The Best Retirement Communities

The best retirement communities are not hard to find if you know where to look. One of the reasons Arizona and Florida are great states to retire in is because they offer some of the best retirement communities in the country. There are a variety of active adult communities out there, but I tried to focus on the ones that offered both independent living and assisted living. And remember, these are not simply places to live; they are places to have fun! Your celebration of retirement shouldn't end with your retirement speech. It should continue everyday throughout your retirement.

Best Retirement Communities in Arizona

Green Valley is considered one of the largest retirement communities in the world. In actuality it is a collection of more than 50 individual communities. Green Valley has surprisingly low housing costs for Arizona, and it offers a moderate climate most of the year. Two of its best senior communities are Silver Springs and La Posada.

The Best Retirement Communities

Silver Springs offers options for both independent living and assisted living. It's a great place to live if you are looking to stay active and meet new people. The community includes a swimming pool, fitness center, card room, hair salon, computer lounge, and a variety of other amenities. Even if you don't need assisted living now, the services will be available to you later. This provides you with the security of knowing that you won't have to move again.

La Posada is a nonprofit assisted living community. Unlike some senior communities, you pay fees to live here but you don't own your living space. The benefit is that you don't have to worry about any of the upkeep anymore. The landscaping, house cleaning, and meals are all covered. You can just worry about enjoying your retirement at the hiking trails, in the swimming pool, or on the nearby golf courses. La Posada also offers both independent living and assisted living options.

Best Retirement Communities in Florida

Classic Residence by Hyatt in Boca Raton is no doubt in one of the best locations for any community. The amazing weather and gorgeous beaches from this part of Florida are difficult to beat. Like all of the other retirement communities on this list, Classic Residence offers both independent living and assisted living. The amenities are too long to list, but if you can imagine a five-star resort then you'll have a good idea what this retirement community is like. The regional and ethnic cuisine is reportedly very good too.

Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers is my favorite among all of the retirement communities I've researched. When it comes to amenities and pricing it is on par with the other top choices. It really does feel like you are living at an upscale resort. You'll have plenty of opportunities to meet people, stay active, and eat great food. So what differentiates Shell Point from the other communities? One of their contract options includes both assisted living and long-term care. What this means is that you will never have to move again. As you transition from independent living to assisted living and then possibly to skilled nursing, you can continue to live at Shell Point. More importantly you won't have to worry about the exorbitant prices of nursing care. Your normal monthly fees will cover it. The only downside is that you do not own your home and the entrance fee is non-refundable. There is an option that allows the entrance fee to be refunded upon contract cancellation or death, but that option does not include assisted living or skilled nursing care.

These are only a few of the many wonderful retirement communities available out there. There are so many factors to take into account that one list would never satisfy everyone. Personally, I like warm weather and an active lifestyle. I also like the security of knowing I will be able to stay where I am and receive the proper care that I may one day require. Your priorities may be different, but I hope this list of excellent retirement communities can at least guide you in the right direction.

The Best Retirement Communities
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B. Ferguson invites you to visit Retirement Wishes for tips and advice about retirement. If you enjoyed this article, then you may also like Best Retirement States.

The Positive and Negative Consequences of Deforestation

Earth and the lives of everything that depends on it - from the smallest bacteria to the largest sea creatures - rest on a delicate matter and that is balance. A single, seemingly harmless disturbance in this balance has consequences that are both beneficial and disadvantageous. One of these is deforestation.

Deforestation has always been a practice of many developing communities and has contributed greatly to civilization as we know it today. Unfortunately, much of the ill effects of deforestation is caused by greed, bad agricultural practices and government neglect.

Why forests are important -

The Positive and Negative Consequences of Deforestation

Other than for their beauty, forests are highly responsible in keeping and sustaining global ecosystems. In fact, much of the quality of life we enjoy, we owe to the forests. It is also the home of more than half of all creatures and organisms in this planet. From food to life-saving medicines, forests give mankind a variety of gifts that contribute much to our quality of life.

The positive consequences of deforestation -

Depending on the needs of the social group concerned, deforestation has made it possible for communities to be built. Forests make way for residential houses, office buildings and factories. Governments are able to build roads to make trade and transport easier and therefore more convenient to residents.

