How to Choose a Retirement Destination

Most organizations that rank Best Places to Live, like Kiplinger, Forbes and US News, advise keeping
certain factors in mind when contemplating a move in retirement. To attain their lists, organizations analyze the amenities seniors want vs. cost of living. Over the past year, access to quality healthcare
may have jumped to the top of that list. Also consider living and housing costs, how tax structures impact retirees, agreeable climate, low crime rates, scenic beauty and outdoor recreation such as walking and biking trails, a strong local economy and infrastructure that support services for seniors such as public transportation, easy access to a pharmacy, senior center, library and others. Educational, volunteer and employment opportunities are meaningful to many. Being near a college
or university can boost a place’s ranking. Having a dynamic downtown with an array of dining, shopping and cultural experiences are often considered. Is the area prone to natural disasters? Does it have clean air and a safe water supply? One pundit says not to choose a retirement spot based mainly on weather. “My little town, once a bastion of the sweetest springs and autumns, is now the newest
version of Hurricane Alley in the fall and historically unheard-of cold in the winter. Another point, endless sunshine can be too much of a good thing.” And climate change might mean that waterfront living will have that same water lapping on your doorstop in a few short years.