The Worst Habits for Your Heart

By Lisa Collier Cool, May 07, 2012

Lifestyle factors you can easily change account for more than 90 percent of heart attack risk, a landmark study of about 30,000 people in 52 countries suggests. And making small, positive changes in your everyday habits can have a surprisingly big impact on your heart health—or even save your life.
Here’s a look at six of the worst habits for your heart, and how to turn them around.

Being Glued to the Tube

Spending too much time parked in front of the TV can actually be fatal, according to a 2011 study published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The researchers found that people who devoted four or more hours a day to screen-based entertainment—mainly watching the tube--had double the risk of a major cardiac event resulting in hospitalization, death or both, compared to those who spent less than two hours daily on these activities.
Another compelling reason to limit TV time: Those who spent the most time on leisure-time screen-based entertainment had a 48 percent higher risk of dying prematurely, even if they also exercised. Recent research also shows that too much sitting can be just as bad for your heart as smoking.
The Warning Signs of Heart Attack

Having a Negative Attitude

 While stress and depression have long been linked to higher heart disease risk, a new Harvard review of more than 200 earlier studies, published this month in Psychological Bulletin, highlights the benefits of turning that frown upside-down: An optimistic outlook may cut heart disease and stroke danger by 50 percent.
And while you may think that happy people are just healthier, the researchers found that the association between an upbeat attitude and reduced cardiovascular risk held true even when they took the person’s age, weight, smoking status, and other risk factors into account.
Research also shows that laughter literally does the heart good, by expanding the linings of blood vessels and boosting blood flow. A fun way to add more joy to your life—and defuse stress--is laughter yoga, an exercise program that combines self-triggered mirth with deep yogic breathing to  draw oxygen deeper into the body.
Top 10 Simple Ways to Leave Stress Behind

Ignoring Snoring

 Frequent loud snoring can trumpet obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a dangerous disorder that magnifies heart attack and stroke risk, if untreated. OSA (bouts of interrupted breathing during sleep) frequently goes undiagnosed because people don’t recognize the symptoms, which include waking at night for no apparent reason and unexplained daytime drowsiness.
If you fit this profile, ask your doctor to order a sleep study. Because OSA, which affects 18 million Americans, is most common in people who are heavy, treatment typically involves weight loss and in some cases, continuously positive airway pressure (CPAP), a device that blows moist, heated air in your nose and mouth as you sleep.
Can an Oral Device Treat Sleep Apnea?

Forgoing Fiber

 Not only does a high-fiber diet boost your heart health, but it could add years to your life, according to a recent study of nearly 400,000 people, conducted by the National Institutes of Health and American Association of Retired People.
The researchers found that men ages 50 and older who ate the most fiber were up to 56 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases and respiratory ailments, compare to those who ate the least. For women ages 50 and up, a high-fiber diet lowered risk of death from these causes by nearly 60 percent.
Another study involving more than 300,000 men and women found that eating eight servings of fruits and vegetables a day trims the risk of a fatal heart attack by 22 percent, compared to eating less than three. Researchers from the World Cancer Research Fund also report that if we ate more fiber, and less red meat, more than 64,000 cancer deaths would be prevented annually.

Failing to Floss

 People with periodontal (gum) disease are nearly twice as likely to have heart disease as those with healthy gums. While the reasons for the link aren’t yet clear, one theory is that the same bacteria that trigger gum disease may also spark inflammation inside the body, damaging arteries. Gum disease affects nearly 50 percent of Americans, many of whom don’t know they have it, because in the early stages, it’s painless.
A new study published in Journal of Aging Research adds to mounting evidence that one of the simplest—and cheapest—secrets of long life is taking care of your teeth, with daily brushing and flossing. Conversely, neglecting your chompers—and skipping dental visits—can be lethal, the researchers report. During the 17-year study, those who never flossed were 30 percent more likely to die than were those who flossed daily.

Smoking Even a Little

 Smoking even one cigarette a day increases the threat of heart attack by 63 percent and smoking 20 or more cigarettes a day more than quadruples it.
Need more motivation to quit? Tobacco use also boosts risk for diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and many types of cancer. A 2010 study reports that using a nicotine patch for six months makes it easier for smokers to kick the habit. Munching on low-calorie foods, such as carrot or celery sticks, or chewing sugarless gum, can also help curb nicotine cravings.
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Get the information you need to improve your health and wellness on Healthline.com. 

Source:  http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/worst-habits-your-heart

Will an apple a day keep the doctor away?

It's one of the most recognizable expressions around: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." But besides the fact that it rhymes, which makes it fun to say and easy to recall, does it really have any value? Could the common apple honestly help a person to maintain perfect health?
The first printed mention of this saying can be found in the February 1866 issue of the publication "Notes and Queries." The publication printed the proverb like this: "Eat an apple on going to bed, and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread." Nearly 150 years later, variations of this adage are still quoted. It's unlikely that the saying would have maintained such popularity if there wasn't some truth to it, right? With that in mind, let's consider some of the apple's components and their effect on our health:

• Pectin -- Pectin is a form of soluble fiber than lowers both blood pressure and glucose levels. It can also lower the levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol in the body. Pectin, like other forms of fiber, helps maintain the health of the digestive system. Apples are an excellent source of pectin.
• Boron -- A nutrient found in abundance in apples, boron supports strong bones and a healthy brain.
• Quercetin -- A flavonoid, this nutrient shows promise for reducing the risk of various cancers, including cancers in the lungs and breast. It may also reduce free radical damage. Free radicals develop when atoms in the body's cells have unpaired electrons, which can lead to damage to different parts of the cell, including DNA. Quercetin may neutralize free radical damage, which has been implicated in a variety of age-related health problems, including Alzheimer's disease.
• Vitamin C -- Vitamin C boosts immunity, which helps maintain overall health.
• Phytonutrients -- Apples are rich in a variety of phytonutrients, including vitamins A and E and beta carotene. These compounds fight damage from free radicals and can have a profound affect on health, including reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and asthma.

Apples also act as a toothbrush, cleaning teeth and killing bacteria in the mouth, which may reduce the risk of tooth decay. They're also low in calorie density, one of the trademarks of a healthy food. When a food is low in calorie density you can eat good size portions of the food for relatively few calories. In addition, apples are affordable and readily available.
With all of this information, it's easy to see that, yes, an apple has its health benefits. But does eating an apple every day mean you'll never get sick? And is an apple really healthier than other fruits? Find out on the following page.

Are apples the secret to a long life?

An apple a day can reduce the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and many types of cancer. But would you be able to avoid the doctor entirely just by eating a bunch of the forbidden fruit? Not likely. Various studies show health benefits when participants eat an apple between three and five times a week, but all ailments cannot be cured by diet alone.

