Have you ever wanted to retire in California? People love to mock the West Coast, claiming California is overpopulated with thrill-seekers, aging hippies and self-absorbed fitness buffs. Critics say the state is saturated with strip malls and an excess of big box stores, that the air is polluted, the weather unpredictable and traffic unbearable.
In reality, the Golden State offers retirees plenty of warm weather, space to wander and more access to nature than many other parts of the country, with an abundance of protected coastlines and national parks — all within a day’s drive. The focal point for photographers, hikers and tourists is California’s crown jewel, Yosemite.
