The Real No. 1 Retirement Locale? Home

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MarketWatch

February 25, 2010 Thursday 1:06 PM EST

SECTION: PERSONAL FINANCE; Personal Finance Daily

LENGTH: 852 words

HEADLINE: The real No. 1 retirement locale? Home

BYLINE: MarketWatch

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Florida and Arizona have a host of competitors now when it comes to preferred retirement destinations. Sure, those two rather warm states remain popular spots to relocate but they no longer hold an exclusive on the senior set.

That’s why you see more towns in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee — even Delaware and Maine — popping up in Top Places to Retire lists. Those spots may not be as toasty as the Sunshine State but they are relatively mild and usually boast much lower costs of living than you’re likely to find in other retirement paradises — a key consideration in these days of depleted nest eggs.

The vast majority of retirees don’t worry about relocating once they wrap up their primary careers, though, because they stay put. It’s called aging in place, but what it really is is a desire to remain close to friends, family, institutions and activities that are familiar.

A lot of those folks may click wistfully on Web pages of more exotic locales as they research their retirements and they may be intrigued — but they won’t be moved.

— assistant managing editor

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