Deforestation can also mean the conversion of forest land to productive land for agricultural uses. This results in better and more abundant production of food and materials, virtually eradicating periods of want and lack. Economically, deforestation has contributed much in giving many communities the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives.

The negative consequences of deforestation -

Unfortunately, the negative consequences of deforestation far outweigh its positive effects. Here are a few of them:

1. Exposing soil to heat and rain. When forests are cleared, soil cover, which consists mainly of vegetation, is removed as well. This exposes the bare soil to extreme conditions produced by the sun's heat and rainwater.

With these activities alternating, the soil quickly compacts. As rainwater flows, it will wash out the nutrients and other organic materials that make the soil rich and fertile. Add to that the frequent activities of tilling, cropping and grazing which gradually results to the degradation of the soil's quality.

These practices are specially a concern in areas where forest zones are drier. Agriculture practice on top of deforestation can result to the desertification of many areas. Desertification is also a direct result of the demand for the soil to produce more (as a consequence of the increase in human population), thereby decreasing to a significant degree the land's carrying capacity.

2. Flooding. Deforestation can result to watersheds that are no longer able to sustain and regulate water flows from rivers and streams. Trees are highly effective in absorbing water quantities, keeping the amount of water in watersheds to a manageable level. The forest also serves as a cover against erosion. Once they are gone, too much water can result to downstream flooding, many of which have caused disasters in many parts of the world.

As fertile topsoil is eroded and flooded into the lower regions, many coastal fisheries and coral reefs suffer from the sedimentation brought by the flooding. This results to negative effects in the economic viability of many businesses and fatalities in wildlife population.

3. Non-suitability of deforested areas for conversion. Most of the areas that have undergone deforestation are actually unsuitable for long-term agricultural use such as ranching and farming. Once deprived of their forest cover, the lands rapidly degrade in quality, losing their fertility and arability.

The soil in many deforested areas is also unsuitable for supporting annual crops. Much of the grassy areas are also not as productive compared to more arable soils and are therefore not fit for long-term cattle grazing.

4. The displacement of indigenous communities and their traditional way of life. When governments decide to offer forests for deforestation mainly to open up areas for 'civilized' communities, access to forest resources by indigenous peoples are ignored. In fact, indigenous peoples are hardly included in economic and political decisions that directly affect their lives. This encroachment ignores their rights as much as it takes away the resources that their ancestors have bestowed upon them.

5. The loss in the number of biodiversity. This is probably the most serious consequence of deforestation. Put simply, it means the destruction and extinction of many plant and animal species, many of whom remain unknown and whose benefits will be left undiscovered.

Each year, as deforestation continues, much of the wilderness from which we benefit and would have continued to benefit from will be lost forever. With it are the millions of chances in the form of plants and wildlife that could bring us many economic and medical solutions to pressing problems we currently face.

While it's true deforestation has brought with it opportunities to improve our lives, we have not mastered the right kind of responsibility that goes with having control over our planet's resources. As a result, we and all the other creatures on this planet suffer greatly from the consequences of our actions.

The Positive and Negative Consequences of Deforestation
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Guide To Free (Or Cheap) Building Materials

Do you need a backyard storage shed, but feel you cannot afford the high cost of building materials? Have you ever contemplated building a summer cabin or perhaps a house but the cost of materials is prohibitive? These projects may seem like something you would just as soon leave to the hired professionals, especially for us carpentry challenged folks, but what if you just want materials for a planter to showcase your special flowers or a new home for "Fido"? I am about to make a bold proclamation by stating that you can get the materials you need for FREE! Yes, you heard it right...FREE! "How," you ask, "might this be possible?" Listen closely my friends, and I will show you how to do just that.

Before we begin, I should let you in on the only two things you will need to accomplish this seemingly impossible task of finding free materials...patience, and flexibility. The reasoning behind these two very important attributes shall become clear as we move along.

The first step is to decide what materials you need for your project, and also some alternatives that will work if necessary. This is where the flexibility comes in. You may not get the "exact" materials you need, but some alternatives are just as good. Suppose you are building a deck on the summer cabin. If you are vying for a position in the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" you probably wouldn't read this far into this article, so I am guessing that functionality and price considerations are more important than beautiful craftsmanship. I would suggest using pallets as a starting point. They are sturdy, easy to assemble, and readily available. Plus they can be covered later for a more aesthetic appearance. We built a porch on our cabin using pallets that we covered with decking material that we later found. Check lumberyards, electrical/plumbing supply outlets, door and window shops, just about any place that receives large shipments of merchandise. These places are easily identified by the monstrous stacks of pallets in the alley or behind the building, and most places will give you as many as you want. Electric companies are also good sources for the large wire spools that make excellent patio tables, birdbath stands, and any other use you might imagine.

