Nestled in the shadow of the rugged Rocky Mountain foothills, just 30 minutes northwest of Denver, Colorado, Boulder is home to the University of Colorado and may indeed be one of the best places to live and retire in the nation.   This small city (population 95,000) is progressive, sophisticated, environmentally aware, very outdoor-oriented, has an educated and eclectic population and sits in a gorgeous location. 

Why do people choose to live here?  This isn't Aspen or Vail where celebrity-spotting is common place and Saabs are police cruisers.   If anything, Boulder is the antithesis of Colorado's other expensive destinations.   There is plenty of money in town (household income is 20% above the national average), but here, it is in bad taste to flaunt it. 

Instead, Boulder has a casual affluence, where laid-back intellectualism and social responsibility are nurtured and expected.  Where bookstores, outdoor-gear stores, coffee shops and natural food stores are the norm.  It is a liberal oasis in an otherwise conservative state, but that does not mean that conservatives are not found here (25% of the population is Republican).

Because growth has been controlled, quality of life is very good.  Neighborhoods are well-kept.  Streets are quiet and tree-lined.   Plenty of parks and open spaces dot town.  Schools are safe.  The downtown Pearl Street Mall is a wonderful pedestrian shopping area with eclectic shops, restaurants, street performers, political speakers, open-air vendors and a vibrant atmosphere.   Standing at the east end of the Mall and and peering toward the far end, with the magnificent mountain scenery peeking out in the distance, sometimes prompts a quiet "Wow."    People-watching here is great fun since all kinds of  interesting folks live in Boulder.   

The University of Colorado is just up the street and has a beautiful campus.  All of the buildings are built from red sandstone and make for a  pretty picture with the blue and gold foothills towering in the background.

This area is also a recreation Paradise, with rafting, kayaking, hiking, camping and cross-country skiing literally minutes away.  Even Eldora, a small ski resort, is only 45 minutes to the west.  The town boasts tennis courts, swimming pools and miles of bicycle and walking trails.  This is a health-conscious place, and it is hard not to be motivated to stay in shape.   

Boulder is not, however, just about outdoor recreation.   One's intellectual appetite can certainly be satisfied here.  The University offers a rich assortment of lectures, music recitals, guest speakers and the wonderful, annual Conference on World Affairs, which brings nationally and internationally recognized experts, on everything from film direction to stem-cell research, to town for panel discussions open to the public. 

The historic Chautauqua Auditorium, located at the foot of Bluebell Mountain, hosts summer concerts every year, and the renowned, outdoor Shakespeare Festival brings in theater-goers from Denver and beyond.   For those who like to shop, the closest indoor mall at this writing is Flatiron Crossing Shopping Center, about 15 minutes south along a major highway (heading into Denver).   

Boulder Senior Services, run by the City of Boulder, manages two senior centers that offer classes, transportation and travel programs.  RSVP Boulder is an organization that give those 55 and older the opportunity to volunteer in the senior community and elsewhere, providing Meals on Wheels, offering companionship to homebound people, helping disabled children at the local therapeutic riding center and much more.  There are, in fact, 350 agencies in Boulder County that provide senior services of some kind.  So although this is a college town, the older section of the population is just as important as the younger section.

Boulder Community Hospital is the primary medical facility with 197 beds and offers acute care, cardiac care, emergency care, intensive care and almost any other kind of care one might need.  Half a dozen other full-service hospitals are 30 to 45 minutes away in Denver.

The climate in this region of Colorado is definitely four-season, characterized by cool, sometimes cold, winters, rainy or warm and dry springs (it varies from year to year), lovely, crisp falls and summers which can now bring 100 degree temperatures (this never used to be the case), although 80s are more the average.  This is a semi-arid area, so humidity is low.  It does snow, but as in much of Colorado, the snow usually comes one day and is completely gone the next, leaving behind the bluest sky this side of the Mediterranean Sea.   The sun shines 300+ days a year.

And getting around town, in any season, is made easier by RTD, the local bus system.  This is an environmentally-aware place, so many people ride the buses.  They are plentiful, clean and run on time.  Seniors are offered discounts.  There is also a very spiffy bus that runs every hour from Boulder to various points in Denver.

Overall, Boulder's violent crime rate is significantly below the national average.  Most crime comes in the form of thefts and burglaries.

Even if Boulder is too expensive for many, it can still be visited and explored for a reasonable price.  Nothing is better than taking in a Shakespearian play at the University's wonderful, outdoor Mary Rippon Theater (where all the seats are made of flagstone).   Or taking a stroll along the Pearl Street Mall on a summer evening when jugglers, high-wire walkers and musicians ply their trade.  Partake in an ice cream or a coffee, watch the lights twinkle in the nearby foothills and know that life is good.

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