We are heading West! Yep! Moving to Reno! We have been in Boston for 18 years and have had tons of fun, but it's time for a change. So we looked all over the map, primarily focused on states with no state income tax. We picked Reno because of it's proximity to Lake Tahoe and the area ski resorts. It will be good for golf as well.

We put our house on the market on Feb 14th and had 6 offers above asking price within a week. Closing is 4/15. We had a ski trip to Colorado planned since May for Feb 27-March 8. We decided to cut that short and fly from Vail to Reno on in the evening on March 5, then home from Reno on March 8. We met with a realtor in Reno to explore neighborhoods and planned to pick out an apartment to move into on a month-to-month basis so we could take our time finding a house. Well, after a day and a half of driving around and looking at houses we found one we loved! Closing on that house is scheduled for 4/22, but might move up to 4/18.

So in two weeks, on April 13th, after the movers load up the truck, we're hopping in the Subarus and pointing them west!

Here's the funny part: we're moving to a retirement community! haha!! Actually, it's a 55+ Active Adult community. No, we're not retiring, yet. It's in the Northwest corner of Reno; probably two miles due east of the California border. There's a fitness center, indoor lap pool, outdoor tennis, indoor walking track, billiards, etc etc . There is a 9 hole par 3 course and we are thinking of doing a 1 year trial membership in the full size 18 hole golf and country club. It's only 1.7 miles to the clubhouse. There are 27 miles of walking / hiking trails. Big ski mountains are 40 minutes to 90 minutes away (Squaw Valley, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, etc etc). Mammoth is probably 3 hours. San Francisco is maybe a 4 hour drive, and of course Napa is on the way! We will miss being close to the ocean, so we will have to go on more cruises!

If you are ever in the Reno-Tahoe area, let us know! We'd love friends to explore with!

How exciting Kim for you and Alice. It sounds just perfect for you.
All the best of luck getting all settled in. If you're anywhere near the OC in your future...you always have a home here too !

That sounds absolutely PERFECT for you both. Everything you love to do and a very smart move on your part. It all fell into place perfectly like it was meant to be. CONGRATULATIONS!

Wow Sounds like this was meant to be! I am so excited for both of you and all your new adventures. I did laugh when you said it was a retirement community, but since Marc and I have bought our retirement house in one also, I understand! Best of luck with the move!

Retirement community? Only 2 hours from my son instead of half a continent? Intriguing!
It really does sound perfect for you all. Maybe I'll see you soon.

Have a stress free move!

Welcome to the "WEST" Kim & Alice.
Just might be going thru Reno this summer on another road trip.

All the best, Kim and Alice!

I spent about 1 year in Reno in one of my previous lives. All of my friends were related to each via parental spouses and former spouses ( as in "this is my father's step daughter from his third wife"!? ) as back in the day everyone went to Reno to get divorced and many stayed and re married.

We second Marcie's invite to So Cal. Or even better, let's meet in Napa!
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Helen

Thanks everyone! Helen, that's hilarious about the relationships! We hope to see many of our west coast "luxury friends"! Yes, things seem to be falling into place as if it was meant to be. I have some sadness about leaving New England, but I'm getting excited about the new chapter in our lives. We hope things continue to go smoothly, but we are expecting some bumps in the road and will just get through them. Before we know it, we will be settled in.

You know how excited we are for you and so sorry we will miss you on your way west. Don't be surprised if we come knocking on your door. I'll even bring the wine! Hope the move goes smoothly! Safe travels and we WILL see you soon!

Congratulations, so exciting and a new chapter. We moved to a 55+ in Williamsburg 2 years ago and haven't once looked back. Best thing we ever did and we love it. Have made such great new friends and so many activities, we feel we have gained 10 years back. Best of luck on the moves and we too hope to see you both one of these days.

Kim and Alice, this move sounds like a perfect one for the two of you. Best of luck!

I think you are going to have an excellent adventurer! Please post some pix of the new house, I would love to see it!

Congratulations Kim & Alice - welcome to the west. And as I'm sure you know, your Vail passes are good at Northstar and Heavenly.

Congrats Kim & Alice

As a fellow Bostonian I try to be here as little as possible... If it were not for my business and my family and quite honestly Cape Cod in the Summer we would NOT live here..