Guide To Free (Or Cheap) Building Materials

Always be on the lookout for neighbors and others that are doing their own remodeling projects. They often have discarded materials and are happy to give them away rather than having them hauled off at their expense. For our cabin, we asked a home remodeler for unwanted materials and that's where we acquired the doors, windows, roof sheathing, stove pipe, screws, nails, among other things.

Many times you might find elderly residents who would love to have their yard cleared of years worth of accumulated stuff, but they are incapable of doing the job themselves and not financially able to hire someone to do it for them. Make a deal to clean their yard in exchange for the materials.

Local lumber mills have mountains of byproduct that is unusable for their purposes but perfect for many homeowner projects. Check with the office for availability and restrictions.

Old discarded tires are strewn all over the countryside, but may just turn into a beautiful landscape piece for the artistic homeowner, or filled with cement to become shed supports. Automobile junkyards may offer useable materials for the visionary builder...use your imagination. Pickup bench seats can be conformed into unusual but classic breakfast niche booth seats.

You will most assuredly have more success in your quest for free materials if you become a Classified Ad reader. Read them every day. Look for anything that says "free" but be sure to call early because these things go fast. There is a gold mine waiting to be had for the asking. Many times you might find free items just because you are willing to haul them away. If you are really energetic, you may find an ad for a house to be torn down in exchange for the materials. Here is a great source for lumber, bricks and blocks, trusses, windows, doors, plumbing fixtures, and the list goes on.

New construction sites offer a plethora of material gathering options. Many times there will be a huge dumpster on site for material discards that may be just the thing you are looking for. You may find dimension lumber, insulation, electrical wiring, PVC pipe, etc. Please be sure to check with the construction foreman before taking these materials.

If you happen to need "like new" building materials without the exorbitant cost, check your surrounding communities for a salvage lumberyard. These establishments offer "scratch and dent" or otherwise rejected building materials at substantial discounts.

As you can see, there are endless possibilities when it comes to recycling "pre-owned" building materials, but a better price cannot be found. Forethought must be applied and sometimes you must patiently wait for the perfect opportunity, but the end result will be well worth the effort. Just keep your eyes open and don't be afraid to think outside the box.

Guide To Free (Or Cheap) Building Materials
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Ferrel Kenda is an Internet author and specializes in affiliate marketing and promotion.

5 Interesting Tap Dance Facts

Tap dancing is one of the most rewarding forms of dance to both the eyes and ears. The rapid foot movements, combined with the rhythmic sounds created by the dancer are unparalleled in any other form of dance. The history of tap is filled with interesting facts, including these five:

1. An early form of tap dance was popular in the early 19th century among African-American slaves. They used the dance to maintain their history of rhythms and beats passed down through generations. The slaves used their feet because they weren't allowed to freely play drums or other instruments from Africa.

2. Prior to metal taps being used, the dance was performed with wooden clogs on leather shoes.

5 Interesting Tap Dance Facts

3. In the 1920's and 1930's the metal taps became popular. During that same time, African-American dancers expanded the art to become more acrobatic, and energetic. Tap dancing at this time expanded from solo performances to often being highly orchestrated teams of dancers.

The Nicholas brothers were two of the most famous dancers to emerge during this period. Their skills amazed audiences, and earned them a role in the movie Stormy Weather. The movie was one of the first to feature a predominately African-American cast.

Fred Astaire was quoted as saying that the Nicholas brother's performance in Stormy Weather was the greatest movie musical number he had ever seen.

4. In the 1930's and 1940's tap dance reached a wider audience when it made a big splash in Hollywood. Famous dancers like Fred Astaire and Ray Bolger impressed audiences around the world with their musical feet.

5. In the 1950's, Gene Kelley increased the popularity of tap dancing by combining movements from other styles of dance with his tap dancing skills.