Are other fruits just as good for you as apples? Sure. All fruits are loaded with nutrients that are building blocks to good health. Bananas are loaded with potassium, which is important for a healthy heart and proper muscle function. Blackberries are loaded with fiber, and strawberries contain vitamin C and fiber.
Like cranberries, blueberries help prevent and fight urinary tract infections. They're also a bit tastier than cranberries, which most people only enjoy when combined with plenty of added sugar. Apricots, fresh or dried, are high in beta-carotene.

When choosing drinks, apple juice barely makes the top 10. Pomegranate juice, wine and purple grape juice are high in antioxidants, with apple juice in the tenth spot, right behind tea. One of the things that makes apples so incredibly healthy is the amount of fiber they contain, but that's lost during juicing.

If all fruits are nutritional powerhouses, why are apples the only one to be included in the folklore? At the time the adage emerged, apples were easy to grow (and still are). Once harvested, they could remain in storage for nearly a year. Recent studies have shown that, unlike many fruits and vegetables, the nutritional benefits of apples remain relatively stable as long as 200 days after harvest [source: Boyer and Liu].

While an apple a day will go a long way toward keeping the doctor away, most nutritionists recommend a varied diet. In addition to apples, fill your shopping cart with citrus fruits, tropical treats like mangos, and a variety of berries, which pack a nutritional punch. Eating several servings of a varied selection of fruits each day is truly the best way to keep the doctor away.

Source: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/an-apple-a-day.htm

Top 10 Worst States To Retire To

Worst States to Retire 2012: Northeast and Midwest Come Up Losers Category: Best Retirement Towns and States January 10, 2012 — There are plenty of best places to retire lists. But how about the places where it’s not such a good idea to retire? Last year our “worst 10 states” list caused quite a sensation, so we are back at it again for 2012. The purpose is to try to help baby boomers understand where, all other things being equal, they can enjoy their hard-earned retirement without taking on more problems. To make sure you don’t miss updates to this and other lists like it, sign up for our free weekly “Best Places to Retire” newsletter. Your retirement is unique Every individual has to consider his or her own criteria for identifying the worst or best states to retire. One of the most important factors for anyone is proximity to family and friends. So, if you want to be near your grandchildren the worst state on our list could be the best state on your list. Likewise, you might not share the same considerations we used to develop this list. Tax issues might be most important for you, or you might not care about spending winters in a warm state. Our 2012 list is based on 5 considerations that we think will be important to most people, but freely admit that these factors could be totally irrelevant to many other folks. Our Top Weighting Criteria This year we expanded the criteria we used from 3 to 5 factors. The factors for 2012 are: Fiscal health, property taxes, income taxes, cost of living, and climate. Each criterion was worth up to 1 negative point. If these are not key factors for you, your list might look very different. Also new this year is a page where you can customize your “worst states” list by eliminating criteria that might not be important to you. You will find detailed explanations of these factors along with our sources following the list. The negative point range this year went from 4.05 for #1 CT to 2.45 for #10 WI. The 10 Worst States for Retirement – 2012 Three new states made our list this year: Vermont, Minnesota, and Maine. That means that 3 states were lucky enough to leave the list: Ohio (low property and income taxes), Nevada (in terrible financial shape but no income tax and low property taxes), California (bad financial shape and high property taxes, but almost no income tax on our prototypical couple, plus a great climate). The additions and subtractions do not necessarily mean that these states got worse or better since last year; that probably has more to do with the changes from our new rating factors. And, since the data is always trailing, the ratings might not be a perfect reflection of today’s reality. 1. Connecticut. We actually had a numerical tie for 1st place. CT won the tie-breaker because it has much higher property taxes, income taxes, and cost of living than Illinois. Most pension income is taxable, although there are some significant exemptions for social security, depending on income. CT had the 3rd highest tax burden of any state in 2009. The Nutmeg State does have considerable charm and some terrific places to live like Stonington and Madison, if you can afford to live there. 2. Illinois. Illinois (along with Nevada) faces serious economic troubles. Its pension funding, deficit spending, unemployment, and foreclosure rates are among the worst of any states. The state began to address its problems last year when it raised income tax rates. Although Illinois does not tax most pension or social security, other earnings and investment income are taxed at a fairly high rate thanks to its 5% flat tax rate. 3. Rhode Island. The Ocean State has severely underfunded pension/health liabilities and budget deficits. It has the 5th highest median property taxes paid. Our prototypical couple would face much higher income taxes here than they would in most other states. It does have some great places to live like Westerly, thanks to its extensive coastline and numerous bays and harbors. 4. Vermont. The Green Mountain State has very high median property and income taxes, with a top 10 cost of living. Winters here are better for skiing than golf. 5. Massachusetts. In the Bay State our prototypical retiree couple would face property taxes that are among the highest of any state. Even though social security income is exempt, income taxes would be high for our couple because of the flat rate applied to other earnings. Most government pensions are exempt, but private sector ones are taxed. The cost of living is high. See reviews of great places to retire like Williamstown. 6. New Jersey. New Jersey residents are the biggest losers when it comes to property taxes – the median property tax in the Garden State is the highest in the U.S. at $6579. It also has the highest tax burden (as reported by the Tax Foundation), a large budget deficit issue, and a very high cost of living. New Jersey has both an estate and an inheritance tax. On the plus side, it excludes most pension and social security income for couples making less than $100,000. 7. Minnesota. Another newcomer to our list, Minnesota, would impose the 4th highest income tax on our prototypical couple. That is mostly due to the absence of any pension or social security exemptions. Property taxes are just below the top 10. Minnesota has a large budget deficit issue. Anyone care to winter in Minnesota? 8. New York. The Empire State was essentially tied with #9 Maine. We broke the tie because New York has the 4th highest median property taxes and one of the highest tax burdens. Surprisingly, the state did not earn any negative points for income taxes, since it offers generous exemptions for social security and pensions, along with a high standard deduction. Its cost of living is one of the highest, plus a very cold winter climate. On the plus side, New York’s Governor Cuomo is waging a campaign to limit property tax increases and improve the state’s fiscal condition. College towns like Ithaca can be awfully nice though. 9. Maine. Maine’s property taxes are much lower than New York’s, while Maine’s income tax on our prototypical couple would be about $1000 higher. Winters are even colder, but cost of living is lower. Maine’s governor has vowed to try to exempt retirement income from taxation, although nothing has happened on that front yet. 10. Wisconsin. Property taxes are among the highest in the country. It has a high foreclosure rate. Wisconsin’s high income taxes are mitigated somewhat for retirees because social security income is exempt and because there is a high standard deduction. See our entire list of great places to retire by state. Criteria used in developing this list Fiscal health. Just as the U.S. government is spending more than it takes in, many of the 50 states have serious financial problems of their own. “The Widening Gap:” from the Pew Center on the States provides a good understanding of the problem. To determine the fiscal health component of our rankings we used 4 inputs this year: deficit, unfunded pension liabilities, unemployment rates, and foreclosures. Why do we think these are important things to rate on, you might ask? Just think about the turmoil Greece and Spain are experiencing as they are finally start to address their deficits and borrowing. Social services are being cut, taxes are being raised, and there is civil unrest. Similarly for states that run into financial trouble, the pain will be acute when the piper is paid, and you probably don’t want to be part of it. We combined these factors; if a state was in the top 10 for all four problems it received 1 negative point in the rankings (.25 each). Property taxes. In our opinion property taxes are usually the most oppressive taxes for retirees, since they can be so high in some states and bear no relation to one’s income. The 10 states with the highest property taxes were awarded 1 point on a sliding scale, with New Jersey actually earning 1.1 points since its median taxes are so much higher than any other state. State income taxes. We think too many baby boomer retirees focus too much attention on state income taxes as a reason to move. That’s because unless you have a lot of income, they are not a factor. In our analysis we created a hypothetical couple that has $70,000 in earnings from social security, pension, earnings, and retirement savings; equal to the top earning quartile of people 65+. Using data from the Congressional Research Service we assumed this couple received 20% of its income from social security, 23% from pension, and 47% from earnings and investments. We used those inputs to estimate income taxes for each state at tax-rates.org. Obviously, your earning profile will probably be different. If your joint earnings are significantly below $70,000, this rating component is probably not significant. Here is where you can see the ratings with this component eliminated. The 10 states with the highest taxes on this factor earned up to 1 negative point. Cost of living. Most people retiring today are very concerned about how they are going to make it work financially. We awarded states with the highest cost of living 1 negative point. Climate. We believe the majority of today’s retirees have a bias towards places with warmer winters. States north of the Mason-Dixon line were awarded a negative 1 point for their colder climate. (See also our 2011 article – “Worst Places to Retire for Weather and Natural Disasters“) You can customize your “worst states” list by using the rankings on this rankings page. Other criteria for identifying the best or worst retirement state: While our rankings concentrated on fiscal health, taxes, cost of living, and climate, here is a more complete list of possible criteria for developing your personal rankings of retirement states and towns: - Proximity to friends and family - Sales taxes (Not usually a deal breaker, but annoying) - Inheritance and Estate taxes (Some states have neither, a few have both) - Crime - Recreation - Transportation - Healthcare - Education including colleges - Cultural resources - Natural disasters - Fitting in socially, politically, religiously Should the States Be Trying to Attract Retirees – and What Should They Do? There are some states that actively try to attract retirees – notably Texas, Louisiana, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. They have bought into the idea that the “mailbox” economic value of retirees (the pension and social security checks arrive in the mailbox) is as important as attracting new industries. Most of those retirees are being recruited are coming from the high tax states up north, only a few of which are actively trying to stem that tide. Property tax freezes for seniors, taxation of pensions and social security, and investments in infrastructure are some ideas that could help states in the northeast and midwest avoid losing valuable citizens whose retirements are being compromised by indifferent legislators. Share your ideas with them, and us! More about our sources and criteria: Pension/Health Funding and Budget Deficit data – Pew Center Budget Deficit data – Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Unemployment data – Bureau of Labor Statistics Foreclosure rates – CNBC.com Property Taxes – Tax-rates.org Income taxes – here we used the income tax calculator from Tax-rates.org Cost of Living – Missourieconomy.org For further reference: Worst States for Retirement – 2011 State Retirement Guides Tax Foundation Tax Burden by State Tax Friendly States The Most Important Issue Might Not Be What You Think Our 2011 List of the “100 Best Retirement Towns” Best Retirement States for 2011” We were happy to have seen this article extensively quoted by Yahoo.Finance, MarketWatch, and AOL.DailyFinance. Comments: What do you think about our criteria and our rankings? Did your state make the list, or did it deserve to? Please share your opinion in the Comments section below. Posted by John Brady on January 10th, 2012 Comments (33)  Email This Post Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS)

