A Boulder active retirement. Hmmm… sounds nice, doesn’t it?
For me there has been no better place than Boulder, Colorado from which to enjoy a quality of life that is quite simply, outstanding. Yep. Lucky to call Boulder home, for sure. Gorgeous scenery and lots of sunshine…4 distinct seasons all of which can be enjoyed outdoors, by people of all ages.
So maybe it comes as no surprise to you that in January 2014, Forbes Magazine put Boulder Colorado in its top 25 places in the US, for an active retirement. In fact, a Boulder active retirement was #2 on the list. Beaten only by Madison, WI.
What does Madison have that we don’t? (Good question)
It’s not as simple as lakes vs mountains.
Actually Madison boasts the top ranking from www.volunteeringinamerica.com. A whopping 40% of all adults volunteer themselves in some way. That IS admirable! Boulder ranks just behind Madison and reportedly has a 38% volunteer rate. There are many similarities between the two cities. Both are university cities, both have cold winters – not something you might have automatically considered when choosing a place to retire.
Madison WI and Boulder CO both benefit from their low rate of violent crimes and their bicycle friendliness. (Boulder active retirement is better on both of these fronts, FYI)
So here is my thought…
Boulder, we can do it! With a little more volunteering and under the assumption we can get our bike paths back to their pre-Sept 2013 flood beauty and function, I think we can take first position in 2015 as the best place in the US for an active retirement.
Are you with me? Then stay tuned for another post where I outline a few of the charitable organizations that Silver Fern Homes has the pleasure of supporting. We have an amazing community here. Students, retirees and a blend of everyone in between, is what makes us special. Getting involved and cultivating a community of giving and helping can only make us better people, a community to be proud of, a place where kids learn valuable lessons and adults look back on awesome childhoods.
Boulder active retirement… Hmmm… sounds nice.
Oh, and if you know of someone who is planning to retire in the Boulder general area, and they want advice, please have them call me. I’m a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and can help with such things as relocation, reverse mortgages, downsizing (harder than you think!) and of course finding a new life and friends in a new community where you don’t have kids in school or a workplace environment to speed up the “settling in” process.