The Best Retirement Towns, Cities and
Countries
There isn't one perfect retirement destination for everyone since
everyone has different priorities and ideas of what retirement
really is and what it should provide. Many retirees, though,
are seeking a location that offers varied and plentiful
recreation, an affordable cost-of-living (although
"affordable" doesn't mean the same thing to everyone),
access to good medical care, cultural opportunities and a great climate.
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The
majority of retirees still opt
for Florida, Arizona and Texas, but others prefer non-traditional
spots.
In fact, these days, retirees, and those even 10 or
15 years away from retirement, are considering retirement
in all sorts of destinations since this new phase of life
may last 30 or 40 years, much longer than for previous
generations. Retirement today is the time to
engage in all the activities that could never fit in your
schedule before, and finding the best place to indulge in
all these activities, from skiing to fishing to the
theater (or even part-time work), takes careful thought
and planning. The days of retirement spent in
a rocking chair are long gone!
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Finding the best place for your retirement
is not a simple process and takes time. First, consider
the kind of retirement you really want and can really
afford. Do you truly desire sand and surf for the
next 30 years or might that get boring? Do you want to downsize into a maintenance-free
home? Would you rather rent than buy new real estate?
Do you want to remain close to family? Have you considered a foreign country where living
expenses are less?
Next, make a list of everything you think you
want/need (and do not want/need) in a retirement
destination. Do you want to live with a mix of
ages? Would you like to live in a small town or a
city? Are you seeking four seasons? Do you want
to live in a master-planned community or one that has a
more organic feel?
Retirement
Spots
United
States:
Alabama |
Arizona |
Arkansas
| California
| Colorado
| Florida |
Georgia
| Hawaii
| Idaho |
Indiana |
Kansas
| Kentucky | Louisiana
| Maine |
Maryland
| Massachusetts
| Mississippi
| Missouri
| Nevada
| New
Mexico | Michigan
| New Jersey
| New York
| North Carolina
| Oklahoma
| Oregon
| Pennsylvania
| Rhode
Island
| South
Carolina | Tennessee
| Texas
| Utah
| Vermont
| Virginia
| Washington |
Wisconsin
| Wyoming
International:
Canada
| Ecuador
| Honduras |
New
Zealand | Portugal
| Thailand
Next to do is compile a list of about ten places that meet your
criteria and make them your vacation destinations for the next several
years. Whenever you visit one of your choices, spend some time
visiting neighborhoods, shopping in grocery stores, visiting the
libraries, using the recreational facilities, checking out hospitals and
any local senior centers.
This is
really the only way to get an honest feeling about what may be your home for
many years to come. Check into real estate at this time to ensure that
when you do move, you will be able to purchase (or rent) the kind of
home you desire. Or you may want to consider buying real estate
before making the future move so you can lock in a price. A
retirement home purchased now may
become a second home before retirement and is a good way
to start making social connections before making a
permanent move.
RVing is also a popular way to test
possible retirement spots before selecting a permanent
one.
Great Spots For:
Climate
| Employment
| Health Care
| Low
Cost-of-Living | Recreation | Safety
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