33 Comments »

» Our Worst States to Retire List Topretirements says

[...] The 2012 version of this list came out Jan. 11. December 7, 2010 — The 50 U.S. states are in a beauty contest. Whether they [...]

January 11th, 2012 | #

Charles says

I am interested in retiring to Wisconsin, your article states that it has the highest propert taxes in the nation and states that social security is not taxable. What about cost of living? Health Care? cost of Gas etc. these factors would very helpful for decision making of where to retire. How does the economy in wi compare to other states?

January 11th, 2012 | #

Marian Van Til says

Your list seems quite plausible. I would point out, though, that some of those states are big. And whether one lives in one area of the state or another can make a huge difference. My husband and I live in western NY (on the Canadian border, down river from Niagara Falls). Property taxes vary by county, and in Niagara Co. they definitely are high related to income levels. And income taxes are pretty high; but as you note, retirees can take advantage of exemptions. We couldn’t possibly afford to live anywhere near NY City or Albany. But western NY has very moderate housing prices (nice houses/neighborhoods starting at less than $150,000) and a much lower cost of living than many other parts of the state. And housing costs have not been subject to the extreme rises and falls that they have been in many areas of the country. There is also has an immense amount of natural beauty here and the winter climate is not at all extreme (which you imply it is in NY); and of course, there’s all kinds of boating opportunities in the other seasons. Also tons of good restaurants. A person might simply want to avoid Erie County’s Buffalo Southtowns if he/she doesn’t like a lot of snow and colder weather. Or, just drive south an hour or so to go skiing, and then return home to no snow. Where we live along the Niagara River and a bit south of Lake Ontario, we get far less snow than Buffalo and its southern suburbs does only 30 miles away. Though we are looking for a possible place outside of NY to move to when my husband retires, that mostly has to do with wanting to be near family and nothing to do with a bad climate here, or lack of natural beauty, lack of amenities, etc. I might add that it’s also a plus to live next door to Canada (and an hour and a quarter from Toronto), as that opens up additional cultural and social opportunities. I would say western NY is a well kept secret and a very fine place to live.

January 11th, 2012 | #

Barbara says

I’m responding to Charles’ question, regarding Wisconsin. We have lived in Wisconsin most of our lives. Yes, the property taxes are quite high, but housing costs are much lower than states on the east and west coasts. Cost of living, therefore, is much lower than, say, California, but that would be true of the entire midwest. When we do retire, we will always keep a home there because of family and because the summers are really beautiful. We only use our AC for a week on average during the entire summer. The winters….well, you’ve got to like the cold and snow. And of course, the Green Bay Packers!!

January 11th, 2012 | #

David M. Lane says

Those are precisely the reasons we sold everything in New York State (western NY) and relocated to Florida. We save a huge bundle. have a condo in Winter Haven FL city of 35,000 and 50 lakes within city limits. with homestead takes under $700/yr. total excellent weather, plenty to do and only 40 minutes from Orlando airport with reasonable flights everywhere including worldwide. Beaches on both costs an hour or so away. Lots to do. People need to retire outside of the high cost states listed in your review. Good article. Should be helpful to all those pondering the question!

January 11th, 2012 | #

AJ says

I live in Chicago now. I am 70, still trying to work, and barely making it. The cost of living is extremely high compared to my salary. When I go on straight SS, I will never make it here. Just the rent alone will do me in. I can’t afford to buy so I am looking at good rental areas with good walking to stores, etc. I am torn between the west,AZ or NV, or going south. Not sure about the humidity in FL. I need sun and not gloomy horrid winters.

