WASHINGTON IS IN THE RETIREMENT SWEET SPOT

Now that Forbes Magazine has placed Pittsburgh on its list of Best Places to Retire three years in a row and placed Morgantown on the list in 2014, Washington County is in the retirement sweet spot.  Washington combines the best of both locations with affordable housing, abundant shopping, proximity to an international airport and a thriving home grown senior population.  One could argue that we deserve a place on the list next to our neighbors.

Here in Washington, volunteer opportunities for seniors are numerous, taxes are low and retirees can take advantage of three Pittsburgh professional sports teams that regularly make the playoffs. Excellent college teams reside both south in Morgantown and north in Pittsburgh. Retirees quickly learn that it takes only a few minutes longer to drive to downtown Pittsburgh from East Washington as it does from Wexford or Monroeville.

The Forbes Magazine survey is focusing on retirees who have the economic means to move anywhere in the country to enjoy their golden years. These new residents have money to spend and time to lend a helping hand with no children to stress the public schools. Washington County should be promoting itself to attract these individuals.

 Many retirees are “four season” people who love the climate changes that Western Pennsylvania has to offer.  Add to the climate one of the world’s best health care systems; a world class Symphony at Heinz Hall (and the local Washington Orchestra); an excellent Regional Theater at the O’Reilly (and the Off the Wall theater in Carnegie); and outstanding museums and parks throughout the area. The exciting restaurant revival in our region is another perk.  It is no wonder that Southwestern Pennsylvania did so well in the Forbes retirement survey.

If Forbes Magazine were to undertake a deep dive into Washington County as a place to retire, what would be the draw backs?  No doubt crime/drugs and lack of economic diversity would be high on the list. In regard to the former, District Attorney Eugene Vittone is committed to working with region wide task forces and showing no mercy to drug suppliers while treating addicts as patients first and criminals only when violent crimes are committed.  In regard to the latter, Commissioner Larry Magi has recently discussed the importance of diversification that lessens over dependence on energy, hopefully with a mix of advanced manufacturing, technology, health care and finance.  Both issues are receiving high priority by County officials and will be solved over time to make our quality of life even better.

No place is perfect.  Washington County is far better than most.  Contact your friends and family who are aging baby boomers in other parts of the Country and sing the praises of one of the best places to retire.