Where to retire? The search goes on

48 hours to figure out if Palm Springs checks off the ‘musts’ on the list

- By Kalin Raible

We are still on the hunt for a place to retire to in 15 – 20 years.

Last year, we looked at Florida. This year we visited California.

We are fortunate enough to have friends — Al and Ann Bridges from Wenatchee — who go to Palm Springs (technically Palm Desert) every year for about two months. After comparing calendars we were able to fit in a 48-hour trip mid-January.

Our Working List for Retirement Requirements:

• Sunshine. My wife, Mya Archambault, would prefer to only wear flipflops after we retire. I like all four seasons so this will probably be our biggest challenge.

• Be physically active. This seems to be a key component to enjoying life, continuing to travel, keeping up with family and friends and recovering from whatever ails us.

• Quality healthcare. My parents opted to retire to Montana and one of them usually makes a trip to the ER each year. It’s about a 90-minute drive — 20 minutes with the helicopter but that is a story for another time.

• Live in a similar manner to which we have become accustomed.

• Not to outlive our retirement.

• Stay engaged in our community via part-time work, volunteering or both.

• Interesting enough place to live that it’s fun to have visitors.

The trip to California was amazing. Al and Ann rent a second-floor condo with an awesome deck in the gated tennis community of Deep Canyon Tennis Complex. This was their sixth year there.