Our mild climate, breathtaking scenery, endless outdoor recreation, small-town friendliness and the mellow lifestyle as well as the state-of-the-art health services beckon to many a retiree. 

Bellingham has recently become very popular for retires from across the nation to settle down. “About midway between Seattle and Vancouver, Bellingham has metropolitan ambitions without big-city hassles.” According to CNN.com baby boomers that are retiring choose Whatcom County as a place to live. The climate, no matter what the season is, never gets too hot or cold. In the summer it rarely peaks over 80, and during the winter is snows very little. The Klipsinger, which chose the top 12 places to retire comments “With Bellingham Bay to its west and snow-capped Mount Baker to the east, Bellingham is a city designed for nature lovers. Hiking and biking trails snake throughout the city, and ski slopes are only an hour away. The city is known for historic Victorian neighborhoods and a thriving arts community.” Not to be out done, the AARP ranked Bellingham 3rd in a list of 15 best place for baby boomers to retire in the May/ June 2003 Issue of their magazine. 
With the help of Whatcom County’s Council of Aging and the Parks and Recreation Department; there are eight senior centers located in Bellingham, Deming, Ferndale, Sumas, Lynden, Blaine, Everson and Point Roberts. Each center has a full calendar of events for senior citizens, which include classes for everything from crafts to foreign languages, low impact exercises, creative writing, metal casting, Bible study, bridge, guitar, and even lip reading. Other activities include games, songs, music, dancing, and special tours. The senior centers provide a place where senior citizens can come together to help shape community awareness of their needs and interests. 

St. Joseph Hospital is a two-campus, acute-care facility, serving the community since 1891. It provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient services, including: 24-hour emergency and trauma care, neurosurgery, total joint replacement, the Cardiovascular Center, and the Community Cancer Center.

Bellingham and surrounding cities also have well-established 55 and over parks/communities, which provide a safe friendly environment. Some include amenities like pool, hot tub, clubhouse, exercise facilities and many more. Beyond age targeted communities there are also over twenty different communities that offer anything from Apartment type buildings to assisted living. If you need a little extra help around the house, many citizens find the WWU Job Boards a great place to find what they need. A quick phone call or post on their website make it very easy to obtain an additional hand for whatever you need help with. Students are eager for any odd job, from gardening, driving to doctor’s appointments, or weekly housekeeping.

Click Here For A List of Retirement Communities, Health Services and more.