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Where To Live After Fifty
Are you thinking of "downsizing" - or do you think that you'll "age-in-place" right where you are. What about these 55+ communities. Is that for you? Thinking that you might want to head to (or have you already headed to) a warmer, or sunnier, or more temperate climate? What's important to you?
Moderator: Jo-Anne
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luchito jbkoskinen: Any comment is welcome on this site. Good luck with your move west!
Sun May 8, 2011, 6:27:50 AM EDT
Sun May 8, 2011, 6:27:50 AM EDT
jbkoskinen Hi, I'm fifty-five, with a Bachelors Degree in English Lit. I've been self-employed, starting my own organization that is now dying due to the economy and lack of grant funding. I've been living in a strained marriage for the last en years, and I have finally managed to find a way to move away from the stress, while using my skills and at the same time, getting another, more useful degree (I'll share this by writing an article about it if this site is interested). I live in the midwest-kansas City- but the healthcare system isn't working for me as well as it seems tob e working for some. That's why i want to move back to the West Coast, or at least closer to it. My job prospects could place me in oregon, CA, or even AZ, and I'll be working were my room and board and stipend will afford me time to explore more options once i get there. Again, being a woman trying to get away from the lack of emotional support that is only stressing and straining my nerves is the most important thing right now, and the warmer climate of the West Coast seems to be the way to go. Is there a forum to dicuss married women starting over for the sake her health?
Sat May 7, 2011, 4:49:20 PM EDT
Sat May 7, 2011, 4:49:20 PM EDT
Terri I have basically done the same thing. Moved back to where my kids live to start over. Still settling in and job searching but at least I have peace here.
Mon May 23, 2011, 3:01:36 PM EDT
Mon May 23, 2011, 3:01:36 PM EDT
PaulT Your father-in-law has the right idea, who wants to stay up North in the winter. Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, Southern California all sound good to me.
Mon Apr 18, 2011, 10:54:09 PM EDT
Mon Apr 18, 2011, 10:54:09 PM EDT
Sailinggirl49 My father-in-law has been working on this issue, in the past year he moved from northern Michigan, down to the mid west to be by his daughter in a larger city. Now he has better health care options, family in town, and a short drive away to visit his other kids and grandkids. He still enjoys leaving it all behind in the coldest part of the year for Florida for a couple of months. In a way he has the best of both worlds.
Sat Feb 26, 2011, 6:01:31 PM EST
Sat Feb 26, 2011, 6:01:31 PM EST
mysticant Hello Group.. I once said, I would never live in a mobile home... shame on me.. so be it I am now in a small one in a senior park. Sometimes I miss my past of having lots of animals and room@.. but realistically.. with the economy the way it is, I am free to travel around and with a rent of 375 a month I am blessed to have a roof over my head.. nothing fancy.. but I feel lucky to have my own mobile home and not be strapped down..
Thu Feb 24, 2011, 8:15:28 PM EST
Thu Feb 24, 2011, 8:15:28 PM EST
Jo-Anne Sounds like you really have a good sense of your priorities - and that you're being very sensible, practical. Not being strapped down...sounds wonderful!
Thu Feb 24, 2011, 10:55:55 PM EST
Thu Feb 24, 2011, 10:55:55 PM EST
Jo-Anne Luchito, your advice to Chevy is a great idea! that way you get to spend time with both children and their children AS WELL AS enjoy good weather!
Sat Oct 9, 2010, 10:13:46 PM EDT
Sat Oct 9, 2010, 10:13:46 PM EDT
luchito Chevy: When I retired, I will live near my kids and grandkids. As of now, one lives in N.E. and the other in South Mid Atlantic. If the winters get difficult for my wife and me then we will move south just for the winters.
