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The magazine cited Columbia’s low median home price of $147,000 with average property taxes around $1,000. It also mentioned events and exhibitions at the main Richland County library and Columbia Museum of Art, and "strolls around the historic downtown, past the Governor’s Mansion and university buildings dating to 1805."
USC’s students "lend the city a particular vibrancy," the magazine said. "In the funky Five Points neighborhood, students and seniors together scout for bottles of sauvignon blanc and sea salt at the Gourmet Shop."
Still, the Capital Senior Center - with its tai chi, yoga and Pilates classes - allows for "a good bit of socializing."
U.S. News makes no mention of Fort Jackson, the large Army training base usually considered one of the region’s biggest retiree draws.
Patrick Cobb, AARP’s S.C. spokesman, agreed with U.S. News’ assessment that Columbia "has a knack for shortchanging itself."
"Locals often explain their city’s appeal by listing its proximity to other destinations: less than two hours’ drive to Charleston, 1½ hours to Charlotte, 2½ to Savannah," the magazine said. "It can sound as if the thing they like best about Columbia is that it’s so easy to leave. But maybe residents are just loath to give up their real secret: that you can live a lot on a little in this sunny and colorful capital city."
Cobb said people are shifting their opinions from about what Columbia doesn’t have (an Apple store for instance) to its attributes (the miles of lake shore). Cobb expects to receive many inquiries about the Midlands now that the article has highlighted the area.
He won’t have to wait to hear from Aleksander Zwolinski. He plans to retire next year to property he bought in 2008 in Chapin along Lake Murray.
He and his wife, Danuta Zwolinski, also own property in South Florida, where they have lived for 20 years, and in Connecticut. They spent nearly eight months analyzing their retirement options, and they chose the Midlands as their destination. During their decision-making process, they drove around the Columbia metropolitan area to check out the scene and meet people.
"We thought it was exactly what we were looking for," said Zwolinski, a 57-year-old businessman.
The Zwolinskis were attracted by the affordable land and overall cost of living. They also found plenty of good restaurants and shopping in downtown Columbia and the Northeast. But, more than that, Aleksander Zwolinski said they really like the people they have met in Columbia.
"We find the people are really genuine," he said. "They are very friendly and very helpful."
Senior Connections can be seen on cable channel 6 or 820 and digital channel 57-1.
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