It’s finally here. The golden days of retirement are just around the corner. This is what you’ve been dreaming about all your working life. Don’t you think its time to choose a place to enjoy it?

There are many things to consider when choosing a place to spend the rest of your life. Finances, weather, health care needs and even traveling distance from relatives and loved ones. The following guide will help you to make one of the most important decisions of your life.

Finances

The first thing you need to think about is your finances. Can you afford to move? Can you afford not to? Although they are not the only thing to consider, finances are quite often the main decision maker in choosing a retirement spot.

Taxes

State and local taxes are going to be one of your biggest concerns. In order to find out the tax burden in any chosen community you can click on to www.kiplinger.com. In the "Your Finances," section you will be able to find information on state income tax amounts, sales tax amounts and other pertinent tax information that you may need in order to make an informed decision. This service is free but can be an invaluable tool.

Income and Spending

You will also need to look at your sources of income. How much Social Security will you be receiving? How large is your pension? Your nest egg? Kiplinger.com also has a section called "Tools," where you can calculate expenses for many different monetary situations.

Weather

In making your decision on where to retire, weather conditions for the area should play a big part in your choice. Do you like to go fishing? Aside from being near a waterway, you will also want to be somewhere warm and sunny. Do you enjoy skiing? A colder climate closer to the mountains would be a better choice for you. If golf is your thing, there are hundreds of places where you can live happily ever after. As a whole, most retirees prefer a warmer temperature for the golden years but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to move to Florida. All of the states in the southern hemisphere have beautiful climates and mild temperatures. And many of them have lower housing costs and more affordable taxes than Florida does.