Would you want to retire in Lawrence? / LJWorld.com

Asked at Massachusetts Street on October 26, 2011

“It’s a tough call — it’s about where family is, too. We like Lawrence, but also have family in Arizona and in the east.”

— Carol Buchheister, volunteer, Lawrence

“(We’re) thinking Arizona, possibly, but we also like Lawrence because we like having the four seasons. ”

— Jim Buchheister, consultant, Lawrence

“It’d be nice to have a small home here but also somewhere else — somewhere warm. I’d want this as a homebase, but it’s rough in the winter months. ”

— Linda Cropp, para-educatior, Lawrence

“I’d consider coming back here.”

— Kayci Vickers, student,

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RoeDapple 1 year, 7 months ago

No. You're all weird. Forget it.

riverdrifter 1 year, 7 months ago

Eh, screw, I want to retire. Er, quit. I'm tired. The first skeins of white-fronted geese (speckle-bellies) just passed tonight. Let's call it good. Let's retread. Retire. Sounds good.

RoeDapple 1 year, 7 months ago

Ninety year old Harold Camping is at home recovering from a stroke he suffered in June, shortly after the world didn't end in May. His followers now number about twenty five.

RoeDapple 1 year, 7 months ago

I'd say for him the end is nigh . . .

Am I off topic?

RoeDapple 1 year, 7 months ago

International Business Times has declared Harold Camping to be a false prophet . . . . . Well, DUH . . .

RoeDapple 1 year, 7 months ago

Sure. Here ya go . . .

http://image.dhgate.com/upload/spider/b/265/989/b_fcnl57989265_0.jpg

kinder_world 1 year, 7 months ago

No, I do not want to retire in Lawrence. First not certain I can afford to retire in todays economy. Second cannot retire in Lawrence because the taxes keep going up for all the corporate charities, empTy bus, already not not needed library, school sports fields, etc. I know I will have to sell my house because I cannot afford the taxes on my what my estimated current retirement income will be.

LadyJ 1 year, 7 months ago

Keep telling hubby we need to get our retirement plots at the cemetery. I hear there's no taxes there once you move in.

RoeDapple 1 year, 7 months ago

Police in Oakland used teargas on Occupiers Tuesday.

Hey, I've been teargassed! More than once! This party is finally getting interesting!

Pywacket 1 year, 7 months ago

Only if Lawrence can be relocated to a different state. I like Lawrence.... but it's surrounded by one of the most jerkwater states in the union (these are people who thought Brownback would be a good governor, folks!).

Plus, the weather sucks--too hot from May to October, cold without redeeming winter sports opportunities the rest of the year, and there are very few natural features to enjoy--such as oceanside, mountains, natural lakes, or forests.

I guess if someone comes from here and has family ties, it would make sense to retire here. For those lacking such ties, I can't imagine what the draw could be to retire here. Stasis?

Azure_Attitude 1 year, 7 months ago

What you said, Py!! and it's getting overrun with A-holes (see the response to the first post for a great example). There really isn't anything special here. I'm outta here in less than 2 weeks and will enjoy the feature many of the fine features you mentioned offered at my destination.

Pywacket 1 year, 7 months ago

Take me with?! ;-) I'm stuck here for now but the idea of leaving Kansas behind forever is what keeps me going. Glad you are going somewhere better.

As for the a-holes, you'll find them anywhere. But I have to think it would be easier to tolerate or ignore them if you could walk on a beach every day or spend some peaceful time on a woodland trail....

(Also--I'd be more likely to apply the "a-hole" tag to the first responder than to anyone who takes him to task for his infantile obsession. What annoys one person amuses another, I guess...)

Wallythewalrus 1 year, 7 months ago

That was a winning effort prospector! made me LOL! A First!

labmonkey 1 year, 7 months ago

I found that out when I lived there for two years.... good place to visit, crappy place to live.

RoeDapple 1 year, 7 months ago

g_rock - Send pictures of your poolside adventures on Halloween. I think I can find you a hubby with those . . .

RETICENT_IRREVERENT 1 year, 7 months ago

Lawrence? Get real, It has Buffalo Bob's, but what it really needs is a Bob Evans.

