Welcome to Topretirements.com, where active adults 55+ can find their best place to retire

April 21 - You know there is a movement afoot when both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times offer up features on retirement communities during the same weekend.

The Journal’s article was excerpted from a book by Andrew Blechman called “Leisureville: Adventures in America’s Retirement Utopias“. In it Mr. Blechman wonders why a couple that he is friends with have decided to move to The Villages, the giant active adult community of 75,000 souls near Ocala, Florida. He describes in great detail what The Villages is all about - endless activity at a reasonable price in pretty good weather. In our opinion he somewhat condescending toward The Villages, and a bit incredulous that his friends, Dave and Betsy Anderson, would really like such a place. Mostly, he seems saddened that they are leaving his northeastern town which needs good citizens and neighbors like his friends. Sadly enough, the situation laid out by Mr. Blechman will no doubt be played out millions of times in the years to come, as northerners desert their long term communities for a place in the sun. Churches, charities, and community infrastructure will be collateral damage as baby boomers migrate south.

Today’s Times offered up a collection of articles on various retirement topics. “Overseas, A Changing Equation” highlights the problems facing American’s who hope to retire overseas. The first and biggest problem is the almighty dollar, which has been more than a bit humbled lately. So forget about a European retirement, the dollar is worth 50% less than now than a decade ago. Even places like Costa Rica have gotten more expensive. Panama, which pegs its currency to the dollar, is popular for that reason. Other experts give the standard (and often ignored) advice that retiring abroad is a decision that should not be taken lightly. As John McCann said in the article: “If you’re not prepared to spend years researching different countries, you’re not ready to retire overseas.”

Another Times article profiles the experiences of people like Joan and Bob Johnson, who moved to downtown Portland, Oregon from a smaller city. They just loved the vibrant atmosphere, great medical care, and impromptu range of cultural opportunities. The urban experience does not come without its share of surprises, however, like crime and rundown neighborhoods. Several retirees in the article were using a strategy of buying/renting in a transitional neighborhood as a way of living in an interesting part of the downtown without going off the cost scale.

The Times special Retirement Section also had interesting articles on making your money last, what to call yourself in retirement (not retired!), internships for baby boomers, and, in the cover piece, what companies are doing to retain their valued baby boomer retirees.

Other links:
Is an Active Adult Community Right for You?
The Villages: The Definition of a Hyper-Active Community
Retirement Buyers Guide to Costa Rica

March 11 – They’ve dreamed about it, and they have talked about it. Many have actually planned for it. But the one thing they have in common is this - just about everybody is worried about it. The “it” being retirement, which is drawing nearer and nearer for tens of millions of U.S. baby boomers.

Conversations on various discussion retirement forums on this site and at other baby boomer communities such as www.city-data.com reveal another side to the current retirement community diaspora that it is about to happen. That side of retirement and retirement communities is an anxious one, showing a depth of concern that is somewhat surprising.

The categories of concerns fit into fairly obvious categories: will I have enough money, where will I move, should I move, what I will do to keep busy, and issues concerning family and friends. Many thought they had everything figured out – then discovered their carefully laid plans didn’t work out the way they had intended. Some people are deeply pessimistic, while others, who clearly feel like they took the hard road of preparation vs. indulgence, tend to lecture their less fortunate brethren.

Below are some of the titles of posts (in bold) gleaned from various online discussion forums, followed in most cases by selected snippets (after each “-”) to give you a “real world” flavor for their concerns. Topretirements visitors are urged to get their retirement retirement worries off their chest in this site’s Forum. After all, we all know by now that talking about our problems is the first step in doing something about them!

Why are Americans in such bad shape financially?
- You haven’t seen Nothing yet! The retirees of the last 20 years will be the last ones to have an employee sponsored retirement. The next 30 years are going to be a “Bloodbath” unfortunately. And when SS runs dry it won’t be pretty.

- Hmm, let’s see…most people spend more than they earn and therefore can’t or don’t save much, raising a family is extremely expensive even when you live frugally and many are in denial - thinking they have lots and lots of time left to get it together, or like … has pointed out, they believe someone or something will take care of them - it will all work out. Another reason: People underestimate how much money they will actually need once they are retired.

