Book Review: Where to Retire - America's Best & Most Affordable Places

Have you given any thought to where you would like to retire? This is a dilemma that most Americans are concerned about as they near their 50's and 60's. There are so many different issues which you need to consider. Listed below are some of the questions to ask yourself:

Do you want to retire in the United States or overseas?

Do you want to be near grandchildren or other family members?

Where can you afford to retire?

What type of weather appeals to you?

Do you wish to live in a small town, a rural area or a major city?

Do you prefer to live in an over-55 community or a neighborhood with mixed age groups?

What types of entertainment do you prefer ... sports teams, live theater, or art museums?

Do you need to be close to special medical facilities? This is an issue which may be of particular concern to people who are on dialysis or who have other specific health problems which require frequent visits to a doctor, hospital or other health facility.

With so many different issues to consider, you may feel overwhelmed trying to come up with answers to all your questions. Fortunately, if you are planning to limit your search only to locations within the United States, then you will be able to get much of the information you need from this book, "Where to Retire: America's Best and Most Affordable Places."

The first few chapters of this book cover general retirement information, including how they selected the communities they feature. Then, the author lists the majority of the states in the U.S. and discusses their picks for the best areas to live, including information about taxes, weather, medical facilities, crime and other issues that could be of interest to you.

While you will still want to read blogs, such as www.Baby-Boomer-Retirement.com, or the websites for different retirement home builders, this book will go a long way towards getting you started towards finding the location which sounds like a perfect match for you.

Planning is the key to having a satisfying retirement and it is never too soon to start doing your research. Remember, the more you know the more likely you are to have a satisfying retirement in a comfortable home with a wide variety of fun activities nearby.

If you are look for a great place to retire, you need to do your homework before you move. There are many things to consider:

Cost of living

Taxes -- Both property taxes and state income taxes

Activities that interest you -- Do you want major league sports teams nearby? What about the symphony or ballet? Do you like to play golf the year around? Are you looking for art galleries, restaurants, college classes or other activities?

Medical care -- Living "off the grid" may sound appealing in your 60's, but it may not seem so desirable if you have to drive for an hour or longer to see a doctor ... particularly a specialist.

Proximity to your family - Do you want to be near your adult children, grandchildren, aging parents or other relatives? If so, it is important to choose a community that meets your other needs, while still keeping you within a reasonable drive of these important relatives.

Below is a blog to help retirees with a variety of issues. You can read it for free at www.baby-boomer-retirement.com or you can subscribe to it for .99 cents a month from the Amazon Kindle store.

In either case, it contains hundreds of articles that are useful to retirees on a wide range of topics including where to retire in the United States or abroad, common medical issues to consider, financial planning, changing family relationships, and more.

Retirement involves more than just finding a new home. See if your retirement planning is on the right track.