To the editor:

In 1999, as I was preparing to retire after 43 years of practicing medicine in Lawrence, many of my patients asked me where I was planning to move to after I retired. I remember always telling them “I wasn’t leaving Lawrence … people move to Lawrence to retire.”

This is a great place in which to live. It’s a vibrant community with a delightful downtown (complete with statues scattered about) and multicultural eating opportunities, marvelous parks and recreation programs (including walking and biking trails and exercise programs), an active fine arts community with city band concerts, the Lied Center, Theatre Lawrence, and the Lawrence Arts Center and now an arts district. Kansas University sports and intellectual programs like the Osher learning opportunities and the excitement of youth also contribute to our vitality. We have a nationally top 100 community hospital and an outstanding medical community. We have a vibrant economic environment and opportunities for meaningful volunteering. We have multiple active religious congregations. We have well run city and county governments. We have it all.

There is plenty to do here to enjoy the change of pace of retirement. Tell your friends (and parents) and invite them to share the experience!