- Since most people haven’t saved enough for retirement, many of us fall into the category of not being fully prepared financially for our older years. This problem isn’t unique - actually the odd man/woman out here it is the prepared individual who has been planning and saving for retirement for years.

Women retiring alone to a new city or state
- I am very torn about where to go. I love the sunshine and dry weather — factors in my choices. I also want a social network, and am an east coaster, originally, and am wondering if I should reconsider the east coast because it seems more social. It will also just be my retirement income (it’s just me!), and so lower costs, rather than higher, are important.

Is Retirement going to become impossible?
- We considered commuting when we bought our house 5 blocks from my office and one mile from husbands. We are talking about retirement and have found an area with sidewalks to all shopping for five miles and most of what we need like food, coffee shop, drug store are within 3 blocks. This was a big deal for us.

- We don’t want to have to get in a car and drive to everything and most of the housing areas require that.

- I don’t care what anyone does; just don’t be a whining preachy hypocrite.

- At what point do you take responsibility for yourself and your future? It can be done, but if you don’t know how, then now is a real good time to find out and make the a plan

- I began investing in earnest in 1985. I was working full-time flipping burgers and attending college full-time, scraping what money we could to invest with. In 2001 I retired, took out some capital and bought a farm out in a forest. Today we are able to live largely off the remainder of our portfolio.

- If people chose not to see reality and take control of their own lives and are instead content to shop at the company store, then they must accept whatever The Company gives them.

Why do people feel the need to move when they retire?
- I cannot afford to stay in my own condo - too expensive once I no longer have a job. I moved a lot in my youth, and ended up in the Boston area about 30 years ago. I left NYS because I disliked it so much.

- It’s nice if you can stay where you want to stay, assuming you don’t want to move, but many people have to move for financial reasons because their income is going to become lower and fixed.

- I live in Orange County, CA, when I retire, I cannot afford to pay the house payment and the HOA, food, transportation and medical costs all at once! I didn’t mention clothing because I haven’t bought any in a long time.

- We will not be fully retired for at least 10 years, but we moved to the state that we will stay put in. I do miss my friends, a lot and we have not been successful in making friends as good as the ones we left behind. Food for thought.

- The town I am living in now offers the kind of activities I enjoy in retirement. I’m never bored.

- I look forward to finding some nice looking area with lots to do and lots of other grown-ups to meet. Lectures, classes, museums… I hope I don’t find my perfect retirement city too soon or I might want to quit and move right now!

- We have to move away from the family some, both kids live very close by with in a mile or two and that is wonderful but it is very costly too (for us). Once we move away they will have to fend for themselves and I’m hoping that they will finally get a handle on it.

- Retirement has always scared me. I did not have good role models for it. That’s why we support our parents financially. They were all self-employed too!!

- My prediction is that the USA will be segregated between ‘young’ and ‘old’. ‘Young’ will be families in high-tax areas who need good schools. ‘Old’ will be retirees who can’t afford the high taxes, even with local tax breaks.

- It is a shame that some places people lived and worked for many years are no longer affordable for them to retire in… If it is not housing costs, it is taxes and if it is not one of those the health care will get you or be unavailable. Such a shame families are being split up so much. Good luck

- We relocated after retirement because of expenses. Our kids are in California and our sibs, etc. are in NY. Some choice of places for us to live, huh? We just couldn’t make ends meet if we moved to either place. It’s nice here in Oregon and I don’t regret being here but when the holidays roll around and traveling is a hassle, I do wonder what the heck we’re doing up here.

Other topics of interest include:

How bad did your 401k or retirement portfolio drop?

Retiring on a Very Limited Budget – Where

I married you for life – not for lunch

How close is too close (to your children)

When to start taking social security

Housing Bubble and Real Estate Prices

Working in retirement

March 4 — Here’s a different approach to selecting a retirement community - don’t bother. Instead, why not travel the world. It can be cheaper, and it certainly will be more interesting than staying in one place. Topretirements came across 3 such recommendations this week, so there must be something to it.

Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, the dynamic former President of George Washington University, proposed on his higher education blog that one might consider taking up Cunard Lines on its offer of a continuing cruise around the world.

