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CNN did an article on what they considered the top 25 places to retire.
They appear to think that golf courses, hospitals, parks, race tracks, expensive homes, and colleges are the things for which retirees are seeking.
Oddly, not one of these attributes hits my Top Ten List of things I want in a retirement place.
What I want is
1. inexpensive housing and utilities,
2. most everything in easy walking or biking distance,
3. lots of wilderness area,
4. 4 distinct mild seasons (ie, no extreme heat although hot weather is fine, no extreme cold although brief periods of cold or snow is acceptable - the hardest requirement to fill!)
5. A vibrant farmer's market and lots of nearby local farms.
6. A vibrant arts community.
7. Lots of little coffee shops and restaurants and bistros and tea shops and artisan shops.
8. A strong library system.
9. Lots of bike roads and sidewalks.
10. Great internet access everywhere.
11. No HOA's and zoning laws meant for community, not for potential re-sale values.
12. A strong sense of community.
13. A wide acceptance of eccentricities.
14. lots of gardening plots - residents encouraged to garden in medians, "waste spaces", and other public areas as well as in their own yards.
15. Extremely pet friendly.
I may be a lifetime searching for my nearly perfect retirement community. I may have to build it.
Doesn't matter, I can dream.
What would your ideal retirement place be like?