When relocating, it’s crucial to choose a community where you can relax and get used to your new surroundings. The advantages of living near the coast include, but are not limited to, greater mental health, a healthier way of life, and better sleep.
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Overall, living near the coast is a refreshing experience for the body, mind, and soul. A coastal living will keep you in a constant state of joy and on a good health note, from the chilly, salty air to the warm sun beating against your skin.
In this article, we take a look at the top 10 coastal towns where you can afford to retire.
The benefit of Living in Coastal Towns
Higher Levels of Vitamin D
One of the numerous advantages of living near the seaside is that people tend to spend more time outdoors, which raises vitamin D levels. Increased vitamin D intake helps the body repair and relax by lowering inflammation and managing infections.
Vitamin D not only helps with energy levels but also with immune system development. The more vitamin D your body produces, the better your immune system will perform and the more calcium your body will be able to absorb.
You may enjoy the delights of the seaside while getting your recommended daily amount of vitamin D while lying in the sun.
Improved Air Quality
Coastal air is advantageous to your general lung health in addition to the favorable benefits of negative ions on your mood. Pollutants are often carried away by air near oceans, allowing people to breathe more easily.
Some studies claim that at night, the ocean functions as an air filter, soaking up contaminants from the water’s surface.
Particularly at night, the sea draws nitrogen oxides from the air and absorbs them. The sun breaks down the leftover molecules, which aids in the ozone layer’s production. Additionally, the air is moist, which helps to lessen skin irritations and dryness and relieve respiratory problems.
Encourages a Healthy Lifestyle
People who are near the sea are not only happy but also more energetic. With kilometers of beachfront, there are practically unlimited sports available, from swimming and surfing the incredible waves to beach volleyball.
Kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing are just a few of the water activities that locals can enjoy. Waterways in the Low country are great places to go paddle boarding and take in the coastal scenery.
Lessens Stress
It has been shown that being near the coast lowers blood pressure, anxiety, and stress, which is good for your heart. Living at the shore offers a serene and idyllic environment since the ocean acts as a regulator.
The tranquil atmosphere that is produced by the sound of the waves crashing against the coast calms your nervous system.
The improvement of mental health overall is a further advantage of seaside living that contributes to stress reduction.
Studies have indicated that people who live close to the water tend to be happier and that a healthy mental state contributes to a superior quality of life.
Increases Your Mood
The majority of residents of coastal areas smile frequently. Your mood and energy levels will likely increase if you live near the coast. Typically, this is due to the presence of more negative ions in coastal environments, which encourage higher serotonin production.
Serotonin acts as a mood stabilizer and can increase both your general happiness and daytime energy. Additionally, coastal regions receive more sunlight, which is advantageous for people who experience seasonal mood fluctuations.
Moving to a coastal area might provide you with the constant energy you require to be ready for whatever your new path may hold.
Top 10 Coastal Towns where you can afford to Retire
Let us take a look at the top 10 coastal towns where you can afford to retire:
St. Petersburg, Florida
This sophisticated Gulf city, which is nestled on the piercingly blue waters of Tampa Bay, keeps becoming better and better, with a downtown arts and culture scene perhaps best highlighted by the recently opened (and magnificent) Dal Museum anchoring the waterfront.
Small-scale, historic districts counterbalance the luxuries of the major city. This city has moderate winters, making it a year-round destination for outdoor recreation, and being close to some of the best white-sand beaches in the state adds a level of quality of life that few other affluent neighborhoods have.
Seabrook, Washington
This New Urbanism neighborhood, which was carved out along the stunning Pacific coast of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, has quickly developed into a place with a lot of personalities and understated sophistication.
More than a dozen independently owned shops, eateries, and marketplaces can be found in the town center, which is perched on a bluff over the coastal highway and the enormous Pacific Ocean beyond.
