Looking to possibly relocate

[April]

I am retired and will be starting transitioning soon and have been researching on possibly relocating. The place I would like to go will be trans friendly and have a good transgender resources like therapists, endos, health insurance (obamacare). I am in northern NJ at present and have looked into jersey Shore, Virginia and Delaware. What do you think please include your recommendations along reason(s).

[Charlize]

We are in central jersey near the river north of Trenton.  The Lambertville New Hope region is very GLBT friendly as is the area north along the river.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Jani]

Hi April.  Retirement can be a wonderful time that allows us to do many things we couldn't do or have time for.  I hope your retirement is all you expect of it.  As to relocation, I have considered this for some time.  Now that I'm on E, I find I do not particularly enjoy the cold weather as I once did so I am looking for a warmer climate.  We have a couple years until my wife retires so I have time to research and do some exploratory visits.  I'd like a place with little to no snow, temps > 40 degrees but not beyond the high 90's, good healthcare, a good social environment, in a walkable community.  I have family with homes on the gulf coast of Florida so that may be a consideration.  I've found areas on the West coast that might work although my wife may balk at being too far from the grandkids.   We're also thinking about a condo rather than another single family home.  I am concerned about giving up our great summer weather where we are but I also fear the experience of hurricanes and forest fires found in a number promising locations.  There has to be some great place!  This is a good website to use in your search as they capture a lot of good data points.  https://www.bestplaces.net

 

Best of luck in your search.

Jani   

[Drea]

What are you looking for in "trans friendly".  NJ isn't "trans friendly"?

 

[Charlize]

 Drea.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[April]

14 hours ago, Drea said:

What are you looking for in "trans friendly".  NJ isn't "trans friendly"?

 

It's not that NJ isn't "trans friendly" it's just kinda expensive to live here and I am looking for other possible options. Jani423 mentioned some that I am interested in like healthcare, social environment and weather (NJ weather is kinda cold though) I've used this http://www.bankrate.com/retirement/states-ranked-from-first-to-worst-on-retirement-2/#ixzz4HuNFZtla as a begining reference but it does not have anything about the transition resources that state or area may have. Like I mentioned Delaware is an option but looking at the resource locator here there were no close resources (these I think are anyone needed for my transition like endos, hair removal, etc.)

[Jani]

I think parts of Delaware would be good to live in.  My family lived there in a college town when I was younger although it may just be a little too cool for my new sensibilities.  If you want to go further South, the Tampa FL area has a good sized transgender population so there are certainly resources there.  The last HRC survey provided information about where people live.  While not 100% certain, you might assume there to be readily available services where the population in larger.   As to a central depository of data, I haven't found one.  You pretty much have to narrow your search to a state you're interested in and go looking from that starting point.   

 

I'm in a place with no state income or sales taxes, although we have property taxes so tax rates are definitely a factor in my search since it will affect my financial quality of life.  

 

This is a good piece about tax implications. 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/most-tax-friendly-states-for-retirees-2014-01-31

 

There are only four states listed here with no sales tax.   Most are cold states, like mine.  

https://taxfoundation.org/state-and-local-sales-tax-rates-in-2017/

 

This ranks the states as to transgender rights.  All the good ones are again, cool states.  Mine isn't a particularly good place, but I escape to MA for healthcare and ME for social interaction.   

http://www.refinery29.com/2015/03/83531/transgender-rights-by-state

 

Jani

[Jani]

I was wrong about this citation.

3 hours ago, Jani423 said:

The last HRC survey provided information about where people live.

It is actually the Williams Institute, the Law School at UCLA that published demographic data. 

 

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/How-Many-Adults-Identify-as-Transgender-in-the-United-States.pdf

[Charlize]

If you are in Delaware close enough to Philadelphia there are quite good services there. 

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize