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Any decision, good or bad, can be changed. Do what you want and move on when it’s time.
My parents built the house they dreamed of for years on property they had bought 15 years earlier. Their property was 28 acres on a mountain in NC that bordered the Smoky Mountains. What a lovely area, I have fond memories of visits there. My parents were in the prime of their retirement, loving life.
Dad had surgery on his back for a disc, and while recovering in the hospital, he realized Mom was alone on a 1/2 mile road up to their house with no one nearby. He saw the future and they later sold and did a 180, moving into a condo in Asheville. They enjoyed that too, but not as much as the mountain place. They ended up moving back to their hometown in the Midwest that they had left in their mid-twenties. They went full circle and did all the things they set out to do in retirement. I’m so happy they got to do what they planned for. Those years on the mountain were the golden ones for them.
My parents had a good retirement, but it evolved along the way. Decisions about moving away, staying in place, being rural or city may change as we go along. Where I live is what I want now. I hope I recognize when or if it’s time to move on for me. I think I will, I had great role models.
I think this about sums it up perfectly. If you are in early retirement and very good health I think it is fine to try out a more rural environment. But I think as most people find out -- once you have ANY kind of serious medical issue -- that rural location loses much of its charm. I used to think I wanted to live in the country but not anymore -- just a personal thing. I want to be able to go to the movies on a rainy day, take an exercise class and meet some people and go to lunch. I am not a big shopper but sometimes I enjoy going to antique stores or consignment shops or used book stores. I also absolutely need to be near an excellent airport so I can go see my children and grandchildren. I also like to stay home and read books and cook and watch old movies. I would describe myself as a content homebody -- BUT there are days when I just want to out of the house and around other people. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
I 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.
Define snow. I realize there is elevation but it's still TN - how long does it last for?
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Originally Posted by NCN
NASCAR country! Where driving is an art to be appreciated.
Funniest thing ever! They only turn in one direction you know
It all depends on the senior. Some are probably more fit than someone of 35. Not all seniors need to spend tons of time in doctor offices. Hopping on the merry-go-round of specialists is a rather new phenomenon. In the old days, you regularly saw one doctor unless you needed surgery. If you were lucky, you also saw a dentist every now and then. I grew up rural and knew many older people who rarely visited doctors. I'm not saying that was the best system and thank God for the healthcare improvements we've seen, but many still lived long, healthy lives with minimal doctor visits.
I think the biggest obstacle for fit urban seniors going rural would be adapting to change of lifestyle. If they've always had easy access to everything they want and need, living rural would be a shock to the system. Sometimes the dream does not match the reality.
Location: Was Midvalley Oregon; Now Eastside Seattle area
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I'd rather die of a heart attack quick. And if such an event should happen, being close or far will not make much difference. If you do your regular checkups and watch your body signals, you should be able to recognize the time when you need to seek more medical attention.
Being close to a medical facility could be real detriment.
My beef is that we have to drive to everywhere and we live just 3 miles to everything.
I tend to think there are a few "dreams" we all share at one time or another. Sailing a boat and living aboard full time. Owning a small farm. Traveling the world. Writing the great novel. Not getting up several times at nite to use the toilet. Always remembering where we left the keys. Having the children remember we are alive. Etc.
I tried the rural life for two years. Humbug! Cut myself and needed stitches. The small hospital was useless. I wondered what would happen with something critical. Bailed out for the city where we moved from.
To each their own.
Rugged rural types do their own stitches, like Rambo.
The problem with having to travel for medical care is that you just might not have the time.
One thing I've noticed is how many people in their 60s suddenly have a heart attack or stroke and need immediate care. Many of them were perfectly fine the day before it happened.
We ruled out retirement to rural areas for that reason alone.
It depends how rural we are talking about. One place I’m looking is rural but the town hospital is 20 minute drive away and a big city is 45 minutes away. I currently live in a city but due to traffic emergency might take 10-15 minutes to get you to hospital at best.
At the end I agree you need to look at what would happen in an emergency but you also need to think about where you would have better quality of life.
Define snow. I realize there is elevation but it's still TN - how long does it last for?
We live in western North Carolina. We are at 4400 feet. We had a spell this winter where we got 14 inches of snow and there was an area in one of the steepest hills below us that didn't get sun, so it went from snow to ice that didn't clear for almost 2 weeks. We were able to get up and down, but some neighbors weren't. HOWEVER, we take care of each other and make sure if we are going down that we don't need to get something for one of the other neighbors who can't make it. My husband meets the UPS or FedEx drivers and delivers the packages to the neighborhood, since the delivery trucks can't make it up on the icy hill.
It doesn't bother us, we are some of the younger folks up here, in our 50s. I did tell my husband if he died, I'd likely move to a lower elevation, maybe closer to the beach. I don't mow the lawn up here, too hilly and I refuse to use the riding mower on these steep hills. The grocery store is about 15 minutes away and anything bigger, like a Walmart or Costco are about 30-40 minutes away.
The mountain first responders have chains and can get to us in an emergency. There are two hospitals nearby, 30-40 minutes away. That part doesn't really worry me, they will (and have) gotten up here quickly. We also have county offered public transport even though we are in the boondocks. We had a neighbor who finally moved to an assisted living facility who used it every day. $1 per trip. Can't beat that!
I like to be alone, so that part is fine, too. But I think I would move somewhere less hilly if I lived alone, just because. I'd still stay rural, though.
We know many seniors who live in rural Maine and who seem to enjoy it a great deal. I do not see why it would not be possible down South too.
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