Where Do You Plan to Live in Retirement?
“Plan” is a key work in this question. Please don’t sell your house and move to your dream location without at least visiting first. The scenery may be beautiful, but the cost or community may not be welcoming.
Criteria for desirable retirement location
First think about what are your criteria for a desirable location. Is it the cost of living or scenery or access to healthcare or activities or potential community or pace of living or some prioritized combination of these?
How to research retirement locations
There are websites to research such retirement locations. If possible, begin your decision-making process pre-retirement. Visit on vacations for a high-level screening. Once you have identified the top choices, before you still sell everything and move, make a longer visit. Get to know what day-to-day living is like:
- traffic– or ease of public transportation
- activities—social, intellectual, cultural
- attitude toward new residents—welcoming or not so much
- taxes—on retirement income or not
- pace of living—adventurous or relaxed, urban or rural
- healthcare—access, cost, availability of insurance (Medicare and individual plans)
- demographics—lots of retirees or mixed age-range
- opportunities to stay fit and active—weather, geography (walking/bike trails, etc.)
Helpful website: http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/best-places-to-retire
International retirement locations
International locations can fit the bill for cost, beauty, healthcare, activities and adventure, but check openness to non-citizens, taxes, access to local banking, visa requirements, and ease of transportation to and from family and friends.
Helpful websites:
US News: 6 Affordable Places to Retire Abroad in 2012
Kathleen Peddicord blog on international retirement locations and issues
The world is open to you, just look before you leap. Enjoy the adventure!