Fri Oct 1, 2010, 2:48:18 PM EDT
Fri Oct 1, 2010, 2:48:18 PM EDT
Chevy I live in the northeast (awful winters) but anyway, my son and his wife just had their first child. So now I'm a grandparent! I'm glad I live near them, and the grandchild is a real draw. But now my other child, located in the south, is expecting her first. I'd like to be near that grandchild, too, (and the weather would be a whole lot better) but I can't be in both places at the same time. So I really don't know where I'll land for retirement. Any thoughts?
Fri Oct 1, 2010, 2:37:08 PM EDT
Fri Oct 1, 2010, 2:37:08 PM EDT
We lived near our oldest and saw our grandchildren fewer times than when we downsized and moved back to NJ recently. Now, we see all three sons/families on a regular basis. We downsized to a condo near the boardwalk and absolutely love it! Both my husband and I walk to just about everything. We enjoy the beach and the constant theater, arts, and other venues available to us. We're blocks away from trains and buses into NYC, which is my favorite place. I am not one to live in a 55+ retirement village, although my husband, who plays golf, would not mind it. We did live in two places similar to this and neither of us truly felt that it was 'us.' However, many of our friends do enjoy retirement villages. MY husband took early retirement and we moved to the South for ten years. I could not tolerate the intense heat and humidity. Both of us missed the four seasons, so we are basically back home again here in NJ. NJ is a diverse state and we looked carefully at its tax base...property taxes are high. We, however, found a condo with low taxes and love our building and its residents. I've written and am directing a play about retirement villages by the way...it's a dark comedy. (:
Thu Sep 23, 2010, 9:57:10 AM EDT
Thu Sep 23, 2010, 9:57:10 AM EDT
Jo-Anne Just luvvvv the conversation between Kimmielou56 and Beeples 985 down below. Yup, getting rid of the "stuff" is frequently the issue. You might have a great idea about where you would like to land next - but what do you do with all of today's stuff?! Sounds like Kimmielou56's way of handling it was pretty good!
Fri Sep 10, 2010, 9:15:12 AM EDT
Fri Sep 10, 2010, 9:15:12 AM EDT
Jo-Anne Tony says below that he thinks it's important to live near your kids when you're "After Fifty." What do you think? In Tony's case, he's concerned that they may move. I guess there's a lot of things to consider.
Thu Aug 5, 2010, 9:30:32 PM EDT
Thu Aug 5, 2010, 9:30:32 PM EDT
Tony I think I'd like to stay near where my kids are. If they decide to start moving, I don't know what I would do then.
Tue Jul 27, 2010, 5:00:01 PM EDT
Tue Jul 27, 2010, 5:00:01 PM EDT
kimmielou56 I think being near your family is very important, especially as you age. If my child moves, I will too, I want to be near my grandchildren and be a part of their lives and them in mine. There will come a day, when someone will have to take care of me, and I don't want it to be any harder for them than it will be.
Fri Sep 10, 2010, 3:29:22 AM EDT
Fri Sep 10, 2010, 3:29:22 AM EDT
Sailinggirl49 I'm going to stay put right here in the northwestern part of the good old USA. I really like the climate - except when it gets really cold - but that's okay cause I just stay inside then.
Mon Jul 26, 2010, 10:59:46 AM EDT
Mon Jul 26, 2010, 10:59:46 AM EDT
kimmielou56 I too love the NW, but the cold gets to my joints more and more every year. I'm ready to become a snowbird, but don't know where to go!
Fri Sep 10, 2010, 3:27:07 AM EDT
Fri Sep 10, 2010, 3:27:07 AM EDT
ebppuid1 I bet there are a lot of things to like about the 55+ communities - but I think I'd miss having a few younger people around, too. They keep you on your toes.
Sun Jul 25, 2010, 10:02:41 PM EDT
Sun Jul 25, 2010, 10:02:41 PM EDT
PaulT I think you make a good point, I'm not sure I ready to hang out with a bunch of old people yet! Oh yea, I'm over 50, does that make me old? Not a chance.
