In your fantasy life, where’s your “forever” place? That place you see yourself relaxing in retirement, perhaps taking up some new outdoor activities or engaging in new cultural adventures. Or perhaps your fantasy is more exotic: maybe you’re thinking about leaving your home state or even your home country and heading out for an overseas adventure as you “sail into the sunset.” Ultimately, wherever you go, you’re going to want to find a place that you can afford, that has the services and recreational facilities that you’ll want (or need), perhaps with good weather or great public transportation, or perhaps just a place that welcomes and supports citizens as they age. Whatever your criteria, there’s likely a list that can help you decide.

A good place to start may be the MarketWatch “Where should I retire tool.” Newly updated, this tool allows you to exclude places that may likely suffer from the natural disasters that seem to accompany climate change (don’t want to suffer through a tsunami in your retirement?). It also includes such criteria as housing costs, climate, politics, and population size. Another tool using a somewhat broad lens is the analysis from Bankrate, whose list of the “worst states for retirement” for 2021 is based upon such factors as affordability, crime, wellness, and culture, along with the weather. Among the states you may want to cross off your list of possibilities? Washington, Alabama, Kansas, and Maryland. Another ranking comes from Kiplinger, which analyzed the tax situation for retirees in all 50 states. Considering such factors as tax rates on Social Security, retirement income, along with the usual sales and property taxes, their best recommendation is that you consider Wyoming but forget about Wisconsin.

If you’re looking to expand your horizons to other countries, there are lists for that too. Travel and Leisure magazine recently listed the best places to retire in Europe (including Portugal, France, and Croatia) while US News recommends you think about foreign destinations where English is the primary language or where the dollar is the accepted currency. And if Europe appeals to you, one publication recently listed the Best City in the world to grow old in is Arnsberg, Germany, which literally has a city department called “The Department of Future Aging.” Arnsberg has put a premium on supporting and enabling its older residents to comfortably grow older in an age-friendly environment. Supports include benches all over for the occasional need to rest, volunteers who provide companionship for daily activities, affordable and accessible housing, and services to allow those with dementia to remain in the community. Sounds like an oasis of friendliness for older adults. 

Finally, the “age-friendly” designation may, in fact, be a critical factor wherever you decide to settle. According to the World Health Organization, age-friendly places consider the needs of aging residents in all aspects of planning and service provision, including transportation, employment, civic participation, housing, health services, outdoor spaces, and social inclusion. To find out more about “age-friendly” designated communities and states in the United States, pull out your AARP card and read here.