Carmel is a small and rapidly growing city of about 101,000 residents in central Indiana. It is an affluent suburb of Indianapolis with a well deserved reputation as a town that celebrates the arts as well as biking and fitness.  The Carmel Art & Design District (photos above courtesy of Wikipedia and Tysto) attracts retirees as well as other aged…...

Manassas is the site of two famous Civil War battles (the first and second Battles of Bull Run). This town of about 35,000 people is close enough to Washington D.C. that is a suburb of that city, yet far enough away to provide some refuge for retirees who want to stay in the area in retirement. Five colleges have branch…...

If there was ever a town with momentum it is Bellingham Washington. It was rated the #2 City & Metropolitan area in the country in “Cities Ranked and Rated”. Kiplinger’s called Bellingham one of the top retirement communities in the U.S. Located on the northwestern coast of Washington, this city of 79,000 (180,000 in the Metro area) has several colleges…...

Sometimes referred to as "Hill City" because of its rolling landscape, Lynchburg (population 73,000) is located in central Virgina and often lands on the "Best Places to Live" lists. Thomas Jefferson built his personal retreat here, Poplar Forest. Nowadays it is a subdued but lovely town with working class values. Five lively college campuses make Lynchburg a vibrant college town.…...