You know what Spain is? It is code for I screwed up buying blow and was stuffed down a concrete outhouse hole.

kernal 1 year, 7 months ago

So much for wallet diving as a growing sport.

rockchalker52 1 year, 7 months ago

JIm knows the score. Four seasons are where it's at. Well, three of 'em anyway. Is it Spring yet? I'd like to have a little cubbyhole down Tucson way, just to get away once in a while.

RETICENT_IRREVERENT 1 year, 7 months ago

Is Fuzzy's Taco Shop any good?

rockchalker52 1 year, 7 months ago

Py, u not gonna retire here? I was looking forward to schmoozing an invite to your dream house & trying out the zip line to your pool. I guess someday this'll mean 'Bye bye, Miss American Py.'

FlintlockRifle 1 year, 7 months ago

Guess so, I did anyway, spend about 3 1/2 months down south, you know what the only white stuff on the ground is ---SAND--

gracecountry62 1 year, 7 months ago

Wow! Were you down in Mexico, Texas gets sum of that white stuff.

RETICENT_IRREVERENT 1 year, 7 months ago

When I first heard the name "Fuzzy's Taco Shop" I thought it was a French strip club.

consumer1 1 year, 7 months ago

I just finished a couple of shrimp and fish taco's tempura style. Eh.. not bad I guess. TO me it just looks like another college bar. I probably won't go back.

RoeDapple 1 year, 7 months ago

Isn't it?

ST3V3N 1 year, 7 months ago

I'm in NJ...will be living in Lawrence in less than one year...retiring from NJ Transit with a pension. I'm too young to not work but in the midwest my pension will allow me to take a breath and figure out what's next. Could never happen this way if I stay on the east coast. So, I'm looking forward to living in Lawrence at least for a year or two.

oneeye_wilbur 1 year, 7 months ago

Another interloper comes to suck from the City of Lawrence just as one meter maid has done from the East coast.

ST3V3N 1 year, 7 months ago

Oh come on, this is the type of attitude I'm hoping to escape here in NJ. You and I will probably end up being friends.

oneeye_wilbur 1 year, 7 months ago

Get pace to bake some pies for you. Heard she is really good at making meringue and bannana cream. Loves to recycle grease though for the dough.

You better bring some of your NJ friends along to tap the systme as well.

ST3V3N 1 year, 7 months ago

how am I "tapping the system" if I'm paying my mortgage, taxes and spending money in Lawrence?

Stain 1 year, 7 months ago

You do realize he is going to spend his money living here, right?

pace 1 year, 7 months ago

Glad to have back ST3v3n.

ST3V3N 1 year, 7 months ago

Thanks pace :)

rockchalker52 1 year, 7 months ago

Well, Azure...g'bye. Hope you find everything you are looking for. Specialness is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose. Don't let the door hit ya where Darwin split ya.

RETICENT_IRREVERENT 1 year, 7 months ago

Blue, Where do old people eat out at?

trinity 1 year, 7 months ago

LOL love it blue...we have a lil' saying; "ride to eat, eat to ride"...even thought about patching it! :) For now I'll remain an OMEO&wait about 7 years to go full ROMEO.

rockchalker52 1 year, 7 months ago

"Blue, where do old people eat out at?"

French strip clubs, maybe?

verity 1 year, 7 months ago

No.

Lawrence is not nearly as "hip" or "cool" or whatever as it seems to think it is and really is not as liberal and progressive as a lot of the opposers on these boards seem to think.

Ticket prices have gone up so much that I can't afford to go to shows at the Lied Center. Men's basketball tickets are out of range for most of us. Housing is expensive. I no longer feel safe going out at night by myself.

It now has a lot of the drawbacks of a bigger city without the benefits. There are smaller college towns which have community, which Lawrence no longer has, and have a lot going on in the arts (theater, art shows, etc.), programs for seniors and a better, more cooperative, attitude toward the community.