January 11th, 2012 | #

belleboy says

My wife and I are NJ residents and are trying our best to wave farewell to this state of taxation. In the past four years our real estate taxes thanks to local government tax hikes and their re-evaluation have increased from $4,500 to $7,800. Governor Christie is working to reduce taxes but he is dealing with a generational Democratic State House and Senate who just love to pander to the government employees and to tax and spend.

January 11th, 2012 | #

joeinMA says

I am retired and just moved from Connecticut to Western Massachusetts. I find it much cheaper to live here. Our home is waterfront on a beautiful lake and the property taxes are 1/2 of what we were paying in Newtown CT.

January 11th, 2012 | #

Warbeads aka Glenn says

I’d be interested in a site where you can select the factors important to you that be quantitatively measured. Some things like not too far (or too near) family are qualitative factors only. For me that means minimal allergies like I and my wife endure in Saint Louis (a wonderful region in many ways,) lower median humidity, temperature not too frequently over 99 degrees or frequently under 32 degrees, median or lower cost of living, midway between Missouri (daughters) and California (Brother, sons, niece, nephew,) conservative, and (due to Hispanic/Anglo/Indian family backgrounds,) someplace moderately culturally mixed. Our best answer so far has been Central New Mexico. Multiple Summer visits of 1-2 weeks and a Fall visit of just over 1 week to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, and Taos (Evergreen allergies alone killed Taos,) have reinforced our impressions. We want to visit in Winter and Spring before our 2016 retirements to be sure. Gracias, Glenn

January 11th, 2012 | #

» Our 2011 Best Places to Retire List: The Sunbelt Rules Topretirements says

[...] February 22, 2011 – The Sunbelt continues to dominate when it comes to the places that baby boomers are considering for retirement. Topretirements.com has just published its 5th annual list of the 100 most popular places to retire on its site, and this year the trend toward the Sunbelt continues even stronger — 77 of the 100 top positions were held by towns in the Sunbelt. Florida dominated the list, taking 26 of the spots (it held 23 in 2010), followed by North Carolina (11) and South Carolina and Arizona (7 each). Note: We will be updating this article for 2012 in late January, 2012. To make sure you don’t miss our new list, sign up for our free weekly “Best Places to Retire” newsletter. See also “The Worst States for Retirement – 2012“. [...]

January 11th, 2012 | #

BullsFan says

I don’t understand how an assessment of Illinois can conclude Illinois is a “worst” place to retire. Sure the fiscal health is lousy– but that’s not impacting people (yet, I assume). And retirees are incredibly shielded from that fiscal health problem because 100% of retirement income is not taxed in the state tax code. So, you are mostly left with complaining about the weather.

January 12th, 2012 | #

Walter Mead says

I’ve lived in downstate Illinois for 51 years and have been retired for 16 of those years. The state fiscal mess has not yet impacted on the state’s residents and will not likely impact significantly on retirees. Those who were employees of the state (e.g.,I retired from teaching at a state university) are not taxed on any of their pension income that was earned during their employment by the state. Except for the cold winters, Illinois is presently a great state for retirees.:neutral::neutral::neutral:

January 12th, 2012 | #

Bill says

Is there a State by State ranking of best or worst places to retire. I know you published the 10 worst places, but what’s number 11, 12 and so on. Editor’s note: Good question. In 2011 we came developed a list of the 10 Best States to Retire – we will be updating it soon. The worst states after 10 started to fall off quickly – in other words they aren’t nearly as bad as say the top 7 or 8. But in the 11th through 15 spots would probably be MD, CA, WV, NE, and MI.

January 12th, 2012 | #

George W says

Very helpful article. Wouldn’t it have been great to be smart enough to make all the right decisions over the past five decades? Gosh, I would have been both wealthy and well known, I am sure. Alas, I made many, many bad choises, and, from my mistaks, learned little more than bad things do happen to good people. Of course other people and institutions made an equal number of bad decisions that hurt me. Take it all together and what I difference does it make at age 75? For me not too much except to realize that we are not the producer, director and actor in our lives. Best to take life less seriously and try to find a bit of happiness each day as it passes by.

January 12th, 2012 | #

NJ Ranks 6th Worst For Retirement [AUDIO] | WOBM-AM 1160 & 1310 says

[...] a lot of it has to do with taxes.John Brady operates the website, “TopRetirements.com“. His analysis shows northeast states with high taxes put a large burden on retirees. Of Jersey’s [...]

January 13th, 2012 | #

Your Golden Years in Connecticut? Forget about it. | says

[...] just confirms what we have already suspected, but  Connecticut has been deemed the worst state in the country in which to retire.  Thank you Governor Malloy, thank you State Senator Bob Duff, and thanks to [...]

January 13th, 2012 | #

Semi-retired says

As a CT resident and a senior one at that, I can’t think of any place in the US that I like more or appreciate the many wonderful and beautiful opportunities right here at home. Of course, as a senior, I too want to avoid cold weather (even if we don’t have a blizzard this year 67″ of snow last year) and the unfavorable tax rates on seniors here in CT. Please avoid the laying of blame on either political party as the debt problem in CT goes back nearly fifteen years and both parties have run this state. Where I live is extremely affluent and virtually 75% Republican but the reality is that CT economics is largely dependent upon the defense industry from Groton (submarines and naval warfare) to Hartford (weapons production) and Stratford (Skikorsky helicopers) etc. When the defense budgets go up and more people are hired, finances improve. When DOD budgets are cut, the state loses revenue. Also note that most of the country’s hedgefunds are headquartered in CT as are a substantial portion of the insurance industry. So, let’s get off blaming particular people or parties as both parties have suffered through the same problems.

January 14th, 2012 | #

The 10 Worst States to Retire In: They’re Frosty and Costly | Mesa Az News, Weather, Jobs, and Hotels says

[...] has compiled a list of the 10 worst states in which to retire, based on five factors: fiscal health, property taxes, income taxes, cost of living and [...]

January 15th, 2012 | #

Fred says

If Connecticut is the worst state for retirement, why does this Newsletter/blog/discussion post come out of Connecticut? It is my understanding that the person who runs it has retired and this is the job/business he created for his retirement. Editor’s Comment. Yes, I live in Connecticut most of the year. We try to be objective in what we present here (even if it hurts!). We dearly love the State, but it is not a friendly place for retirees for the reasons presented. We are fortunate that we are able to live here where so many of our friends and many relatives also live. Like we said in the article, there are a lot more reasons to retire somewhere than just the financial ones.