Trachtenberg suggests that living aboard a ship and traveling around the world is certainly “less expensive and more satisfying” than living in an assisted living facility. Plus, the cruise comes with extensive staff like stewards, housekeepers, cooks, activity directors, non-stop entertainment, and endless cultural opportunities. Not to mention an infirmary and medical staff for primary health care. The jokes are better on the ship too!

Cunard’s 105-day cruise, “Exploration of Distant Horizons,” does cost a lot, approximately $22,000; more if you need an ocean view. But on a daily basis that’s about $210 a day, less than just about any New York hotel or assisted living facility. With the cruise you get first rate cuisine and a look at many of the world’s most interesting sites (Papua, New Guinea anyone?) As Trachtenberg points out, that’s a lot more interesting than a weekly visit to the strip mall. Unfortunately, the Cunard Cruise does end after 105 days. But for others who are interested in permanent cruising, there are various cruising condominium alternatives, where you never have to go ashore.

Having got the travel bug with the Cunard cruise, the AARP hit us with an article about Stan and Marcia Klein’s Adventures, who struck out even further. Initially this adventurous couple went through a few years going on foreign home stays and taking other tourist explorations. Then they got really serious - they sold their home in Connecticut and just about all their belongings. Now they explore the world interspersed with stints making more meaningful contributions. Part of the year they volunteer in various parts of the globe (e.g.; in Zimbabwe with the American Jewish World Service), while the rest of the year they find themselves in great demand as house sitters at different locations across the globe. Theirs is an interesting and charming tale, we highly recommend it.

Finally we just read about a couple that was determined to set a record for most days at sea - 1000 days at sea! The husband seems to be still at it, but the woman had to bail at just over the 300 mark. Not bad, and about 299 more than the Topretirements’ significant other would stand for.

All of these adventures sound great for the newly retired. As long as you are active and in good health, what fun! But are suspicion is that even these adventurers will eventually modify their rolling stone approach to life. But oh the tales they’ll have to tell!

One of the benefits of retirement is it opens up new possibilities for gifts. Whether it is for yourself, a friend, or a loved one; here are some ideas for holiday gifts that are fun and appropriate for the retiree’s new station in life. In fact, in case you get asked to make a retirement speech, your friend might like the present better than your speech.

Golf - Lots of people get more serious about golf in retirement. Check out these ideas:
- Medicus swing trainer. If you have a perfect swing this tool stays in one piece. If you are like me, it breaks in 2 pieces at the end of the backswing. Get it to stay in one piece and you have trained the perfect swing.
- Imprinted golf balls. Most pro shops will imprint a name or 3 initials on a dozen golf balls either for free or a modest extra charge
- Golf books. There are lots of great golf books. For funny and good try “Spikes” by Michael Griffith, “The Best of P.G. Wodehouse” by P.G. Wodehouse, or the hilariously funny (and true) “Who’s Your Caddy” by Rick Reilly. For a funny mystery, try Roberta Isleib’s golf mysteries like “Putt to Death”
- Hybrid clubs. If your newly retired person doesn’t have a hybrid club, get him/her one. Thanks to hybrids, no amateur should ever hit more than a 5 iron again (that is, don’t hit a 2, 3, or 4 iron unless you want to score badly). Note: hybrids generally come in degrees instead of numbers. Your golf pro will be able to relate them, but generally a 19 degree is equivalent to a 3 iron, a 22 degree to a 4 iron.

Gadgets - These may appeal more to men than women - the state of the sexes being what it is.
- TomTom or Garmin GPS system. Some folks say the TomTom is better, but both are significantly easier to use than any previous models you might have seen. They start at about $400. They offer a windshield mounted (detachable) system that has a touch screen; some are voice-activated. Optional traffic advisory services alert you to and show you how to get around tie-ups before you hit them. Great for when you are touring the country looking for that perfect retirement community!
- Wrist mounted GPS. Perfect for runners and bikers. These very cool systems tell you your pace/how fast you are going, display your route, and give you your heart rate. Get back home and you can download your entire workout including speed and pulse, overlaid against actual maps.
- iPhone. This is the gadget of the year. Anybody who considers themselves technologically savvy should have one
- Wii. Pronounced “Wee”, this Nintendo set is very, very cool. In fact, retirement communities have been in the news because they have been installing them in clubhouses. You attach the device and simulate the motion for any sport (bowling, golf, tennis, etc), the game takes your input and displays the results on a screen to make it look like real life. Caution: so hot they are hard to find.

