Best City To Retire

At least every week there is an article saying that Austin has the best job prospects, is the best place for recent college grads, best place for people who are retiring, etc. Right now there is an article on the Yahoo main page saying that Austin is one of the best places to buy a home right now.

Why is Yahoo focusing on Austin?! We don’t want people moving to Austin. We like it the way it is, if people start moving to Austin then it’ll lose its small city feeling. It just won’t be the same. So why Yahoo? WHY?!

Yahoo is not trying to make Austin look the best or trying to constantly focus on it. it just happens to be one of the best places to live at the moment. People are tired of living in cities that lack the jobs and other opportunities, culture, and lifestyle offered in cities like Austin, so a lot of people today are on the look out to find a new city.
Yahoo is just catering to what people are searching for-

I do agree with you that Austin is changing way to fast, some of the change i find to be really great like added diversity and its cool new skyline, but it has began to lost some of its old feel that used to make Austin different. Even with more people coming in, I still think Austin will keep its tradition of being that different kind of city.

… for Filipinos? I’ve never been to Vigan but I understand that the streets are quaint and retrospective of colonial period. What about the health care facility, crime, etc.?

What about Tagaytay?

Where is the best retirement place in Luzon in your opinion?

Vigan is an old colonial city and it’s good for someone who doesn’s like to be expose in hectic life. Myself would retire there but i still have to complete my required years job to be able to. My husband got an early retirement as he’s more privilege being able to work at his early years of age, but he doesn’t want to go ahead without me.
Yes we will retire in Vigan. People are quite but of course they are ilocanos but that’s not a problem they can speak the national language and i quite understand ilokano though unable to speak.
Whereas Tagaytay is quite expensive for living if you are not native even for the filipinos, if you want to pretend being chic like most filipinos then it’s the right place. Tagaytay impose exaggerations about their high level standard mainly on prices, they consider themselves as the miami of the Philippines or the Costa brava of Spain, and La Riviera of the Mediterranean France.
They have nothing to compare to these places but they believe so, however, dreams is nice to those who sleeps but not to those wide awake, reality when strikes is as bittter as the virgin olives.
I heard that Vigan like everywhere in the Philippines has a good health care center, in any case if something goes wrong Baguio is not far, unlike Manila that takes 8 hours by bus though you can take the plane, if you have to.

should be within 30-60 minutes of a major city; Time to leave the US b4 the daily stress and Bshit kills me….

Palawan, near Puerto Princesa…

i am retired, have steady income.. i want to live near trails, natural beauty, little crime.. would prefer to be near the ocean… best cities, with descriptions???

Your best options are not cities at all, but towns and communities in unincorporated areas.

You will need to be clearer about being "near the ocean" – that puts you on the Olympic Peninsula only. If you are willing to consider areas near Puget Sound or the Straits of Juan de Fuca, that will open up a lot of options – you’d still have water views.

But being in those areas means you’d be further away from services – shopping, medical etc.

My suggestions to look at – all on Puget Sound, not ocean-front but water-front:
Bellingham (north of Seattle, not far from the US/Canada border) College town. Services are easier to obtain but you are still close to Mt. Baker national forest, Chuckanut drive trails etc.

Whidbey Island – Oak harbor has some services, but the nearest mall would be a ferry ride or 30+ minute drive away. Deception State Pass is nearby, as are national historic areas with hiking trails.

Port Townsend – lovely little town on the Olympic peninsula. Vibrant downtown area, lots of activities surrounding music festivals, wooden boat festivals etc. Not close to anything else.

Anacortes – on Fidalgo island north of Whidbey Island. More of a town atmosphere, easy access to the San Juan Islands, Deception Pass State Park.

I am five years from retiring and have decided that Colorado Springs will be my final destination. I have never been there, but will visit in October. I am in need of relocation information including what is the best area of the city. I prefer quiet country settings where I do not see any neighbors, but also access to the city within 30 minutes. Any suggestions?

There aren’t necessarily "bad" neighborhoods in Colorado Springs, just different. Ages of homes range from over 100 years to brand new. On the north end of town (above Woodmen Rd), you’ll generally find newer homes, in school district 20 which is very well regarded. The east side of town (east of Powers Blvd.) is generally newer, the neighborhoods are packed in tighter, but has great accessibility to shops and restaurants.

Pine Creek is very nice, but more expensive than other neighborhoods surrounding it. It also has a very strict homeowners association which many of my friends find borderline offensive.

School District 20 is the way to go. District 11 is the largest, but is having many funding problems currently and District 49 (in the east area of town) is not as well regarded.

Good luck in your move! It’s a beautiful place to live.

Cheap, nice, safe… these are some essentials… friendly would be up there too…

So many Americans and Canadians retire in Mexico, Panama and Ecuador… but are they safe?

What about Nicaragua? I hear it’s maybe the safest country in Latin America, and a nice place to live (but not the capital city Managua) – is this right?

What about Asian countries? Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia… or someplace else?

Are there any nice, clean places in India, or maybe not?

Hi AJ,

I spent a few months in Nicaragua, Panama, and Ecuador among other countries last year. All of these countries are safe, beautiful, and have a lot to offer. All of these countries are also very inexpensive.

Yes, Nicaragua (except Managua) is the safest country in Latin America. One drawback in my mind is that the healthcare system in Nicaragua is not good. Outside of Managua you will not find any hospitals that are up to Western standard. In Panama and Ecuador, however, good healthcare is available in the major cities.

Also, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines are good countries to retire.

