MichelleY, my inlaws just moved from northern New Mexico to Cedar City, Utah, and so far they really like it. It has a university, a hospital, etc., and is close to Zion National Park. They are fairly liberal in their theology and politics and they feel at home there.

Lee Ann

It is difficult to response to this question because we all have such different perspectives. At 67 we have been engaging in this activity for several years. Visited Scottsdale/Phoenix area for a week last March. Althought highly recommended by friends and relatives we immediately took it off our list. Our starting point is the southside of Denver and have not found anyplace better for OUR CRITERIA but will keep looking.

Read wtm003 posting about Denver and obviously don't share the same perspective of Denver. We think the winters in Denver are very mild but we came here from the Chicago area. We love the year around low humidity and no bugs when compared to the midwest. We find the year around outdoor activities to be excellent. Just back from two days of skiing at Beaver Creek. We are avid cyclists and enjoy the 500 plus miles of trails and paths in the Denver metro area. We ride year around. The are periods of cold and snow such as we are experiencing now but MOST of the time they past quickly. There are exceptions -- two years ago we did have seven straight weeks of snow and nearly set a record for continuous days of snow cover -- almost 90 days. And there was the great blizzard of 82 BUT these are the exception rather than the rule. Property taxes for seniors in CO are very low if not too low. Denver has a good public transit system which is getting better. We anticipate being able to go car less when it becomes necessary. Air service out of DIA is good and medical services are outstanding. Are there negatives -- of course, but we believe they are minor when compared to the positives. The theater scene here is very good and the variety of quality restaurants in downtown Denver is outstanding. We have all of the professional sports although I am not a big fan of professional sports but attending a CU football is great. CU has their ups and downs so tickets are easy to come by. Denver is a good place to die and we will probably stay here to the end. But we do keep looking.

Now your criteria for a good retirement area could be substantially different than ours. I don't play golf so golf courses are not important to me. If year around hiking is critical. then wtm003 is correct -- you need to look somewhere else.

If as we age, we decide somewhere else would be better, our plan would be rent something there for a year before deciding to permanently move. Good luck with your search.

fmp - how'd you fare with Sundays temps?? More to come again this Sunday, eh?

Snowing pretty good here in SW CO.

Deb

Temps where -- Denver or Beaver Creek? No question it was cold at BC in single digits most of the time. Just add on the appropriate layer. As long as there isn't a lot of wind I am OK down to about zero. I can stick to the trees and sheltered areas where it is fine. I can work hard enough to keep the body temp up BUT riding the chairs can be tough in low temp and wind. We are getting a cold spell. The -18 Sunday in Denver did set a record and it was coldest since Feb 07. But as I said in the prior post, that generally passes quickly. Right now it is mid 30s and bright sun -- it feels great. Not like when we lived in the Chicago area. It was gray, overcast, damp, get cold and stay cold even if the absolute temp was not that low.

<but I'm wondering if we would grow weary of the summer heat.>


Oh yeah. But the winters come close to making up for it.

My wife and went through the same situation a few years ago and I feel qualified to give you some sound advice. First a week or two is not enough time to make a decision between various locations. I might recommend you spread this venture over three trips and get to know each state and area better before deciding. Second as many have said rent in the area you have chosen and at the worst time of the year. Next, do not underestimate the weather factor. We moved from a warm climate to a four seasons climate and the winters drove us nuts as golf courses were closed for five months, lakes frozen over, etc.Coming from Maryland winter may not be a problem for you but some of the areas you mentioned have summer temps that will keep you in doors from July through Sept.My wife and I lasted for three years before moving back and this was a costly mistake. Taxes are a big factor. While some states boast no state income tax the property taxes are outrageous.This being said, I would choose Ft. Collins as it is a great town in it's own right and only sixty miles from Denver.Good luck in your search and take your time.

I would think Santa Fe is as expensive as Boulder.

I am partial to Fort Collins and Boulder. Plus Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes park are a close drive. I'm from Wisconsin but have lived in Denver many years.

I wouldn't consider Fort Collins a large city but then everyone has a different defnition I guess.

Flagstaff weather, I've heard, is similar to Fort Collins'/Denver.

The Western Slope area(Grand Junction) is not as pretty to me. And gets much hotter in summer.

I think Durango gets a lot more snow and cold than the Colorado Front Range? (The towns from Fort Collins down to Colorado Springs)

I second everything fmpden said!

