You say your arms and back hurt from shoveling? You’re tired of snow, of walking like a penguin to avoid falling on ice? Florida sounds good right now.
Despite winter, we Mainers are living the dream! Maine is a top-rated state for retirement, according to a new report.
Maine earned the No. 3 place for retirement in the 2017 MoneyRates.com’s study of the best and worst states for retirement. Maine even beat out Florida. In fact, only three Southern states made it into the top 10 for retirement.
Why Maine? Personal safety.
Maine has the lowest rate of violent crime of any state, and has less property crime than most states, the report says. Plus, Maine has the highest proportion of residents age 60 or over out of any state (plenty of potential friends).
With retirement savings proving to be difficult for most, seniors may want to consider states with more favorable economic factors than ones with warm climates, the report says.
In order, best and worst states according to MoneyRates.com:
Best retirement states: 1. Iowa; 2. Hawaii; 3. Maine; 4. New Hampshire; 5. Vermont; 6. Florida; 7. Idaho; 8. South Dakota; 9. Arizona; and 10. Connecticut.
Worst retirement states: 1. Alaska; 2. Louisiana; 3. Georgia; 4. Nevada; 5. Illinois; 6. Tennessee; 7. Texas; 8. Mississippi; 9. Alabama; and 10. Maryland.
Alaska was rated the worst state for retirement not only for its tough climate, but because it has one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation and it doesn’t score well on economic factors. A common theme in states getting the worst ratings for retirement was too much crime.
To see the report: www.money-rates.com/research-center/best-states-for-retirement/2017.html.
Considerations in addition to personal safety the report considered when ranking states were: health and longevity, climate, economic factors and the proportion of older residents.
— Bonnie Washuk
Storms 2; TALK, 0
I was teasing Lewiston City Hall’s Dottie Perham-Whittier last week that the next time I want to know when a big storm is coming, I’ll check to see when the TALK news conference is scheduled.
TALK stands for “Treat All Listeners Kindly,” a campaign offered by the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council (www.lewistonmaine.gov/lyac), high school students from Lewiston and Saint Dominic Regional High School.
The campaign will try to take aim at those who don’t see eye to eye politically and resort to name-calling and rudeness, an atmosphere painfully visible during the presidential campaign.
The first TALK news conference was scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 7.
By late Monday with a storm forecast, it was called off and rescheduled for Thursday.
By late Wednesday with a storm forecast and Lewiston and Auburn announcing parking bans for Thursday, the news conference was called off again.
With two storms in one week, the youth council’s TALK positive communication campaign news conference “is not meant to be this week!” Perham-Whittier announced. City Council members will pick a new date for this week, perhaps after checking with meteorologists.
Members of the youth council are Chairwoman Jazy Dumas, Vice Chairman Deni Federico, Secretary Khafiya Dualeh, Treasurer Courtney Caouette, Carolyn Adams, Clare Kramer, Emma Williams and Maggie Elwell.
— Bonnie Washuk