Best Retirement Locations

Where are the Best Retirement Locations?

Like most retirement options, it depends...

"Best" is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?

What might be best to you (Florida heat, humidity with bugs), isn't necessarily "best" for me (love the Michigan change of seasons!)

Your retirement location (the state and/or country that you choose to retire in) can greatly affect your personal happiness in retirement. There is no right or wrong, it's simply what makes you happy and fulfilled as a home.

Where do you choose to live in Retirement? So many options, so let's look at a few... so you can make a wise decision on what works best for you.

Don't miss the reader stories at the bottom of this page! Learn from others who have been there before you.. one persons story could change your ideas!

Best Retirement Locations to Consider:

Stay at Home/Downsize - You can remain at home in the same state and same community, living independently, (even if you choose to downsize from your family home) that you've lived in all your life. Family and friends are close by.... or are they?

Here are some of the best states to retire in.  Read visitors thoughts on Moving to Sunshine States... Retire in the Sunshine!

Retirement in Florida - Are you a Florida snowbird or considering a move to Florida? Read from other snowbirds here.  Irwin writes about retirement and his retired life in Lakeland, Florida.

You might also become a Snow Bird... traveling to a warmer climate during the cold weather months. This page is by readers who are Florida Snow Birds.  Sam advises on How to Ship Your Car to Florida during a move or even for Snowbirds!

Arizona Retirement -Learn about Arizona Retirement Living from other visitors to this site.  

Personally, I love Las Vegas senior living.

Some folks like to retire abroad.

Where did you choose to Retire and WHY?

Do you have a great story about this? Share it!

What Other Retirees Live and Why...

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Living Single (again) 
I’ve written before about my relationship with my LTP. There were some ups and downs but the 26 years we spent together were good. I like to say it was …

Retirement life in Alabama 
I recently moved from california to this beautiful State. Green everywhere, birds, so much wild life, this is paradise. i hope i can finish my days …

Resident-owned mobile home park in North Carolina 
My husband and I split our time between our homes in Florida and New York. I have always dreamed of a small cottage within walking distance to the …

Gig Harbor WA? 
Looking to retire to Gig Harbor, WA. Have visited numerous times throughout the years and love the area as well as the weather. Have hit just about …

Stay Away From Southern Nevada 
When I moved to Henderson, NV, in 2003, there was one of many conventions in Las Vegas. An attendee wondered off the strip to go eat at a fast food restaurant. …

Anyone else want to live in a cottage community in New Hampshire? 
In 2017, my husband and I sold our large home in NH. Since then we have been able to buy a park model with a linai and totally enjoy our winters in Florida. …

I Retired to New Zealand  
After the death of my first wife in 1989 I remarried in 1991 and retired in 1992. My bride was originally from New Zealand but was divorced and lived in …

Checking out new areas 
I moved from New York (not the city) 6 months ago to North Carolina and I'm moving back in the spring. You have given it a good shot, alot longer than …

Admitting you need to change things 
Hello, I have some thoughts from my situation and experience which might be helpful. I divorced and soon after moved to a very different way of life. …

Retirement Lifestyle Options in Ocala, Florida 
Retirement Does Not Change Who You Are Consider the cost of ownership and your preferred lifestyle when selecting a 55+ community, and replace excessive …

ACTIVE Adult Communitites in the Northeast 
We recently went on a trip to research a few retirement communities. While we looked at a few houses in about 7 communities we were surprised that we …

Stay Away From Southern Nevada 
If you are looking for a place to relocate to, stay away from Nevada. Here are the reasons why: - Rising crime rate with the largest mass shooting …

On a quest 
Currently I am with hubby in Arizona, visiting my son and his family. After moving to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina just a year and a half …

Trouble finding a snowbird rental in Florida that takes a big dog 
My husband is finally going to retire in June 2019 and after years of planning our retirement (I already retired and work part time) we will finally be …

Florida: How hot is it? 
I would be interested in hearing from retirees their personal feelings about retiring in Florida. Just mention Florida to anyone, and you can almost …

How have you all gone about finding your new locations? 
I am curious as to how you all have searched for your retirement locations. We have made a mistake in where we are now and will move but I don’t want …

Tiny House Community in RePurposed Parking Structure 
A modern approach to alternative senior housing can involve reducing the size of your living space. Google my title text to find more info on the tiny …

Retired and moved to England 
We bought a house on the River Thames. Thames runs through London and out to the suburbs. Boat house, swimming pool, tennis court. Can drive it the complete …

Is retirement enhanced by the place in which we live? 
"Retirement is a journey, not a destination." Thank you Retirement Online! How many people are worried or even afraid of retirement because they …

Around the city 
Don your winter hat and coat and come walk with me. It is only a small city of 17,000 people. 2 miles north to south and 2 miles east to west. I don’t …

