Retirement is wonderful. It's doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it...
According to the author, hese articles rely on statistics such as the cost of living or winter temperatures. But they miss the most important thing--the human element. Here are the real best places to retire according to the author of the article:
Stay home. As we get older, moving, making new friends, and acclimatizing ourselves to new surroundings gets more difficult. Don't underestimate the value of your current community. Think long and hard before you cut those connections to go off to get a sunburn.
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| loves his birds |
I really think there is a lot of validity in this. For instance using myself as an example, we live in Florida where the sun shines almost forever, but all my family lives elsewhere. Sometimes just getting together becomes difficult, what with coordinating schedules and the sort. We love our life, but ocassionally I long for having my family closer. Miss my sisters and families and my parents.
Move near your children. According to the author, his brother-in-law spent most of his career working around Pittsburgh, Pa. After he retired, he and his wife gathered together all the brochures and ultimately decided to move to Massachusetts. Their daughter lives outside of Boston and their son is in Rhode Island. They moved from a four-bedroom suburban home to a two-bedroom bungalow in their daughter's town. Their yard is smaller, just right for Grandpa to keep an eye on the grand kids while he relaxes on the patio. They've met new friends through their daughter, and they love their new life, in an area often billed as cold and expensive.
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I have no children, but I have lots of sisters, nieces, nephews and my parents scattered around and it would be very nice to just get in the car and drive over to one of their homes, or meet somewhere for a cup of coffee, just talk face to face...thery all live about a 12 hour plus drive. Arvid and I do the drive often, but not often enough.
Follow your friends. Friends are an important part of ones live. My best friends are also scattered around in different states. We do have a few good friends not far from home so this is always an enjoyable time spent together. Lots of laugh and fun. Friends sure have a way of making life enjoyable.
Move back home. Sometimes you live most of your life in a place that's not really home. All of a sudden tragedy or some uncertainty strikes. I know the feeling because I lived these circumstances. There was a time I lived in beautiful sunny California. Life was beautiful. I had all I could want and I was happy. All my family lived far away. At the time this was OK. Suddenly without any notice (always this way) I find myself a widow. What seemed like the perfect place before no longer was. I wanted to go away from the memories, and the pain. I needed my family and to be surrounded by the familiar feeling of home...for me the choice was simple. Just remember everyone, no matter where you end up in retirement, remember that relationships are more important than the weather. The warmest climate can be found amidst the safety and security of family and friends.
Other things may change us, but we start and end with family, There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained...
until next time...
