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Earlier this year I was bound and determined to move from central New York to North Carolina. I made some trips there to look around, see what was available that I could afford. I thought it would give me a fresh start. There was a hint of running away (family problems) that played into it. So from October 2014 through June 2015, I drove down a few times to get a feel for the area I hoped to move to.
Then I had the proverbial wake up call. Finances are a big concern for me. I owe a lot and it will take some time to pay that off. If I moved (hire a truck, etc.) I would be putting everything on a credit card. Which is pretty much where my financial woes started.
So I made a decision. Having lived in this area all but one year of my life, I decided to think about my area. What do I like here? What is important to me? What about the friendships (some long-standing, some fairly new) I have..... why do I want to leave and attempt to find similar friendships in a whole different place? New medical that I trust? Even grocery stores (I am sort of hooked on the one I frequent here). Finding all the short cuts, out of the way gems I would miss by staying on main street.
I've read other posts that have questioned the wisdom of relocating. Has anyone relocated that is truly in love with their "new" home? Or very disappointed, regretting it? How have you resolved the negative move?
I don't mean for this to be a duplicate of any other thread. If it is, I ask the moderator to please remove it. Thanks.
Although I personally did not relocate and had no desire to, five and a half years of reading here have taught me that people are anxious to find the following:
1. Lower cost of living
2. A better climate
3. Proximity to children and/or grandchildren
I can't answer your main questions but I think retirees move for a variety of reasons, the two main ones being weather and cost of living.
For one reason or another it seems as though many retirees worry about running out of money. In some cases this is possible but in many others it isn't.
I retired this past June, a year before I can collect Social Security. So right now I'm collecting just my pension. That means our income got cut by 25% for one year. It's ok, though, and not too hard to adjust. If there happens to be a shortfall I have my payment for accrued sick leave (almost a year's worth) tucked away to tap if I have to.
When SS kicks in this coming year my/out income will kick back up to within a couple hundred dollars a month of what it was when I was working. I'll take that trade off, and the pension and SS actually have COLA increases, something my salary as a teacher did not for most of the last ten years I taught.
Although I personally did not relocate and had no desire to, five and a half years of reading here have taught me that people are anxious to find the following:
1. Lower cost of living
2. A better climate
3. Proximity to children and/or grandchildren
I guess I am wondering if they find it? I understand all 3 reasons you listed. But I think a lot of us have found that things are not always as they seem.
Sometimes it's just wishing for a change away from the same old stuff.
To some people, moving means adventure, having new experiences, learning new things and never being bored in the new place. Usually change is good, if one can handle it without going bonkers. It is a risk, but it beats stagnant, old, routines.
I believe learning is everything in life and one should never stop doing it.
Sometimes it's just wishing for a change away from the same old stuff.
To some people, moving means adventure, having new experiences, learning new things and never being bored in the new place. Usually change is good, if one can handle it without going bonkers. It is a risk, but it beats stagnant, old, routines.
I believe learning is everything in life and one should never stop doing it.
I agree. Like everything else in life, one's attitude is what really matters. DH & I are in the early stages of a move 300 miles away from our home of the past 35 years. Our plans are that the new place be our last permanent home. We know it may not work out way - we may end up moving back here or to our 2nd choice location. But however it ends, we see it just as you said - an adventure and an exciting new learning experience.
I moved about 11 years ago when I retired(early) for a number of reasons including: to be closer to extended family, I could sell my house(mortgage) there and pay cash for a house here, and for that fresh start.
Moving closer to extended family has been great. I love having holidays with them, being part of my 5 yo nieces life(no kids of my own), and just enjoying their company. We see each other at least once a week. We pitch hit for each other in emergencies. It probably helps that I moved closer to siblings rather than kids, as they are close to retirement age and unlikely to move due to jobs etc. Having family near is irreplaceable else where.
Money wise it was also a good move. I worked three additional years part time and then quit. I would still need to be working if I hadn't moved. It has also helped $$ wise to have family near. I appreciate there advice and help, and hope they appreciate mine in return. Case in point. I mentioned that I was going to be looking for a car in the next couple of years. My brother started "looking" for me because he is into cars and always looking on craigs list etc. He also researched for me when my old car had a somewhat minor problem and said that could quickly turn into a major problem from what he read on a car site. He found a great-just what I wanted for a great price earlier than I would have looked. I bought and am very happy with it.
As far as a fresh start... I ended up with great new friends here. I could how ever have used those same skills(joining some new clubs, getting involved in new organizations, and simply having the time not working to stop and talk) to accomplish the same thing where I lived before.
I moved about 11 years ago when I retired(early) for a number of reasons including: to be closer to extended family, I could sell my house(mortgage) there and pay cash for a house here, and for that fresh start.
Moving closer to extended family has been great. I love having holidays with them, being part of my 5 yo nieces life(no kids of my own), and just enjoying their company. We see each other at least once a week. We pitch hit for each other in emergencies. It probably helps that I moved closer to siblings rather than kids, as they are close to retirement age and unlikely to move due to jobs etc. Having family near is irreplaceable else where.
Money wise it was also a good move. I worked three additional years part time and then quit. I would still need to be working if I hadn't moved. It has also helped $$ wise to have family near. I appreciate there advice and help, and hope they appreciate mine in return. Case in point. I mentioned that I was going to be looking for a car in the next couple of years. My brother started "looking" for me because he is into cars and always looking on craigs list etc. He also researched for me when my old car had a somewhat minor problem and said that could quickly turn into a major problem from what he read on a car site. He found a great-just what I wanted for a great price earlier than I would have looked. I bought and am very happy with it.
As far as a fresh start... I ended up with great new friends here. I could how ever have used those same skills(joining some new clubs, getting involved in new organizations, and simply having the time not working to stop and talk) to accomplish the same thing where I lived before.
Sounds like your move is a success! I'm happy for you. I think being able to live near family is wonderful. I have family in VT but nephew says COL is high there (I've checked it out, it is). I have family in FL but in all honesty I can't take that heat and humidity. I have family in OK but complicated situation there. And as I said before, cost of moving is prohibitive for me.
We bought a home in FL to be near the grandchildren and with retirement in mind and are there 8 months a year now.
Our transition has been easy with family here and straddling between the old and new place. Each year we've gone back to NY, it has seemed less like home and each year in FL it seems much more like home.
A friend I worked with always asked me where we going to retire to. I was taken so off guard by the question since I had never thought about moving. I wasn't unhappy and had no wanderlust, but I also didn't have grandkids at that point. We were in a comfortable rut and the change has been good on many levels for both of us.
I was never anxious to relocate for retirement, I just didn't know that I wanted to.
We moved to be near my family, better climate and lower COL in that order.
I am open to the fact this may not be our last move. When my parents are gone and if our children ever settle in one place, we may end up moving near one of them. Or, we may just downsize and stay here or move somewhere else in the same part of the country.
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