Retirement Lifestyles Makeover System

Residence – There’s No Place Like Home

Where shall I live in retirement? The question raises a cascade of additional questions that get to the very heart of what’s truly important about retirement living for you. Should I construct a new lifestyle in a new setting?  Should I “retire in place” and continue to enjoy my familiar surroundings? Can I keep up friendships from a distance? Can I move away from the grandkids? Should I move closer to the grandkids? Questions like these, and many more, make the retirement residence issue a pivotal one. One that I thought was not an issue for me…until this past winter!

We all remember the old TV show, Green Acres starring Eddie Albert (Oliver) and Eva Gabor (Lisa). Oliver always dreamed of owning a farm and convinced his wife to move from the pampered living of New York’s Park Avenue to the rickety home in Hooterville. Well, I don’t see my situation as drastic as Oliver and Lisa Douglas but it’s a big decision for me.

I currently live the life that people retire to. A small shore town that offers the serenity of the off-season and enough action in the warmer months to keep you satisfied during those quiet months. Walking, biking, birding, fishing…name your pleasure! So, why would I consider giving this up? I don’t want to leave the area and if I can find the housing that I’m hoping for, maybe my move won’t be that drastic. My thoughts started racing after spending five days digging out of a rare snow storm this winter. I realized that I didn’t have a support system to look to to assist me when I really needed help. And, I don’t see that situation improving over time. Now that warmer weather has arrived, I have to psych myself up to tend to the yard work. Although once I get started, it’s not that bad. Right now, I am able to do these things for myself. I don’t enjoy it but I can get the work done.  But each day I went out to shovel a little more, it hit me. I can’t do this forever!  And in that moment, I decided to sell my home and move to a place that cuts the grass, removes snow, and offers repair service. This weekend, I’m going to an open house for a 55 plus active community but I am open to regular condo living. When I took my Life Options Assessment, I was confident that I would remain in the comfort of my current home and community. I surprised myself when I realized I have work to do with regard to my plans for my retirement residence. Although my retirement is about ten years away, I plan to resolve my housing situation within 12 to 24 months because I want to start to reduce my living expenses and free myself from being my own maintenance person. I’ve also realized that this move may not be my final residence. I will revisit the residence issue after my retirement because there are other factors to consider that are not currently priority concerns with my current housing needs. I’m not sure how many of you are facing similiar questions about your retirement housing plans but I’ve included this link to an article that might offer you some options. http://bit.ly/cVPfLk

It is true…there’s no place like home but don’t let your home prevent you from living a joyous retirement life.