SALISBURY— Recently, “WorldAtlas” named Salisbury as one of the “7 Most Affordable Towns To Retire In North Carolina.” Its median home prices and available healthcare services were listed as the main reasons for being on the list. An article saying this is nice, but it’s always better to find out from someone who is retired in Salisbury and see what they they have to say about it.

Carol Cody was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas, where she eventually moved to Kansas City to attend school and start a family. Cody first came to Salisbury in 1995 to work as a psychologist with the VA and when she retired in 2008, she decided to stay and has been here ever since. 

“When I retired, a number of people said, ‘Well, are you going back to Kansas City?’ And I said, ‘Why should I do that? No, I’m not. This is home and I’m staying put,’” Cody said.

Seven years ago, Cody chose to downsize and looked at places in Winston-Salem, but found that nothing there fit her budget like Salisbury. 

“There was no place for the dollar that I could touch with what I have in Salisbury. So the dollar was a part of it, the cost of living. Plus, I have friends here and I didn’t want to pack up and go far away,” Cody said.

Cody lives in the Gables at Kepley Farm, a 55-and-over retirement community that she said is perfect for her as she spends her days enjoying herself in any way she wants. 

“Small houses, small lots, lots of people close and the cost of living is good. Like I said, nobody else could touch it,” Cody said.

Even though she’s retired, Cody describes herself as “very busy” most of the time. 

“Talk to my neighbors, they will tell you I’m never home,” Cody said.

Cody is a member of the Salisbury Symphony Guild, Daughters of the American Revolution and was president of the American Association of University Women for nine years. Her other hobbies include practicing Appalachian clogging and hiking with a group of people from Rufty-Holmes Senior Center.

“When my husband and I were moving here when I took this job, one of the things we looked at in Salisbury was the diversity of cultural activities,” Cody said.

The convenience and proximity that Salisbury offers, like being so close to the beach, mountains, and the theater in Charlotte, are huge draws for Cody. 

“Lots of things to do if you choose to do them. Again, a lot of people, I think, don’t take full advantage of things that are there,” Cody said.

However, Cody would still like some changes happen to Salisbury sooner rather than later.

“My only complaint is there’s no good shopping in Salisbury. I have to go outside of Salisbury for that,” Cody said.

For nearly 30 years, Cody has fully immersed herself with the city of Salisbury. Through charity work and taking in all of its attractions, Cody has discovered Salisbury is where she belongs. 

“It’s a good place to live and I like living here,” Cody said.