pps-DUEditor 
Finally, the day has come that you’ve been waiting for. You’ve put in your working years and now you’re ready to retire. Your needs and wants will change from now on and you aren’t strapped to one place for your job.
If you’re thinking of moving somewhere nice to spend the rest of your days, take a look at these top five places to retire. You might be surprised by the places on this list, but times are changing and the ol’ retirement communities aren’t what they used to be.
What makes a place retirement worthy? Well, with a new fixed income, you’ll need a place that is affordable. Health care should be good, since your old bones will need some TLC. Of course, there should be plenty of things to enjoy with all your free time and crime rates should be low
These five places meet all those standards and then some.
1. Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is located on the eastern side of the Florida peninsula, south of Tampa. It’s nice and sunny all year round, which, let’s face it, is a big winner for the ideal retirement spot. It is close to many beautiful beaches and has a thriving artistic community.
Less than two hours away from both Orlando and Tampa, you’ll never run out of things to do or see. It has less than a 60,000 population, and the average home costs around $250k.
Imagine yourself biking the beach at sunset, kayaking through the mangrove, and visiting the Ringling Art Museum.
2. Sun City, Arizona
This city is, yes, sunny, but also made for retirement. There is an age restriction here of 55 or older. So, if being with like-minded people is important to you, Sun City is the place for you. This community is for physically active older adults and it caters to their needs. There is so much to do that even younger adults would have a hard time keeping up. The crime rate is low and the doctor to resident ratio is very low.
3. Chattanooga, Tennessee
If you want to have a mild climate but live away from the coast, Chattanooga is a sure bet. It has no state tax and a low cost of living. It has all the amenities of a larger city but it’s smaller and not as busy. You’ll be close to the Smoky Mountains and have access to four major hospitals in the city. This is a bustling new city that is growing in popularity.
4. Asheville, North Carolina
The natural beauty of Asheville comes from its location, the valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If the beach scene isn’t your thing and you’re more of a cabin in the woods type, you’ll love Asheville. The city has several communities that cater to the retiree that you can consider if you don’t want to own property.
5. Fort Myers, Florida
Southern Florida can get expensive, but Fort Myers maintains a lower cost of living than the rest. It also has plenty of attractions, is close to beaches and the more expensive cities in Florida, and delivers the same sunshine as they do.