Books - Here are some of the best books we have seen on the subject of retirement.:
- “America’s 100 Best Places to Retire” - Elizabeth Armstrong (has good detail from actual people)
- “Cities Ranked and Rated” - Second Edition. By Bert Sperling and Peter Sander. Tremendously useful statistics on 400 cities
- “Where to Retire: america’s best and most affordable places” by John Howells. I like the organization of this book, which is geographical.
- “Retirement Places Rated” by David Savageau. Features extensive ratings of various attributes
- “50+ Igniting a Revolution to Reinvent America” by Bill Novelli
- “Second Careers - New Ways to Work After 50” by Caroline Bird
- “Second Acts” by Stephen Pollan and Mark Levine
- “Silver Nomad: Journeys and Places to Discover in Your Retirement” by Eric Challine. Inspiring ideas for retirement travel, with wonderful descriptions
- “Volunteer: A Traveller’s Guide to Making a Difference Around the World” by Lonely Planet. Practical details about how to choose and get the most out of more volunteer programs take the guesswork out of making a difference.

Wild and Crazy Ideas:
How about giving a chance to fulfill an active fantasy life:
Skip Barber Racing School
Fantasy Baseball Camp
Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp

Let us hear your ideas. Click “Comments” and share your gift thoughts!

Authors Recommend Their Favorite Stores and Towns –

Baby boomers have begun the search for their ideal retirement communities. For many of them, the quality of the town’s bookstore is a key selection criterion.

Goldengrain, a member at Topretirements.com, put it this way: “I need bookstores, colleges, lectures, discussion (and) a good active library.” We feel the same way – communities without good book stores are ghost towns. This article will review some of the top retirement towns in America – based on the quality of their bookstores.

The most fun part of this article is that we were able to enlist a helpful group of top authors to write about their favorite bookstore towns. Here is the list (and feel free to post blog entries to cover the ones we’ve missed):

Cannon Beach, Oregon
“Cannon Beach is a charming little town on the picturesque Oregon coast. It’s full of art galleries and restaurants, but best of all is the quarter-century-old Cannon Beach Book Company, which calls itself – with good reason - “the perfect browser’s bookstore.” With a central location, comfortable layout, and a collection strong in classic and contemporary literature, mysteries, children’s books and regional titles, CBBC is a boon to locals and visitors alike.”
Deborah Donnelly, Author of the Wedding Planning Mysteries

Asheville, North Carolina
“If I were to retire to a town for its bookstore alone, I’d pick Asheville, N.C., and Malaprops Bookstore and Café. I always go out of my way to visit Malaprops. Its eclectic staff of writers, artists and bibliophiles are truly passionate about their stock, and their taste matches my own taste in books and I always leave with new, unexpected finds.”
Susan Cerulean, Author of “Tracking Desire”

Newton, Massachusetts
“Even with the glam hustle bustle of Boston just ten minutes away, you’d never have to leave this diverse and cozy but cosmopolitan suburb. Two fantastic independent bookstores (on opposite sides of the city) can provide every book you could imagine. And both have brilliant and knowledgeable staffs. Newtonville Books is a warmly inviting nook of a shop, with one room devoted to the cream of the crop of new releases and old favorites (used and new shelved together!) and another whole room devoted to kids. We can hardly pry our grandson away. New England Mobile Book Fair is huge–almost a warehouse. Here, you could get happily lost in a world of the very latest bestsellers as well as all those books you meant to buy but didn’t. We can never leave either without purchasing way too many books and making new friends. Both stores–are stellar!”
Hank Phillippi Ryan Reporter, WHDH-TV and Best-selling author of PRIME TIME and FACE TIME

Phoenix, Arizona
“The generous brick facade of the Poisoned Pen bookstore in Phoenix, at the corner of Goldwater Blvd. and First Avenue, brings mystery authors from around the world together with readers. Authors covet an invitation from proprietor Barbara Peters to hold a book signing there. In a given month, the store might host events featuring Clive Cussler, Dave Barry, Diana Gabaldon, Dana Stabenow, and J. A. Jance, plus less well known authors whose work is deserving of attention. Seven (!) mystery book clubs meet there, so it’s a great place to meet readers who share your taste in crime fiction and discuss your favorite whodunnits.”
Hallie Ephron: Author of Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel” ()