This makes going about your daily business on foot a pleasure. For casual adventurers, Olympic National Park’s riches are only up the road; for serious adventurers, the wide sands of Seabrook’s beach are only a short stroll away (or on your front yard if you reside in Seabrook’s seaside cottages).
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city with both beauty and brains thanks to its world-class beaches and outstanding arts and culture scene (with its own symphony orchestra and resident opera and ballet groups).
Additionally, a variety of traditional neighborhoods with modest houses, as well as a celebrated collection of midcentury modern architecture, make daily life sweet, simple, and aesthetically pleasing. The Gulf, a source of breezes, fresh seafood, and a relaxed cultural undercurrent that maintains the balance of life here, is another factor.
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Santa Barbara, California
This affluent yet unpretentious tiny city owes its gem-like beauty to an early urban planning ordinance that ensured streetscapes, public areas, and even municipal buildings evolved together in harmony.
Santa Barbara is like taking an aesthetic tranquilizer just by walking around, whether on its elegant commercial avenues or on its expansive beaches. Along with being close to abundant farmland and wine region, the food and beverage scene is also powered by creative chefs. Additionally, it is a traditional surf town, which maintains the mood in the ideal location.
Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Many digital nomads have realized how convenient and inexpensive it is to travel to Playa del Carmen, which is located just south of Cancun, and are using it as their home base.
And for good reason: this coastline’s beaches are stunning, from Playa del Carmen all the way down to Tulum. Additionally, Cancun is only 45–60 minutes to the north, providing access to good hospitals and “American” conveniences that people in more remote areas might yearn for.
Orleans, Massachusetts
This picturesque New England town spans the upper arm of Cape Cod with 54 miles of coastline, capturing the wilds of the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the peace of Cape Cod Bay to the west.
With its own Cape Cod Baseball League club, more than a dozen art galleries, a local live theater, and a wide array of eateries, Orleans comes alive in the summer. Life is vibrant, rich, and diverse in this region of the country, whether you’re meandering down its cobblestone lanes lined with old cottages or canoeing its freshwater lakes.
Langley, Washington
Located in Puget Sound, just one hour north of Seattle, Whidbey Island’s small waterfront village has a picturesque townscape that evokes New England, a warm climate that radiates Southern California, and a steady stream of outdoor activities like kayaking and hiking that are distinctly Pacific Northwest.
It has an air of seclusion yet still maintains ties to society because to its superb coffee, fine dining, and cultural scene. Being in the middle of a network of islands connected by ferries and available for weekend adventures throughout the year, Langley’s location in Puget Sound is a bonus for its residents.
Kukui’ula, Kauai, Hawaii
This gorgeous neighborhood on Kauai’s picturesque South Shore overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is home to one of Hawaii’s top golf courses, which was created by Tom Weiskopf. This indicates that navigating the region’s difficulties involves keeping an eye on the ball as a spinner and humpback dolphins frolic offshore.
Professional athletes may live next door because the homes’ varied architectural styles create a sense of solitude and space. The property also has a beautiful farm that serves as a hub for community gardening and farm dinners under the trees. Finally, a top-notch spa, upscale shopping district, and restaurant town add the necessary—and exquisite—indulgences.
Harbour Island, Bahamas
This little, chic, but unmistakably laid-back beauty is hidden into Eleuthera’s crook in the Bahamas’ Out Islands. Learn about the different shades of pink sands while residing among groups of quaint, pastel cottages on little blocks where all streets appear to go to the water. You may also keep an eye on the attractive individuals as they pass by silently (or stay and become your neighbors).
The boutiques subtly display a new group of curators, while the gleaming flats teem with fish for intrepid travelers.
Grand Haven, Michigan
This town on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan has so many treasures, but what really jumps out is the old-fashioned atmosphere that permeates life among the historic businesses and along the lively waterfront’s promenade.
Grand Haven, often known as “Coast Guard City, USA,” blends the pleasures of a small town with those of a large lake by embracing every aspect of maritime life, including boating and fishing of all types.
