Baby Boomers Move to New Places to Kick-Start Their Lives- ABC NEWS

Baby Boomers Move to New Places to Kick-Start Their Lives
From Beach Houses to Mountain Towns, Americans Find New Beginning

March 5, 2007 — - As American baby boomers grow older, many are considering moves and asking themselves where they should go. The answer? Anywhere.
"There are very few times in your life when you can move. … And this is one of them," said Sara Davidson, author of "Leap! What Will We Do With the Rest of Our Lives?"
"When you suddenly have no children in school, you may not have a job and you are free to think, 'Where would I really go just for me?'"
Davidson left her life in Los Angeles to replant herself in Boulder, Colo.
"I was sitting by myself in my house with no work, no kids, nothing on my calendar and I thought. … 'Maybe it's time to move,'" she said.
Joe Urby and his wife went to a convention in Panama to explore their options.
Relocation conventions are often held in Panama City, Panama, to instruct foreigners on how they can take advantage of the latest hot spot, where Americans can enjoy a sun-filled life at an affordable price.
"I personally don't want to work until I'm 65 or 70 years old," Urby said. "I'd rather work to be 50 years old and reinvent myself in a different type of business or enterprise in a Latin American country and only need half as much income to live off of."
Another trend is co-housing developments like one in Ann Arbor, Mich. The idea behind co-housing is to create a community -- residents own their own homes but share common gardens, dining halls and parking areas.
"The great thing about this time in your life is that you are not stuck," Davidson said. "So if it doesn't work out. … You go somewhere else."
What Areas Are Popular Today?
There are three hot places to relocate right now, according to Wall Street Journal editor Wendy Bounds.
San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a U.S. territory with an average home price between $250,000 to $300,000. While the property taxes are less than in the United States, the benefits -- like Medicare -- are the same.
Like San Juan, the coastal town of Beaufort, S.C., has homes priced on average between $200,000 and $300,000. The area has a small-town feel with ice cream shops, libraries and theaters, and it's located right on the beach.
The average home price in Loveland, Colo., known for having some of the best skiing and snowboarding in that state, is just $195,000. The city is surrounded by mountain views, and downtown Loveland has tons of restaurants and art galleries.
Bounds said it's important for people to consider what their taxes will be in any new city, as well as what kind of expenses, such as medical care, they may need before making the move.
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