The Beat Goes On

Tap dancing is still a popular style of dance practiced and studied around the world. The musical sound and the fast footwork continue to capture the attention of adults and children all over the world. The sound of the tap dancing techniques of rush, flap, shuffle, ball change, and cramp roll, will continue to live on as one the greatest dance varieties enjoyed anywhere.

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Facts about the Holocaust

The Holocaust began with Hitler's rise to power in January of 1933 and ended on VE Day (May 8, 1945). During this time, more than 6 million Jews and millions of other groups that caught the negative attention of Nazi Germany. While all the murders were devastating to native populations, none were so devastating than that of the Jews. During this period, 5,000 Jewish communities were wiped out and the total that died represented 1/3 of all Jewish people alive at that time.

Due to a series of events, Hitler assumed dictatorial powers in March 23, 1933 when the Enabling Act was passed. With total power available to him, he quickly developed a sophisticated police and military force and used them to squelch anyone who criticized his authority. From this authority stemmed the first concentation camp, Dachau, just outside of Munich which started as a political prison camp but evolved over time into a full scale Nazi concentration camp to exterminate Jews and others.

By the end of 1934, Hiter's campaign against the Jews was in full force. The Nazis weere claiming them to be mongrels who were corrupting the pure German race and persecutions of the Jewish grew in strength. Those who could, fled Germany to other European countries which gave them safety for a while.

Facts about the Holocaust

The next major event that led towards the widescale destruction of the Jews was the Meeting in July of 1938 where representatives of 32 countries met in the French town of Evian to discuss the refugee problems created by the Nazis - but since no conclusive action was taken, Hitler took that as defacto notice that no one would act against him while he worked to purge the Jews from his territories.

Germany started World War II with the invasion of Poland in September of 1939 and in 1940 established Jewish ghettos in Poland where they could be isolated from the rest of society and kept an eye on. Conditions in the ghettos were deplorable - not enough food, water, space, sanitation facilities, etc., and many died from the horrid conditions.

In June 1941, Germany attacked the Soviet Union and began the implementation of the Final Solution - the beginnings of the systemized destruction of the undesirables. At first they were just gathered up, shot and thrown into mass open graves. It is estimated that over 1 million people died in this manner. But it wasn't efficient enough so more and more death camps sprang up.

From this point, the Germans worked on more and more efficient ways to liquidate the undesirables by bringing them to death camps to systematically kill them and recycle any valuables for the war effort. And in this instance, a valuable was a healthy person - so the Germans would work the prisoners until they had no more energy to produce and then kill them. In effect, that had millions of slaves being forced to work to death to help the Germans in their war efforts.

This atrocity continued to the end of the war - with liberation not happening until July 1944 and later. In July 1944, the Soviet Union liberatated Maidanek concentration camp and then in January 1945 - Auschwitz concentration camp and so on until Nazi Germany was totally defeated and all peoples were freed.

All told, there were only about 200,000 Jewish survivors by the end of the liberation and the death counts from the holocaust were estimated to be around 6 million Jews and millions of other people who did not fit the Aryan mold.

Facts about the Holocaust
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The Historical Archive offers a large, robust library of DVD and CD based products covering a wide range of significant and interesting historical events and cultural moments through film, photos, audios, maps and other documents. This growing collection of DVDs and CDs covers the full range of significant events that have shaped our culture, entertainment values and history.

For more details on concentration camps, visit the NAZI Concentration Camps, Holocaust Camps & Death Camps Film Collection

Solar Lighting For Subdivisions - Earth-Friendly Ways To Make Your Community Beautiful

Solar lights solve many challenges for housing subdivisions. This article describes simple applications of solar technology that homeowners' associations can use to cut costs, increase security, and improve the aesthetics of their community. These applications include:

Solar sign lights for entrance signs and public buildings. Solar-powered security lights to automatically light common areas as people approach. Deck lights for use around pool, patio and tennis areas. Landscape lights to highlight garden features and pathways.

Generally, solar systems save money in both installation and operation. They don't need expensive wiring for installation and there is no need to connect to your local electric utility. The sun charges them every evening, and will automatically turn them on each evening.

Solar Lighting For Subdivisions - Earth-Friendly Ways To Make Your Community Beautiful

Solar Sign Lights Most subdivisions have signs at their entrances, but these signs are typically far from the homes and utility connections. Rather than dig trenches and run wires to distant signs, solar sign lighting provides a cost-effective solution. They turn on automatically each evening, eliminating the requirement for a lamp timer. Smaller solar spotlights can even be used to mark street intersections or common buildings.

