The friendly, historic city of Hot Springs makes an excellent retirement community. Hot Springs Reservation was the first country’s Federal Reserve (1832) and became a National Park in 1921 (the nation's smallest by area). Its downtown Historic District protects the thermal waters and the historic and opulent buildings on Bathhouse Row. Fordyce Bath House is the centerpiece and museum headquarters.…...

Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico with 522,000 residents - many of them retirees. It was the 6th fastest growing city within the U.S in 2007. The city is set in a unique place near the mountains.  Albuquerque is a vibrant college town, home to the University of New Mexico. Old Town provides an interesting shopping and tourist…...

Brentwood is a rapidly growing town of about 50,000 in the east Bay area of California between Stockton and Walnut Creek. Nearby recreation areas include Franks Tract Recreation Area and Sherman Lake. The area was originally an agriculture community but now it is suburban and home to some industry. The area boomed from 2000 to 2008.  The county is Contra…...

McCormick is a very tiny town in western South Carolina near the Georgia border. Its population is about 1500.  McCormick is a very low cost place to retire. Its other attraction is the presence of Lake Thurmond, one of the county's largest man-made lakes. Photo of Downtown McCormick courtesy of Wikipedia and Evanoco, and photo of th Classical Revival Courthouse…...