And here’s one of my favorite, regardless of what everybody else thinks, and that is Colombia. I spent a couple of months in Colombia last year and will go back this August for about 6 months time. Colombia is a very beautiful country, has different climate zones (something for everybody’s taste), has the friendliest people in South America, and if you like women, Colombia also has some of the most beautiful women in the world.
Even though you hear bad things about Colombia what safety is concerned, most stories are pretty old, and Colombia has become a relative safe country.

Before you decide where you want to retire you need to spend at least a few weeks in several countries to narrow it down to maybe 2 or 3.

Have a great time.

I live near downtown Orlando (I am 53 and my husband is 60); our parents (in their mid-70s to early 80s) live in suburban communities about 15 miles north of downtown Orlando. The theme parks (Disney, SeaWorld, Universal) are near enough to drive to for the day; but all of our neighborhoods are far away from the tourist areas with the traffic and hotels. There are dozens of parks, freshwater springs, lakes, and rivers near by. Lots of good places to shop. Excellent doctors and hospitals (plus a new VA hospital will open here next year). Tons of recreational activities.

Florida is a huge state; and you don’t give any clues about what you enjoy doing. Do you want to live near the beach? Near a large city, small town, rural area? Do you like to fish, fresh or saltwater? Do you want to live in a retirement community or in a neighborhood with all ages? Do you want a temperate climate, sub-tropical climate, or tropical climate? Do you want to be near a VA hospital? Do you want to live on the water (fresh or salt)? A few more details would make it easier to answer your question.

Here are a few ideas for you to consider:

Near the beach in a tropical climate: Southwest Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico; Bonita Springs, Lee County

Gulf coast of Florida, sub-tropical climate: New Port Richey, Pass a Grille, St. Pete, Dunedin

East coast of Florida (Atlantic Ocean): Palm Coast (short drive to St.Augustine), Cocoa Beach (barrier island), Cocoa (mainland, on the river), Satellite Beach, Melbourne, Vero Beach.

Central inland; near springs and forests and many parks and preserves: Ocala, Dunellon, Crystal River, Homosassa, Mount Dora, northeast Orlando and Orange County, Oviedo, Gainesville

There are dozens of more great spots; it all depends on what is important to you.

I’ve been looking at Jaco and Grecia so far. I’m a disabled U.S. veteran who is planning on moving to Costa Rica next May after I graduate from college. My disability is about $1500 a month, so I’m looking for inexpensive places to live, but still fairly close to the beach.

As well, how can I find apartments down there that are cheap? Google brings up a bunch of listings, but most seemed to be aimed at higher end incomes for people looking to retire or only visit. Any information would be amazing! Thanks ahead of time.

Hi,
Well let me see if I can share a few things with you that might help in your decision.
If you want to be fairly closee to the beach, then the beaches are where you should be.

All over Costa Rica there are small homes, apartments and living spaces with others that are very affordable. I have a precious small house that is not $300 a month… I live in the Alajuela area near the airport. But that applies everywhere. The more BEACH you get to the more touristy you get and the higher the rent. I can assure you no Tico or Nica pays epensive rent.

Manuel Antonio area is very touristy… but there are home for rent there and a little more to do than Jaco. Jaco is more for the younger crowd but since the new road has gone in, more will open up there. And, rents will rise.

Some North Americans like it in Tamarindo… higher priced but there are still places that are affordable. Tamarinto is up north… There are more quiet places up there without cities around. Tamarindo is basically one long road in and out. Also there is a Canadian village more less of Portrero… on an inlet but Flamingo is right around the corner.

Samara is a neat place but very tiny and isolated for me.

IF you are a gringo or other foreigner, they are gonna get you because you are coming from the weathy areas of the world. The best thing you can do is come here and stay somewhere bacic and look around. You said disabled so that is important to consider. IF you need to be near a hospital, the beaches do not offer the great North American type places like Clinica Biblica and Hospital Cima… but I had a friend who lived north in Potrero that had a heart attack and said her care was simply wonderful in Libera… Threfore.. depends on your needs.

If you like a chilly climate, San Ramon is a good place to live. 1 hour to the beach.
I prefer a warmer climate so I am in Alajuela… more city, more things to do.
The beaches are about 2 hours from me.

South of Manuel Antonio/ Quepos are more quiet areas without many people like Dominical.
I prefer to be around others and have things to do.

If you want to be near the beach, in places where you wouold see tourist often,
I suggest Quepos/Manuel Antonio or Jaco for the younger group or Tamarindo in the north.

Now… Carribean…. One end of the caribbean is National Park…. Tortugero… but the other end
on the south side of Limon is Puerto Viejo de Talamanga. If you are into Jamacian influence and your stomach can handle coconut oil chicken… take your beads and pipes to Puerto Viejo. You must know it rains a lot on that side of the country… all year.
Its way touristy but many foreigners live there and its a hot spot for college people. Living in Costa Rica full time is not the same as renting a tourist villa or house.

With all of that said. Alajuela, Heredia, Grecia, Escazu, chilly Moravia, Belin… are alldown here in the central valley. Depending on your travel needs… regular tourist buses travel to the beaches every day and back…. $35 one way. There are local buses though not disability ready…. which go every hour or two all day long from San Jose and stop in Alajuela.

I like living in the central valley and in the area os Alajuela because its close to San Jose, close to the hospitals, close to lots of shopping and not far from the beaches.

Did I help?
HOP

FOR AFRICA AMERICAN

Sao Paulo, Rio

One reason why Prescott, Arizona, is the best city to retire in is that it perfectly accommodates every lifestyle. For more info visit http://www.cheapest-places-to-retire.com/best-city-to-retire-in-usa

Apparently, it has plenty to offer retirees