the Desert fundraiser is not to be missed.  Best of luck.

[MitchMiller]

Thanks for the reply.  That helps a lot.  Based on your info, I think AC in a first floor apt/condo could probably be held under $200 during the hottest months with a yearly average less than $100.  I was concerned because someone here in LA said AC would cost $600/month during the summer.  I bought a Vornado circulating fan that I've read can save some $$$ on AC.  I'm in Hawthone now where electric averages less than $20/month in my tiny apt.  I don't even have AC in the apt. and use just a tiny electric space heater in the winter as needed.   

I'll be on an Obamacare policy.  I just read in LA Times that people are complaining about access to docs.  One of the issues with wider coverage is too many people will be trying to see a doc.  I'll be happy if I can find a general practitioner in the area that will do my blood work annually.

[Irish Eyes]

I maintain a condo in Palm Springs but live in La Jolla.
Unfortunately I can't help you with any expense numbers as I only go for a few days a couple of times each month.
My place is in North Palm Springs (Sunrise @ Francis) and in the 'windy area'
which even on 90deg. days, with the breeze blowing is very comfortable indoors.
Prior to purchase my realtor reinforced many times that it's in the windy area.
Thankfully I didn't listen to him.

There is always something going on or something to do in Palm Springs.
From the casino downtown plus surrounding casinos drawing top entertainment, to the weekly street fair on Palm Canyon etc.etc.

Doctors.
I was first dx by GP at Eisenhower med center, on 111 @ Gene Autry, and apparently there is an ID @ same location.
GP recommended I enroll at Desert Aids Project (DAP), perhaps due to my lack of surprize/concern upon receiving dx.

My experience at DAP was I wasn't very impressed.
Poor coordination of appointments.
From initial call, to enrolling to see case manager to see ID took from 12/26/13 to 2/19/14. Almost 8 weeks to wait to see doc. and get blood draws.

I cancelled enrollment and went to UCSD, Owens Center. Registered 1/30/14 had blood draws that same day, and saw ID and got some blood results 3 days later (which included a weekend) on 2/3/14.

Congrats on retirement

[MitchMiller]

Thanks for the info.  That helps.  I'm looking at studio apts, one on Sunrise Way for $650 (not including utilities).

The stock market has been so kind the past few weeks (ala MNKD, MACK, NBS) that I'm thinking about giving my notice in a week at work.  I'm sure my boss will be very PO'd.

Retirement is REALLY scary, even though I'm now up to $1.4M plus 100K after tax equity in a condo.  Using a 3% rule (as opposed to the 4% rule), that will allow me to generate an income of $45K before tax, probably around $32K after tax annually.  Unfortunately that doesn't leave me with much of an entertainment budget, but I've got a lot of things I want to do that don't require much $$$.

I'm hoping I can use a bronze Obamacare plan (< $500/month) and continue to buy meds online from India (< $200/month).  My goal is to keep my expenses to not more than $2500/month and hopefully have a small amount to go back into savings.   

I see Gold's gym is only $20/month.  I'm wondering how much World Gym is since that is supposed to have a large gay clientele and could be a source to meet new friends.