Mon Apr 18, 2011, 11:00:06 PM EDT
Mon Apr 18, 2011, 11:00:06 PM EDT
beeples985 Looking to downsize soon. Ugh the thought of all that and moving too. Lookiing for a place without alot of young children
Sun Jun 27, 2010, 10:17:43 AM EDT
Sun Jun 27, 2010, 10:17:43 AM EDT
kimmielou56 We just sold our 3 bed/3bath home on the coast. Had a giant garage sale, made $1000 and donated everything else to Goodwill who came & picked it up. We hired 2 guys to help us load our truck & we moved into a 2bed/2bath apt. WE LOVE IT! No yardwork or obligations of any kind, our yard is gorgeous! The hardest part is parting with your "stuff", and the kids don't want it either, they want new. You just have to let it go, and you will be FREE.
Fri Sep 10, 2010, 3:24:17 AM EDT
Fri Sep 10, 2010, 3:24:17 AM EDT
Jo-Anne beeples985 - your comment got me thinking. There's so-o-o much to consider! Bsed on what you've said, I've posted a new entry into the Founder's Blog - and it reviews several factors for consideration. Hope you enjoy it! Again, thanks for your comment!
Sun Jun 27, 2010, 1:12:43 PM EDT
Sun Jun 27, 2010, 1:12:43 PM EDT
Babs What great ideas... I 'm thinking about living in a midwestern university town where many people from the 1960's never left. Yet, ever since I moved here, I thought I had one foot out the door. Many of my peers, like myself, are transplants from either the left or right coast. When you've always thought you'd return to your coast, what do you do when you love where you are but also can begin to think about "going coastal" again. I'm curious about how many in our age range really do return home to retire? BAbs
Sun Jun 20, 2010, 10:55:58 PM EDT
Sun Jun 20, 2010, 10:55:58 PM EDT
maryl I don't want to move to my hometown, but to a larger city in the state, where we lived early in our marriage. At least during the warm months. My sister stayed put, and travels a lot. But everybody knows your business there. So, in the cold months, I want to live somewhere warm. I'd like Hawaii, but not sure we can afford that.
Sun Jan 22, 2012, 10:08:06 PM EST
Sun Jan 22, 2012, 10:08:06 PM EST
luchito I just finished reading an article a friend sent me about this topic (retiring outside the USA) and the conclusions I have are:
1) Pick a place in which the exchange rate (dollars to local currency) are to your advantage
2) There are already USA ex-patriates living in a particular community
3) The locals are ready to welcome you or at the minimum co-exist with you.
Any others (issues or comments) to enrich this discussion??
Sat Jun 19, 2010, 7:16:13 AM EDT
1) Pick a place in which the exchange rate (dollars to local currency) are to your advantage
2) There are already USA ex-patriates living in a particular community
3) The locals are ready to welcome you or at the minimum co-exist with you.
Any others (issues or comments) to enrich this discussion??
Sat Jun 19, 2010, 7:16:13 AM EDT
Jo-Anne I think I might be concerned about safety issues. Some countries may be more safe than others. Then again, I realize that problems can arise almost anywhere.
Sun Jun 20, 2010, 9:57:40 PM EDT
Sun Jun 20, 2010, 9:57:40 PM EDT
Jo-Anne What's important to me as I consider where to live after fifty? Probably access to good medical care, reasonable cost of living, reasonable access to the ocean, to culture, to shopping, a diversified community. Hmmmm. What are some choices?
Mon Apr 19, 2010, 5:20:04 PM EDT
Mon Apr 19, 2010, 5:20:04 PM EDT
Kathy1951 I would recommend the Tampa/St. Pete area of Florida due to its central Florida location, and all of the good things you mentioned above AND no snow in the winter. That was a BIG one for me - getting away from cold winters!
Sat Jul 31, 2010, 8:23:39 PM EDT
Sat Jul 31, 2010, 8:23:39 PM EDT
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