“Last year, we participated in a mushroom hunt, and our instructor took us along a nature trail, pointing out edible as well as poisonous mushrooms. It was great fun, and since I know very little about fungi, I learned a thing or two.”

The couple has enjoyed every member of the ALL group. “We’ve learned so much from many people who remain intellectually curious and very well educated,” he shared.

Mike and Gail Leach grew up in Florida. He graduated from Guilford College and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. “I always loved North Carolina, and after we married, we visited Western North Carolina frequently because my wife’s parents had a home in the mountains.”

They spent a fair amount of time searching for a second home of their own, and found one near Banner Elk, not knowing at the time that their purchase was perhaps 100 yards from the home where the grandmother of Mrs. Leach had been born. Because Mrs. Leach was a math teacher, she had summers free, and she and the couple’s two daughters would spend that time in the cool Blue Ridge Mountains. Now that both of them are retired, they spend five months each year in their mountain home which sits across from the southern profile of Grandfather Mountain.

Mr. Leach retired two years before his wife, giving him the time to act on a lifelong wish to write. “It’s very different from a professional life in high-tech,” he laughed. He joined the High Country Writers Group (mostly retirees) and entered a regional writing contest which he won. His 1500-word entry became the genesis for his published novel, Lords of Circumstance, available on Amazon.com.

It was the allure of the Blue Ridge, with its views, hiking and trails that compelled them to set down roots. “We are so busy, that perceived time to just relax in our mountain home is tough to find, but we love being there. “

And it’s not all intellectual. “I played college baseball, and enjoy sports here at ASU.” A college town, spectacular views, growing friendships, fulfilling dreams, and staying active in every way – throw in the occasional game and you’ve got a perfect environment for the next stage of living.
 

Lynda and Ken Ramage
Eatonton, GA, to Gaffney, SC

“I believe you should bloom where you’re planted and it’s easy to bloom here,” Lynda Ramage shared from her circa 1881 home in Gaffney. A native of the charming upstate town, she lived there until she was six and after her family moved, returned in the summers. “My family helped found Gaffney,” she explained. “After we got married, we moved several times, and finally bought a B&B in Georgia, where we lived for 11 years. My husband is originally from Ohio and still has a family farm there, and it became difficult for him to travel back and forth, so we sold the B&B and decided to move back to my home. He has fallen in love with it as well, and now it’s only seven hours back to the farm for him.”

A childhood friend let her know that one of Gaffney’s wonderful old homes was for sale, and she and Ken decided it was the one for them. Today, the house is filled with antiques and memorabilia from family and the couple’s years elsewhere, and, although Mrs. Ramage enjoys collecting items from bygone eras, her feet are firmly planted in the here and now.

“I’ve gotten involved in tourism and CAVA, the artists’ group here, and I enjoy classes, sports and special events at Limestone College,” she said. Recently, she participated in a dinner at the college which featured Mary Badham, the actress who played Scout in the 1962 film, To Kill a Mockingbird. Long retired from acting, Ms. Badham speaks of her experiences making the film, and promotes compassion and tolerance during her speaking engagements. “It was an amazing evening that wouldn’t have happened without a college town setting,” Mrs. Ramage said.

Recently, she took a steel drum class through the university. “There were six of us and I was the oldest by far,” she laughed. “I am still a beginner but it was great fun learning to play and getting to know the other students.”

The college town is one aspect of living in this welcoming community, but there are others. “We’ve got all the restaurants you’d ever want to find, plus shopping and college sports such as La Crosse, for which Limestone is justifiably known.” Another plus for Mrs. Ramage is the preponderance of thrift shops, where she seeks out old chairs to paint and refurbish. “I love creating something beautiful out of what some would consider trash.”

And when it’s time to spread their wings, Asheville, Charlotte, Greenville, and Spartanburg are close at hand. Travels far afield are temporary, however. There’s simply too much going on to leave Gaffney for long. As for her husband, he’s enjoying golf and being with new friends the couple has made. But no steel drum classes – at least not yet. Perhaps next year, that is, if his honey-do list has been completed and the golf course allows.

 

Mike and Ann Kohler
Albany, NY, to Conway/Myrtle Beach, SC

“I wish I could say that moving to a college town was part of our plan, but we actually discovered all the benefits after we made the move from Albany, NY,” Mike Kohler explained from the couple’s home within walking distance of Coastal Carolina University. “We’d lived in Manhattan, on Long Island and in Albany, and vacationed in Myrtle Beach for 20 years, so we knew it had everything we wanted in terms of climate and entertainment.”

The university is located between Conway and Myrtle Beach, and in recent years has grown tremendously. Mr. Kohler added, “After experiencing the move and what has come afterwards, I am very comfortable saying that having a college or university close by is one of the most important things you should seek out when deciding a retirement location.”

The Kohlers have taken a number of classes, including photography, genealogy, computer use, history, and lots more. They’ve become so enamored with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Coastal that they volunteer during “Free Week,” when anyone of a certain age can take classes at no charge and learn more about the program. If you’re interested in taking more traditional college classes, those can be audited after paying a one-time fee, space permitting.

And just down the road, Georgetown Technical College offers classes as well. Their culinary program is well known, and Mr. Kohler has taken several cooking classes, including Southern, Italian, vegetarian, and chicken.

Back at Coastal, the Kohlers are very enthusiastic about the music and theater programs, which present concerts and special events, including Broadway-caliber plays. “We’ve attended events we would never have chosen before moving here, such as the Saxophone Ensemble, and perhaps a dozen other similar programs. And I have taken a class in Pop 101 and speak highly about the instructor, Dan O’Reilly.” They’ve also enjoyed Jazz After Hours, Coastal’s popular big band that performs semi-annually.

