MONEY magazine names Holland, MI as great place to retire

[ghost of miles]

Man, this on top of the recent NY Times feature on Saugatuck as a great vacation spot... look out, Michigan! I've got a sentimental attachment to Holland as well, because my mom went to Hope. (Dropped out to marry my dad and have me, and finished her degree at IU-Indy.)

Best places to retire

[BruceH]

My mother went on a vacation trip to Holland, MI a few years ago. The pictures were very nice indeed.

[Quincy]

My sympathies to Holland. Florence Oregon was #1 in the past year or 2, and the town isn't what it used to be. It's very tough on the elderly who want to stay but have limited income. It's a great deal if you already live in the town and are looking to move though.

Edited September 18, 2006 by Quincy

[Chuck Nessa]

I would hope most of the folks in Holland, MI would retire. This entire community scares the shit out of me.

[Uncle Skid]

I would hope most of the folks in Holland, MI would retire. This entire community scares the shit out of me.

Clear, direct, and concise, Couldn't have said it better.

[ghost of miles]

Lotsa conservative Dutch Reformed types? I grew up in the church, though thank God (metaphorically AND literally?) our chapter left politics out of it... no defense of South African apartheid that I remember, anyway. I'm a wayward, non-denominational guy these days, though I'm drifting dangerously close to the wild 'n crazy liberal Episcopalian folks here in town.

[sal]

As a kid when we used to drive from Chicago up to Muskegon to visit my aunt's family, the big yellow wooden shoe in Holland was always my indicator that we weren't far away from our destination. Good memories.

Love the New Holland Brewery!

Edited September 19, 2006 by sal

[BruceH]

My sympathies to Holland. Florence Oregon was #1 in the past year or 2, and the town isn't what it used to be. It's very tough on the elderly who want to stay but have limited income. It's a great deal if you already live in the town and are looking to move though.

That's the first thing I thought upon reading this; a little town gets named #1 by a national magazine, retirees flood in, the place gets crowded overnight, prices go through the roof. Thanks a lot, MONEY. Oh well, I guess you've got to expect it...if there's a conspiracy to drive low-income people out of the nicest small towns in America.

[Rob C]

My parents just retired to Holland last year!

But I agree--weird place. My mom still works in a retail store and her first week there last winter, got yelled at by some old lady for saying "Happy Holidays". Apparently she's on the wrong side of the war on Xmas.

We also went out to dinner at some faux Italian joint one Sunday, tried to order wine. No go--dry county. No wine or beer. BUT you could order a mixed drink--they recommended their signature frozen drink, the "Italian Margarita". Yup, weird place.