Retirement in a glitzy resort in the middle of a gambling town may not appeal to everyone, and only some will be able to afford living here, but there are hotel perks to condominium ownership, including enjoying daily housekeeping and laundry services, valet parking, a private elevator and 24-hour concierge service.  Grand Sierra Resort is essentially a city in and of itself and one could probably choose never to leave the extensive grounds.  Residents will find a four-story lakeside driving green, several high-end restaurants and nightclubs, a health club and an 80,000 square foot spa, a huge indoor "James Bond" water park, a casino (of course), a business center, a dinner theater, a martini bar, a 38-acre lake (with a light show), a grocery, boutiques, shops, a celebrity here and there, a sports arena and a wedding chapel, just in case.  Low key and subtle, this is not.

What does all this cost?  A lot.  The condominiums ("condo suites") range in size from 427 square feet (studios) to 2,000 square feet (2 bedrooms) and come with spectacular views overlooking Reno, the Truckee River that runs past the resort and the surrounding Sierra Mountains.  Each unit has been custom designed by an internationally-known designer and includes a state-of-the art kitchen, a wet bar, a spa-like glass-enclosed bathroom with marble and black granite countertops, upscale leather and suede furniture, walnut cabinetry and flat panel TVs.  The units are elegant, although a little dark and on the masculine side, and they are priced from the high-$300,000s to $2 million.  A timeshare hotel is also in the works.  Call 800-496-0473 for information.  

Reno (population 205,000) itself is full of things to do, with more than 40 nearby golf courses, lots of casinos, restaurants, theaters and clubs.  Stunning Lake Tahoe is just 22 miles away and provides retirees with opportunities to water ski, fish, sail and snow ski at one of several ski resorts.  That is if anyone who buys a condo at Grand Sierra Resort wants to leave the resort grounds.

Reno sits in the high desert (elevation 4,400 feet) which helps moderate temperatures a little.  January high temperatures are in the 40s and lows are in the 20s.  July high temperatures are in the mid 90s and lows are in the 50s.  There is very little humidity, and the sun shines roughly 80% of the time.