Retirement Relocation San Diego CA
2007July
Dueling Retirement States: Arizona vs. Florida
Facts, Fiction, and the Fast Life at The Villages, FL
Most Under-Rated Places to Retire
New Siege of Vicksburg: Baby Boomers Battle to Make it a Destination, Retirement Community
What you need to know about retiring in mexico
Where to Go for the Best Retirement Lifestyles
San Diego, CA
858-663-6453
San Diego, CA
2007July
July 27 — Every publisher likes to issue “best lists” for the simple reason that all of us like reading them. This week the AARP got in the act, joining Money Magazine and others, with a list of “5 Great Places to Retire”. Somewhat surprising was the fact that 4 out of the 5 communities were cities, with the 5th being a suburb of a big city.
Making the top 5 were: (if available, the Topretirements.com review is linked below):
Atlanta Georgia - Livable southern city with volunteer opportunities and culture
Portland Oregon -Great for cycling, this environmentally friendly center has a young and vibrant atmosphere
Chandler Arizona - This suburb of Phoenix has well designed parks and trails
Boston Massachusetts - This great old city has charm, culture - and its a walkable city too.
Milwaukee Wisconsin - Urban renewal and lakeside frontage on Lake Michigan are attracting baby boomer retirees to its downtown condos
AARP explained its choices by saying it was looking for places that were ahead of the curve. Even though cities “tend to have higher housing costs and taxes …. the tradeoff is that they have the resources to invest in the programs and services that make a place livable: mass-transit systems so people can drive less, expanded sidewalks to encourage walking, better health care, and a wide range of mixed-use housing.” Here is a link to the AARP best places to retire article
Links:
Top 10 Values in Retirement Communities
100 best places to retire
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Dueling Retirement States: Arizona vs. Florida
August 23, 2010 – In the competitive world of retirement destinations, how do various states stack up against each other as the best states to retire to? Even more interesting are the natural rivalries that pit some states against each other. For example: the biggies (AZ vs. FL), north vs south (North Carolina vs. South Carolina), the northwest (Oregon vs. Washington), the middle (VA vs. DE vs. NJ), and so on. To air those differences and comparisons for your further education, this article will be the first in the series comparing retirement states. We welcome ideas for future comparisons. Our approach in this article will be to evaluate various factors for each state, letting our readers draw their own conclusions from the facts. As always, reader input is extremely important. We encourage you to use the Comments section below to tell their own stories and express their preferences. Population (Data from American Fact Finder-U.S. Census Bureau). Economics and Home Prices. Climate |
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Facts, Fiction, and the Fast Life at The Villages, FL
In 2006 Central Florida was shocked and titillated to read this headline in the Orlando News: “ STDs Running Rampant in Retirement Community “. The community in question being The Villages, the sprawling active adult enclave spanning several towns and home to over 60,000 people. Dr. Colleen McQuade, a gynecologist, was quoted that she “treats more cases of herpes and the human papilloma virus in the retirement community than she did in the city of Miami.” The patients, as old as 80, are “very shocked (to hear the diagnosis)”. Viagra, no risk of pregnancy, and lack of sex education were viewed as the culprits.
That bit of press was a source of merriment to talk show hosts around the country. On the other hand, it is probably a minor activity in a community obsessed with golf and non-stop activities of all types. Indeed, if you lurk on “ Talk of the Villages “, a popular Forum for residents of The Villages, you will find that life there is more typical than sensational. Topretirements has just reviewed 2 books that discuss The Villages . In “Leisureville”, Andrew Blechman follows his 55+ neighbors to the active adult community. It is a fascinating read but tends to show life there through a (much younger) prism than his former neighbor’s. Here’s how our Topretirements Guide OldNaussau described the book: “Repeatedly, the retirees with whom he speaks, or who speak to him, quite clearly contradict him. He tries to present the Villages, and several other retirement communities, as sterile, lock-step, isolated, vacuous – like the towns in the movie “Pleasantville” or the novel “Fahrenheit 451″ - but the Villagers praise the activities, security, economy, and socializing around them.”
