Welcome,
I lived in Raleigh, North Carolina for 8 years and it is a great place to live. I would move back in a flash if I could. The weather is great, not too hot, not too cold, you are just a few hours away from beautiful ocean beaches and the wild Appalachian mountains, you have many of the amenities of a large city, yet it still feels like a small town. I love the mix of people, southerners off course, but lots of northerners and foreigners as well. It's the kind of cities which makes you feel right at home no matter where you come from and what your political/religious views are (that's not always the case with smaller cities).
Raleigh is probably not considered a retirement location per se, but in NC the costal area and Ashville are very popular with retirees. Ashville, while beautiful, is a bit remote for my taste and the coastal areas often get impacted by hurricanes. I would also recommend visiting the Chapel Hill/Carborro/Pittsboro area, close enough to Raleigh/Durham but a bit more relaxed. If you like suburban living, then you might also want to check out the Cary/Apex area which has become hugely popular over the years.