I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Mark Goldstein, who runs the popular Facebook group, website, and podcast, Where Do Gays Retire. In our wide-ranging conversation, we talk about all the things you should consider when searching for your perfect place to retire. Click here to enjoy the podcast!
As you contemplate your options for where you’ll live after you retire, you may be considering moving to a smaller dwelling. Downsizing might make sense for both financial and logistical reasons, but it might not be an advantageous choice in every situation. There are many factors you should consider in order to decide whether downsizing…
Read more
Each year, over a million people migrate from colder regions of the United States and Canada to sunny locations in Florida, Arizona, and other Sunbelt states. To these snowbirds, seasonal migration offers the best of both worlds – an opportunity to maintain ties to family, friends, and familiar places, while also enjoying a change of…
Read more
If you have traveled internationally, you have probably visited charming, exciting places and fantasized about what it would be like to retire there. There are many reasons why retiring to a different country seems tempting. Maybe you want to enjoy your leisure years in a locale with a warmer climate and breathtaking natural beauty. Perhaps…
Read more
One of the greatest benefits that retirement provides is the opportunity to choose where you want to live. Once you no longer have your job tying you to a particular area, there’s no reason not to relocate to a place that’s more to your liking. Perhaps you want to move someplace warmer, closer to the…
Read more
Many Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) elders report serious concerns about aging and retirement, according to the nonprofit group Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE). For years, LGBT retirees have suffered indignities during their final years. For example, same-sex partners have been denied the opportunity to share the same room, staff members who personally…
Read more
If you have read some of my past articles about places to retire or read my book, The Quest for Retirement Utopia, you have probably noticed that I’m not a big fan of 55+ active adult retirement communities. Based on numerous comments, survey responses, and emails I have received, many Retire Fabulously! readers aren’t, either.…
Read more
There are many factors that compete for your attention when it comes to deciding where you want to retire. You probably consider the climate, recreational amenities, cost of living, safety, and tax rates. Being close to your family and friends may be the most important factor for you. Even if you’re pretty sure you want…
Read more
[This excerpt from my book The Quest for Retirement Utopia: How to Find the Retirement Spot That’s Right for You, first appeared on NextAvenue.org. While this excerpt focuses on LGBTQ concerns, the book is written for everyone who is considering moving after they retire.] When it comes to choosing a place to live during retirement,…
Read more
[This article is an excerpt from my book, The Quest for Retirement Utopia: How to Find the Retirement Spot That’s Right for You.] When you start thinking seriously about where you want to retire, there are dozens of factors you can consider. The number of criteria that your ideal retirement destination should ideally meet can…
Read more
A lot of people, both retirees and those who are still working, enjoy vacationing on cruise ships. I have taken thirteen cruises that have carried me to Europe (six times), the southern Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Asia (including Japan), Tahiti, South America, and New Zealand/Australia. I have enjoyed them all immensely, especially the last three. Occasionally,…
Read more
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? For now, assume that cost is not a factor and you could afford to live wherever you want. Hopefully you have at least one place in mind, and maybe several. Now for the bigger question: Why? What characteristics of the place(s) you thought…
Read more
If warm, sunny weather, reasonable cost of living, and excellent yet inexpensive health care are among your top criteria for selecting a place to retire, Malta might offer just what you’re looking for. Since English is one of Malta’s two official languages and it has perhaps the easiest immigration requirements in Europe, Malta might be…
Read more
If you dream of retiring to Europe, Portugal is well worth your consideration. It is the least expensive country in Western Europe, its immigration requirements can be satisfied by most retirees, and the country enjoys mild, sunny weather. Portugal has long been a favorite of expats from Great Britain and other European countries, but it…
Read more
Most lists of top retirement destinations focus on medium to large cities. For LGBT baby boomers, as well as many others who prefer places with diverse populations with thriving arts and culture scenes, larger cities usually have the most to offer. Larger cities also provide more options for medical care and senior support services. But if…
Read more
For over 60 years, millions of retirees have chosen to move to age-restricted active adult communities where they can live out their remaining years surrounded by golf courses, swimming pools, organized activities and – perhaps most important – other retirees. Many people are drawn by the appeal of living in a safe, leisure-focused environment that…
Read more
When it comes to selecting a highly desirable retirement destination, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people have a few additional criteria to consider than do most Americans. In addition to considerations such as low cost of living and low taxes, LGBT people tend to value cities with strong LGBT communities, higher levels of acceptance…
Read more
Among the most popular features of retirement websites are the articles and lists of top places to retire, domestically and internationally, which tempt you with new possibilities for exciting, exotic, yet affordable places you can live after you retire. While it’s fun to imagine what living in those places would be like, most people don’t…
Read more
It’s fun to think about where you want to retire. Once you no longer have your job tying you to a particular area, there’s no reason not to relocate to a place that’s more to your liking. Perhaps you want to move someplace warmer, closer to the water or where the cost of living is…
Read more
When you think about what type of community you plan to live after you retire, what comes to mind? Are you giving serious consideration to living in an age-restricted 55+ active adult community? Chances are, the younger you are today, the less likely you are to choose such a community after you retire. As I write…
Read more
Do you want to fill your retirement years with the adventure that comes from discovering and experiencing new places? Are you looking for a place to live where your retirement savings will stretch further? Or maybe you are formulating an escape plan in the event your least favorite candidate makes it into the White House.…
Read more
What’s the first thing you think of when you think of Colombia? I’ll be honest. Up until recently, the first thing I thought of was drug cartels – cartels so prominent that they were named after major cities such as Medellin and Cali. Just two decades ago, Colombia was a dangerous, lawless country overrun by…
Read more
You know it’s out there somewhere – the perfect place to retire. A place that’s comfortable, classy, rich with amenities, and located in a beautiful area with perfect weather and scenic views. Could such a place actually exist? Or is there always going to be someplace else where the grass is greener? Of course, no place is perfect. And…
Read more
For many years, Spain has enjoyed a reputation as a fantastic vacation destination. Its warm climate, sunny Mediterranean beaches, history, art, and culture, as well as its friendly, easy-going, relaxed atmosphere, have delighted travelers for years. Spain is a popular retirement choice, especially for people from the United Kingdom. There are approximately 300,000 Britons (working…
Read more
The small South American country of Uruguay, nestled between Argentina and Brazil, may be one of the world’s best kept secrets as a destination for both retirement and vacation travel. Uruguay offers First World living at prices that are lower than many people in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand are accustomed to paying.…
Read more
Most Best Places to Retire websites and articles include France at or near the top of their lists. It’s easy to see why: the scenery is beautiful, the country is rich in culture and full of things to see and do, and the cuisine and wine are among the best in the world. Although the…
Read more
[Editor’s Note: An article which lists LGBT retirement communities and apartments appears here.] You are probably aware that the baby boomer generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) is now reaching the ages of 50-68, which means that we’re entering an era in which a lot of people are and will be retiring. According to Serena…
Read more
Best Places to Retire Lists – Fact, Fiction, or Fantasy?
There are now hundreds of Best Places to Retire lists on the Internet, as well as some Worst Places to Retire lists. They all offer different results. With so many contradictory lists, how are you to make sense of it all? Best Places to Live lists have a long history. Money magazine published a Best…
Read more