Retiring The 'Retirement' Community

"For years, the search for a new home in retirement has been tied to weather and leisure. States like Arizona and Florida captured the lion's share of transplants, with good reason: They offer a warm climate, lots of sunshine and plenty of golf, tennis and water sports.

But today, while weather and leisure remain important, retirees are telling builders, developers and researchers that they are looking primarily for...a community where they can make friends and connections quickly, whether it's a small town or a walkable neighborhood in a big city. A close second and third on the priority lists: a home that's near grandchildren, and a setting where one can indulge a post-work passion, such as a second career, a newly adopted sport or even, for a growing number of people, farming.

'Moving to a mixed-use development, a small town, or seeking an urban experience are all elements of the same thing: It's a community where you get to know each other,' says John McIlwain, 62 years old, a senior resident fellow for the Urban Land Institute."

Small towns like Mount Airy, N.C., downtown Chicago, and new semi-urban mixed-use developments like Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia are all attracting their share of retirees.