Where to retire checklist
make sure you know
before you go
The where to retire checklist should include more than just one list, we used four: a long term plan; a list of things we never wanted to do again; what we wanted to accomplish in retirement; and lastly a checklist of stuff that is very unique to you.
Here is what we did
We made the decision to retire early in 1990,on a cruise ship. That started the long range plan. The never agains and retirement goals were next. Let's now discuss the last checklist you need before saying goodbye to old neighbors and moving next to new neighbors.
How important to you, are the following:
Health care
Depending on you personal situation you would want to make sure if your health care needs are met at your new home. Do you have access to the right doctors? Is your insurance accepted in your new home? Will you have to get new insurance?
Where is the nearest Hospital with an emergency room? Do you have difficult allergies to consider? If moving abroad is necessary for frugal retirement living, be extra careful with health care issues.
Clubs and activities
For instance, just because you have retired doesn't mean you have to give up Rotary or Kiwanis. Is a chapter of your service club close by?
If you enjoy quilting or stained glass...is this available to you? Can you go as a visitor and see if the local activity has people you could get along with.
I'll just list the activities available in my community Sun City Grand. I am not boasting about all the stuff to do, I don't take advantage of 90% of the activities myself. This list is just to jog your memory about what you do or would like to do when you retire.
Golf, tennis, pickleball, lawn bowling ,bocce ball, table tennis, billiards, pool, art, bridge, canasta, chess. scrabble, dancing, dominoes,acting, theatre groups, euchre(what in the world is that?), fishing, gardening, putting, hiking,language study, mah jongg, music, photography, pinochle, poker, stiching, travel, woodcraft, wood working, horseshoes, softball,RV club, etc.
Point being if any of those are important why not make sure it'e available to you when you decide where to retire.
Education
Would you like to live in a university town, for the sports , vibrancy and culture that comes along with universities? How about continuing education courses? Would you like to teach? Are teaching positions available?
Worship Opportunities
Is your preference for worship available? We find that as we age we tend to do more and more with the people we worship with, is this the same for you?
Good Restaurants
Gotta have a good, cheap Mexican fix on a weekly basis? We do. Is your favorite cuisine available?
Safety
What is the crime rate? Do you require a gated community for security? Can you own or carry a firearm...very important for some folks. How close is the fire station? What is the response time for fire and police?
The second best advice for choosing where to retire
Visit with the people that live there now, and not just your friends. Hang out at the activity center or local coffee shop. Do not be shy about asking questions of what is important to you...you will kick yourself if you discover too late, that you could have found out something important by asking.
I hope this does not need to be said...Don't rely solely on your realtor for your info, he or she has a profit motive and may not give you the answer you really need. I used to be a commercial real estate broker, I hope I answered all client questions fairly...but I also was driven by making commissions.
The best advice for choosing where to retire
Try before you buy. Rent before you purchase. A 6 month to a year lease on an apartment or house may be the very best investment you ever make. This will give you time to discover all the pros and cons of your new home...or it may point you in another direction as soon as your lease is up.
With this time you can really dig into the local real estate market. Find the very best builder, if you are looking for a new home. Get involved and leverage all your contacts for the maximum amount of information about your new town...or country...or boat.
Conclusion
Chances of you making a big mistake in where to retire are greatly reduced by planning ahead. The time it takes to make out the various lists will pay off. They are also great ways to keep lines of communication open with your spouse.
I am no Dr Phil, but you can sometimes get a big surprise when you compare your lists with your spouse...The conversation usually goes like..."I never knew that was important to you"...I am sure this doesn't apply to your situation, it's reported for informational purposes only.
Relax, enjoy yourselves, you are going to retire or stay retired...it is a wonderful thing.
Return from where to retire checklist to frugal retirement living
Return from where to retire checklist to early retirement planning
