Considerations before Retiring in a New Location

You have recently retired and all of your children live in other areas of the country. Wouldn’t it be nice to move closer to some of the grandkids while getting away from our Minnesota winters? Relocating is a major adjustment, and for some, the move is irreversible. Before deciding to move, you need to make a cautious assessment.

1. Find out about the city/town you are thinking about making your new residence. In fact, get as much information as possible. The best means of learning about the location is to live there for a week, month, or year. Try to check out the city during less attractive times, for example when there are fewer tourists or at a time of year when it is not popular to visit the area (e.g., summer in Arizona). Check out the city's library, city hall, and Chamber of Commerce for information, and try to talk to several retired people who live there to gain their point of view.

2. Become active in the community, even before you live there. Subscribe to the local newspapers; join a church or synagogue and have them send you bulletins and newsletters. Contact the senior center and ask for some people you can telephone or e-mail.

3. Look at the climate. Does it get extremely hot or bitterly cold, and for how long? Is there a dry season or a rainy season, or is the climate dry or humid? Will you be comfortable in this kind of climate, and will the climate affect your health or allergies? What tasks are likely to be a result of the weather, such as daily lawn watering or pest extermination?

4. Look closely at the cost of living. Food expenses, housing, taxes (including sales, income, inheritance, and property), transportation, entertainment, and health care – all may be different from what you are now used to. Consider if this location or city will also become even more expensive in future years.

5. Look at available health care resources. Can you have your choice of managed care or fee-for- service care? Do you have ready access to emergency care and a good general hospital? What is the quality of health care in the city?

6. Look at available recreational and cultural resources. Will you be able to continue pursuing your hobbies and interests in the new city? For example, does the area have decent bike paths or nearby hills for skiing? Are there museums and art galleries nearby? Is there an area college or good community education program where you can attend classes?

7. Determine if the area has the kind of housing you want>Right now you may wish to have a single family home, but does the city offer reasonable and quality condominiums and assisted living facilities if your future housing needs change?

8. Look at all of the possessions you currently own. It is stressful and difficult deciding what you will take to your new home. It takes time to sort through years of accumulation, but you will need to decide what you need to sell, to give away, or to throw away.

Summary: Moving to a new location is not a decision to be made at the spur-of-the-moment. If you decide to relocate after retirement, taking time to think about the above points will help you in your transition in your new city.