The Last Leg: The Best Retirement Locations You Might Want to Invest In

As you approach your twilight years, you will find that you want to cast away all your work, do away with all your documents, shred all your papers, and simply leave the office. You might even want to build a new house somewhere, start a new life, and maybe even plant a few crops or build a few gazebos to go with your new, vast estate. You might want to lie down and lounge on the shore, bury your toes in the sand, and hear the waves crashing against the rocks. You might want to see the mountains every time you wake up, or catch a glimpse of thousands of stars before you fall asleep at night.

Retirement, the last leg home, is difficult to plan out if you don’t know exactly what you want. Before you even plan your retirement, decide a few things very early in your career. When exactly do you want to retire? At what age do you want to quit your job? Will retirement mean quitting your job entirely, or doing it part time? Will retirement mean that you will do nothing but relax on the seashore all day, or will you still have a little money-making scheme in order? How much should you invest in insurance or mutual funds to help you get by when retirement time comes along?

As soon as you have answered these questions, then you can plan your retirement and start looking for a retirement location to suit your needs and whims. You can then begin asking yourself a different set of questions. How much are you willing to spend on retirement? How much are you willing to spend to keep your needs covered every year? Will your health allow you to stay in a warm or cold climate? Are there any exotic foods, flora, or fauna that you might be allergic to? Would you like to live in a retirement community, or in a farm, or on a mountaintop?

As soon as you have answered these questions, then you can open your books, take a globe or map, and start scanning the world for places in which you might want to retire. Although you may be thinking of nothing but sleep and rest right now, lounging and lazing away can only go so far. You will need some recreation, amusement, and interesting facilities to keep you happy during retirement. Your funds should also meet the cost of living of the area in which you are interested. You need to have good health care facilities nearby, as well as a climate that will suit your health needs.

Here are a few suggestions and locations that you might want to consider. This list of possible retirement locations is by no means comprehensive, so do as much research as you can on where you can spend the rest of your days doing the things that you like.

- Florida is still the location of choice for many retirees, owing to its good weather and the many water facilities and amusement parks nearby There are lake resorts as well as beach resorts, and even roller coasters if you are in the mood for adventures.

- The west is also growing to be a popular retirement spot. In places such as New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado, you can find houses out in the desert that have the best air-conditioning and unique architecture. You are also close to natural wonders, such as the Grand Canyon, where you can feast your eyes on the miracles of the earth whenever your mood takes you there.

- If you want to live by the beach, then you can retire in Hawaii or California. Hawaii offers the additional feature of pineapple plantations, where you can own a few hectares and plant fruits to sell.

- Go South for a bit more comfort, thanks to quiet back country mansions and uninhabited mountains and hills. You can go for South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia if you want quiet retirement, along with good old fried chicken and iced tea.

- If you are in the mood for international flavors, then try Italy, where locations such as Florence and Venice can keep your taste for art up. You might also like to go to Spain or Portugal for your retirement, and allow the warm weather to keep your health going. If you like nature and nature sports, then try New Zealand.