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Today's
baby
boomers are planning for retirement at younger ages than previous generations ever
did, and many are considering non-traditional retirement destinations.
Of those already retired, more than 500,000 travel from their home states each year in search of the
ideal retirement spot, whether it be by the water, in the mountains or near the
desert.
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Retirees these days are enjoying
active lifestyles that include golf, shopping, antiquing, travel, boating, tennis, theater
and much more. And retirement today is expected to last 30 or 40
years, so it is possible that the place you choose to retire today
will be but one of several retirement spots in which you
live. Perhaps the first 20 years of retirement will be spent
on a lake while the second 20 years will be spent near a golf
course. But where do you start? Where are the best
places for your retirement? Retirement is not what it used to be, and so
here
we look at the options.
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Florida,
California and
Arizona continue to top the list as popular destinations, but they are not the only
options! Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Mexico and
even places like Colorado, Oregon and Georgia are appealing to
more and more baby boomers. Even foreign destinations such
as Mexico, Thailand and Costa Rica draw U.S. and Canadian
expatriates for their low cost of living and warm climates.
And once you have chosen the best state for your retirement, you
might want to think about retirement
communities. These come in all shapes and sizes.
Some cater to people 55 and above; others are not age-restricted
and attract people in their 40s, empty nesters and retirees.
Some are master-planned communities while others are more
organic. Many are maintenance-free. Some specialize in
selling real estate whereas others lease property, which is an
option many retirees often overlook. More and more provide
RV storage.
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Many communities offer amenities that
include large clubhouses, pools, golf courses, tennis
courts, planned activities, state-of-the-art fitness
centers, lakes, equestrian centers, organized classes,
on-site medical clinics, trips and more. More
and more are designed with aging in mind, having design
elements such as single-story living, non-slip surfaces in
bathrooms, lever door handles, wider hallways and 24-hour
security systems. Some communities have assisted
living facilities on-site for later down the road. |
There is even a movement afoot called "aging in
place," in which neighborhoods with citizens who have lived
in them for years establish a non-profit group to manage things
like home repair, shopping excursions, home visits, etc. for
residents so they can stay in their homes longer.
Today, the options for retirement living are many.
Retirement is changing indeed.
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