Chico,
California
Chico, California (population 79,000, with
roughly 200,000 in the surrounding area) is a beautiful city
located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and
Cascade Mountains in the northern Sacramento Valley and
may be a retirement choice for anyone wanting to live in
this sprawling state but not wanting to pay the
outrageous cost-of-living found in most other areas,
including inland cities.
Lawrence,
Kansas
This mid-western city (population
82,000) is a pleasant surprise when it comes to
retirement choices. Located on the green eastern edge
of Kansas, Lawrence offers retirees a lively
ambiance, a rich cultural scene, an educated population,
sporting events and a cost-of-living below the national
average. Once a center of Civil War anti-slavery
sentiment, today Lawrence is a liberal spot in an
otherwise conservative state. It is a youthful
place, but more retirees are discovering it every
day.
Retirement
Downtown (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Many retirees are not
seeking golf, beaches or mountains when they
consider retirement destinations. Urban
dwellers may cringe at the thought of small-town
living, and small-town dwellers may be ready for a
change once retirement time arrives.
Active adult developments may be too homogeneous
for some; a more eclectic lifestyle may be preferred. So
we look at another
growing retirement trend, the one of retiring
downtown and creating a community within the heart
of a city.
Retirement
Downtown (Providence, Rhode Island)
Not long ago, Providence (population 178,000 with roughly
10,000 in the downtown area) was a place not many people wanted to
live. The economy was failing, and parts of the city
typified the term "urban blight." Today,
though, thanks to some
progressive, even visionary, civic leaders, Providence is a city
transformed and is referred to as the "Renaissance City."
It is growing and often
cited as one of the best places to live in the country; the downtown has undergone an amazing
and exciting revitalization in the last few
years.
San
Angelo, Texas
This article was submitted by a reader who has retired in
San Angelo, Texas, loves it and wants to share her
experience with our readers. Indeed, San
Angelo is a great retirement spot; this small city
in the western center of the Lone Star State
offers a low cost-of-living, affordable housing,
history and a high quality of life. It has
been profiled as a great place to live and is
attracting more and more retirees
Thomasville,
Georgia
Thomasville, Georgia, nicknamed the
"City of Roses," is a place that completely charms
visitors and residents alike. This idyllic destination
(population 22,000) has a history of prosperity from
pre-Civil War years when cotton plantations dotted the
landscape. The town has a unique combination of Southern
romance and a healthy economy, something that appeals to
seniors seeking a retirement spot with vitality.
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine,
Florida, a 440-year-old town that oozes Old World
character, romance and history, is always worth a
second look. Having
endured a tumultuous history, St. Augustine today
is a vibrant tourist and retirement spot with
centuries-old homes, narrow cobblestone streets,
eclectic shops, cozy cafes, historic B&Bs and
lovely gardens. In short, it is a great
place to retire.
New
Bern, North Carolina
This city of nearly 24,000 lies in
North Carolina’s historic Inner Bank region where the
Neuse and Trent rivers converge and is about 30 miles
from Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.
European immigrants settled the area in the early 18th
century, and the town served as the state capitol for a
time. New Bern today has developed into a prosperous,
progressive and popular community where residents and
visitors can enjoy many activities in a generally mild
climate.
Tubac,
Arizona
Sleepy Tubac, Arizona (population 1,188) is
located 45 miles south of Tucson (population 750,000)
and reminds one of Santa Fe as it was thirty or forty
years ago. Founded in 1752 as a presidio (fort) by
a Spanish explorer, the community was for years the furthest outpost
of the Spanish frontier. Today Tubac is a
thriving artists' colony and home to more than 80 shops,
boutiques,
galleries and art studios.
Greenville, North Carolina
Situated among bays, rivers and
sounds in eastern North Carolina, lively
Greenville is a growing community with affordable housing, a cost-of-living
below the national average, top-quality health
care, cultural amenities that rival larger cities'
and a relatively mild climate. Greenville
retirees
enjoy all kinds of University-sponsored events,
including football games and art openings, and the
ocean is just 90 minutes away.
Eagle River City, Wisconsin
Small Eagle River, Wisconsin is located on the Eagle River in the
northern portion of the state and is a great spot
for those seeking an outdoor oriented retirement
amid dense woods and sparkling lakes. The
climate is cool; the fresh air is stimulating;
wildlife is all around, and the cost-of-living is
below the national average.
The Algarve,
Portugal
The Algarve, Portugal, has been attracting
expatriate retirees for some time. Located on the very
southern end of this enticing country, the region (85 miles by
23 miles) is known for its delightful climate, excellent golf,
colorful, fertile landscape and its magnificent coastline that
consists of long stretches of white sandy beaches interspersed
with majestic cliffs and grottoes.