All the best on your new adventure..
Frank

Congratulations Kim and Alice. Save a homesite for us! Great outdoors adventures in NV and CA. Bold move leaving Taxachusetts, but come on, we all know it's Reno because of blackjack and craps.

Good luck, Sincere good wishes.

All you guys are cracking me up! It feels so good to have everyone supporting us in this decision. It was a tough one for me. Alice has been practically "out the door" since the Fall. But, I've definitely come around to the idea and very much looking forward to it.

We saw two houses in the community that we liked. One we liked because of the upgrades in the kitchen, the other we liked because of the landscaping and layout of the back "yard". So we picked the one we could fix --- i.e., we one we can make upgrades to in the kitchen. We can't fix the big brown hill right out the back door in the other house that would have made me feel that we were living in a hole.

It's not a large lot by any means, or a large house. But fine for the two of us and some guests. 2 BR/ 2 bath/ 1 den / 2 car garage. Open floor plan. Gas fireplace. And patio in the back with a pergola and awesome view. Front courtyard with awesome view.

Hopefully things go through without glitches. But, you know how real estate transactions go. Although, things are going smoothly. Our buyers are moving from an apartment in Newton Corner, so that much complication there. Our sellers in Reno think it's too cold and are moving to a different Del Webb community in Henderson, NV, near Vegas. And they want to rent back from us for 3 days after we close, ugh. So, hoping this doesn't jinx us, here are a couple of photos that show why we love it:









The front courtyard has a wall around it. If you stand in the courtyard, this is the view down the street:

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I could sit in that back yard every day and not get tired of it!!

The back yard is fantastic! I can see you and Alice making smores on the chiminea!

mmmm... s'mores... and Kathy is bringing the wine!

The patio is great. The back wall of the house is almost entirely big windows, so you get a great view from the kitchen, living room and dining room. Master bedroom is also on the back with nice windows. Alice wants to replace the carpet with hardwood and the tile counter top with granite. The furniture in the photo is not ours. We are not moving our much of our current living room furniture, so we will get to pick out new stuff!

I love, love, love this house. I'm sure you're going to love this new phase of your life!

Kim & Alice,

Awesome house! Reno sounds perfect for you. Be sure and try Louis' Basque Restaurant in downtown Reno. Too much food but they make a mean Picon Punch.

This home looks perfect. I love the open floor plan. If I bring another bottle of wine can I join Kathy relaxing on your patio? (maybe Al and Tom can throw some burgers on the grill).

Here's to a "smooth seas" escrow .
You two will be so happy in your new hood!

Thanks everyone! It feels great to be able to share our excitement about the house and the move with friends who get it!

Leslie - Yep! All part of the plan! And Kirkwood is in there too. We will only have to buy 1 season pass instead of 2. And no more 400-mile roundtrips to Maine to ski on ice in minus 50 degrees.

love it, looks perfect for you two.......and guests. Hope all goes smoothly and you will soon be sitting on that lovely patio drinking some wine and enjoying the view.

Hi Kim and Alice - You may (or may not) remember me and my son Michael from our Alaska cruise. Just wanted to add our good wishes to you both in your new home. It looks absolutely fantastic! Love the fact that you have a tennis court - you're lucky I live too far away or I'd join you on it!!! Lee

Hi Lee - Of course I remember you and Michael! Thanks for the good wishes. The only way our new house would be better would be if we had lots of visits from our "luxury friends", including you!

Congratulations Kim and Alice on your new home. It sounds like a perfect place for your lifestyle. We hope you are able to enjoy your new home and its environs.

Wow, love your new house and especially the view. The retirement community cracks me up. You are about as ready for a retirement community as George and me.
If I show him the pics, he will be wanting to visit, just warning.

Thanks, Rachel!! Please visit! However, the 27 miles of hiking trails could be a challenge when you and I have to send out a search party for George and Alice!

Haha, yes, we would be searching for days.

To my good friends: I wish you only good things in your new home. Enjoy! Enjoy everything!
Doug

Thank you Doug! And thanks everyone for the good wishes. We are "camping out" in our house where almost everything is packed. This is all very real! wow

Yeah! the 1st days are a lot like camping. Then comes the 'where is that stuff' part. The boxes all look the same, but have diff stuff!
Good luck! We wish you well, knowing that it will all work out in time.

Andi & Doug!