Relocation - Retirement And Relocation

Making the decision to relocate, whether for retirement or a different lifestyle, involves considering a lot of factors, from the availability of health care to the cost of living and quality of life. Many a desert visitor has fallen in love with the Palm Springs area and become a permanent resident. If you’re thinking about moving here, take your time. Visit at all times of the year, not just in the lovely winter months. Talk to people who have lived here for a few years and can give you the good and not-so-good—the real “insider” information. Some of the happiest retirees and relocatees are those who, over the course of several years, spent months at a time in the desert, getting used to the rhythm of life in the different seasons and learning the quirks of each city.

This chapter gives you the basic information you’ll need to start your research. Here, we give you a brief overview of each city, moving from Palm Springs in the west to Indio in the east; touch on the general “personality” of each; and give some pros and cons to consider if you are thinking of relocating. This is followed by sections that round up information on the desert’s health care, libraries, police and fire service, senior centers, utilities, child care, schools, media, and worship; we invite you to supplement with material you pick up during your Web searches and visits. You’ll find a lot of variation in all of these amenities from city to city, and some may be the “deal breakers” or “deal makers” you’re looking for.