Located in the Swannanoa Valley, Black Mountain is a recreational, homey town in North Carolina, not that far from Asheville. Hiking, biking, golf, gallery-hopping, and swimming are some of the main activities here. The town has a reputation as being an artistic town that attracts weekenders, vacationers, and retirees who tilt toward the liberal side. There is a nice downtown…...

Nags Head is a resort community on the Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina.  The population is only about 3,000, although it swells to 10s of thousands in summer. It is just across the bay from Manteo.  The ocean beaches are exceptional with beautiful dunes and rolling waves. This is the area where the Wright Brothers were the first to…...

Choosing Seattle, Washington as your retirement community has many advantages. You get a walkable downtown with great public transportation. Many apartments and homes overlook harbors, lakes, parks, and mountains. Great boating, skiing, hiking are all at your doorstep, as are many cultural programs. Opportunities of every description for paid work or volunteering are all around you. Seattle (population 737,000 in…...

Thomasville, Georgia, the City of Roses, can be an interesting retirement community in  cotton plantation country. The surrounding countryside can be quite beautiful, although one cannot say that about all areas of town.  It does offer a reasonable cost of living. The active brick-paved downtown has been restored with live oaks draped in Spanish moss, magnolias, antebellum homes, and fragrant…...