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If one
prefers a smaller city but still desires the warm weather and sunshine that comes with life in the desert Southwest, there
are several options. Tucson, 120 miles south of Phoenix, offers retirees a diverse, vibrant social life and
the unique charm of a historic and culturally lively small town. Here one finds a rich heritage derived from an amalgamation
of Hispanic, Native-American and Anglo-American influences. Add the scenic beauty of the Sonoran Desert, a reasonable
cost of living and 360 days a year of sunshine and you have an adventurous lifestyle that is highly desirable for many active
adults searching for an affordable place to retire. Retirees have also discovered several
small towns and communities in Central and Northern Arizona, where higher altitudes and temperatures that are 20 degrees cooler
than Phoenix, provide for pleasant living twelve months a year. Few places in the entire country can rival the unparalleled
scenic splendor surrounding Sedona, with its red rock buttes, soaring mesas and eroded canyon walls, all
wrapped in a vast, endless blue sky. All of this natural beauty is somewhat tempered by the frantic pace of construction,
with luxury estate homes and lush golf courses spreading outward in every direction, often intruding on the serenity and tranquility
of this idyllic landscape. Another destination in Central Arizona that is growing in popularity as a retirement community is
Prescott, once the territorial Clearly, Arizona is
much more than just a hot green oasis in the southwestern desert. It is truly a land of many landscapes; within its borders
are verdant green valleys with upscale golf course resorts, affordable manufactured home communities for active adults and
small towns with charming neighborhoods...all influenced by a diverse and exciting blend of history and cultures resulting
in a unique lifestyle that can add an interesting and fascinating element to your retirement years. |
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of senior housing choices certainly might want to start by looking at Arizona. Yes, the climate can be excruciatingly
hot in certain areas, notably Phoenix and southern portions of the State, but there are some very attractive areas where temperatures
are more moderate, the four seasons are filled with spectacular scenery and outdoor activities are readily available. 
Some are drawn by the spectacular golf course communities with an upscale affluent lifestyle. Other retirees gravitate toward
the growing number of moderately priced manufactured home communities, some of which feature golf courses and a country-club
package of amenities.
Just north of the Mexican border and 45 miles of Tucson is the tiny artists’ enclave of Tubac.
With only 1,200 people and a stimulating mix of artists, middle- and upper-class executives and retirees, this village, first
settled by the Spanish who arrived in the late 1600’s, has been continuously inhabited since a fort was established
in 1752. Today, centuries-old adobe houses line Tubac’s central streets and blend in with new master planned communities
stretching across the Santa Cruz Valley. At an altitude of 4,000 feet, Tubac is significantly cooler than Phoenix or Tucson
and ideally suited for retirees who prefer an unique and exciting environment as their place to retire and in which to spend
their newly discovered leisure time.
capital of Arizona. Today, with its imposing