Lots of retirees like to enjoy a change of scenery once their pensions kick in. Well, if you’re buying a house in Connecticut and want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, you won’t find a better town to do it in than Lyme. This little community is one of the last bastions of peace and quiet in the Constitution State, and it’s a great place to spend your golden years.
When the housing boom hit after WWII, a lot of small Connecticut towns scrambled to transform themselves into suburbs. Lyme wasn’t one of them. Instead, the town’s 2,000 residents focused on becoming stewards of the land and preserving a way of life that so many people in the Constitution State feared would soon be lost.
They succeeded marvelously. The town’s many historic buildings don’t seem a day out of place, and (save for a satellite dish every once every few miles) it’s easy to imagine that you’re living in a simpler time. Thanks to a strong agricultural history, Lyme’s residents are able to enjoy the finest beef and produce you’ll find north of the Potomac, every day of the week. If you prefer catching your food yourself, you’ll be pleased to know that Lyme also has some of the best game lands and fishing streams in the state.
Poverty isn’t an issue in Lyme. The town is a famous getaway for some of Connecticut’s wealthiest families, and the economy has stayed strong, even through the recession. Unfortunately, the many $700,000-plus homes in the area have raised the value of Connecticut real estate within the town’s 30 square miles. Someone who wants to get away from it all on a budget will have to shell out at least $300,000 for a moderately sized two-bedroom home. But that’s a small price to pay considering the natural splendor that Lyme’s residents get to enjoy on a daily basis.
If you really want to get away from it all and enjoy your retirement in peace, visit Lyme. The town’s way of life is slower, simpler and, for many of us, just what the doctor ordered.
