Eric and Ann Sorebo, a retired couple from Wisconsin, recently moved to Lawrence because of its artisan culture, educational opportunities and diversity. The Sorebos, who unpacked paintings and photographs in early August, retired early because of sound financial planning.

Donna Dennis, a Kansas University graduate, retired to Lawrence last November. Dennis, pictured at home working on one of her paintings, is an active member in the Lawrence Art Guild.

When you think retirees, Ann and Eric Sorebo aren’t whom most people picture.

The couple, in their late 50s, sport the trendy eyewear and stylish haircuts that would blend into any downtown Lawrence coffee shop. They talk about their photography projects, travels to Iceland and the guitar amplifiers sitting in the family room.

Their reasons for moving from Wisconsin to Lawrence, however, fit the norm.

They wanted a warmer climate, less acreage to look after, a thriving arts community and the feel of a small town with a short drive to a city.

While Kansas University is a draw for many to return to Lawrence, it’s not the only reason.

Lawrence City Commissioner Mike Dever, who spends his professional life as an environmental consultant working with retirement communities nationwide, knows why people would want to move here. For starters, compared with northern states, Kansas has a relatively mild winter.

When stacked against the retirement communities in the warmer states of Arizona and Florida, Lawrence also is a less expensive place.

Another draw is Kansas’ central location. Plus, Lawrence is less than an hour away from a major international airport.

Then there is perhaps Lawrence’s strongest card – its arts and entertainment. The Lawrence Arts Center provides classes in everything from pottery to sound recording. The Lied Center brings in Broadway shows and string quartets. Live bands play in downtown bars every night of the week.

Apart from events, stores and restaurants line downtown, which is easy to walk.

Of course, the university itself offers the opportunity to take classes, spend time at the library and museums, and attend KU football and basketball games.

As director of the Lied Center, Tim Van Leer sees quite a few retirees pass through the performing arts center’s doors as attendees, donors and volunteers. He said the retirees he knows didn’t come here to sit on the front porch.

“They want to be here because they want to do things and you can do things here. You can get involved, participate and really continue a meaningful life,” Van Leer said. “It keeps you young.”

Moving south

The Sorebos like Massachusetts Street, the specialty restaurants and boutiques. They love the Eldridge Hotel and Teller’s. Shopping at The Legends is a 40-minute drive.

“Everything is just right here, and that is what I really like,” Ann Sorebo said.

The Sorebos, who have been married for 31 years, were looking to move back to Kansas, where Ann’s family lives. They looked up and down the Kansas-Missouri border in Fort Scott, Springfield and Paola.

After visiting Lawrence, the search was over.

This summer, they moved out of their Wisconsin house of 23 years and made the journey via U-Haul to their four-bedroom home in a quiet residential neighborhood in south Lawrence.

Even with moving boxes still unpacked, they already had a to-do list: yoga, gardening and an installation art project.

Attracting retirees

John Glassman, executive director of Douglas County Senior Services, says Lawrence should start capitalizing on its ability to attract retirees.

“I look at it as an economic impact; I view this as a real opportunity for this community,” Glassman said.

For Dever, retirees represent a demographic with a lot of free time, which translates into more volunteers.

“If we as a community can attract more retired people, then our community can be more rich for it,” he said.

He also sees the demographic of retirees coming to Lawrence fitting into a higher income bracket and with more disposable income than the seniors who have lived here all their lives. While they’ll contribute to taxes by owning homes and buying goods, they won’t place as much of a strain on the community as those who need a lot of services.

Seniors tend to drive less and not have children who use the school systems, Dever said.

“It’s like having a health club membership and never going,” Dever said.

While many agree retirees are a good thing, neither the city of Lawrence or Chamber of Commerce has marketed the town directly as a home for retirees.

Van Leer, who is chairman of the chamber’s tourism committee, said the chamber’s tourism marketing does bring people to town, who might then decide to relocate here.

“As we have people who come here for one reason or the other – whether for an athletic event or education activity or they are coming to visit the museum or downtown – once they begin to see what a great community this is, it’s maybe something that sticks in their mind,” Van Leer said.

With the university at the heart of Lawrence, the town will never become a true retirement community, Dever said. But that also is exactly what draws people here.

“Even though they may curse under their breath,” he said, “I think they like having the kids around.”