by Lyla O'mara

Created on: November 04, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

So, it's time to retire. You've done your part, and you are young at heart. Does anyone really want to sit around all day watching television? No way! If we don't use it we'll lose it. That's simply not an option, so here are some destinations to consider while living out the wisest chapter of your life.

One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen was Monterrey California, as we drove along the Big Sur coastline. I grew up near the ocean in south Florida and spent my summers in the Appalachian Mountains. I always romanticized the thought of the mountains meeting the ocean. Here in Monterrey is one place where they meet, and the winds whipping in from the ocean make the trees grow sideways in a most remarkable way. There are Pebble Beach and Carmel which are very close by. Carmel is so entertaining with their European style bakeries and art galleries. There was even a posh doggie boutique with a biscuit selection and tons of cute collars, bowls, etc The sandy beach there slopes down to the ocean on a huge hill. I've never seen anything like it. Florida is as flat as a pancake. You are also very close to San Francisco and Santa Monica for day trips. I enjoyed Santa Monica so much! There was so much life on the streets, and even the bums were likeable, holding signs that said things like "Visions of a cheeseburger." and "Looking for a rich Woman." If I have an above average income when I retire, Northern California would be my absolute first choice.

My Grandmother's idea of the perfect place for retirement, after ten years of looking, is Linville Land Harbor in Linville, North Carolina. It's a large retirement community in a small town. There are a ton of activities that bring the community together. With a full sized, world-class golf course you'll get plenty of fresh air and exercise. At the place where the course begins and ends is the hub of social gathering, the Golf House. It has a caf and a shop. Everyone gathers here for meals and snacks. The food is affordable and delicious. There is a club house where all of the other things take place. Classes such as Aquasize in the pool, Tai Chi, Square Dancing, Bridge, and the Investment Club are just a few. Even in the slow months of winter the community gathers for pot-luck dinners. You can be very social or enjoy quiet time hiking on a beautiful mossy trail, about five miles long. Halfway in is a picturesque waterfall about eight feet high that is the ultimate reward of serenity for your efforts to get there.

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