Considering a small town to retire to in 2030-35. Recommendations?

[just east of the creek]

Southwestern Ontario farming country - Stratford, Blyth, Listowel and places in between, and then Goderich, Bayfield…I am biased but the corn stands tall.

Closer to the western side of the GTA - Kilbride, Carlisle.

And if your cash flow is strong, then Niagara on the Lake.

All peer reviewed by our family and the subject of lively discussion at times when the clan gathers.

 

[Towered]

Southwestern Ontario farming country - Stratford, Blyth, Listowel and places in between, and then Goderich, Bayfield…I am biased but the corn stands tall.

Closer to the western side of the GTA - Kilbride, Carlisle.

And if your cash flow is strong, then Niagara on the Lake.

All peer reviewed by our family and the subject of lively discussion at times when the clan gathers.

Thanks for adding those recs - aside from Stratford and NOTL, I'm not familiar with any of them. I'm hoping they're cute, historic, and artsy!

 

[PinkLucy]

Carlisle is lovely. Blyth is tiny but they have Cowbell . Goderich and Bayfield are nice but touristy

 

[lenaitch]

Southwestern Ontario farming country - Stratford, Blyth, Listowel and places in between, and then Goderich, Bayfield…I am biased but the corn stands tall.

Closer to the western side of the GTA - Kilbride, Carlisle.

And if your cash flow is strong, then Niagara on the Lake.

All peer reviewed by our family and the subject of lively discussion at times when the clan gathers.

I've always figured 'mid-western' Ontario to be our primary breadbasket. Lots of profitable, well maintained farming operations and towns to support them. Like the limestone theme of eastern Ontario, many of the towns in this area have a signature 'yellow brick' theme - must be the local clay. For some reason, I've always had a bit of soft spot for Seaforth.

Every community on the 'west coast' is going to have a degree of 'touristy' by nature, but some wear it better than others. I don't mind Goderich, even in the summer. However, I wouldn't touch Grand Bend or Sauble Beach with a barge pole.

There are a lot of small communities throughout this area, but for some, it can be a bit of a drive for much more than groceries. A friend retired to Lucknow and made the point that place like Home Depot (or a decent hardware store) or Sears (I'm dating myself here) was a road trip.

 

[Admiral Beez]

I visited Perth, ON last week. Very pretty parks and ponds downtown.

 

[just east of the creek]

I've always figured 'mid-western' Ontario to be our primary breadbasket. Lots of profitable, well maintained farming operations and towns to support them. Like the limestone theme of eastern Ontario, many of the towns in this area have a signature 'yellow brick' theme - must be the local clay. For some reason, I've always had a bit of soft spot for Seaforth.

Every community on the 'west coast' is going to have a degree of 'touristy' by nature, but some wear it better than others. I don't mind Goderich, even in the summer. However, I wouldn't touch Grand Bend or Sauble Beach with a barge pole.

There are a lot of small communities throughout this area, but for some, it can be a bit of a drive for much more than groceries. A friend retired to Lucknow and made the point that place like Home Depot (or a decent hardware store) or Sears (I'm dating myself here) was a road trip.

You are not far wrong and you are dating yourself. Maybe a Sears catalogue store?. And certainly a Home Hardware Building Centre, and possible a Peavey. Home Depot not really required.

 

[just east of the creek]

Carlisle is lovely. Blyth is tiny but they have Cowbell . Goderich and Bayfield are nice but touristy

And Blyth has the Festival Theatre.

 

[lenaitch]

I visited Perth, ON last week. Very pretty parks and ponds downtown.

Unless you dined at Maximilians, you missed the best schnitzel on the planet.

And certainly a Home Hardware Building Centre, and possible a Peavey. Home Depot not really required.

Indeed, but you know the general public; if it ain't at Home Depot or Walmart it doesn't exist. My go-to is Home Hardware; although their building centre here is a bit disappointing.

 

[just east of the creek]

Unless you dined at Maximilians, you missed the best schnitzel on the planet.


Indeed, but you know the general public; if it ain't at Home Depot or Walmart it doesn't exist. My go-to is Home Hardware; although their building centre here is a bit disappointing.

One of the founders of HD is a huge Trump supporter. That has coloured my view of HD. Walmart could be the same for all I know, but I just make a point of staying away.

 

[Natika33]

Thanks for adding those recs - aside from Stratford and NOTL, I'm not familiar with any of them. I'm hoping they're cute, historic, and artsy!

I visited Goderich recently. It was cute, historic and had at least one small decent art gallery that also sold supplies. Also, the Huron County history museum was awesome! (So eclectic - they even had Victorian human hair art!)

It also has an interesting old gaol museum, lots of trails for hiking/biking, and a beautiful restaurant right by the lake that also happens to be an old train station with legitimate crème brulée. It was very walkable; however, no trains service it, so you'd be stuck there if you couldn't drive.

 

[lenaitch]

no trains service it, so you'd be stuck there if you couldn't drive.

Or you wouldn't be able to get there in the first place.

 

[just east of the creek]

Or you wouldn't be able to get there in the first place.

The one thing not discussed to date is snow. Subject to climate change, the amount and duration of major snow events off the Lake can be intense, and for some, intimidating, and if any of Highways 21 and connectors 8, 86, and 9 are closed, isolating. Something to take into account and then invest in a good snowblower and plow service.

 

[Natika33]

Or you wouldn't be able to get there in the first place.

Good point! LOL.

 

[lenaitch]

The one thing not discussed to date is snow. Subject to climate change, the amount and duration of major snow events off the Lake can be intense, and for some, intimidating, and if any of Highways 21 and connectors 8, 86, and 9 are closed, isolating. Something to take into account and then invest in a good snowblower and plow service.

Good point (applies to several regions). Too often, people get an incomplete view of an area by visiting it in the summer.

 

[just east of the creek]

Good point (applies to several regions). Too often, people get an incomplete view of an area by visiting it in the summer.

Good news on that front however. Within the recent days many of the major tractor manufacturers (Case, New Holland to name two) have announced 0% financing on select models. So financing that Bright Red Case Farmall with the blower should just be a bit easier. And who would not want a bright red tractor? Useful in the spring when you need to plant the garden and mow the acre or so of lawn surrounding the family estate.