Columnist Richard Hakes believes retiring in Iowa City is a no-brainer

Richard Hakes
·4 min read
Giant art in the form of lighted rabbits took over the Ped Mall in downtown Iowa City last February as part of its Winter Night Lights promotion. This plaza draws UI students, visitors, residents and yes, retirees, as another quality of life attraction to the City of Literature.
Giant art in the form of lighted rabbits took over the Ped Mall in downtown Iowa City last February as part of its Winter Night Lights promotion. This plaza draws UI students, visitors, residents and yes, retirees, as another quality of life attraction to the City of Literature.

When I noticed Iowa City recently made the HGTV list of 20 best small towns to retire in, my first thought was a fairly snarky one.

“Duh!” I exclaimed.

Because, schmaltzy as it sounds, my wife and I pat ourselves on our aging backs nearly every other day, hardly believing what geniuses we were to retire in this area 11 years ago.

Like so many of our peers, grandkids were the main draw. The bonus was the plethora of music, art, health care, cuisine, diversity, University of Iowa amenities, lakes, parks, trails and much, much more.

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Here are a few of my favorite experiences:

  • Rocking outdoors to a Tin Roost patio band on a sultry summer Thursday night and watching revelers flock in droves to the brand-new Field Day brewery just across beautiful Liberty Centre Pond.

  • Taking the grandkids to the Devonian Gorge to leap over the ancient rocks in a hunt for a tiny 375-million-year-old brachiopod fossil.

  • Being repeatedly drawn like a magnet to the fabulous new Stanley Museum to visit my dear friend, the “Plaid Sweater” kid Grant Wood immortalized in 1931.

  • Relaxing at the Ped Mall surrounded by buskers, tourists, lively student bars, quirky stores, and even quirkier personalities.

  • Salivating over a shared serving of the universe’s best lemon cake after another scrumptious Italian meal at Mirabito’s.

  • Salivating again over a prime rib half the size of New Jersey at Ruthie’s, where on limited occasions we might also feel the urge to pull a slot or roll some dice. And did I mention the culinary delights of Basta, St. Burch, Jimmy Jack’s, The Vue, Wig & Pen, Café Dodici, Tuscan Moon, Cedar Ridge winery and on and on? Too many great places to list.

  • Marveling at the daily frenzy of activity at Liberty High from the nearby Depot convenience store where my convivial coffee-slurping compadres contemplate the meaning of life three days a week.

  • Laughing all the way to Eastern Iowa Airport, because it is only 14 minutes from our house, is easy to navigate and you don’t have to take out a Hills Bank loan to pay for long-term parking.

  • Watching my wife tear up at Kinnick when the football Hawks swarm through the entrance tunnel, then again when the first quarter ends and we wave to the hospitalized kids. Also, relishing the exuberance of Caitlin as she firmly entrenches our entire state into positive national limelight. No need to explain who Caitlin is.

  • Screaming for the Iowa Heartlanders with 5,000 other fans at Xtream Arena when they pound the Wheeling Nailers.

  • Competing for bragging rights against the other old salts in my radio-controlled model sailboat racing club, the only one in the state that I know of, and a sport I had no idea existed before moving here.

  • Marveling at the superior acoustics of Hancher.

  • Just driving around. When you grow up in the rich-earth flatlands of Pocahontas County, where you can see a water tower from seven miles out, it’s a treat to cruise through the forest-flanked hills and curves toward Solon over the spectacular Mehaffey Bridge.

The Iowa Raptor Project at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area is another Iowa City area attraction popular with retirees entertaining their grandchildren. In this photo, Tommy Watanabe of Japan spies a curious deer from the project’s bird blind.
The Iowa Raptor Project at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area is another Iowa City area attraction popular with retirees entertaining their grandchildren. In this photo, Tommy Watanabe of Japan spies a curious deer from the project’s bird blind.

Don’t misunderstand. We happily thrived in Northwest Iowa and Southwestern Minnesota small towns prior to moving here. Our past communities will forever remain in our hearts.

But retiring here? It’s been a good move.

True, property tax assessments skyrocket from time to time, as in this past year. But market values always increase in thriving, desirable places to live like this one. Financially, you wouldn’t like the alternative.

More traffic? Of course. Again, the price of growing pains.

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New friends? Yes, they might be slightly harder to meet when you retire someplace new with a bigger population. But we found good ones, and we’re hanging on to them whether they like it or not.

We’re also hanging on to this place where we live, because, well, it’s simply one magical spot for people our age who have the time and energy to explore and enjoy where they landed.

Bottom line?

The staff at HGTV got it right.

Richard Hakes is a columnist for the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Hakes: Retirees thrilled with Iowa City area? Duh!