I think there are several reasons why I was so taken with this article. Whenever I travel I play the "what if" game, What if I lived there....how would it feel to call this place home? Could I get by with just my bare bones knowledge of the language, how much would I enjoy the food on a regular basis, are there things here to feed my soul?. I have played this game all around the world and have found so much that was worthwhile and fulfilling about each destination, that I can honestly say I wouldn't mind living in every place I have visited.. But, that doesn't mean that I would want to stay in one place all the time. Now that retirement seems to a possibility someday, the thought of where I might end up becomes a more real conundrum to ponder. It has to be a place with easy Airport access, but I don't think I would want to live in one of the world's major cities, although I do enjoy visiting them, for all the excitement and life that throbs through them. On the other hand, the lure of a sleepy South Sea Island is very appealing, but that would be way far away from easy access to the rest of the world So, I am left with this dilemma,  I will continue to reread the article and go to new destinations each trip to see if there just might be that one perfect place for my gypsy heart..

To come up with their choices, and to try to quantify a quality of life for each place, Modern Maturity based their "picks" on the following:
--weather
--cost of living
--affordable housing
--cultural programs
--health care
--leisure activities
--pollution
--crime
--transportation
--political stability
--health hazards
--access to technology.. .......and they disregarded the big cities like Paris, London, or New York, because they figured if you can afford to live there, then you don't need to read this article, you can just choose to go wherever you want.

What do you value?  What do you look for in a place you'd like to call home? 
E-mail us your thoughts.  If we get some
really good answers, we'll add our Readers' ideas and make it a discussion. But for now, we hope you will enjoy what MM has come up with!
 

2.  Cinque Terre,  Italy 

3.  Provence, France 

4.  Bouquete, Panama 

5.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines 

6.  County Clare, Ireland 

7.  Nong Khai, Thailand 

8.  Crete, Greece 

9.  Ambergris Caye, Belize 

10. Tunis, Tunisia 

11. Algarve, Portugal 

12.  Cayman Islands 

13.  San Miquel de Allende, Mexico 

14.  Pafos, Cyprus 

15. Ubud, Bali, Indonesia 

To read the complete article online, with photos.  Click Here .
You, too can play the "what if" game. 
***************************************************
More Places to Ponder 

The Super Cheap (taken from Modern Maturity Article)
They give you more bang for your buck, but could you put up with little things like
landmines and having to fly to the U.S. when you need medical attention?
(Not rated, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the bad might be outweighed by the good.  It's totally up to you.)

Panama City, Panama
What's Good About It? Lively city, all modern amenities, speak English, good health care,
thousands of Americans live there, cheap prices: Two bedroom house for about $35,000, pizza for $1.75, discounts for senior's medical and dental, great tropical climate.
What's Bad About It?  Thousands of Americans live there, Climbing crime rate, poor roads if you venture out of the city and frequent, small earthquakes.

Dalmatian Coast, Croatia
What's Good About It? Real Estate values destroyed by prolonged war so some of the "cheapest waterfront property in Europe", laws supportive of people who have outside means, allow you to live there tax-free.  Beautiful medieval towns and picturesque fishing villages.
What's Bad About It? Land mines have never been completely cleared or clearly marked.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
What's Good About It? "Live like a King on just pennies a day" Gorgeous historic properties for sale for under $50,000, outdoor cafes, historic museums, ancient University.
What's Bad About It? unreliable service: can lose electrical power for large portions of a day, medical treatment limited and emergencies might require a trip to the US.

Quito, Ecuador
What's Good About It? In a beautiful mountain valley "Some of the lowest real estate prices in the world". Two bedroom condo in the heart of the business district for under $20,000. Taxis for 50 cents, Lobster dinner under $5 and a live-in maid for less than $75 per month.
What's Bad About It?
75% unemployment due to recent natural and political disasters, have made this country worse off and experiencing even more unrest.

Shetland Islands, Scotland
What's Good About It? 150 miles north of mainland Scotland you can buy a 3 bedroom stone house overlooking the sea for around $70,000.  A handy-man's special can be found for under $30,000. Ponies and sheep everywhere. Plenty of Whale and Dolphin watching for FREE and some of the world's most friendly people.
What's Bad About It? Ponies and sheep everywhere, Not cheap to get there, food and gas are also quite expensive, and long damp winters.

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