Sue

Thank you, Sue. I think the front range has a lot to offer. We happen to prefer the urban setting so size of Denver doesn't bother us. To enjoy all of the services you want or need you have to have a critical mass. Having come here from the far south side of Chicago we think Denver size is just right and the traffic great. But someone may find it too big or too metro. Fortunately we all do not want the same thing.

As has been said, this is a very individual decision. Everyone has different priorities. We found what was important to us, was not necessarily what all the retirement magazines said to look for.

Here's my suggestion.

Make a spreadsheet. List all the things that are important to you e.g. health care, public transportation, nearby university, etc. Make the list as long as needed and try to put it in relative order of importance. Be realistic. Think about what you enjoy today and what you think you'd like to do when retired. Will you really go the opera? Do you want to volunteer more? Is retirement the time for sports or are you kidding yourself?

In another column list facts/statistical data e.g. weather, average income, crime, tax info, etc. You can find everything you need on the web.

Fill in the data for all the places you are interested in.

Read the local newspapers on line to see what's going on.

Evaluate the data. You may be surprised your "favorite" place is missing one or two of your top criteria. Or, the weather isn't really what the advertising says it is.

Then, pick your top 2-3 places.

Visit in the heat of summer. Visit in the dead of winter. Hang out in the local cafes. Perhaps stay in a local B&B. Pretend you are living there -- go to the grocery stores, churches (if applicable), library, etc.

Fill in the spread sheet with what YOU find about that town -- again, not what the magazines or your friends say.

Some places will fall off the list quickly for one reason or another.

After two or three years, you'll have a much better idea of what really works for you.

Good luck.

The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence and then you get there and discover it is Astroturf. I do not believe the perfect retirerment place exists. Everywhere has a downside. Harsh winter, brutal summer, 4 seasons, no seasons,too crowded, too remote, too humid, too dry, etc.

I think first you need to decide why you want to move from your "home of several decades". If it is simply to escape the harsh winters I would suggest you spend them renting in a warmer climate. Using VRBO.com you could visit, explore, and get to know a new city (anywhere in the world) every year.

Do not underestimate the importance of living near family (especially grandchildren) and a close network of friends - especailly as you age.

Above all to not make your decision, as others have said, by traveling to a place in the spring. Most places are at their prime during the spring and the fall. Good luck with your quest.

Boulder is a fantastic town. But not for retirement, IMHO. It's very expensive, can get snowy and cold, but most importantly it's best for the student-age folks because that's it's overall vibe. A retired person would feel like the 'odd man out.'

We lived there for a few years, while in grad school. Loved it, but it does start to feel a big homogenous after awhile. Not a diverse population at all.

What about Golden, CO? It might be cold there, too, though. But you'd be close to the mountains. Colorado School of Mines is a very good school located there. Close enough to Denver for major shopping.

dwoodon.....please don't tell anyone else about Durango.

Barblab, I totally agree with you and also think that 2 or 3 years in, many retirees talk as if they are rather trying to convince themselves it was the best pick- because they are tied into it.

Especially if you want weather to be warm or temperate, the happiest retirees seem to me to be the ones who rent in varied locations in the manner you have described.

Some of you might be interested in this article:

http://tinyurl.com/Winter-Retirement-Dest

San Diego native and there are some great real estate deals right now and the weather is overall gorgeous most of the year.
Great health care, golf courses, travel time to desert, mountains is an hour away..good quality of life.
I couldn't imagine being 'older' and having to deal with the winter cold and the snow.
Best to you Balto!

ksucat - my parents retired to San Diego from the Northeast, and loved it (in fact, my 89-year old dad, who has now lived there for nearly 25 years, still does).

I would LOVE to retire in La Jolla, but that's not likely because it is way out of our price range.

I think we're going to decide against desert states; I'm a gardener, and xeriscaping (sp?) options are limited. I would love to stay in our present house; however, my area has very high property taxes to support a very good school system, and those taxes would drain our retirement income. So we're thinking of several places in Oregon, hoping to find some where escaping Californians haven't inflated housing prices.

<i>I would LOVE to retire in La Jolla, but that's not likely because it is way out of our price range.</i>

Well, yeah, but there's La Jolla and then there's the rest of San Diego!

islebethere,

If you think Oregon is a place escaping Californians haven't escalated property values - you are 15 years out of date!

if you check out Ft. Collins, then also visit Greeley - home of U of Northern Colo.

Nice town - quieter than Ft. Collins. Good housing values - we recently bought a nice 3300 sf house on 1/3 acre for 190K (foreclosure) just a mile from campus.
I know of a similar house in better shape in a nicer location for only 225K