January 15th, 2012 | #

Fred says

I understand. I also live in Connecticut and my wife and I are planning to retire in a few years. When we do retire, we will be leaving the state, like so many others. I estimate that I will save at least $1500 a month by leaving Connecticut. We will be moving to either Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Florida. Living in the South will not bother us, we have lived there in the past, unlike some other Yankees who have trouble adjusting. The $1500 comes from being able to at least cut my PITI in half for an equal house/condo, no longer having an oil bill for heat and hot water (as I write this it is 11 degrees, electric rates in Connecticut are the second highest in the country, Hawaii is the highest) and not having my Social Security taxed along with so many other taxes in Connecticut. In addition, our children have all fled Connecticut to that area of the South, so it only makes sense for us to go there. They fled Connecticut because of the high taxes and high cost of living years ago. This is a problem for many families in the state. The young people are leaving because it is difficult to find jobs that pay enough for them to be able to live independently and not have to come back and live with Mom and Dad after college. When they head south and west, they can do that. Connecticut is in the business of exporting people, jobs and businesses to the rest of the country because it is so expensive to live hear and do business. Last year, the state imposed the highest tax increase in the history of the state. The fact is, that state is in a similar condition to Illinois or California. It is just that Connecticut does not get a lot of attention because we do not have a major city or media center in the state so people do not pay a lot of attention to what goes on here. We are between Boston and New York, not fly-over country, but drive-through country. A very pretty state to be sure, with a lot of history, beautiful colonial towns, and wonderful places on Long Island Sound, but one you can drive through on your way to a major metro in 2+ hours.

January 16th, 2012 | #

Bob says

Did you know that the state of Illinois has no income tax on retirement income, including pensions and 401-Ks!!! This more than makes up for any other shortcomings. Editor’s Comment: Very true, IL is very friendly about just every kind of retirement pension, including SS. One problem is that IL’s property tax is 6th highest in the nation. Another is that because there is a flat 5% income tax, all non-retirement income is taxed at a pretty hefty rate.

January 16th, 2012 | #

Jack Bolly says

Don’t forget sales tax and gasoline taxes in Illinois – among the highest in country. Also, Gov Quinn is wanting to start to tax retirement income based income level. It’s getting worse.

January 16th, 2012 | #

Jeri gonzalez says

My husband and I retired from South Fla to Western North Carolina. It is just beautiful being in the foothills of the mountains. Taxes are low, expenses are low, insurance is low, health care is fantastic and we find ourselves sharing the area with many “half backs.” Northerners or MidWesterners used to move to Fla, hate it, and then come half way back, which is usual. Four perfect seasons clinch the deal!

January 17th, 2012 | #

Charles Ostin says

West Virginia? Surely you jest! Yes, WV wants retirees’ income, but offers NO INCENTIVES, particularly to the middle class.

January 17th, 2012 | #

David says

This is a “we hate liberal states” list, not a “best place to retire” list. No mention is made of factors such as climate (which is a financial AND a halth issue- how much does it cost to run your air conditioning onstantly in a high-humidity state?) or public services (on which people on fixed incomes are especially dependent?). The state of Texas is in much worse budgetary shape than just about every state mentioned, but it misses your list- why? What about a clean environment- aren’t older folks especially susceptible to toxic air and water? I could go on…really though, the political bias is obvious. Me, I’ll retire where I live and love it, California. Editors note: In an effort to keep politics out of this Forum we made a few small edits to this and some other posts here.

January 17th, 2012 | #

alan says

This state is horrific to live in..highest gas (double) tax in the nation…highest alcohol/cig taxes…highest property taxes…if u have a 400,000 house expect to pay like 10k a year in taxes….sell your house? another tax!….double dip state income tax…sales tax…every tax u can think of …If i didnt have little kids here, id be otta here

January 18th, 2012 | #

Drew Gilliland says

There are so many other factors that are relevant to retirement besides weather and taxes (although both are very important). I believe that family, friends, and familiarity play just as important a role in maintaining a quality of living. A lot of times it seems that moving away is based on fiscal reasons with the expectation that you can travel and visit family and friends. Health issues and comfort issues sometimes get in the way of this.

January 19th, 2012 | #

Cynthia says

I live in Massachusetts and my husband and I are about 5 years from retirement. We have considered some of the Soutern/Western states to retire to, but eliminated them because of things not mentioned in your article – Florida (too humid in the summer), Texas, Nevada, Arizona (too many illegal immigrants), Louisiana (hurricanes, flooding, natural disasters), Mississippi, Alabama (deficient health care and public services). You also make too much of high property taxes – if a retiree wants to dodge high property taxes then RENT, don’t own. My husband and I have definitely decided on Maine as our summer/fall living destination. It has nice beaches, great (not humid) summer weather, and a reasonable cost of living. We are still looking at a winter/spring place, and are currently considering Virginia or the Carolinas. Your article is biased toward the Northern/Midwestern states. I will take Maine (one of those Northern states on your “bad places to retire” list) over Texas or Florida any day of the week!

January 20th, 2012 | #

Tess in CT says

Interesting article. A caution to all before moving, however, to carefully run the numbers. A few years ago we sold 20 acres in Montana we had once considered for retirement and discovered we would have paid more in state tax there that year than in CT. (As for its weather, Montana does reliably hold summer every July.) I also recently considered buying a small condo near my mother in Ohio but after adding to the property tax, the sewer tax, water tax, school tax, town tax, etc, it added to more than ours here. (And Ohio weather? Columbus has more cloudy days than Seattle.) We retired right here. I no longer listen to the Connecticut bashers calling talk radio (who needs nine hours of whining negativity?). So it snowed last night. I saw a young mountain lion race across our property into the woods this morning and just came in from taking photos of its tracks. I’m happy to be alive here.

January 20th, 2012 | #

Jon says

There seems to be an unhealthy obsession with income taxation and cost of living associated with this list. Anyone who is about to retire should be old enough to remember that state fiscal crises are nothing new and cost of living is a more slippery concept for retirees. Remember, this is retirement. I hope no one is realistically considering a 30 year mortgage on a four bedroom house, complete with .5 acres of grass to mow that will be taxed accordingly. Access to good health care institutions and good public services should be heavily weighted with rehspect to any list of potential retirement locations. Moreover, the social environment should be seriously concerned, i.e., availability of intellectually stimulating people, institutions and opportunities.

January 20th, 2012 | #

Diana says

David-We would love to retire to California, but it is too messed up economically; we know, we lived there already once. Politics has very little to do with our decision. We have to think about how far our retirement income will go. That’s the reality of it. Some states are just too expensive for us to even consider. As I read what people write, there is some good advice, some off the wall advice and some some “what the heck is this person thinking” advice. I enjoy this forum. I sure would like to hear more about Conway, SC and that area…

January 21st, 2012 | #

Natalie says

After reading all of the posts, it becomes more clear to me why Prescott, AZ is rated 3rd of 100 in the top 100 list of favored retirement locations. We’ve lived in the Prescott since 2007 and really like it here. The weather is temperate with mild winters and summers that peak at about 99 degrees. The Prescott area took a big hit along with the rest of Arizone in the housing market, so the previous high prices have reduced dramatically. For veterans, the Prescott VA Hospital is highly ranked across the VA Hospital system. My husband uses it exclusively for his medical care and has been very satisfied. Other medical care can be a problem though. Most doctors will either not take Medicare/Medicare Advantage or are not taking new patients. For the most part, Prescott is conservative Republican. The extended area of Prescott Valley adds additional housing, shopping, and entertainment opportunities. If you are still working and looking for employment opportunities, they likely won’t be in the Prescott area unless you are in the medical field or are interested in retail.

