Where will you live

Where will you live?

Where you live during retirement will impact your financial system in some way. Many of us envision living in a foreign country or in a quiet cabin in the mountains or in a 2nd home on a golf course. Actually most Americans choose to retire near their current home, mostly in part to be near family and friends or because of the strong community ties that have been established.

If you are thinking that you’d like to go somewhere else, there are many issues to consider:

• Proximity to family and friends
• Access to good health and medical care
• Climate/weather
• Housing Costs
• Cost of Living
• Crime rates
• Traffic/Public Transportation
• Taxes
• Political Climate
• Amenities (culture, art, shopping, universities, etc)
• Travel Convenience
• Jobs (If you plan to work)

Any relocation expert will advise you to spend time in a region you are considering moving to before you make such a commitment. And spend that time in both the “good” and “bad” seasons to get a true picture of what it is you might be getting into.

Mobile Lifestyle: Perhaps the RV lifestyle is for you? Spending your time driving around the country visiting all those places you always wanted to see or camping in favorite parks. Perhaps you’ll purchase a condominium on a cruise ship that travels around the world making various ports of call. For more on this lifestyle visit:

http://www.topretirements.com/tips/Adventurous_Retirements/Living_the_Mobile_Lifestyle_in_Retirement.html

Retirement Communities: There are so many options here. In addition to the traditional 55+ communities you have heard about, newer themed retirement facilities – based on common interests, faith, former military, etc. – are becoming increasingly popular. Others offer graduated living facilities at every level.

These options and opportunities are not all inclusive and you can go on line to explore the realm of the possible. Some sites to visit include:

http://www.topretirements.com/Home.html
http://www.plus50lifestyles.com
http://www.retirementhomes.com

College Towns: many appreciate the vibrancy of living in a college town particularly the benefits of free and inexpensive cultural activities, educational opportunities and dynamic environment.

There’s No Place like Home: You may decide that staying home is for you. Perhaps you’ll remodel that home to make it more adaptable to your retirement lifestyle. Some communities have developed programs to assist retired individuals to stay in their homes by providing essential services as they age. This “virtual retirement community programs” deliver a range of services to their members as they age from home repairs to health care.