“Although I don’t live at the beach, I am close enough that I can go whenever the mood takes me. Just knowing it’s always there is amazing,” Pennie says. “I love the surf, as long as it isn’t too rough. Getting past the breakers and watching the waves roll in...so peaceful.”
“I woke up this morning and saw 30 or more horses grazing in the bamboo forest across the street from our home,” says Roger Wergin. “How’s that for a tranquil retirement view?” Roger and his wife Cyndy feel they made the right decision when they bought a lot and built their three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in a gated community.
Monday blues are a thing of the past in my new home, the tropical island of Roatán. In fact, in winter, when all the snowbirds return, we have a social gathering we call “Mondays Don’t Suck” at a stunning, secluded beach on the island.
Even though my wife Susan and I live in the midst of a historic, colonial city, at night we are lulled to sleep by the sounds of the Tomebamba River flowing just across Pasaje Imbabura street.
For Janet Hitchens, exploring the lush hills of Panama’s Veraguas province is a far cry from battening down the hatches for cold Michigan winters. “People come here and feel better because of the weather,” she says. “I like to think of it as like Michigan in July."
Over the course of more than six years living in Ireland, Michael and Karin Shepherd have enjoyed the friendliness of the locals many times. But one example really stands out.
One thing I like about Ireland is how the colors change throughout the year. On sunny summer mornings, the summer wildflowers are in full bloom everywhere. In the spring, the roadsides are bright with wild daffodils.
The sound of fiddles, flutes, and tin whistles fills the hall as people of all ages kick up their legs and dance the night away. One older gentleman begins a low, traditional melody and soon the whole room falls silent.
When checking out retirement spots in Ecuador, there are a few things that retirees look for. A great climate is usually first on the list, followed closely by an affordable cost of living. Everyone wants good infrastructure, but some hate to lose the “small-town” feel, which inevitably happens with bigger cities. Cuenca, for instance, has most everything an expat could need, and many have found their ideal retirement there—but with around half a million people, it’s just too big for some.
I’m sitting on a balcony of the home where my husband, daughter, and I are housesitting in Fiji. The ocean waves crest over the reef in front of me. White frangipani blooms and red hibiscus pop out of the green vegetation, and a gentle floral scent mingles with the saltwater air.