Ryan Erisman’s “Complete Guide to The Villages Florida” is a much more straightforward and factual guide to the ins and outs of buying and living at TV, as insiders call it. Check out the entire article in our Tips & Picks section, The Villages - Facts and Opinions
Do you Know The Villages? If so, report on what you think, either in the Comments section below, or in the TR Forum - Is Leisureville on or off the Mark
For Further Reference
The Villages CDDs get Proposed Tax-Free Bond Settlement from IRS
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Most Under-Rated Places to Retire
Picking towns for “best places to retire” lists can get to be a lot like selecting prom dates - the bright lights overshadow the deserving candidates who don’t get asked to the big party. All too often the result is best places to retire myopia - too many lists that share the same old towns and cities - Asheville, Athens, Austin, Beaufort, etc.
This week we set out to identify 20 best retirement towns that aren’t on that many lists. We looked for towns that we know are terrific, but don’t seem to have the press that their more famous brethren do. Some will be familiar and some will not. Our apologies to all of the other great places to retire whose lights are still hiding under the basket; please give us your nominations in the Comments section below.
Bisbee, Arizona . Bisbee is an historic mining town in south central Arizona, almost at the Mexican border. If you are looking for an interesting, off-beat place to retire, Bisbee might be the place.
Flagstaff, Arizona . At an altitude of 6910 feet the climate is dry and much cooler in the summer than anywhere else in Arizona. Cecil B. DeMille tried but failed to make Flagstaff into an earlier version of Hollywood because of its great scenery, which includes the Grand Canyon and the San Francisco Peaks .
Eureka, California . Eureka’s northern isolation means that it missed much of the post-war redevelopment. As result Eureka is filled with examples of 19th and early 20th century architecture and historic districts. It’s been likened to a west coast Williamsburg, Virginia.
Jackson, California . Jackson is a small town (4,000 people) in the historic gold mining country of California. Jackson is nestled at the 1200 foot level in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Amador County.
Klamath Falls, Oregon . Klamath Falls is a beautiful town for retirement in south central Oregon, east of Medford and Ashland. Nearby are 2 very large and beautiful lakes: Upper Klamath Lake is the largest natural lake in the Pacific Northwest, and Crater Lake.
Maryville, Tennessee . Maryville is blessed with Maryville College, a private liberal arts college of about 850 whose campus is in the center of town. Its 400 acre campus has several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and also has trails and paths for walking and running.
Yakima, Washington . Located in the Yakima Valley midway between Walla Walla and Seattle, this area is one of the best apple growing regions in the world.
Huntsville, Alabama . Huntsville is famous for its NASA Marshall Space Flight Center , the Redstone Arsenal, and as a high-tech center. It is a popular destination for retirees from all over the country, based on availability of desirable housing, beautiful parks, and a vibrant cultural infrastructure.
New Haven, Connecticut . New Haven, long downtrodden, is having a resurgence with young adults and retirees. The downtown is packed with restaurants, Yale students...
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New Siege of Vicksburg: Baby Boomers Battle to Make it a Destination, Retirement Community
October 27 — It’s one thing to pull up stakes and move to a town that’s known as a retirement community like Asheville, Phoenix, or Naples. But it’s quite another to hitch your star to a community that has potential - but hasn’t yet made the transition from to “idyllic”. While Vicksburg has a lot going for it (see our review of Vicksburg ) it has been economically depressed for a long time, with much visible poverty.
Undaunted, some pioneering baby boomers are charting an adventurous course in Vicksburg, hoping that it becomes the next hot tourist destination and baby boomer retirement community. Topretirements recently traveled to this beautiful city on the Yazoo and Mississippi rivers to check it out as a retirement community. We interviewed 2 sets of young boomers who moved here recently to find out more.
Baer House Inn 
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Doug & Marjorie Cousineau moved to Vicksburg 3 years ago after their home in New Orleans was destroyed in Katrina. Doug, 46, had been a city and country manager for United Airlines and lived all over the world. Their dream was to buy a bed and breakfast in a good spot - to find one they looked in states from Washington to New Hampshire. At the urging of their realtor they came to Vicksburg and quickly fell in love with the palatial Baer House Inn , a 6800 square foot brick mansion with 12 foot ceilings, black walnut and chestnut inlaid floors, not to mention an extremely rare (and not in use!) 2 story outhouse. They converted it to a 6 bedroom B & B, the Baer House Inn, that provides an exquisite bed and bed experience. Doug explained his choice of Vicksburg as coming down to the “absolutely wonderful” people (even the town’s B & B owners encouraged him to buy here), the presence of his nearby family, and the reasonable costs. Plus, the presence of a Convention Center, riverfront casinos, and the enormous Vicksburg National Military Park were a virtual guarantee for tourists. For a fraction of what he could buy elsewhere, he was able to purchase a historic mansion that quickly turned profitable. Doug, who competes worldwide in team adventure races, credits Vicksburg’s new mayor for much of the success for the town’s turnaround. Doug believes that new initiatives like the Vicksburg Main Street Program are succeeding at bringing in new visitors and commerce.