January 22nd, 2012 | #

Corey says

Housing still overpriced in Illinois North of I-80 and East of I-39, and property taxes here are brutal. Based off over-inflated “market value”. 2010 Census tells the story of Illinois and as soon as my youngest is done with school, we are fleeing this state. I pay more in property taxes than what most in surrounding states pay for their monthly mortgage payment. Source: http://www.topretirements.com/blog/great-towns/worst-states-to-retire-2012-northeast-and-midwest-come-up-losers.html/

Organic Agriculture May Be Outgrowing Its Ideals

December 30, 2011

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL

TODOS SANTOS, Mexico — Clamshell containers on supermarket shelves in the United States may depict verdant fields, tangles of vines and ruby red tomatoes. But at this time of year, the tomatoes, peppers and basil certified as organic by the Agriculture Department often hail from the Mexican desert, and are nurtured with intensive irrigation.

Growers here on the Baja Peninsula, the epicenter of Mexico’s thriving new organic export sector, describe their toil amid the cactuses as “planting the beach.”

Del Cabo Cooperative, a supplier here for Trader Joe’s and Fairway, is sending more than seven and a half tons of tomatoes and basil every day to the United States by truck and plane to sate the American demand for organic produce year-round.

But even as more Americans buy foods with the organic label, the products are increasingly removed from the traditional organic ideal: produce that is not only free of chemicals and pesticides but also grown locally on small farms in a way that protects the environment.
The explosive growth in the commercial cultivation of organic tomatoes here, for example, is putting stress on the water table. In some areas, wells have run dry this year, meaning that small subsistence farmers cannot grow crops. And the organic tomatoes end up in an energy-intensive global distribution chain that takes them as far as New York and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, producing significant emissions that contribute to global warming.

From now until spring, farms from Mexico to Chile to Argentina that grow organic food for the United States market are enjoying their busiest season.



“People are now buying from a global commodity market, and they have to be skeptical even when the label says ‘organic’ — that doesn’t tell people all they need to know,” said Frederick L. Kirschenmann, a distinguished fellow at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. He said some large farms that have qualified as organic employed environmentally damaging practices, like planting only one crop, which is bad for soil health, or overtaxing local freshwater supplies.
Many growers and even environmental groups in Mexico defend the export-driven organic farming, even as they acknowledge that more than a third of the aquifers in southern Baja are categorized as overexploited by the Mexican water authority. With sophisticated irrigation systems and shade houses, they say, farmers are becoming more skilled at conserving water. They are focusing new farms in “microclimates” near underexploited aquifers, such as in the shadow of a mountain, said Fernando Frías, a water specialist with the environmental group Pronatura Noroeste.

They also point out that the organic business has transformed what was once a poor area of subsistence farms and where even the low-paying jobs in the tourist hotels and restaurants in nearby Cabo San Lucas have become scarcer during the recession.

To carry the Agriculture Department’s organic label on their produce, farms in the United States and abroad must comply with a long list of standards that prohibit the use of synthetic fertilizers, hormones and pesticides, for example. But the checklist makes few specific demands for what would broadly be called environmental sustainability, even though the 1990 law that created the standards was intended to promote ecological balance and biodiversity as well as soil and water health.



Experts agree that in general organic farms tend to be less damaging to the environment than conventional farms. In the past, however, “organic agriculture used to be sustainable agriculture, but now that is not always the case,” said Michael Bomford, a scientist at Kentucky State University who specializes in sustainable agriculture. He added that intense organic agriculture had also put stress on aquifers in California.

Some organic standard setters are beginning to refine their criteria so that organic products better match their natural ideals. Krav, a major Swedish organic certification program, allows produce grown in greenhouses to carry its “organic” label only if the buildings use at least 80 percent renewable fuel, for example. And last year the Agriculture Department’s National Organic Standards Board revised its rules to require that for an “organic milk” label, cows had to be at least partly fed by grazing in open pastures rather than standing full time in feedlots.

But each decision to narrow the definition of “organic” involves an inevitable tug-of-war among farmers, food producers, supermarkets and environmentalists. While the United States’ regulations for organic certification require that growers use practices that protect water resources, it is hard to define a specific sustainable level of water use for a single farm “because aquifer depletion is the result of many farmers’ overutilizing the resource,” said Miles McEvoy, head of the National Organic Program at the Agriculture Department.
While the original organic ideal was to eat only local, seasonal produce, shoppers who buy their organics at supermarkets, from Whole Foods to Walmart, expect to find tomatoes in December and are very sensitive to price. Both factors stoke the demand for imports. Few areas in the United States can farm organic produce in the winter without resorting to energy-guzzling hothouses. In addition, American labor costs are high. Day laborers who come to pick tomatoes in this part of Baja make about $10 a day, nearly twice the local minimum wage. Tomato pickers in Florida may earn $80 a day in high season.
Manuel Verdugo, 42, began organic tomato farming on desert land in San José del Cabo five years ago and now owns 30 acres in several locations. Each week he sends two and a half tons of cherry, plum and beefsteak tomatoes to the United States under the brand name Tiky Cabo.

He has invested in irrigation systems that drip water directly onto plants’ roots rather than channeling it through open canals. He is building large shade houses that cover his crops to keep out pests and minimize evaporation. Even so, he cannot farm 10 acres in the nearby hamlet of La Cuenca because the wells there are dry.
At another five-year-old organic farm, Rosario Castillo says he can cultivate only 19 acres of the 100 he has earmarked for organic production, although he dug a well seven months ago to gain better access to the aquifer. The authorities ration pumping and have not granted him permission to clear native cactuses. “We have very little water here, and you have to go through a lot of bureaucracy to get it,” Mr. Castillo said.

Many growers blame tourist development — hotels and golf courses — for the water scarcity, and this has been a major problem in coastal areas. But farming can also be a significant drain. According to one study in an area of northern Baja called Ojos Negros, a boom in the planting of green onions for export a decade ago lowered the water table by about 16 inches a year. “They were pumping a lot of groundwater, and that was making some people rich on both sides of the border at the expense of the environment,” said Victor Miguel Ponce, a professor of hydrology at San Diego State University.
The logistics of getting water and transporting large volumes of perishable produce favors bigger producers. Some of the largest are American-owned, like Sueño Tropical, a vast farm with rows of shade houses lined up in the desert that caters exclusively to the American market.

While traditional organic farmers saw a blemish or odd shape simply as nature’s variations, workers at Sueño Tropical are instructed to cull tomatoes that do not meet the uniform shape, size and cosmetic requirement of clients like Whole Foods. Those “seconds” are sold locally.

