West is best

Here’s something light, perhaps even self-affirming, to carry you through the weekend. If you live out here in the West, chances are you’re going to be happier as you grow older.
The Pew Research Center just released a report that found old people in the West don’t think of themselves as old.

In fact, 78 percent of people 65 or older in the West don’t feel old. That compares to 67 percent of their peers in the rest of the land. Seniors here also exercise more (77 percent do it daily, compared to 69 percent elsewhere). (Read an Arizona Republic story on it here.)
Why is this? Well, the survey also found that only 23 percent of Westerners over 62 have lived in the same community all their lives. When you move around, you gain perspective. And, really, as someone who has lived a lot of places, I can tell you the West (regardless of which state in the region) is a lot more relaxing, sunny and beautiful than the rest of the country.
Oh, and the survey also found this: Compared to everyone else, a much smaller percentage of seniors in the West said they keep in touch with their children every day.
Hmmm.