Mr. Kohler was an engineer before going into hospital administration and ending up as head of health services for New York’s 26-hospital psychiatric system. Mrs. Kohler was a middle school math teacher for 35 years. Today, they are enjoying the cultural activities they never had time for before retirement, and they love the Southern amenities they’ve found in Conway.

“I’ve got a bit more advice for couples like us who are contemplating where to move,” Mr. Kohler explained. “Go to the local library. You can tell so much about a community from how it supports its library.” True enough. And while the glitter of Myrtle Beach continues to beckon occasionally, they’ve found plenty that shines in nearby Conway and through Coastal Carolina University.

Read more about Conway online at www.carolinaliving.com/conway and learn more about the community and one of the Kohler’s favorite restaurants, Rivertown Bistro.

Bill and Adrienne Gillen
Gaithersburg, MD, to Clemson, SC

“My parents were scouting out Florida as a retirement destination, and, at the request of my father’s former employer, they stopped by Clemson on their way back to Lakeville, Connecticut,” Adrienne Gillen explained from her retirement home in Clemson. “They wanted a college town with culture and intellectual stimulation, and have been at Clemson Downs for the past 17 years. They love it here and now we’ve moved here, too.”

Like parents, like daughter, with a few differences. “We lived in a large neo-traditional community in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and I was very active in the community, so I learned about behind-the-scenes architecture and planning for Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) and I knew we wanted to keep that lifestyle. We searched and found Patrick Square, another TND community. We decided it was going to blossom and the construction was good quality. Like my parents, we also wanted a college town, preferably close to them.” Their approved states for retirement included Tennessee, Georgia, NC and SC, but nothing compared with the package they found in Clemson.

The couple built a Habersham design, three-bedroom, three-bath home in the heart of the neighborhood. She’s moved down and is enjoying her life here. When he retires, he’ll join her in Clemson. Meanwhile, she’s found lots to entertain her, including the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), in the center of her community, on land donated by Patrick Square.

There are almost 100 courses offered during any given semester, including everything from travel tips, to Southern culture, gardening, painting, literature, crafts and more.

“I just took a Picasa class and I absolutely loved it,” Mrs. Gillen explained. (Picasa is a viewer and organizer for images, plus an integrated photo-sharing website.) “I love how it’s taught me to store images and I can now generate an album on any member of my family.”

She takes advantage of Free Fridays, where she can attend any OLLI class. She’s also enjoying the rest of Clemson’s offerings, and has attended a football game, presentation of The Nutcracker and the once-a-month gatherings in the Patrick Square community.

“This environment allows me to give back to the college students,” she explained, adding that she periodically prepares dinner for the Clemson students who frequent the St. Andrews Catholic Church student center.

And there’s one more thing she wanted to share. “I have noticed in our community that there are a number of the families who are connected. The retired grandparents live here, but also, there are children and grandchildren living in the same community. College towns usually have great school systems, and this way everyone can be close by and take advantage of the atmosphere. And, it gives the older generation the opportunity to see their kids and watch their grandkids grow up and share in their lives – it’s simply ideal.” 

 

Troy Gravel East Carolina University Greenville, NC

The advantages of living in a college community go far beyond retirement lifestyles and attractions. For Troy Gravel and his business partner, Rob Campbell, the Small Business Technology and Development Center (SBTDC) at East Carolina University assisted in the realization of entrepreneurship.

“Rob and I were both laid off as a result of the downturn in the economy, and as a result, I asked him if he wanted to go into partnership to create Tier2 Technology, an information technology consulting support and management business,” Troy explained. “We went to SBTDC and received excellent help with the business plan. When we began, banks were not loaning, and so we started financing ourselves, which means no paychecks for more than a year. This past year, we approached $200,000 in sales.”

A rather unexpected benefit of using the services housed at the college was that their consultant, Debbie Hathaway, put them in contact with other fledgling SBTDC businesses, and they began to collaborate.

“We were introduced to a marketing company that had worked with SBTDC and they do our marketing,” Mr. Gravel said. “And, SBTDC told us about a business plan competition from the City of Greenville (NC) which offered the winners between $15,000 and $30,000 to move their offices into downtown Greenville. We applied and were awarded the grant and moved. But we had more room than was needed and so, in an effort to give back to the community, I’ve started an incubator for IT companies. The marketing group is housed with us, and I’ve brought on a web and graphics design company to partner with us. We’re funneling work to the marketing company with a push toward social media.”

They’ve also partnered with a local cable and phone company, and a company that provides office machinery. Everyone has complementary businesses and works together and every company is benefiting.

East Carolina University supports the small business program, not only with physical space, but also by sending their top graduate level business students to be interviewed by SBTDC and placed as interns with their clients. Another program places undergraduate business students in groups of four-six with SBTDC client businesses. These create win-win situations for the students and the businesses.

“I love it here, and plan to stay, enjoying as many ECU Pirate games as possible and working with my partner to keep our business and incubator thriving,” Mr. Gravel said. 

 

Take a look at this informal list of the amenities of college-town living and discover unique new ways to enjoy this lifestyle – at any age.

Lifelong learning
Free or inexpensive classes
Interesting people
Resources to start a business
Music, dance and theatre performances
Artists and writers
College sports
Great elementary-high schools nearby
Affordable restaurants
Young, energetic vibe
Great libraries
Recreation – walking trails, exercise classes, yoga

What would you add to the mix?

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