Bay Area's Well Kept Secret - Active Adult Retirement Community

One of the major drawbacks cited by active adults looking to retire in the San Francisco Bay Area is the cost. Many people have opted for “second choice” retirement locations because they believe they simply can’t afford to retire in the Bay Area. However, if you haven’t yet opted out of your Bay Area retirement dreams, there’s a well-kept secret you should probably know about – it’s called Rio Vista, CA.

Located about an hour northeast of San Francisco, Rio Vista sits right on the Sacramento River Delta. According to various guide-books and web sites, Rio Vista is often described as a quaint, friendly, charming place that offers warm hospitality and a genuine small town feel. The waterway system makes for nice scenery and encourages water sports. The annual Bass Festival is a 3-day event in October that draws flocks of fishermen. Locke, the oldest surviving California town founded by Chinese immigrants, and the Dutra Dredging Museum are also nearby attractions. There are local restaurants to explore, there’s boating, fishing, hiking, golf, tennis and most of Northern California is relatively accessible from Rio Vista.

Active Adult Lifestyle

Napa, home of world famous California Wines is to the north. Right across the river, in Sacramento County is a lesser-known yet robust wine country. Family run wineries with names like Dancing Coyote, Six Hands, and Tierra del Rio Vineyards produce an eclectic mix of quality California Wines. Check out their web sites for tasting room locations and hours of operation.

http://www.dancingcoyotewines.com

http://www.sixhandswinery.com/index.html

Finally, what could seal the deal in making your Bay Area retirement dream a reality is Trilogy at Rio Vista. Trilogy is a planned active adult retirement community that features an excellent golf course and one of the most beautiful restaurants in Rio Vista, The Nines. http://www.ninesatriovista.com/nines_riovista/

Trilogy essentially offers beautiful gated, resort style living that is affordable and simply not available in San Francisco – yet is as close to the city as any of the “commuter towns” around the bay. If you really want to retire in the Bay Area, you should check out Trilogy at Rio Vista.

Your Active Adult Lifestyle in a Sunny City

As Active Adults nearing retirement age think about relocating to Active Adult Communities, a.k.a. retirement communities, it is not unusual for the states of California, Arizona and Florida to be considered.

What one thing do these states have in common? Lots of sunshine!

Active Adult Lifestyle

In a previous MyTrilogyLife.com post, writer Celine Todd addresses many questions that people have regarding staying healthy in a sunny community in her article "Here Comes the Sun. How Much is Too Much?”

Q: When do I need to protect myself from sun exposure?

A: Protection from sun exposure is important all year round, not just during the summer or at the beach. UV rays can cause skin damage during any season or temperature. Relatively speaking, the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during daylight savings time (9 a.m. - 3 p.m. during standard time) are the most hazardous for UV exposure in the continental United States. UV radiation is the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America.
UV rays reach you on cloudy and hazy days, as well as bright and sunny days. They will also reflect off any surface like water, cement, sand, and snow.

Q: What exactly are "ultraviolet rays"?

A: Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a part of sunlight that is an invisible form of radiation. UV rays can penetrate and change the structure of skin cells. There are three types of UV rays: ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC). UVA is the most abundant source of solar radiation at the earth's surface and penetrates beyond the top layer of human skin. Scientists believe that UVA radiation can cause damage to connective tissue and increase a person's risk for developing skin cancer. UVB rays are less abundant at the earth's surface than UVA because a significant portion of UVB rays is absorbed by the ozone layer. UVB rays penetrate less deeply into the skin than do UVA rays, but also can be damaging. UVC radiation is extremely hazardous to skin, but it is completely absorbed by the stratospheric ozone layer and does not reach the surface of the earth.

Other questions answered by Todd include:

• What is the UV Index?
• What does a suntan indicate? Why does the skin tan when exposed to the sun?
• Not everyone burns or tans in the same manner. Are there ways to classify different skin types?
• Does it matter what kind of sunscreen I use?
• What does a sunscreen's SPF rating mean?
• Do sunscreens need to be reapplied during the course of a day?
• Will a hat help protect my skin? Are there recommended styles for the best protection?
• Are sunglasses an important part of my sun protection plan?
• What type of sunglasses best protects my eyes from UV rays?
• Is there any particular time I should try to stay in the shade?
• I work outdoors all summer and can't stay in the shade. What can I do to protect my skin?
• If I stay in the shade, should I still use sunscreen and wear a hat?

When considering an Active Adult Community in a sunny city be sure to be up-to-date on your “Sun Know-How”.

To view the complete answers to the above sun-related question visit http://mytrilogylife.com/?section=sec-wellness&aid=17674&pagenum=1