Cities to Retire

RETIRE OR VACATION IN ARIZONA:

Sedona Arizona, home of entertainment and political celebrities such as presidential candidate John McCaine, is an oasis of red rock beauty below an incredible blue sky with billowing clouds. A couple of hours drive from Phoenix this is a place where you can find inner peace when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. The Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon area is one of Arizona's most popluar spots for tourism, recreation, retirement and art. Located at the mouth of scenic Oak Creek Canyon and the center of the state's legendary Red Rock Country this area presents breath-taking panoramas, a mild climate with plenty of sunshine and fresh air. Sedona is the second most visited site in the state of Arizona, right after the Grand Canyon. All four seasons are relatively mild. Minimum temperatures range from a low of 30 in winter to 65 in July. It is centrally located to other cities and tourist destinations-- 2 hours by car from the Grand Canyon and 5 hours from Las Vegas, 6 hours from Santa Fe New Mexico and 7 from Los Angeles.

But the cost of such serenity comes at a high pricetag. Homes are in the $800K range and a lot can cost $200K or more.

Summer Jazz festivals keep the locals and some tourists in the groove. Southwestern and Native American art abounds in myriad galleries, large and small throughout the community along with a variety of restaurants and curio shops.
Some say that Sedona is a vortex between this life and the next so for many it is a very spiritual place. If you yearn for the hot dry climate summers in Sedona offer, and you have a healthy bank account, the Sedona lifestyle awaits you.

There are other cities in Arizona that are warm in the winter, and hot in the summer to consider. Anywhere in the Phoenix area is a good option. Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, LItchfield Park, Goodyear and Surprize are all affordable with tons of shopping, golf coursed and other entertainment choices.

SUN CITY DAZE

We were recently introduced to Sun City AZ, just outside Phoenix where they filmed the reality TV show "Sun City Daze," a program that depicts the "every day lives" of several seniors as they frollic, hot air balloon and find love under the yellow Arizona sun.... and we were amazed at the amenities these communities offer. "This isn't your grandma's retirement community," Jerri, an agent in the area told us. And boy is she right. Depending on the community in Sun City that you choose, there are activities ranging from fully equiped wood-working shops to arts and crafts, swimming, golf, political groups and so much more. You can even store your R.V. for about $200 a Year!

About an hour south of Phoenix is Tucson and its surrounding communities, also a favorite of the snowbirds.

ART HAVENS FOR THE CREATIVE

If you are into the arts, or would like to consider retirement in an culturally sensitive town -Click Here for more retirement havens for the arts.

Low on Cash but still want to retire like a millionaire? Think outside the box. Here are some ideas you may not have considered to retire cheap

THE EAST COAST can hardly be considered a great place to retire unless you grew up there and are used to freezing winters, hot humid summers, and a high cost of living. We visited Ben Franklin's haunt. One sandwich and a salad for lunch (although the salad was huge) cost over $35.00. No eating out in Philadelphia if you live near there on a budget. In fact, homes are expensive even in this bad real estate market, and most east coast states have high property taxes, and high gas prices. The drivers close to the D.C. area are the rudest, most aggressive I've even encountered. In fact on Pennsylvania Ave we had a man follow us for reasons we still don't know, screaming obscenities at us and flipping us off repeatedly for several blocks and all because we weren't driving fast enough because we weren't famliar with the city. The irony was, instead of passing us because we were driving too slowly, he decided to fall in behind us and tailgate our car hoping I assume that we would stop and he could get out and start a fight. This guy was truly dangerous, spewing racial slurrs at us (Don't jump to conclusions. He was a black man) and screaming he'd kill us if we didn't pull over. Fortunately we lost him by taking a left one time when he drove up beside the passenger side of the car to yell more obscenities at us. And he wasn't the only driver with anger issues we found on the highway. It was commonplace.

I'll give the devil his dues though. There are some great cities to visit that are full of history. The landscape in the country is breath-takingly lush and green. The myriad cultures tucked away in towns and neighborhoods give pause to the greatness and acceptance we have here of others who look, dress, believe differently than we might. Still, it isn't a place I'd recommend as a retirement haven.

The icing on the top for me was this.... in Maryland and the DC area NO ONE even puts up Christmas lights! Who wants to live in a place that has no sense of holiday spirit or festivity . You don' t have to be Christian or Jewish to enjoy beautiful lights and decorations! ....No wonder so many people thinking of retiring that live on the east coast are opting for the Western States. We welcome you with open arms...and lights!