Let’s assume you’re among the 50% of Boomers who say they are considering relocating after they retire. Of course, there really is no perfect place, but there are likely many locations that will mesh with your priorities.
Remember, too, that moving doesn’t have to be a permanent decision – you may decide you want to live in a place for several years, and then relocate again.
So, assuming you’ve done your homework and narrowed your list to several good possibilities, here are some ideas to “try them on” for fit:
Try a discovery tour.
Many communities (especially the larger ones with long build-out time frames) offer discovery tours at attractive rates that provide accommodations for a few nights, and allow you to take a tour, talk with residents, and perhaps sample some of their amenities. An example:
Sample all seasons.
If you’re crawling along in traffic with the hordes of snowbirds who have flocked to your potential new home, you might think
twice about relocating there. Or, if you visit a southern location only
during the winter months, you may be in for a shock after you move and the summer humidity sets in. The mountain community that is delightful in the late summer may strike you differently as you slide on the black ice during February.
Get the local newspaper.
Try accessing newspapers online or at the library, or have a subscription sent to your home. Being in touch with the everyday events of your potential retirement haven cues you in on the events, issues, real estate prices, and flavor of a community.
Let your fingers do the walking.
Take a look at the area’s Yellow Pages – you’ll get a sense of the scope of the restaurants, theaters, hospitals, parks, physicians, etc.
Talk to the locals.
Strike up conversations at a community center, park, or casual restaurant. You may find out information that the Chamber of
Commerce or a realtor won’t volunteer.
Lydia R., for example, found out talking to a resident about a local paper plant that, depending on the wind direction, produced a less-than-desirable “aroma” that could be detected in the development she was considering.
Rent or try a home exchange.
it’s a good idea not only to sample all seasons, but also to try out a prospective location for at least six months to ensure it’s really for you.
If you’re considering changing from a single-family residence to a condo or apartment (or the other way around), it’s worthwhile to make sure you can adjust to a new type of residence.
Organizations exist that allow you to arrange a temporary swap of your home for one in a different location (fees for this type of service start at $50). Examples: Home Exchange (www.homeexchange.com), Home Link
(www.swapnow.com), or Intervac (www.intervacus.com).
Want to visit on the cheap? Global Freeloaders (www.GlobalFreeloaders.com) is a free online
service that allows you to stay at someone’s home at no cost (but you need to be willing to reciprocate).
Another possibility is to share a residence with an (unrelated) adult. This can be a fairly inexpensive alternative, and if you’re single, you may enjoy the companionship and safety aspects.
Contact the
(www.nationalsharedhousing.org) for information; there is a $20 annual membership charge.
Have a place for your “toys.”
Do you have an RV or a boat? Be sure you have a place to store them. The Villages of Westminster in
Practice retirement.
If possible, try living on your projected retirement income, and try out the activities you plan on pursuing when you actually retire. It can be very instructive!
Of course, many different personality types exist.
The methodical may go through all of these steps; others may stumble onto a place, fall in love, and snap up the first home they visit, and live happily ever after (or not)! <<
Jan Cullinane is the co-author of The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life (Rodale).
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