Where do you want to live when you retire?

[kom2010]

We live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern CA and love it. But where we live a car is a necessity, and traffic is worsening. Being retired we can generally run errands or travel when it's non-commute hours, but once we stop driving it will change the entire scenario.

Our home is not possible to retrofit for universal access. The costs would simply not be worth it. It's extremely expensive to remodel here. 

We plan to stay in the area. When we can't keep up the house and garden any longer, we will either rent the house out or sell outright. We have done extensive financial planning so have looked at all our options should one of us become disabled or pass away. 

Our income is very comfortable and we have comprehensive LTCi policies. Our preference would be to move into a nearby CCRC, but it does have a costly buy-in so we'll have to decide if it's worth it. There are many other senior living options so a wealth of choices to investigate.

We have looked at eight nearby facilities but it's time to look out of our own neighborhood. Especially if we stop driving, it might be better to be nearer the other members of my family, who all live within a small geographic area about 20 min. away from us.

We could also move out of CA, so we are thinking to make some trips to the PNW and explore those options as well. 

Being socially and political liberal, we wish to remain within an ethnically and culturally diverse region. We're also serious foodies, so the more varied the restaurants, the better!

[mimi0000]

I love Asheville, NC.  It is in the mountains where summer is not too hot and there is little snow in winter. Fall and Spring are long and ideal.  Great Drs and Hospitals.  Homey and sophisticated at the same time.  Good places to eat.  It is a "with it" kind of place.  Diverse schools and a wonderful variety of active people.  

Problem is -- so many people want to live there cost of living is high and it is a Right to Work State resulting in low wages.

[nyadrn]

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@Rex1948 wrote:

I lived in Portland for 25 years and loved it. I've been away 7 years and wow it has gotten expensive. I want to be downtown where everything is at my fingertips and transport is so accessible. I am concerned about the cost though. I am wondering how to look for people with great places but who are getting priced out. If we shared it could be a win win. Any ideas?

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This is an issue for everyone wanting to live a very desirable area.  You might try looking for condo rentals. You might have to go to each building that you are interested in and see what is available for sharing but in my ara, that is a common arrangement for college attendees.  Apartment  sharing is also common, check the online ads or check with the rental office.   Take care though because with sharing, there is no guarantee that the other person and you will be compatible and you also have to be careful when you draw up the financial sharing plans.  You don't want to be left holding the bag if someone decides to leave unexpectedly.

[Rex1948]

I lived in Portland for 25 years and loved it. I've been away 7 years and wow it has gotten expensive. I want to be downtown where everything is at my fingertips and transport is so accessible. I am concerned about the cost though. I am wondering how to look for people with great places but who are getting priced out. If we shared it could be a win win. Any ideas?

[SIMPLEGAL]

Hi,

Where is your home near Flagstaff?  Is it in the mountains?

Phoenix in the winter and Flagstaff in the summer...the best of both worlds.

Good for you!

I like the ocean.....but for now my home is "The Villages, Florida. 

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@Bronco56 wrote:
We are retired and live in Phoenix. The winters are great! For the hot summers we bought a home near Flagstaff. Two hours apart and a lot cooler!

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[Bronco56]

We are retired and live in Phoenix. The winters are great! For the hot summers we bought a home near Flagstaff. Two hours apart and a lot cooler!

[crossmusic711]

I introduced my husband to the Smokies on our honeymoon, and he fell in love with the area, just like I did when I lived in TN.  Anybody know of a small cabin on a little piece of land with a view of the mountains?

[ak36349276]

I want to stay in Naperville and live in Naperville for my retirement . I. Love my city Naperville . From Anne Kimble

[2Papa]

I'm going to retire in my house.

[retiredtraveler]

We've retired 'in place'. We have been in our one-and-only house for almost 37 years. I would love to have a place out in the Pacific Northwest, but most of our respective families live within an hour's drive. So, we're staying here. We are on a few acres, so I have been indulging in big-time gardening for a lot of years. We'll stay here until we physically cannot handle the property.