A former classmate asked me a question related to choosing a vacation home. His question made me think about the kind of retirement home I want and the considerations involved in the decision.
Affordability
Where can I live in retirement that's affordable? This will take some research to determine home prices, taxes, and cost of living. I'll also have to think about the amount of money that we want to spend on daily living versus the money we might be able to save for possible adventures.
Location
I definitely want to live near amenities that offer healthy, natural activities such as swimming, biking, and hiking as well as cultural events and institutions such as libraries, museums, and theater. I would also like to be near public transportation and in a place that has walkability. I want a mixed-age location and proximity to essential services too. I don't want to have to rely too much on family members for essential needs.
Lifestyle
How do I hope to live? I know that I want to work and/or volunteer in a meaningful endeavor. I also want to host friends and family members for healthy recreation and gatherings. I'd like to read, write, research, and cretae too. I want to be close to beautiful, inspiring places.
Home
I want a simple home that's easy to care for with a flat backyard and an element of privacy too.
Proximity to Family
This is a tough category since I have many independent family members who are likely to move at any time so to choose a place near anyone family member is probably not a good idea. Instead, I think it's important to choose a place that family members want to visit.
Timing
There's no rush to move, but there is a need to save and spend wisely to support this change.
Climate Change and Geography
I don't want to live in a place that's in jeopardy of flooding, wild storms, draught, or fires--I want to consult climate change forecasts and geography factors. Water availability and pollution control are other important considerations.
People
I find that most places are filled with good people, so that's not a big concern. Yet, just by looking at a place, you can tell if people like to take good care of their surroundings. When you research a place, you can get a feel about how people take care of one another too.
I'm not sure where we'll end up, but in the meatime, it will be fun to explore a number of possible locations.