Why You'd Move

Access to high-quality healthcare is more important than access to the grandkids, according to Dell Webb.

The developer of retirement communities reported the results of the 2010 Del Webb Baby Boomer Survey today. It found that a large chunk of respondents were planning to relocate when they retired.

Nearly a third of the older cohort, those who turned 64 this year, plan to move in retirement, with more than 50 percent planning to move to a different state, about 25 percent of them planning to move to a different city within the same state, and less than 20 percent of them planning to move within the same city.

At the younger end of the age spectrum, the desire to relocate was even higher, with  42 percent of those turning 50 in 2010 planning to do so.

The company, which originated the concept of active retirement communities with its first Phoenix Sun City in 1960, says it's natural for people to think about relocation as they enter the retirement phase; after all, many of us moved to go to college and then again for our first jobs.

North and South Carolina were the top choices for retirement, taking over from former snowbird favorite Florida, which is now, presumably, too crowded and too expensive.

One somewhat surprising finding was that the Me Generation is more interested in cost of living, cultural activities and good healthcare than it is in being close to grandchildren. Is that selfish? Or are the grandkids just as overscheduled as everyone else?

According to Dell Webb,

Baby Boomers want, need and do lead an active social life. "Their day planners are more scheduled today than ever before and they would have it no other way," she said. "They want to take their hard-earned money and stretch those dollars in a community that gives them confidence, not only in the stability of the market, but also a vibrant life. It's great if that community is near their children or grandchildren. But, if it's not, that's okay, too."