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My wife and I spent three years checking out potential retirement locations. Part of this was actually living in some of the potential locations, moving around, living full time in our Rv. Our final decision is being put in motion tomorrow, we're headed for northern Wi.
We considered everything, col, taxes, weather, family proximity, health care services etc.
Now everyone uses different criteria, but my advice here is go slow. We met a lot of people and learned some made some very hasty decisions, made mistakes, and cost themselves a lot of money.
I'm also saying, live where you want to settle during the worst weather of the year. If you have alergy problems, stay during the worst of the alergy season in that location. There are lots of snow birds who cannot take the summer heat of Az. They are almost all gone now. Our location is like a ghost town compared to Jan, and there isnt much going on. So stay in Fl or Az for the summer if you're considering a permanent move south. Good luck.
My wife and I spent three years checking out potential retirement locations. Part of this was actually living in some of the potential locations, moving around, living full time in our Rv. Our final decision is being put in motion tomorrow, we're headed for northern Wi.
We considered everything, col, taxes, weather, family proximity, health care services etc.
Now everyone uses different criteria, but my advice here is go slow. We met a lot of people and learned some made some very hasty decisions, made mistakes, and cost themselves a lot of money.
I'm also saying, live where you want to settle during the worst weather of the year. If you have alergy problems, stay during the worst of the alergy season in that location. There are lots of snow birds who cannot take the summer heat of Az. They are almost all gone now. Our location is like a ghost town compared to Jan, and there isnt much going on. So stay in Fl or Az for the summer if you're considering a permanent move south. Good luck.
Every once in a while some new member on C-D starts an OP request for help. Starts off about how much "research" they did on a place before moving there. Then how horrible it is and how desperate they are to move away. They were shocked at how hot it gets in AZ, how cold it gets in NY, how humid it gets in FL, how expensive CA is, how dry NV is, how bad the taxes, traffic, crime, schools, entertainments, shopping, or job opportunities are. etc. Really makes you wonder what mysterious information sources they managed to dig up.
It is also worth remembering that "you have to take yourselves along". From my own knowledge of retirement moves by family and friends, a happy retirement depends more on your personality and the health of your relationships with your spouse family and friends than it does on your location. Research and planning a retirement move doesn't change that.
I retired to the same place where I worked and lived for the 20 years previous to my retirement.
It is also worth remembering that "you have to take yourselves along". From my own knowledge of retirement moves by family and friends, a happy retirement depends more on your personality and the health of your relationships with your spouse family and friends than it does on your location. Research and planning a retirement move doesn't change that.
I retired to the same place where I worked and lived for the 20 years previous to my retirement.
I admit I never understood why the high percentage of people that up and move to an extreme deviation from where they worked or lived most of their life are then shocked they don’t like it. It’s perfectly understandable (to me) to hate having to live long winters, and wanting a nicer climate (or brutal heat and want a more temperate one), but to move from say Michigan to Az has got to be a shock on so many fronts, and not just weather. People and attitudes are often radically different.
It is also worth remembering that "you have to take yourselves along". From my own knowledge of retirement moves by family and friends, a happy retirement depends more on your personality and the health of your relationships with your spouse family and friends than it does on your location. Research and planning a retirement move doesn't change that.
True words, indeed. We ended up making the opposite choice, deliberately choosing to move to a very different place. But like you, we did so after spending time researching the area, thinking about what we really needed in a retirement community and getting to know a few local people (through social media, reading local newspapers, and making a few visits). And we chose a place because it was right for us (not because it was on some list as someone else's idea of a good place to retire). Renting for a year can be a smart move (although, to be honest, we didn't bother with that step. We had visited enough times that we felt we knew the area we moved to.)
At the other extreme, you have the retirees who develop Analysis Paralysis. Some people can scare themselves from enjoying this new chapter in their life because they constantly stress over "What if I'm not doing it RIGHT? What if I'm not in the PERFECT place?" If you're trying too hard, do yourself a favor and remember that no place will be perfect.
Happiness lies somewhere between those two extremes.
Choosing a place to retire can be like choosing your spouse. The hunt is fun! Eventually, pick a place. Retirement isn't a race, you can take all the time you wish. If you do decide to move, don't worry if it's perfect (because it won't be), and give yourself time to adjust (odds are you will).
Whatever you do, decide to be happy. Some people seem to enjoy complaining. Whatever floats your boat, but that seems like a good way to make yourself miserable. Plus like attracts like. If you want pleasant, positive people in your life, be one. If you want complainers in your life, be one. If you can decide to enjoy yourself wherever you are, you'll attract other people who love the area, too.
Last edited by Piney Creek; 05-01-2019 at 06:51 AM..
True words, indeed. We ended up making the opposite choice, deliberately choosing to move to a very different place. But like you, we did so after spending time researching the area, thinking about what we really needed in a retirement community and getting to know a few local people (through social media, reading local newspapers, and making a few visits). Renting for a year can be a smart move (although, to be honest, we didn't bother with that step. We had visited enough times that we felt we knew the area we moved to.)
At the other extreme, you have the retirees who develop Analysis Paralysis. Some people can scare themselves from enjoying this new chapter in their life because they constantly stress over "What if I'm not doing it RIGHT? What if I'm not in the PERFECT place?" If you're trying too hard, do yourself a favor and remember that no place will be perfect.
Happiness lies somewhere between those two extremes. No place will be perfect.
Choosing a place to retire can be like choosing your spouse. The hunt is fun! Eventually, pick a place. Retirement isn't a race, you can take all the time you wish. If you do decide to move, don't worry if it's perfect (because it won't be), and give yourself time to adjust (odds are you will).
Whatever you do, decide to be happy. Some people seem to enjoy complaining. Whatever floats your boat, but that seems like a good way to make yourself miserable. I'd take the other approach and make an active choice to enjoy yourself wherever you are.
Agreed. Much of moving anywhere is being able to adjust and finding positives instead of dwelling on negatives. Everywhere will have both. It's up to you to find the glass half full instead of half empty.
It is also worth remembering that "you have to take yourselves along". From my own knowledge of retirement moves by family and friends, a happy retirement depends more on your personality and the health of your relationships with your spouse family and friends than it does on your location. Research and planning a retirement move doesn't change that.
I retired to the same place where I worked and lived for the 20 years previous to my retirement.
The "Great Escape" is often oversold.
Very true, I moved numerous times to many locations around the world and this is so true, the quality of your relationships are going to be the overall biggest factor in your overall happiness but still the other factors such as climate, things to do, beauty, etc. are still going to affect your moods and happiness.
I agree with OP's advice to try out locations before significantly investing money, time, and life to moving there. The biggest factor is leaving your family and friends and how you deal with that in a move.
My wife and I spent three years checking out potential retirement locations. Part of this was actually living in some of the potential locations, moving around, living full time in our Rv. Our final decision is being put in motion tomorrow, we're headed for northern Wi.
Whoa... I got nothing to add except for this Texas boy that sounds like an awfully cold place to live.
Whoa... I got nothing to add except for this Texas boy that sounds like an awfully cold place to live.
Good luck with your new life and move.
Yeah for me northern Wisconsin sounds like the pit of despair but to each his own I guess. I've discovered that people often like what I consider to be the most horrible thing.
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