Vicksburg, Mississippi
“Down on recently restored Washington Street, facing the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, is this jewel of a book shop. The Lorelei Bookstore, owned and run by the team of Laura and Troy Weeks, has brought books – and life – to this up and coming historical town. They are knowledgeable, encouraging to authors, and always have a recommendation for anybody. The store is so warm and inviting, you might not want to leave!”
Roberta Isleib, Author of “Deadly Advice” and “Preaching to the Corpse”

Kansas City area
Most people probably wouldn’t retire to the Kansas City area for our weather, but I could understand if they retired here for our bookstores! We have two of the best independents in the country. One of them is “Rainy Day Books” (Fairway, KS), a general bookstore that is famous in the book world, not only for its cozy building and wonderful staff, but also because it brings literally hundreds of speakers to Kansas City every year. It’s a cultural powerhouse. The other is “I Love a Mystery” (Mission KS) (), which I swear is the most charming bookstore ever. It specializes in all things mysterious, and it has an atmosphere that makes you want to settle into one of its armchairs and curl up and read a good book, of which it has plenty.
Nancy Pickard, author of “The Virgin of Small Plains”

Raleigh NC
“Quail Ridge Books and Music”, in Raleigh, NC, is one of the best all-purpose bookstores on the east coast. The owners, Nancy and Jim Olson, are 100% dedicated to the slogan “Think globally, buy locally.” They are heavily invested in the community and donate time and money generously to many local charities and literacy causes. Nancy was PW’s Bookseller of the Year a few years back. It’s here that you find the serious and/or quirky books you won’t find in the chains because the store gives only minimal space to the NY Times bestsellers. The staff members are extremely courteous and knowledgeable. If you like an author and have
exhausted the backlist, they can recommend someone similar that you might enjoy.”
Margaret Maron, author of the Judge Deborah Knott mysteries.

Richmond, Virginia
“There’s a terrific independent here in Richmond, VA. It’s called the Fountain Bookstore and it’s located in the heart of downtown. There is a cobblestone street lining the front door, old, wood plank floors inside, and a wonderful selection of books. You can also find gifts and greeting cards there. And if you spend too long inside the shop, there are a plethora of tasty eateries nearby. Richmond also has a fantastic all-mystery, all-fantasy store called “Creatures ’n Crooks”. This place has the coolest ceiling with painted stars with a plump long-haired feline beauty by the name of Hamilton.”
JB Stanley, Author of “A Deadly Dealer”

New York, New York
“The Strand Bookstore is reason enough to visit New York. It has 18 miles of books piled from the floor to their very high ceilings. Every thing from review copies (there must be lots of book reviewers in NYC!) to rare and out of print books, plus every conceivable book in between. They buy collections. You can always count on an adventure in what you will find. It’s just the kind of bookstore you would hope to find in the Big Apple.”
John Brady – Owner of Topretirements.com

Madison, Connecticut
I’m lucky to live in Madison, CT, a town that’s eminently retirement-worthy. Not only is Madison chockablock with New England coastal charm, it’s home to one of the best bookstores in the country: RJ Julia Booksellers Located on the adorable main street, RJ’s brings in a steady stream of bestselling authors from Jane Fonda to Nora Ephron to Tom Perotta. A close relationship with the outstanding Scranton Library across the street means that big-draw authors can be accommodated as well as new writers. The bookstore itself is inviting and well-stocked with the newest releases and an impressive backlist. Owner Roxanne Coady is a frequent guest on NPR’s Faith Middleton show and a true book lover.
Roberta Isleib, author of DEADLY ADVICE and PREACHING TO THE CORPSE

Carmel, Indiana
“The Mystery Company” an independent bookshop located along the Monon Trail in Carmel’s Arts & Design District. Carmel is a thriving town just north of Indianapolis. Specializing in mystery and suspense, we offer free shipping on any new book order shipped to a US address. Customers know we’ll do everything possible to make it easy for you to order.”
Jim Huang

Massachusetts
The New York Times recently ran a story on the amazing concentration of thriving bookstores in the Pioneer Valley – “The Valley of the Literate”. The article includes bookstores in these towns: Odyssey Books (S. Hadley), Amherst Books (Amherst), and Broadside Bookshop (Northampton).