The move to attract retirees seems to only be aimed at those who have a lot of money. Good luck with that, but I'm not one of them---if I were I'd go somewhere with a better climate.

beatnik 1 year, 7 months ago

bring back furrs, it seemed to attract old people

gracecountry62 1 year, 7 months ago

We came here to Lawrence in 2006, over all some folks have been kind while others have been out right rude. It has been difficult to adjust to the culture here, while being ourselves in a hospitable way we are looked as we lost our minds , just the other day I held the door for a couple where we live they seemed to be very astonished and made the remark "wow thank you very much we don't see this here in Lawrence" they smiled and went on then one day as they approached our truck they looked down and seen our license plate showing we were from Texas and made another remark" That is why you are so kind to us you are from Texas. We have enjoyed our stay so far this is a really nice town especially the down town during the holidays. But soon after I graduate school we will be heading back home. Did not mind staying for a while but our retirement will either be there in east Texas or the Oregon Mountains. I know I will probably get some negative comments from this that is Okay Its part of the territory.

Perses 1 year, 7 months ago

Wow, my response is total opposite. I've come across more friendly people in Lawrence than any place I've ever been in. Granted that's subjective, but people here are generally friendly and caring. I love Lawrence and would seriously considering retiring here if it wasn't in Kansas. This is truly the most backward state in the Union.

Wallythewalrus 1 year, 7 months ago

What little time and money I will have left.....Jamaica, mon. Every ting no problem. Eat on the white sands of da beach an drink fresh roasted coffee.

merrill 1 year, 7 months ago

Really now what in the world does city hall and the real estate industry think retirees need to live here?

There are more than enough empty houses,condo's etc etc etc. It's odd that the city cannot see any further than the dollar sign when addressing golden senior citizens. In fact it is a bit chilling.

What I predict is developers,real estate executives and the Chamber of Commerce will present some wild scheme "in the interest of preparing for the future" to blow more and more and more tax dollars that will increase the cost of living in Lawrence,Kansas.

What has not paid back the taxpayers: 1. The overbuilt over taxed bedroom community = unfriendly to taxpayers 2. The over built retail community = unfriendly to business and residential taxpayers

The special sales tax community which BTW is not paying back Wyandotte county. Legends is becoming a drag on the community taxpayers because so many tax dollars are bypassing the local governments. According to the KC Star some local elected officials are not happy with the results.
The extravagant spending directed at "sports projects." And more on the way = reckless indeed.
The $100 million sewage treatment pork barrel project will never pay back because adding miles and miles and miles of new infrastructure is like adding miles and miles and miles of new taxes. In a bedroom community this is not expanding the tax base it is expanding our tax bills.

If residential growth paid for itself and was financially positive, we would not be in a budget crunch I say. With increased numbers of houses you have increased demand on services, and historically the funding of revenues generated by residential housing does not pay for the services they require from a municipality.

What makes anyone believe mismanaged growth and reckless spending of tax dollars is attractive to the retired community? These people are not stupid. It does cost a lot of money to live in Lawrence,Kansas aka the land of inflated real estate values thus inflated tax bills.

First we think we are Boulder. Then we must do like Manhattan. Now we must copy Columbia,Missouri. Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

rockchalker52 1 year, 7 months ago

Merrill, what the heck is the matter with you? Is there anything at all you like about Lawrence?
Why are you even here?
Crap, one haven on this here award winning site & all the naysayers have to bring the negativity. Texas people are nicer There's nothing special here in Larryville Can't afford basketball tix Too many a-holes Surrounded by a jerkwater state Interlopers suck from the city

Y'all have a nice trip to wherever it is that's so much better. If you need any directions, just ask.

RoeDapple 1 year, 7 months ago

"Y'all have a nice trip to wherever it is that's so much better. If you need any directions, just ask."

Ya fergot to tell 'em 'bout the door knob and their hind quarters not connectin' on their way out . .

merrill 1 year, 7 months ago

Sure there are some things about Lawrence I like. Those things listed just do not happen to be among them. After all let's be up front about the cost of living to prevent folks from getting duped.

Meanwhile how about : the Merc farmers market people are generally friendly Free State Menu Global Cafe Menu Rudy's Pizza Central Soy Tofu reasonably easy biking La Parrilla the library Arts Center Lied Center Checkers Local Burger Old Neighborhoods Social Service League local farmers I can walk to just about anywhere from my house I can bike to just about anywhere from my house Weavers Neighborhood Associations Esquina Guacamole Close to KCMO zoo Close to Nelson-Atkins Cottin's Hardware Bike Shops Close to KCMO toy museum My father in law likes Lawrence Ernst Hardware Fun and Games in the Antique Mall upstairs ( Halloween anyone) and the list goes on

paisley 1 year, 7 months ago

When we first landed in Lawrence years ago, I loved this town. All that I ever needed was close, prices were reasonable, diverse climate and people. I don't seem to love it much anymore. There are too many "clicks" in the politics, school etc. Taxes are out of this world too. The rules are getting ridiculous and services are going away. Will I retire here? Don't know at this time but I know that I do not like getting nickeled and dimed to death!

