College students aren’t the only people flocking to Eugene these days. Every year, more retirees move to the Willamette Valley for its temperate climate, friendly atmosphere and diverse cultural opportunities.
According to a recent feature in the January issue of Where to Retire Magazine, the number of seniors in the area will continue to grow. Eugene was one of four American cities featured as ideal places for people looking to retire.
The magazine is published five times a year and features four different cities per issue.
Cities are chosen by the editors based on specific criteria including climate, proximity to natural recreation, presence of a downtown area, low housing costs and sufficient medical facilities.
Stanton Patty, the author of the article, was pleased with Eugene. His most recent visit was not his first, and he already had a favorable impression of the city. He spoke with retirees in the community to hear their reasons for choosing
Eugene.
“Many of the people I spoke with moved from large cities and didn’t want to give up their cultural
activity,” Patty said.
Aspects of the community that provide retired people such activities are the Hult Center, opportunities to volunteer and the
University.
Gaston Carlier, a retired Eugene resident, currently takes advantage of classes offered by the University’s music department. Contrary to the stereotype that older people don’t like the “younguns,” Carlier said the young population of Eugene adds energy and vitality to the community.
Growing up in Southern California gave Carlier another reason to end up in Eugene.
“This is a great place to live a simple, modest life,” he said.
Patsy Bay, another Eugene retiree, also values the atmosphere of a university town. Eugene specifically caters to her interest in alternative medicines. The eclectic population of Eugene is more welcoming than the members of her old home in Ventura, Calif., she said.
“Here, people will talk to you in the middle of Costco,” Bay said.
Eugene isn’t perfect. Carlier’s only complaint was the length of the gloomy season in Eugene and the potential of suffering from seasonal depression. But he said the summers are spectacular and he’s put up with the rough parts for almost 20 years already.
Although Bay disagrees, Patty has found that Eugene retirees are not always satisfied with the accessibility to air travel, which requires trips to Portland International Airport to reach any major destination or meet family.
This shows that Eugene’s receiving this publicity does not necessarily mean that all retired people in the country will be rushing here.
People all have different checklists for their golden years. Karen Northridge of Where to Retire Magazine said people spend between two and five years before retirement thinking about where they want to be.
“Retirement is big business,” Northridge said. “It’s very profitable for a city to attract relocating retirees.”
Patty said the article won’t make people want to retire in Eugene, but it will attract “looky-loos” who are willing to consider the option.