Yet the connection to the United States has brought other kinds of benefits. Del Cabo Cooperative, which serves as a broker for hundreds of local farmers, provides seeds for its Mexican growers and hires roving agronomists and entomologists to assist them in tending their crops without chemicals. As the American market expands, said John Graham, a coordinator of operations at Del Cabo, he is always looking to bring new growers into his network — especially those whose farms draw on distant aquifers where water is still abundant.

David Agren contributed reporting.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/31/science/earth/questions-about-organic-produce-and-sustainability.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Retirement: The Case For Staying Put

December 19, 2011 — While not every Topretirements member is interested in moving to a new place once they retire, most are at least open to the idea. That is why we have devoted so many resources to this question, particularly on factors like where to live and what should be considered in such a move. But, tempted as we might be by the lure of low taxes or sunnier skies, probably three-quarters of us won’t move more than a few miles away from our current home in retirement. This article will explore the case for sticking close to home in the next phase of your life.

Just as there are many good reasons for moving far from home, there are plenty of strong arguments for staying in the town or area where you live now. Here are some of the major ones:

- Family. In our book this our children and close relatives are always the best reason for choosing a retirement destination. The ties we have to family are usually what make us the happiest. Grandchildren, if we are fortunate enough to have any, are usually a great source of joy, but without all the work associated with raising our own children! So sticking close enough where you can see our kin without a long drive or plane flight will be a regular source of happiness.

- Friends. While not as powerful as family ties, your friends are not something you want to give up easily. Sure, you can come back and visit, or they can come to see you in your new location, but it just won’t be the same once you move away. More than that, there is the problem of making new friends in a new community. For some folks that’s easy, but for others it is not. Making friends in an active adult community is usually quite easy, but it can take time.

- Other social contacts. You might belong to a church and not want to give up the personal connections you have built up over many years. Likewise you might belong to a country club, or act as a volunteer in your community. Moving away from those connections could cause a sense of loss that only becomes apparent once you have moved away.

- Intangibles and culture. You know the neighborhoods and region you live in now. You know what the people are like. Uprooted, some people might not like what they see in a new community. Your new neighbors won’t have the same social and cultural customs and attitudes. They might be more or less liberal, conservative, or religious than your old contacts. You might not think they are as friendly as the folks where you live now. So staying close to home can help you avoid unnecessary change and agita.

- Moving hassles. We don’t know anybody who likes to move. It’s expensive and it is a horrible, drawn-out hassle. Once you have retired, downsizing usually means selling, giving away, or throwing out much of what you accumulated over a lifetime. So if you never move, there is a lot of stress that you won’t have to experience.

Strategies for optimizing your retirement – without moving far
So if you decide not to move far from where you live, what strategies should you take to maximize your happiness?

- Cut your costs. OK, so you are going to stay in the town or neighborhood where you live now. But that doesn’t mean you should continue to live in that energy guzzling, oversized home where you raised your kids. Moving to a townhome, apartment, or smaller new home could save energy and dollars. And, since property taxes are usually the biggest taxes anyone pays in retirement, when you downsize to a less expensive home you will save money on that expense too.

- Make life easier for yourself. Do you really want to be up on a ladder cleaning gutters when you are in your 80′s? Or replacing water heaters, roofs, furnaces, septic tanks, etc. when you are on a tight budget? Moving to a community or building where maintenance is included is going to help you avoid hassles and expenses.

- Prepare for the next phase. When you first retire you are probably most concerned with being active – travel, golf, hiking, or the like. With luck you will be in perfect health into your 80′s and 90′s, and continue to do the active things you love. But on the other hand, your knees might give out or you could have a stroke at any time. Living in a home with universal design features will get you prepared for whatever shape you are in, without compromising your lifestyle. For example, eliminating steps and putting counters lower will let you stay where you are if you develop mobility problems, without expensive retrofitting or moving to a new place. The same goes for a first floor master bedroom.

- Get near public transportation. If we are lucky enough to live a long life, the day will come when we can no longer drive. So if you plan ahead and move to a place that has access to public transportation you will still be able to get out and about. Better yet, try to live in a neighborhood where you can walk to the library, downtown, stores, etc.

- Think about the social aspect. We are social creatures. When you are thinking about a neighborhood, consider how you are going to interact with people on a daily basis. There might be enough fellow baby boomers where you live to create your own retirement neighborhood. You can share services with your neighbors. Or, you can move to an apartment or condo building where your neighbors are close and daily social interactions are easy.

- Go somewhere warm for a month. Florida, Arizona, and the Carolinas have all kinds of rental deals in the current distressed market. For less than $1000 a month you can stay in a nice place and ride out the worst of winter. It’s almost as cheap as staying home, so why not experience the best of both worlds by renting.

For further reference:
Jane and Jack: Retired in Place
What Baby Boomers Want in Their Next Home
What Are the Must-Have Features in Your Next Home
Cooperatives Help Aging in Place Movement

Source: http://www.topretirements.com/blog/great-towns/best-places-to-retire-the-case-for-staying-right-where-you-are.html/

6 Comments »

Jan Cullinane says

A study by Lynn Giles, PhD, found that people with extensive social networks outlived those lacking social support by 22 percent. Interestingly, it was friends and not relatives who had this effect. (Not to say relatives aren’t important; they just weren’t a factor in increasing longevity in this study). The effect of friends increasing life span persisted, even when those in the study experienced huge changes such as the death of family members or a spouse. So, when wondering “should I stay or should I go,” think about this study. If your friends have all moved away, and you want to stay where you are, you should build up a new social support system. Jan Cullinane, The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life (Rodale)

December 21st, 2011 | #

Admin says

We received this comment from a member this morning: You are wrong. My best retirement place is the one that lends me an opportunity to really mingle and form strong bond with people. I am a single man and definitely need a soul mate for companionship.

December 22nd, 2011 | #

Dave says

Seems like the #1 suggestion for retiring where you live is to move to a smaller home. Moving is moving, with all that stress and disposing of property that won’t fit in the downsized home, regardless of whether it’s around the corner or another state. So I’d say that the social network you want to have is the most important decision factor on retiring locally or in a new location.

December 22nd, 2011 | #

Tracey Lyons says

My husband and I are in our pre-retirement planning because we are only 52. I think my biggest concern would be taking on a new mortage at age 60 or 65 or even the new retirement age of 55. We’ve only been in our current home for 4 years so having enough equity to put a large downpayment on a new home will take us at least 10 more years in our current address. I do, however, love the idea of renting in a sunny state for a month. We’re forutnate to both have jobs where we work out of home offices.

