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Here is a challenge for all of you...

What location would you recommend for an elderly widow? I have children, but they are spread out all over, and are too busy with their own lives to even remember to call. I do not want to be a whiny old woman, so I let it be.

Presently, I am in Minnesota, because I have a son here, but he has a very demanding job in a tough economy, and I haven’t seen him since the obligatory visit at Christmas. He cares, but his life is too complicated at the present.

I would really like Arkansas - cost of living seems low, which is good for those of us living on very limited incomes, and the climate must be better than Minnesota!

But, I would be alone and without a support system in an emergency.

Should I stay in the frozen north, or take my chances at finding a hospitable community in a state with better weather at this stage of my life?

You should visit Branson, Missouri. Lots of retirees, always something to keep you occupied, centrally located and truly God’s country. It just takes a few minutes to get out of the tourist traffic to a peaceful setting and housing is inexpensive compared to other areas of the Country. Missouri’s democrat governor is term limited in 2016 and the legislature is heavily republican. Southern Missouri is very conservative, Christian and pro 2nd amendment.

Having just moved to Albuquerque last year, I am impressed with it as a great place for retirees. The Southwest (Arizona and NM) in general is ideal for people from the Midwest, and tends to draw many people from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. So you see more people from where you are, settling here than in the southeast.

a. Mountains, blue skies and bike and walking trails. The Sandia Mountains tower above the city at over 11,000 feet. Beautiful view from anywhere in the city. Skies are sunny and dark blue any time of year.

b. Traffic. Easy to get around - all the roads have 3 lanes plus turn lanes, and traffic is almost non-existent despite nearly 800,000 people in this community.

c. Climate. I was concerned that the heat might be an issue, but with elevation 5500 - 6000 and dry air, summers are not as warm as late spring in Atlanta where I came from. It gets up to 95 for one or two months, but with humidity around 20%, it feels like 85 in Minnesota. And even on the warmest day, overnight lows are in the 60s.

And we do get winter here, but not like the Midwest. Typical winter day would be in low 50s during the day, and 20 overnight. We get a little snow, 1 - 3 inches on occasion, but not enough to affect your travel through town.

d. Cost of living. Lower than most states. Gasoline got down to $1.55; income taxes are lower than I had in Georgia.

e. People and service. You generally find people who migrate to a place to be happier, because they are there by choice. But some of the services were a surprise. At the local DMV, called Motor Vehicle Department, we got our new drivers licenses and license plates in 45 minutes. They even asked me if I liked the license photo, or they could take another picture!

We arrived on Good Friday, and the cable company came over on Easter Sunday to hook up our cable service.

It is not such a great place to build a career unless you work for a national or multinational firm, like me. But I can’t think of a more healthy stress-free place for retirees.

I’d be looking at retirement communities that are really nice in warm states. Places where you’d have help either from the community itself in an emergency, or places where you can make friends with other neighbors and agree to help each other out if needed. See what you can afford.

I know seniors who are active, even very active, in Sun City (hope that is the right name) in Palm Springs , CA and in Leisure World in seal Beach, Ca. Totally different climate, but many different sorts of houses / units. And potential to go up in care should you need it.

I wish my parents had set themselves up nicely in this way. They both have Alzheimer’s and have caregivers but they chose to never believe anything could happen and didn’t prepare emotionally or “geographically” for their needs. They had the money.

I live temporarily in a condo in a gated community. There are a lot of seniors here, from all over originally, and it would take a very short time to make friends, even shorter if you had a dog. :)

It is nice that you have the ability to plan for your golden years, and that you dare to do so. Me, when I am in that phase, I pray some of my kids will want me near. But who knows? I know life can get away from you.

For the “elderly widow” Florida is the place to be buy a condo in one of the over 55 communities. Typically these communities have a very active social scene good amenities along with a built in support system. ie a neighbor who will come looking for you if they do not see you for a few days. If you are within striking distance of Orlando you will get visits from your grandchildren everyone has to pay homage to the mouse. Northeasterners tend to favor the east coast midwesterners tend to favor the west coast. Full disclosure I live in such a community in Hudson Fl with my 84 year old father. He is much more social than I am. Prices are low right now and the weather is a lot better than Minn.

I am elderly and single, too, but have lived in the south without family and have to suggest if not in a retirement community that church is very important. You will have a family support system there. I love the south but use Sperling’s best places to find some suggestions.

I love the hills and snow but my rheumatoid arthritis kicked in about a year ago and I am in agony. I may try Arizona or TX. My aunt loved TX and her paintings of the blue flowers and hills makes me think Texans want to hide their state.

I’m 67 years old and have been all over the US. Because I’m a patriot, I would not even consider living anywhere else. I lived in Texas about 30 years and finally had enough. Texas is too hot, to cold, too many bugs, and too much wind. Don’t even get me started on the Fire Ants! The worst thing about Texas is the 2.5% property taxes! The best thing about Texas is the people. Unfortunately, they didn’t pay my property taxes.

If you really want freedom, a location where property taxes are low (1.025%) and the weather is great most of the year; the Inland Empire of Southern California fills the bill. Yes, it gets hot in the summer up to 105 degrees where I live, but it is a dry heat. The cities of Murrieta, Temecula, Wildomar, and Lake Elsinore have some of the best weather and least smog in the Inland Empire. And, most of the people here are Republicans. Home values are going up fast so don’t wait too long…

To be free in California and anywhere else don’t get caught up in the subdivisions with associations and stay away from condos. Buy in an older area subdivision with a low tax rate and you will do best. In California by law, when you buy a house your property taxes can only go up 2% a year! I doesn’t matter how much the home appreciates. If it depreciates, they will cut your taxes for awhile and then raise them back when it recovers.

Consider NW Florida. Sometimes referred to as the “Redneck Riviera”, it’s a haven for snow birds and hosts a large retired population, mostly military. There are opportunities for volunteering and seasonal jobs in the service industry, both enabling you to meet new people on a regular basis. Number 1 source of income in Fort Walton Beach, FL area: Eglin Air Force Base / Hurlburt Field; Number 2 source of income: tourism.

Niceville is nice.

Between I-10 and the Alabama state line is referred to as “Lower Alabama”.

If you need someplace with a view, consider Lakewood, FL which is near Britton Hill, the highest point in FL.