Looking for a place to retire in California (Sacramento, Riverside: university, income)

[kawai54]

Though retirement is still a ways away, I've decided it's never to early to start looking around. I hope the people here can help suggest some good options!

Here are my criteria:
• A slow, laid-back lifestyle. I'm tired of the hustle and bustle of the SF Bay Area.
• A significant number of sunny days. I'm subject to Seasonal Affective Disorder, and need a healthy amount of sunshine (in addition to my light boxes!).
• Access to alternative care practitioners. I work with both a traditional doc and a naturopath, and enjoy cranio-sacral treatments, etc.
• Nature. Of course. I want nature to be close by, so I can get a dose whenever needed. The most important feature of all would be rushing water <sigh>.


Would love to hear from folks what places come to mind when you read this. Thanks for any input!

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Maybe Redding. Definitely has mostly sunny days year-round, lots of nature, pretty laid back. You'd have to see about alternate care providers.

Wait, I change my mind to Chico. Check out Chico. Basically the same weather as Redding, but has a university there. Lots of nature. You're probably more likely to find alternate medicine.

[kawai54]

Chico, eh? I wasn't even considering up there. Is there more to the town than just the university? I'm so far past student age.... ;-)

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

You might ask in the Sacramento forum. I haven't been there for a long time. But, I've always loved living in university towns, even after I was far past student age. There's more vibrancy and more diversity, including diversity of income and education. Makes for a more interesting place and there is usually better entertainment and more to do.

I recently lived in Redding for a year and it's okay. Really hot. Oddly, it's a mix of rednecks and Jefferson State potheads LOL, but they mainly vote Republican. I'd prefer Chico, if I was ever to move back to the heat of the central valley, just because I like university towns.

You could check out Paradise. It's smaller and quieter, but close enough for whatever you might need in Chico. Haven't been to Paradise in a very long time, either.

I'd just warn you about the heat. It's seriously hot for a very long summer. But, it's one of the sunniest places in the country, I believe. And very pretty.

[BeauCharles]

Chico and Paradise are both big retirement communities and have a diverse enough population and climate to have everything on your list of wants. There are a significant number of retirees in the hills east of Oroville too, but the town itself is a bit... trashy to put it bluntly. But yeah, nature abounds in Butte County and there is a good mix of all kinds of people and views. Its pretty friendly has well - more so than any other part of the state I've ever lived in. Plus its one of the cheaper areas of the state (that's part of the reason there are so many retirees).

[UserName14289]

Originally Posted by kawai54

Though retirement is still a ways away, I've decided it's never to early to start looking around. I hope the people here can help suggest some good options!

Here are my criteria:
• A slow, laid-back lifestyle. I'm tired of the hustle and bustle of the SF Bay Area.
• A significant number of sunny days. I'm subject to Seasonal Affective Disorder, and need a healthy amount of sunshine (in addition to my light boxes!).
• Access to alternative care practitioners. I work with both a traditional doc and a naturopath, and enjoy cranio-sacral treatments, etc.
• Nature. Of course. I want nature to be close by, so I can get a dose whenever needed. The most important feature of all would be rushing water <sigh>.


Would love to hear from folks what places come to mind when you read this. Thanks for any input!

Florida.

No joke, though. CA is notoriously horrible to retirees.

[semispherical]

Check out Weimar: Health | Weimar Institute

Laid back, rural yet only 12 mi to Auburn for shopping. Weimar Inst has alt med practitioners. Lots of creeks in the area and close to the American River.

[NewbieHere]

Murrieta.

[Goin' Coastal]

Originally Posted by NewbieHere

Murrieta.

Yep. We moved to SW Riverside Co. from the Bay Area. Love it!

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by UserName14289

Florida.

No joke, though. CA is notoriously horrible to retirees.

Agreed. California is a great place to make money but a terrible place to retire. Every retiree we know has left the state. We're going, too.

(Pssst, OP. Everything you listed is available in Arizona, with a COL about half.)