Quiet towns surrounding Vancouver?

White Rock is an option, as is Ladner, Deep Cove, the Gold Coast and Port Moody. Some are farther out of the city and cost will definitely be a factor - the closer in you are the more expensive things get. There are also suburbs that are larger, but have nice quiet neighbourhoods like Port Coquitlam, New Westminster, North Vancouver and West Vancouver. You can also find fairly quiet neighbourhoods in Vancouver proper if you have the money to stay there like the West side, parts of False Creek (though less and less) and even in the West End of downtown Vancouver. You may want to consider communities around Victoria, on Vancouver Island which is a retirement haven, as well. Victoria is a charming city with all services and the outlying communities tend to be more affordable than Vancouver.

Most areas that I've mentioned have access to medical care with only special emergencies needing to be sent to larger urban centres.

Thanks so much!

Maple Ridge or Squamish are both 1 hours drive to downtown Vancouver.

Abbotsford or Chilliwack both are slightly further out.