Halifax,
Nova Scotia, Canada
Not every retiree would consider relocating to
the southeast Atlantic coast of Canada a great idea, but for
those seeking a part-time retirement (full-time retirement
requires permanent resident status) in an affordable,
cosmopolitan destination perched along one of the largest
natural harbors in the world, Halifax, Nova Scotia should be
considered. This vibrant city offers a pristine beauty,
four seasons (although little snow until after January) and
many cultural and recreation amenities.
Boulder,
Colorado
Affluent, casual
Boulder sits at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in
north central Colorado and boasts a
quality-of-life not found in many other small
cities. Retirees who enjoy the
outdoors, beautiful scenery, an educated,
eclectic mix of people and a collegiate atmosphere
are drawn to this Western oasis. The cost-of-living is high, but for those who can
afford it, Boulder is a great place to retire.
Lincoln
City, Oregon
Located just two hours from Portland, this delightful
seaside town of 7,400 people is ideally situated along seven miles of
sandy beach on the central Oregon coast and has lush forests and
narrow, pretty, 680-acre Devils Lake to the east, the Salmon River to
the north and Siletz Bay to the south. Retirees have known
about this spot for years; in fact, 35% of the population is age 55
and better, with 42 being the median age.
Danville, Kentucky
Located in the southwestern corner
of Kentucky's Bluegrass Region, Danville is a
progressive place with an appreciation of its
history. In fact, Danville's healthy,
restored downtown has won a Great American Main
Street Award from the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, and the town is close to Kentucky's
southern lakes and the Derby Region where horse
farms and white fences dot the countryside.
Kentucky is often overlooked as a retirement
state, but Danville is worth a look.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Along the eastern edge of South
Carolina is a 60 mile stretch of real estate
famous for its wide beaches, 120 public golf
courses, trendy restaurants and abundant
shopping. This area is known as the
Grand Strand, and Myrtle Beach, a boisterous,
booming tourist destination, is its largest
city. It is also a spot that draws
retirees seeking sand and surf, plenty of activity
and a below-average cost-of-living.
Ojai, California
Despite mudslides and earthquakes,
California is still a popular retirement state, and lush, affluent Ojai, located roughly 35 miles
from Santa Barbara and a world away from Los Angeles, is
a gorgeous, although expensive, retirement
destination. This community of 8,000 people is adjacent to a national forest and sits beneath
the Topa Topa Mountains in a valley overflowing with
orange and lemon groves. Ojai epitomizes
the best that California has to offer and reminds one of
what the state used to be half a century ago.
Coeur
d'Alene, Idaho
Coeur d'Alene is home to 35,000 people and is
located on beautiful Lake Coeur d'Alene in the rugged,
northwest corner of Idaho's panhandle. Stumbled upon by
Lewis and Clark in the early 1800s, the area's untamed
wilderness first drew fur trappers and explorers; today it
beckons to those seeking an active, outdoorsy retirement.
Boquete, Panama
Numerous recent publications have written about the
charms of relocating to Panama, a favorite up-and-coming foreign
retirement destination, and it is easy to understand why. This
lush, tropical country is located between Central and South America
and is roughly 2 1/2 hours by air from Miami. Spanish is
the official language, but English is widely spoken. The
currency is the balboa, which has the same value as the U.S. dollar
(and the U.S. dollar is a common currency as well).
Chico,
California
Chico, California (population 79,000, with
roughly 200,000 in the surrounding area) is a beautiful city
located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and
Cascade Mountains in the northern Sacramento Valley and
may be a retirement choice for anyone wanting to live in
this sprawling state but not wanting to pay the
outrageous cost-of-living found in most other areas,
including inland cities.
Hot
Springs, Arkansas
Springs, Arkansas (population 36,000)
is a tourist and retirement destination that seems to
receive rave reviews from almost everyone (even Al
Capone enjoyed coming here). Located in central
Arkansas, it has a beautiful setting among lakes and
rolling hills, a mild climate, a lower-than-average
cost-of-living, and it offers the benefits of renowned,
healing mineral waters.
Meredith, New Hampshire
The picturesque village of Meredith, nestled in
the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire, boasts
historic charm, a lakefront setting and a quaint
New England vibe. Recreation is
plentiful and varied; homes are large and historic
and antiquing is a way of life. For
anyone seeking retirement in an idyllic setting
with gorgeous scenery and a lake culture, Meredith
may be just the ticket.
Mountain
Home, Arkansas
Mountain Home, Arkansas (population 11,500) is
a casual, low-key destination that attracts retirees
seeking lots of water recreation, low crime rates,
four fairly mild seasons and affordable
housing. Being snuggled in the Ozark Mountains,
pretty scenery
abounds, and two nearby sparkling lakes entice water-lovers to spend their days fishing,
boating, water skiing and just soaking up the lake
atmosphere. This peaceful spot is worth a look.
