Finding the best place to retire is more than just looking at a list that AARP, Forbes, CNN or Yahoo has put together. Finding the best places to retire has to do with who you are as a person and what you want in your retirement community.

There are multiple aspects of moving that cause everyone challenges. How expensive are the houses, what is the area like, what activities will keep my family and I occupied? When moving to retirement areas there are even more questions. What is the over 50 population, the number of retirement communities, access to medical care?

Region also becomes a factor in choosing the best place to retire. Finding the best places to retire in Florida or California differ greatly from the best places to retire in Michigan (yes, there are places to retire in Michigan).

Now that we have thoroughly made it so you never want to leave where you are living now, take a deep breath and relax. Choosing your personal best place to retire is not a difficult task when you organize your needs, wants and financial necessities. To find your perfect retirement spot, use the following list as a tool to help find the best place to retire in.

• Do a self-assessment

Figure out what you like to do on weekends, and see if they are things you want in a retirement community. Figure out if you are a hot or cold weather person, if you like the wind or very dry weather. Often, people just assume Florida is the best place to retire, but if you don’t like humidity, Florida is not the place for you. Also, look at your financial situation and see what the best places to retire are based on the price of the houses and the price of activities available in the area.

• Check out the best retirement towns that fit your criteria

After you have looked yourself over and figured out what it is that will make you (and your spouse) happy in a retirement setting, research places that fit the criteria and visit them! If you are interested in assisted living rather than living in a single house, visit multiple kinds of retirement homes in multiple areas. Don’t settle! It’s your retirement; find the best place to retire for YOU!

• Sources for the top 100 lists

As previously mentioned, there are countless Top 100 lists of places to retire. We’ve already said that these lists are based on a loose majority, not individual needs, but they are good places to start your research. If you have no idea where good retirement communities are located, Top 100 lists give a good overview of different types of areas of the best places to retire and can lead you to finding places similar to those on the list.

• Get out, visit, and form your own opinions

Stressing visiting the cities you are thinking about retiring in cannot be said enough. What makes the best place to retire for you might be as simple as meeting people you really like at the community. Other times people go to where they have vacationed before and have loved. It is all about finding your niche.

Don’t be bogged down with Top 100, Top 20 or Top 10 lists. Use this guide as a tool to help you decide what aspects of your life need to be reflected in your choice for a retirement community. Then go to Top 100 sites and choose a place based on your preconceived notions.

Also, don’t forget the questions mentioned at the beginning of this article. If you are not moving into an area that is known as a retirement community, the price of houses and the ease of acquiring medical attention will be a huge factor. These are questions you might not have had to ask yourself when moving to previous dwellings, so just remember your demographic and economic class and how that will affect your perfect place of retirement.