Meanwhile down the hill towards the rivers, Troy (47) and Laura Weeks (45), have poured their life savings into creating Lorelei Books in an abandoned building on newly reclaimed Washington Street. The Lorelei, their long-standing dream fulfilled, is a beautiful book store on the first floor. With its interesting collection and frequent author signings, the store has quickly become a beacon to book lovers in the Delta. Upstairs the Weeks created an apartment that is worthy of Architecture Digest. The Weeks were attracted to Vicksburg for some of the same reasons as Doug and Ma...
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What you need to know about retiring in mexico
| what you need to know about retiring in mexico |
| If you have been thinking about retiring in Mexico this article will you give you some basic facts and advice to get you started on your adventure south of the border. Most people start off considering a Mexican retirement because of its low cost of living – it is possible to live in Mexico in considerable style on a social security income. But others come here because of its warm winter climate, its great beauty, or because it is an adventure far opposed from living in a stateside-gated American retirement community. Whatever your reasons for considering a Mexican retirement, here are some factors to think about: Where to Live: Lake Chapala and Aijic . The most popular place for American and Canadian retirees is in the Lake Chapala region, either in Chapala (Lakeside) or nearby Aijic. Lake Chapala is Mexico’s largest fresh water lake and incredibly beautiful Americans and Mexicans tend to live side by side in Chapala (it is a popular weekend spot for folks from nearby Guadalajara), whereas Ajijic tends to be more homogenously populated by those from north of the border. Planned, gated communities dominate there. Guadalajara . This stately city in north central Mexico used to be one of the hotter spots for Americans to retire. In recent years it has ceded its popularity to the Lake Chapala region some 45 minutes to the south. Still, many prefer Guadalajara because of its culture, shopping which includes big-box American stores like Wal-Mart and Costco, graceful architecture, and old-style Mexican ambience. Guadalajara is Mexico’s second largest city with 5 million people. The State Department estimates some 50,000 Americans live in the Guadalajara area. Baja . Cabo San Lucas is the southernmost point on the long Baja Peninsula, which starts with the border city of Tijuana and nearby Ensenada. By contrast with these northern towns, Cabo is a playground for the rich and famous. Americans have settled all along this beautiful and extremely dry coast. San Miguel de Allende . San Miguel de Allende is a former colonial silver town that many consider to be the crown jewel of central Mexico. It has the cobblestone streets and charm that reminds one of old Mexico. It also has terrific shopping (art and folk-art), many excellent restaurants, and attracts many wealthy people. Puerto Vallarta . This city on the Pacific Coast has been growing and growing for the last 40 years. Many resent its high rises and sprawl while others appreciate the good life that comes with beautiful beaches, hills, and a relaxed, inexpensive lifestyle. Located on the coast to the north of Puerto Vallarta are the somewhat lower key towns of Mazatlan and Guaymas. Pueblo . This World Heritage Site is located at about 7,000 ft. about sea level in the mountains of central Mexico, 2 hours south of Mexico City. The city has a distinguished tradition as... |
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Where to Go for the Best Retirement Lifestyles
A few baby boomers know exactly what they want to do when they retire. These folks are lucky in many ways, because they have probably been busy planning where and when they are going to achieve all of their plans. But far more boomers probably only have a loose idea, at best, for how they are going to spend their lives, once they don’t have a regular job that gets them out of bed and to a workplace 5 days a week. In this article we will explore some of the best and more common retirement lifestyles. Of course many people never intend to retire, which includes those who continue to do their old jobs as well as many who change careers. Possible Retirement Lifestyles Each of these categories has a huge range of possibilities, far more than we could ever cover in one article. As you prepare for your retirement you should spend some time thinking about the type of retirement you are interested in, remembering that your preferences might change as you get older. For example, as you start retirement you might want to travel around the country with a camper as your home. When you get into your 80’s, however, that will probably not be possible. For each type of retirement lifestyle we have included links to helpful articles which discuss those different lifestyles and the best places to live them. Volunteering Recreation |
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