Rural area retirement - is it really a young person's game? (move, spouse)
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Likewise on the Walmart. I live in a quiet part of my NOW busy town and get foods from delivery and friends who shop WFoods and TJoe's...I like convenience. I gave up my car but there are services in our city for seniors. Not being a slave to an auto is so freeing.
You are very lucky to have those two stores nearby. Although if I had a Whole Foods near me, I would be spending way too much on their pre-cooked meals and food bar.
I have never wanted to live in the boonies in the mountains to begin with.
I think if you are used to it, you can have it through retirement.
My MIL and FIL live on top of a mountain in NC and her life is not different today than it was when they were young living on top of a mountain. They have a whole house generator which is probably the only difference.
I used to work with a couple about my age that are serious outdoors enthusiasts. They recently bought a small house between Erwin and Flag Pond, TN, in the mountains. She works in Kingsport, about an hour away, and he works closer.
There is very little out that way. The nearest Walmart and community hospital are probably about thirty minutes away. No grocery stores. The nearest gas station is probably ten miles away. Road plowing in the winter and any other sort of maintenance is going to be minimal at best. There's virtually no one out there and it is essentially unspoiled wilderness.
This place is fine for a young couple that wants to be out in the middle of nowhere. For a senior, aging out here seems like it would be a nonstarter. A doctor's office is an hour away. Getting around in the winter in the snow is going to be a chore. The nearest major hospital would probably be at least an hour over narrow mountain roads.
The views are wonderful from their Facebook post. It's near several creeks. It's what people think of when they think of Tennessee country living, but it doesn't seem like it would be viable for many seniors to age in place there.
I live in a rural area 30 min from a hospital and grocery...but do have my medical provider near in a satellite office.
Planning to stay here...no problems so far. I get to enjoy the mountain surroundings and nature which is more important to me than being close to shopping. I use Amazon home delivery very often, so I just need to purchase dairy and fresh vegetables....can make it last several weeks if I don't want to drive in for groceries.
I was going to write something similar. Walmart is the last place I would ever go. It that is all I had, I would not live there.
I get all the basics from Walmart, since their costs are reasonable, and its got a lot of variety. But when I go shopping I sit down at the computer, and go to their site, and find the buy again list and check off what I need. then check again to see if I missed anything, or adjust for budget, and then check out. In about two/three days here where I live, giant boxes come to your porch full of food and stuff and you can stow them in their places. Amazon also has a grocery service I use as well. And I know exactly what I can pay and keep track of the total and adjust.
Both are working on a service where fresh items like fruit and meats are delivered to your door too. I'm soooo looking forward to this.
Most of the stuff beyond normal stuff I get from Amazon with a huge choice and a box on your porch in a couple of days.
You are very lucky to have those two stores nearby. Although if I had a Whole Foods near me, I would be spending way too much on their pre-cooked meals and food bar.
It sure is easy to spend too much money at Whole Foods. Regardless, I'll cop to shopping at Whole Foods for some items as well as Fresh Market, Sprout's, Trader Joe's and Starbucks too. I like to visit rural regions of the U.S. but I learned during my working life that life isn't necessary as idyllic and peaceful as people think that it is out in the country. For the time being I'll keep my urban life style and creature comforts. When I want to rough it I'll get in my Jeep with my dog and head for the hills with knowledge that we'll eventually return to our home in the city.
It sure is easy to spend too much money at Whole Foods.
But chocolate is on sale now. I bought five big bars of various types of milk chocolate yesterday. We're going to have a chocolate tasting for Valentine's Day. DH doesn't drink, so I have to make do with whatever gastronomic delights I can find and that usually means Whole Foods.
Whole Foods usually has the best fruit so wherever our new house will be, it has to be at least as close as 15-20 minutes. I'm 64, DH 67 and I won't live farther than that from a level 1 trauma center, either.
It's important in your waning years to be where you want to be, and if a retired person wants to spend their last remaining years in the wilderness, more power to them.
It's certainly true that not all retired people are in poor health. Definitely true since retirees are in their 60's and 70's (some at 55) and then into one's 80's.
But as people grow older, some or many become more frail. Less strength and frailty is true of many past 80. (some in late 70's)
So the question would be, do you want a rural location if in growing older, one is more frail, less endurance and strength, and other things that often go with being close to 80 and 85 or above, along with most likely fewer services being available.
Last edited by matisse12; 02-13-2018 at 05:15 PM..
I was going to write something similar. Walmart is the last place I would ever go. It that is all I had, I would not live there.
I have spent a great deal of time traveling through rural areas in pretty much every State in the US, except Alaska. For a most rural areas in the Midwest and West, Walmart is orders of magnitude better than anything else.
It's certainly true that not all retired people are in poor health! Definitely true since retirees are in their 60's and 70's (some at 55) and then into one's 80's!
But as people grow older, some or many become more frail. A lack of stamina and frailty is true of many past 80.
So the question would be, do you want a rural location if in growing older, one is more frail, less endurance, and other things that often go with being close to 80 and 85 or above.
Healthcare needs can change rapidly. What seems unimportant at 65 can become a serious issue 10 years or more later. It is not just some issue with ageing gracefully and becoming "frail". More serious issues arise: cardiac disease, aneurisms, strokes, macular degeneration, and on and on. Those more serious issues can require surgeries, sophisticated procedures, and ongoing care. Even if you are satisfied going to an average or below average physicians, those rural clinics and hospitals often cannot provide the needed scope of healthcare services.
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