December 22nd, 2011 | #

Chris says

I feel a need to comment about the ties of friends not being as important as family. This clearly isn’t always the case. Ever hear the expression, “you can choose your friends but not your relatives?” Our friends are in our lives because we WANT them to be, not just because they are related to us! Of course some people have wonderful relationships with their family and that’s great but don’t downgrade the importance of friends. You should live where you want to live because YOU want to live there, not just stay where you are because of family. If you are happy there, great! But people come and go — pick a place where you would like to live and if at all possible, just go. I’ve stayed in CT longer than I wanted because my Mom was getting old. But you can’t put your dreams on hold because of someone else. I love my Mother but at some point you have to do what is right for YOU. And I have known people who moved to be closer to their kids and grandkids — who then up and moved somewhere else a short time later.

December 22nd, 2011 | #

Jan Cullinane says

That is why the study referenced above is important. Social support outside of family is vital for most people.

Moving to Costa Rica

How two friends made a dream about early retirement come true in Central America

By VICKI BERRONG, www.wsj.com

The first thing I see each morning when I step out on the porch of my home in Costa Rica is the ever-changing Gulf of Nicoya.

As I write this (in September), it's the rainy season, which means there are a hundred hues of green in the trees between my side of the mountain and the gray-blue glassy sea. On this particular morning, I can see two small fishing boats on the water between the local ferry port and several forested islands in the distance. It's not yet 7 a.m., and I can already tell that the temperature will reach the mid-80s by noon.

I'm 60 years old and retired from a 35-year career as a legal secretary. How I came to live on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is a story about early retirement, tight budgets and lots of planning.

My best friend, Carol, and I began thinking seriously about retirement roughly 12 years ago. We knew we wanted to retire early, but we recognized that our small nest eggs (and the fact that Medicare doesn't kick in until age 65) could make that difficult. Eventually, we concluded that living outside the U.S. would allow us to stretch our dollars and retire on (our) schedule. Thus was born a 10-year plan: five years to pay down as much debt as possible, and five years to find a home overseas.

Perfect 10

We agreed on 10 criteria in our search for a retirement destination: warm weather; a country with a stable democracy; a four-hour plane ride or less from the U.S.; adequate and affordable health care; American-friendly; located near or by an ocean; clean and abundant fresh water; affordable housing; a cost of living at least 50% lower than in the U.S.—and good coffee.

Vicki Berrong

Arenal Volcano, the centerpiece of a national park, has erupted often in the past several decades and powers green energy projects.

We pored over maps, read guidebooks, evaluated countries we had visited, and subscribed to every publication we could find on the subject of international living. Our research kept pointing us in the direction of Costa Rica.

After a total of seven trips to this small country (about the size of New Hampshire and Vermont combined, with a population of about 4.6 million), we found "home": a two-story house (with, as noted earlier, stunning water views) in the rural village of Playa Naranjo. Carol retired and moved here in early 2010, and I followed a year later.

Costa Rica makes it fairly easy for expats to settle here—save for one peculiarity. Nonresidents (like me) qualify for a 90-day visa but have to leave the county for 36 hours at the end of the 90 days. Then, you turn around and obtain a new 90-day visa. (An easy solution: holidaying in neighboring Panama or Nicaragua, or even Colombia for a couple of days.) Retirees may apply for residency with proof that they receive a monthly income of at least $1,000 from a permanent pension source or retirement fund. I may apply when I turn 62 and start collecting Social Security.

At the moment, I don't have a job here, although at some point (once my Spanish improves) I would like to work as a tour guide. Besides doing normal household chores, my days are spent taking long walks, going to the beach (a 10-minute stroll), swimming in one of two local pools, napping, reading and corresponding with family and friends. We're blessed with wonderful neighbors, a mix of native Costa Ricans (called Ticos) and expats from Canada, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Italy, Singapore and the U.S. Especially during the dry season (November through March), parties ("fiestas") are plentiful.

Costly Fuel

Friday is market day. We drive to Jicaral, a thriving farming community about eight miles from our house, where local farmers set up colorful displays of fresh fruits and vegetables near the town square. With gasoline costing about $5 to $6 a gallon, we do our best to share rides with neighbors. And that pretty much sums up the cost of goods in Costa Rica: What is grown here is cheap; what is imported is not.

We spend about $50 a week on food (for two people). Native fare is rice and beans (about $2 for about two pounds), potatoes, yucca, onions, red peppers and carrots (about 25 cents each). For $1 you can buy three cantaloupes, or two avocados, or four mangos, or three oranges (in season), a watermelon, or a whole pineapple and enough fish to feed two. Two pounds of ground beef (86% lean) or boneless chicken cost about $4. On occasion, I'll splurge, paying about $6 for a bag of Cheetos or miniature chocolates.

Affordable Housing

Housing prices are off their highs of two or three years ago. You can buy a nice two-bedroom home on about an acre of land for between $100,000 and $300,000. My utility bill is $50 to $150 a month, depending on how much I use the air conditioning. My property tax last year was under $100.

Health care, meanwhile, has turned out to be exactly what we were looking for: affordable and more than adequate. There are two health-insurance systems: a public-sector plan (similar to health-maintenance organizations in the U.S.) and a more comprehensive private plan (about $1,500 annually). Both cover doctor visits, prescription drugs and hospital care.

No, the country isn't perfect. Cultural differences are sometimes frustrating and always humbling. Ticos are some of the most friendly and nonconfrontational people in the world. Sometimes, that's a problem for goal-oriented gringos. For example, you ask when the big bags of dog food are arriving at the feed store—and the proprietor, with a smile, will answer, "Martes." Translation: "Señora, I don't know when the truck is coming in, but you Americans always want to know a date or time, so I'm saying Tuesday."

In short, patience is not a virtue here; it's a necessity. There may be five customers in front of you at the bank to see an account representative. Bring a book. Most likely you will overhear the bank rep inquire about the well-being of all 22 of his customer's relatives. Of course, when it's your turn, your transactions will not be rushed, and you will be asked about your family, as well.

Parting Pains

Looking back on our planning and experiences, I've learned that dismantling your life and moving to another country is not for the faint of heart. In fact, it's one of the hardest things I've done. You will not have room for everything you want to take with you; you will not have time to say good-bye to everyone; and you can't complete all the tasks you think you have to accomplish. (Of course, I miss my friends and my two grown children, Shane and Michele. That said, we Skype, email frequently and keep up on Facebook. I see them on my periodic trips to the States, and they plan to visit Costa Rica.)

Am I committed to Costa Rica long term? It's too early to say. (There's always a chance we could move back to the States when we qualify for Medicare.) That said, my new adventure, to this point, has lived up to—and exceeded—my expectations. As I sit on my porch watching the several shades of pink and red float across the sky as the sun sets across the gulf, I feel like I'm at home.

There's a phrase locals use, a greeting and an expression, that sums up the feeling nicely.

"Pura vida," they say. Life is good.

Ms. Berrong lives in Costa Rica. She can be reached at next@wsj.com .

 

Corrections & Amplifications

Gasoline in Costa Rica costs about $5 to $6 a gallon. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said the cost was about $14 a gallon.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204770404577080373898763542.html

More in Next: The New Retirement

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• When Heaven Is a Harley
• A New Life in Costa Rica
• Read the complete report .

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