More Great Towns and Bookstores:
Fayetteville, Arkansas: “Nightbird Books”
Little Rock, Arkansas “Sleuths Mystery Bookstore”, and “WordsWorth Books & Co.”
Blytheville, Arkansas: “That Bookstore in Blytheville” - where John Grisham signs his best-sellers.
Fairhope, Alabama “Fairhope Books”
Sedona, Arizona: “Red Coyote”
Corte Madera, California “Book Passage” – (Hallie Ephron)
Coral Gables, Florida “Books & Books “
Delray Beach, Florida: “Murder by the Beach”
Sun Valley, Idaho
Cambridge, Massachusetts: “Porter Square”, “Kate’s Mystery Books”
Portsmouth, NH: “River Run Bookstore”
Newmarket, New Hampshire: “Crackskull’s used bookstore.
Princeton, New Jersey: “Cloak & Dagger” (Roberta Isleib)
Fearington Village, North Carolina (near Chapel Hill) “Macintyre’s” (Mignon Ballard)
Edmond Oklahoma: “Best of Books”
Portland, Oregon: 2 amazing bookstores – “Murder by the Book” and “Powell’s”
Oakmont, Pennsylvania: “Mystery Lovers Bookshop” (Oakmont is a great little town right outside Pittsburgh - Name of Bookstore corrected 11/27)
Seattle, Washington” “Seattle Mystery Books” (Pamela Samuels-Young)

More Links:
“Where Old is New: What is the mark of a good bookstore”

October 22 — If you have been looking for a way to take more college courses - either offered in a nearby community college or in your active adult community - you might be interested in a new grant from the The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The $3.2 million grant was created by The Atlantic Philanthropies to create or expand programs to serve 50-plus Americans at select community colleges around the nation. The colleges, which will be selected through a competitive process, will help to identify and promote best practices in serving the “older adult learner”.

Here is the full press release on 50 plus college grant

The press release states that “…the AACC will identify 15 colleges for specific support in creating and growing initiatives to engage this group of adult learners. Based on successful efforts already
in place, 5 of the 15 colleges will serve as mentor institutions to 10 demonstration colleges that will establish outreach and engagement efforts. The AACC will seek additional partners to replicate the
successful outcomes of this effort among other colleges in the years to come.”

Many active adult communities have college courses offered within the community, while many others have special relationships with nearby colleges. At least one community, Abacoa, has a university within its bounds!

Interested? We suggest you contact your local community college and make sure that they know about the grant, and more importantly, your interest in college courses for your over 50 community. Who knows what might happen from your phone call, either now or down the road.

Links:
Check out the Library Before You Buy in a Retirement Community
For a great source of information about retirement in other college towns, check out www.collegetownlife.com

September 4 — You have probably noticed that many people are hopped up about the marketing opportunities from baby boomers as they enter their next phase of life. Even an article in the prestigious Library Journal recently encouraged librarians to get in the act too.

According to the article, designing programs and trying to attract boomers to their doors will be a win-win for libraries and for boomers entering retirement. Libraries get engaged users and volunteers who can contribute enthusiasm, skills, programs - not to mention generous donations from this incredibly wealthy segment. For those of us winding down our primary working career, libraries have a lot to offer too. Obviously the research resources are first rate and the entertainment and education possibilities endless. But engaging oneself as a volunteer can be quite rewarding as well - giving an extra dimension to one’s life that won’t be found on the golf course.

Amy Ryan, director of the Hennepin County Library (HCL) in suburban Minneapolis, launched a program for seniors called 55+: “It’s about programs, yes, but it’s also about volunteerism and partnerships with other organizations.” Some libraries have developed new volunteer positions to attract talent from retiring baby boomers—running conversation circles, teaching computer classes, leading book talks.

Bottom line: When you go looking for your retirement community, one of your first questions should be: How good is the local library. If funding and resources are poor and libraries are important to you, look elsewhere. If the local library scene looks promising, get involved. You might make a big difference in your life, and those of others as well. Check out the Library Journal article on baby boomers, it might give you some good ideas.

Link:
Help! My Husband is Retiring