America's Best Healthy Places to Retire

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Every time I go shopping and do my errands in an hour or two, I think back to the time when we lived in the Washington DC suburbs and it took that long just to get to and from the stores....this is the loveliest place I've ever lived in. Having lived in Houston for the first 40 years of my life and the DC suburbs for the next 30, I am now living in the best climate of them all! No snow (rarely, anyway), no ice, no humidity, no heat....just lovely mild weather. And the seasons are magnificent! Wonderful library system, good medical care minutes away, congenial neighbors, respectful drivers (they actually let pedestrians have the right of way)....I'll never move again.

Diane S. Lilly of WA 11:23AM September 28, 2008

My husband and I are ten years away from retirement, but we are already planning. My husband loves to fish and we are both boaters. We recently purchased a home in the sailboat section of Punta Gorda. We have our "flats boat" already behind the house, and room for our J-22 sailboat when we finally retire.
In January we will fly directly into the Punta Gorda Airport to enjoy a week of fishing in the Peace River, through Charlotte Harbor and down to the Boca Grand Pass. If I can get my husband off the boat, we will get in a round or two of golf.
We are looking forward to a long, active and healthy retirement.

Debra McCarty of MI 10:32AM September 28, 2008

Peaceful, beautiful, kind people, unique, are just a few of the many words that could be used to describe Bella Vista.
Once you have been there, it's hard to get the village out of your mind. We've chosen it as our place of retirement and do not regret the decision at all. Come to Bella Vista and you will understand.

Harvey Kemper of AR 9:33AM September 28, 2008

I'm very pleased that you flagged Issaquah as one of the premiere places to retire. We made that decision ourselves almost 4 years ago when my wife and I decided that the weather and cost-of-living in the WashDC suburbs were less than ideal.
We found a wonderful single-level home in a family neighborhood less than 2 blocks from beautiful Lake Sammamish. I left my snow shovel in Maryland and (in spite of nearby Seattle's reputation) never wear a raincoat or carry an umbrella.
On the short drive to my volunteer job aa a docent at a State Salmon Hatchery (actually across the steet from the library in downtown Issaquah!) I can see the Cascade range to the east, the Olympic range to the west, Mt. Rainier to the south and Mt. Baker to the north. We have great shopping (including Costco's mother ship) less than 2 miles away, lots more 10 minutes away in Bellevue or 20 minutes away in Seattle.
In short, I made a great choice 4 years ago. Thanks for reinforcing it.

Mason Lilly of WA 1:49AM September 28, 2008

Bella Vista was a retirement area when we moved here 12 years ago. It is no longer one. The younger population outnumbers the retirees. We have an elementary school, school busses run all through here. You have to watch for children playing in the streets, as it was never designed to be a place for children. Healthy it is, but if you are looking for a "retirement" area, look somewhere else.

Loretta Ostenso of AR 12:31PM September 26, 2008

Who wants to raise taxes?

Donna Campbell of DE 9:01AM September 26, 2008

Jeff of ME,
That thought crossed my mind of Obama wins the election.
Donna of DE

Donna Campbell of DE 8:58AM September 26, 2008

If Obama wins, you'll retire in poverty...

Gary of Bella Vista of AR 6:16AM September 26, 2008

This area has had an amazing transformation and is a fantastic place to live- small, quaint and peaceful yet close enough to the larger cities and airports to be able to work and shop. The beaches are some of the best as well, unspoiled and uncluttered.

Sally Lewis of FL 10:18AM September 25, 2008