Bob,
My wife and I faced the exact same dilemma last year. Since I sailed out of the New Bedford YC many years ago we were looking at Padanarum/South Dartmouth on Buzzards Bay. We went to the Boston Boat Show and ran into a realtor there who put up a display. We told him what we were looking for and he suggested Bristol which up to them was only a sign I passes when we’d drive to Newport. We visited Bristol and found that it had everything we were looking for, restaurants, the Herreshorf Museum, Linden Place, Blythwold Mansion, The Bristol Yacht Club which is very much a sailors yacht club, a 14 mile long bicycle trail that runs along the water all the way to Providence, beaches at Colt Park all in a very compact walkable town. Roger Williams University is also there which brings young people and culture. Finally the town is host to the longest continually running (238 years) 4th of July parade in the country and several weeks of concerts and fireworks leading up to the 4th.. We liked it so much we ended up purchasing a home there that was built in 1845 and we’re totaling renovating it. There are several homes available in town for less than $55K that are within walking distance to the restaurants (some of them quite good) and shops. We’ve been amazed at how many people retire in Bristol. Many of these folks are young active retirees and a lot of the social life revolves around the yacht club and the Herreshorf museum. In fact there seem to be a lot of college kids and a lot of 60 somethings and not a lot in between because the people who grow up in the area all move to Barrington and the schools there when they have school age kids. There is an event at the Yacht Club sometime in January for people who might be interested in joining. You might want to call the Stewart there to find out more details. Good luck, Dave Saltaire C&C 35 MK III From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Bob McLaughlin Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 6:09 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Stus-List So New England retirement/harbor perspectives I’m interested in locals’ opinions of good towns to retire to and good harbor suggestions to move my C&C to in the So New England area. We sailed our C&C 33-II for the past 22 years and last year moved up to a C&C 110 (6.5’ draft) with the intent of moving from the Midwest “back” in the next ~2-3 years to the southern New England area to retire and do more sailing. (I say “back” since I grew up sailing in NJ with many summers out to Nantucket. My parents lived in Newport for awhile too, so the area from ~Block I to Nantucket became the center of my interest and we’ve chartered there many times in the years since moving to St Louis.) Any thoughts of CT, RI or MA preferences? This may be mostly an issue of tax differences but are there some other state-wide issues someone might suggest for consideration? Our thinking regarding towns from afar is either the Narragansett Bay area or the northeastern shore of Buzzard’s Bay. It would be ideal to spend less than $500k for a 3-4 BR house or condo near the water/boat. Reasonable access to a major airport would be a plus too but not under the approach/departure flight path (an issue for the Providence airport/Greenwich area?), as well as nice shore activities such as theater etc. The early short-list to explore is below, though I’m curious what gem we’re overlooking or perhaps areas to eliminate. At one point moorings in some harbors had long wait lists. Is that still the case? What about the moorings themselves, are some harbors know for good facilities/better holding ground? Are helical screw mooring fields the way to go? I thought I read some towns were installing them. (Our family lost one boat to a hurricane when she dragged her mushroom anchor up onto a sea wall....). In RI: Bristol or the East Greenwich/Warwick area, though I wonder if it’s a bit far up the bay to get out to the islands quickly (though I like the idea of some protected sailing for the more blustery days). Bristol appears open to storms but I like the town and harbor area. Newport would be great but I fear I’d grow weary of the summer crowds. Jamestown seems too open. Anyone know about Melville? Wickford? In MA: Marion or Padanaram seem possibly idea, and I love insight to these. What about Mattapoisett? Is my thinking that getting onto the Cape is asking for traffic and crowd headaches correct? In CT: Stonington (though getting a bit east, our daughter lives in Newton MA- but right on I-95 maybe no further away by car than say, Marion...) I’d welcome any thoughts and opinions from the List. Bob McLaughlin Blue Devil C&C 110
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