Panama: Abroad, what a joke ?? 
I retired at the age of 62 y.o I moved abroad (Panama) due to thinking I could do better economically with my retiree's check. The first yrs. of living …

Moved to Calif from Pa  
I've lived in the Pitts. Pa area all my life, married and had 1 child, a boy . After my husband died in 2000 I stayed there for 9 yrs , flying back …

Retirement Location: Maybe San Diego? 
I am just retiring now after 31 years as a NYC public school teacher. I love New York, and have friends and family here, but I hate the winters. I …

Leaving or children and grandchildren to another state 5-6 hours away. 
My husband and I would like to go to a another state for an easier lifestyle, were not happy with the area we live in, its not changing for the good, not …

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Retirement Paradise 
Searching for paradise....NEVADA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA. Please comment if you live in these states. I would love to hear from you. Thank you. …

Paradise Island, Largo, FL 
I never thought I'd retire to FL but I just love it. Manufactured homes are the way to go. Community develops easily when you live a bit closer. And …

RETIRED IN MARYLAND 
Winter in Maryland. I call it the “gray time” because that’s what it is much more often than not: GRAY. That desolate time between December 21st …

Snowbird Resorts 
For those of you who are snowbirds, how did you decide on your SR resort? There are too many to visit and there are different monthly rentals. How did …

Resort Destination: White Mtns, Arizona 
The White Mountains in Arizona is where I landed when I had successfuly claimed my Social Security retirement benefit using the online process. After …

Living together 
I retired early to SW France 8 years ago. The village has a bakery, Post office and library. There is an active group for retirees for meals, games …

Retired before Moving to Wisconsin and Meeting Hubby 
Well i guess will make the short story, retired eary served our country us army then worked as a prison guard...... Moved from Kentucky to Wisconsin, …

Home Sweet Home 
Sold my huge house and moved only 10 minutes away! What I didn't want is to move far away from my friends. Since I live alone with my daughter away in …

My story: Retired Life in Hudson, New York 
We live in a senior citizen mobile home park on the outskirts of the small city of Hudson, New York. We are just off Rte 66, a busy highway, but the park …

retirement-living-arizona 
If you are considering Retirement Living in Arizona, read this page to see what others retirees think about Arizona retirements. The retirees below …

Retirement is a Transitioning Not an Ending 
I'm a Canadian currently living in Oaxaca, Mexico. On July 31, 2008, I left behind the company, where I was employed for twenty-two years, and I haven't …

Retirement Move: Evansville, Indiana 
About seven years ago, I decided to relocate. Retirement was right around the corner for me, and at the time, I was living in central Ohio, in a rental …

Retirement in Ecuador:
We Won The Retirement Lottery
 
My husband and I knew that our retirement incomes would not stretch far enough back home in Vancouver, BC, Canada, no matter how many years we worked. …

Retired in Michigan:
Home Sweet Home!
 
I most certainly envy you folks in Arizona when winter comes here to Michigan. It seems like it is cloudy and overcast from November through March. The …

Retirement Location: North Carolina, USA 
North Carolina is one of the best places to retire. Actually there was a study done; stating that Raleigh - Cary, North Carolina was second in the Country …

Retirement Location: Rhode Island to Florida 
Shortly before I reached retirement age I decided, along with my wife, to relocate us to Florida to spend the rest of our days there. We had spent …

Retirement Location:
Bridle Wood Community, VA
 
I live in a 55 and older community called Bridle Wood, VA. The reason why I chose to retire here was because it was close to most of my family. Before …

Retirement Location: Arkansas 
My choice was not difficult. My parents lived in Arkansas so therefore I made a choice to stay there before retiring my dad took sick and I was his caretaker. …

Retirement Location: Aiken, South Carolina 
My husband and I retired in Aiken, South Carolina. Years ago we used to visit Arizona quite often and love it there so that is where we planned to …

Retirement Location: So. California to Central California 
I retired to the beautiful Central Coast of California. It's absolutely gorgeous. You have beaches, and rolling hills and the wine industry is surpassing …

Retired to Philippines 
I was looking for a place that gave me a lot more for my retirement dollars when I discovered what it is like to live in the Philippines. I certainly …

Costa Rica 
My husband and I have moved to Costa Rica and love it - for many reasons! *Stable democracy *Friendly people *Affordable lifestyle …

Retirement: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or Fort Payne, Alabama 
My wife and I chose to retire in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, even though we own a home in a subdivision on Sand Mountain near Fort Payne, Alabama. We …

Retired, Moved to Small KY town... 
Last year I made the decision to retire early from my teaching job, high school level special education working with children with disabilities both learning …

Retirement Desinations: Minnesota, Arkansas, Georgia 
My partner and I spent long evenings, and many quiet mornings trying to decide which State we would prefer for our retirement. We listed many attributes …

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