Just returned from a trip to Lake Hartwell Georgia.  Beautiful day on the lake.  Saw many lake homes and cabins along the shoreline as well as many undeveloped areas.  The couple we visited has had their lake front cabins for years.  They are retiring but do not plan to live their full time but just make more visits during the week from their home in Hamilton Mill near Atlanta.

The good part about being retired is that you can visit the lake during the week when it is much less crowded and the party makers have long gone.  So they are just going to “Retire” to the lake during the week.  They say they may entertain more at the lake house as they have more time to do so.  The 24 foot pontoon boat was a blast.

So I learned that a retirement home does not only have to be full time. They are enjoying theirs whenever they want to.

Located 30 miles North of Atlanta up GA 400, Dahlonega is at the base of the North Georgia Mountain.  For anyone moving from Metro Atlanta Dahlonega is worth a visit and consideration of a place to move to.   It is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet your could meet your Atlanta friends for lunch. With the way the growth is heading north, you should be right at home sooner than you like.

When it comes time to retire in Georgia, many people just look North to the Georgia Mountains, a short distance from Atlanta.  You are still in your home state and can easily visit the metro Atlanta area to visit friends or attractions.  Also you can get to know the new area where you will be living full time even before your move by making frequent visits to get to know the area. 

 My friends Jim and Jean did just that.  Knowing they would like to move to the North part of the state, Jim got a transfer to the Gainesville office a few years before his retirement date.  This put them in a perfect situation to go ahead and move up to Banks County Georgia, where they build a perfect retirement home with screen porch overlooking a stream on five areas.  This worked out so good Jim even delayed his retirement since he almost felt he was retired.   This transition to a new area by relocating his job worked out for the best. 

Jim and Jean visit us in Alpharetta or we just meet in Gainesville dinner,  half way for each for us.  Really it is not harder to get together with them now than it was when they lived in DeKalb County. 

They both live living in the North GA mountains even thought there are some inconveniences.  Jean says the water supply line has broken many times to their home and the major just keeping making repairs rather than run new lines that are needed.  She says he has a “small town mind” about things and just looks as people like them as complaining “wealthy people from Atlanta”, which she says they are not.  However building a barn and getting a horse, chopping your own firewood from your property and just listening to the crickets perform a symphony from your swing on your screened in porch makes in all worth it.

Jim and Jean knew what they wanted and went for it.  I know I and others who envy them.

Georgia has many interesting small towns and places to live away from the city.  North Georgia mountains especially have appeal for many people.  If you are familiar with any of the towns in North Georgia, please leave give us your assessment of the area.