Stain 1 year, 7 months ago

Services and taxes kind of go hand in hand.

infidel 1 year, 7 months ago

As a 3 time Iraq Veteran who lives in Lawrence. No, as soon as I am able to retire I am moving to Texas. There is no state income tax, taxes on cars, trucks is half. The real estate tax is higher than KS, however to a disabled Vet it is much lower than Lawrence. There are also many cities with much greater health care .

Oldsoul 1 year, 7 months ago

Lawrence is by the most most politically unaware, barbaric place I have ever entered. I despise the aggressive, sexist, and unconsciously bigoted yahoos who act like they are God's gift for harassing me at least seventy-eighty percent of the times I venture to use public space. They do a great job of making thinking people the butt of offensive, threatening ignorance.

Imagine a complete stranger presuming they are welcome(and actually doing a favor) to open a car door for anyone--such f-tard chivalry belongs back in the caveman days! This happened to last time I shopped and is not uncommon in Lawrence where the intellectually- challenged residents were apparently all raised in barns. I'm a feminist and value my independence, so your rude intrusiveness is definitely not welcome. Stop it with the mindless scripts that justify your sorry existences. It's wrong and insincere to extort gratitude from strangers. The level of ignorance and general dysfunction in Douglas County is totally frightening. Numerous local yahoos can have my place. I plan to retire back in civilization.

Mike_Gerhardt 1 year, 7 months ago

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, you ungratefull old bat!

KansasPerson 1 year, 7 months ago

What on earth would a total stranger be doing with your car keys anyway??? I call BS.

Oldsoul 1 year, 7 months ago

The climate here blows too. With the river nearby, the humidity is even worse than Missouri, and it's always either broiling out,or there's an ice storm on.

rockchalker52 1 year, 7 months ago

Trolling, trolling over the cyber sea. Anonymous vindictive, that's the life for me.

Yahoos locally will rejoice, there dreams to be realized If trolling old souls actually move from the land of the uncivilized.

gccs14r 1 year, 7 months ago

I'm with Py. If Lawrence were someplace decent like Massachusetts, then sure. Since it's firmly rooted in Kansas, no. No matter how hard we work to improve things locally, we can still be bent over by the TFMs the yahoos in the rest of the state send to Topeka.

parrothead8 1 year, 7 months ago

Why in the world would anyone retire somewhere with both sweltering summers and bitter winters? No thanks. If I ever get to retire, I'm gonna go where it's warm.

hear_me 1 year, 7 months ago

Wait for global warming. No need to move.

ihatelv 1 year, 7 months ago

Live, no. Retire, hell no.

nomansland 1 year, 7 months ago

I think the moral of the story is Lawrence was formally a nice place to retire maybe 20-30 years ago but the town has been overrun with development and strip malls everywhere. Most things a retired KU alum would remember from their days here are gone now. It's just another JoCo version 2.0, hence the higher taxes, etc. Fair to say Lawrence was once the loveliest Midwestern university towns back in it's day, always landing in the Top 10 "best of" lists. I think the town is really reflecting what's happening at KU as well, which seems to be a general decline in enrollment and academics.

hear_me 1 year, 7 months ago

I agree with many of the comments above, but my philosophy is a little different. These complaints are happening everywhere. The main advantage of moving is that you would be unaware of the new community's problems for a few years.

Statistically, people retire near friends or family. We will probably do this.

P.S. Kansas politics could be motivation to decide where we will retire sooner rather than later.

hear_me 1 year, 7 months ago

People who are elected to the city commission and the school board should be respected for their community service. We may not always agree with them, but they are putting a lot of personal time into managing our community. We form our opinions based on what we know. They receive a broader range of information, input, and criteria they must follow.