Motion-Activated Security Lighting Solar-powered floodlights come with motion sensors that automatically turn the light on as someone approaches. This capability can be used to improve security in dark areas around the complex, including entryways and walkways.

Deck Lights Many housing developments include swimming pools, tennis courts and common decks as part of their amenities. Solar deck lighting can be used to highlight these areas at night. Placed around the perimeter of a deck or walkway, these lights help guide residents to their destination and create a more festive atmosphere.

Landscape Lighting A wide range of solar garden lights are available to highlight landscape features around common areas. Most useful are solar pathway lights, which consist of decorative independent lights that emit a soft glow. These typically include an embedded solar panel so no wiring is necessary. All that needs to be done is stick them in the ground.

Help your homeowners' association create an earth-friendly, low-cost and pleasant environment with solar lighting!

Solar Lighting For Subdivisions - Earth-Friendly Ways To Make Your Community Beautiful
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Carl Wright works for Energy Bazaar (http://energybazaar.com) helping communities solve their lighting problems through solar technology. For more information and ideas on solar lighting solutions, visit Energy Bazaar's solar light store at http://energybazaar.com/solarlighting.aspx You can also contact Carl at http://energybazaar.com/contact-us.aspx

Benefits of Leisure and Recreation

Although it may not seem so, in reality, Leisure and Recreation is the largest industry in the world. The benefits of leisure and recreation as an important part of life are easy to see. As an industry, it offers a variety of related employment and creates billions of dollars in revenue. Workers in parks and recreation, community agencies, sports agencies, youth development organizations, non-profit organizations, rehab and hospital agencies, the travel and entertainment industries all utilize and benefit from parks and recreation facilities world-wide. Additional benefits of leisure and recreation include environmental improvements from expanding green spaces, health benefits, and personal satisfaction benefits.

There are many civic benefits of leisure and recreation activities. Sports and youth activities offer leadership development for adults and children. Strong communities are built as parks become a hub of community life. Benefits extend to all ages, childhood, youth, young adults, families, and seniors. Both care for environment and wellness through green spaces are enhanced by beauty. This same beauty helps combat stress through the opportunity for mild exercise and mediation upon natural beauty. Wilderness experiences are available in some locations.

For personal benefits, leisure activities may include:
Hobbies
Exercise
Sports
Gardening
Crafts
Health
Coping
Family Bonding

Benefits of Leisure and Recreation

Physical benefits include increased lung capacity from sports participation, plus reducing serum cholesterol and hypertension, increasing bone mass, strengthening the spine, reducing disease, increase in feelings of well being, reduction in stress hormones, improved attitudes and performances, and improved social skills. For childhood development, recreational areas assist in learning, can keep kids off the streets, and enhance their confidence. Studies confirm that physical activity can aid the learning process in children. Sports activities enhance large motor skill development and social skills. Adult leaders offer positive role models to children. Group sports are well known for promoting social support, networking, and developing friendships.

As if all the above is not enough to encourage support of leisure and recreational activities, consider the following additional benefits:

Stress management - the mild stress of leisure activity can reduce overall negative stress by contributing to relaxation.

Self esteem - especially in children and seniors, mild exercise, group activities, and hobbies and crafts will help create positive self images.

Positive lifestyle development - contributing to society, social interaction, development of leaders, being part of organized sports all encourage good lifetime activities.

Personal satisfaction - any creative outlet will enhance personal satisfaction. Being part of the leadership offers self satisfaction, and those who work in the recreational areas can feel the pride in keeping these areas vital and available to others.

Quality of life - fresh air, sunshine, social interaction, health benefits and self esteem all will improve quality of life.

Preventative health - regular exercise, physiological benefits from mild exercise, and stress reduction all are made easier by having leisure and recreational activities readily available.

Since the future seems to be headed for a shorter work week and more extra time, support of leisure and recreational outlets and locations would be prudent, and benefit all involved.

Benefits of Leisure and Recreation
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Matthew Finn is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about leisure and recreation [http://exoticrecreation.info/benefits-of-leisure-and-recreation/] please visit Exotic Recreation [http://exoticrecreation.info/] for current articles and discussions.