10 Best Places for Single Seniors to Retire

Reader Comments
Back to article

I am single and found the greatest place to find fun without any pressures. It is called meetups.com. All you have to do once you login is click Find meetups near your area and type in your zipcode. You will be pleasantly surprised. It really is free most of the time, but sometimes it costs minimal like $1, $3. You only pay for yourself and what you do. There are mostly women in the meetups, but 'girls just want to have fun'. We go hiking, out to Sunday Brunch, visit museums, bike riding, all sorts of wonderful things. There is no pressure, so, if you 'commit' to going and you change your mind or something else comes up, just change your rsvp to no. I have met so many new friends, all my age. I specifically join only the meetups for 50 years old and up. I am 52 and I find I just have more in common and enjoy the company better.
Please try it out, no real reason to spend your days or nights alone if you don't want to. Personally, I think it is a life saver as I am newly divorced, with grown children. I am so happy I have more choices that just online dating. I wanted to find people that shared fun activities without the pressure of dating, and 'meetups' are the answer.
It is almost like the old 'parents without partners' or those kinds of groups years ago. Meetups are the new way to socialize.
If you are a good organizer with good ideas, you can even start you own meetup group. There are people that started tennis meetups, or knitting meetups. If you have a particular area of interest, you can start the meetup and I am sure people will join in for fun and conversation.
I hope this helps someone like it helps me!

Donna of MA 9:25PM February 21, 2011

I agree with elizabeth of IL
Thats what I want-- a resonable place, to enjoy, whats left of my time- with out being taxed to death but things to enjoyed.
Where?

Jean Cochran of GA 8:58AM February 07, 2011

Best way to meet others that you may enjoy is to do what you like to do - tennis, travel, fine dining, dancing, etc. in my experience. Having a set of good friends is equally if not more important than having a mate/spouse who rarely meets all your needs anyhow.
Also do not think being single means being lonely but rather spending more time alone which can be a joy especially in comparison with living with someone who makes you miserable.

Steve of CT 11:24AM January 31, 2011

Hi Folks, I feel the same way. What are us baby boomers and beyond supposed to do about singleness and to meet new people w/o going to bars. I recently went to a bar on vacation by myself which was a first and I emphasize first, because I thought I would never, ever do that, but when in Rome...... So I did and it was a bar full of 20 somethings. I felt like I was the chaperone at a prom!!!!! I, however, danced them under the table and they were so complementary to me and amazed and I ate it up and told them I'm old enough to be your mother. They said WOW, and said they wished their parents were more like me. I even was giving "motherly advice" to some of the shy guys and actually one of them listened to me, how bout that? The girls were impressed and we joked and danced until the place closed. I was sooooo flattered and had a the time of my life. My motto is if you don't get out there and do it alone, and your friends are still married, etc., and you don't have a date, get out there and have fun yourself. Life is too short not to. It takes guts and courage and face your fears, but you have to bite the bullet and just do it as they say. I've done a 180 since I'm growing older and been divorced for 18 yrs (married 19) and have a 30 yr old son, single), and I'm not waiting for anyone to do things with. If I feel I WANT to go out and have fun, then I will, mind you I'm not going to bars alone like a barfly, but I mean like, the movies, restaurants, lunch, dinner, that kind of stuff, me, myself and I. I enjoy my own company and am outgoing and can talk to anyone if they are willing. That helps a lot to be outgoing but if you're not, just try. What do you have to lose. Good Luck, VR

Tori of IL 9:08AM January 31, 2011

I thought this was about the best places to live , to save money and live decently, why is it always about a partner, if you have had a husband in 30 years why wait until you are to old to enjoy each other, please I just want to find a city that you can have fun and live off a pension

elizabeth of IL 9:52AM January 25, 2011

I am 67 and widow for almost 12 years now. I am very active in volunteering
in the school and in the community. I would like to hear from the people who are interested in making friends. I live in California.

Adoracion of CA 1:11AM January 25, 2011

I am a recent widow after 31 years. I like your positive attitude.
any good advice on this chapter would be appreciated.

bee of IL 4:39PM January 24, 2011

I've been widowed for 16 years now. My husband and I were married almost 25 years. I wouldn't trade any of those years we had together. There are so many things as singles that we can do that perhaps we wouldn't be able to do if we were married. I love to volunteer with different organizations. It shouldn't always be about you. Helping others is where I feel fulfilled and still have a great time in life!

Judy of WI 3:58PM January 11, 2011

Roberta Hargis I would like to hear from you. I am only 67 so you could be a COUGAR if we dated.

Robert of CA 4:15PM January 05, 2011

It is true you can find a new love in many places. I am 61 and my wife of three years is 32. They don't call me the silver fox for nothing. Well I'm joking about the silver fox part. I started this quest 5 years ago looking for a place to retire.
I had gone to the Philippines to Scuba Dive a few times, where there are any numbers of young and older women who are interested in meeting foreigners. I really didn't have it in mind to marry anyone. I just started to dabble on line meeting girls on Cherryblossoms dot com. So I met a few, on line, and a lot of them seemed like gold diggers. Then I met one, who shared a common interest; the next Scuba Diving trip we got together.
Some five years later, after living here for some time, I am now married to a lovely Filipina. I never planned any of it this way. I have a blog on the subject 12 things I learned while trying to retire in Asia.
I took, my wife, back to America but she didn't like it. I had changed so much we just went back to the Philippines; where it is reasonable to live. It's not for everybody but it has been a true adventure for me.

Jerry Ridge of CA 10:16AM January 05, 2011