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Dream Towns
By Sarah Mahoney, July & August 2006
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Gracious Southern living
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Margaret and Ian MacDonald
For Margaret and Ian MacDonald, retired life in Charleston is a work in progress. Ian, a native New Englander, was first introduced to the area in 1959 when he was stationed there as a young officer in the U.S. Navy. The couple didn't move south until 1985, though, when Margaret was offered a job running a girls' school. They bought a house downtown in the city's historic district, and for five years, Ian, an engineer, commuted to New England, eventually starting a consulting business in Charleston that allowed him to ease into retirement.
That was in 2000 (Margaret retired in 2004), and Charleston still has all the allure that it did when the couple were working—except now they have time to appreciate it all. Both volunteer as docents for the Historic Charleston Foundation, which has helped to preserve dozens of historic homes, plantations, and other landmarks. Ian, 72, has developed a special passion for the Revolutionary War, and he narrates one of the naval-history cruises around the harbor.
Last year, itching for more space, the MacDonalds sold their downtown home and moved to a more suburban neighborhood, still within Charleston. For about $350,000, they bought a 3,000-square-foot home set on a 14-acre lake, with plenty of wild birds and turtles. And the yard has plenty of mature landscaping, so Margaret, 67, can practice gardening. "Charleston is a city of many famous gardens, and I don't pretend to have that knack—but I do love my azaleas, and I just enjoy pruning and weeding."
What the MacDonalds like most, they say, is how pleasant it is simply to walk through Charleston. "I love to go down to Waterfront Park and watch all the kids playing in the fountains. Or I'll just stroll with the dogs across the College of Charleston, where it's so gracious and calm and cool under the trees," says Margaret. "People love to be outside here, and the weather is so beautiful."
Why the locals love it
Charleston is a bargain
While retirement income is taxed, Social Security is exempt in South Carolina. Under age 65, $3,000 in pension income is exempt. The income tax deduction for those 65 and older is $15,000 (single) and $30,000 (joint).
Lifestyle perks
Charleston exudes a grace and civility few other cities can match. Maybe it's the 180-odd houses of worship that dot the eight square miles or so of Charleston's main peninsula, or maybe it's the Southern charm, but one etiquette expert's survey has voted Charleston the most polite city in the United States ten years running.
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Great escapes
Ninety minutes to the north is Myrtle Beach, the self-proclaimed seaside golf capital of the world. Nearby resort areas include Hilton Head, Kiawah, and Seabrook islands, which attract thousands of bird watchers and nature lovers.
Residents love
Charleston's plentiful opportunities to head back to college, including numerous nondegree courses at the College of Charleston (those 60-plus can audit as many classes as they want for a $25-per-semester registration fee). The Citadel, the military college based in Charleston, also offers a Senior Scholars program, with twice-monthly speakers. (For those over 55, it costs $35 per semester.)
Average temperature in summer: 79° F
Average temperature in winter: 49° F
Number of sunny days per year: 102
Casual supper for two at Jestine's Kitchen: $24
Hot tickets: For $16 you can get a ticket to two of Historic Charleston Foundation's most famous houses: the 1808 Nathaniel Russell House and the Aiken-Rhett House.
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