I can already tell this reconisance trip is money well spent, and it has been and will be a lot of money. Not to recap yet some of the mishaps, minor in the scheme of things and us things, my daughter's eye's have widened, sunk, gone glassy, and sparkled already. Granted, yesterday was pure travel, rest and tourist mode, so not much really experienced yet. But seeing a glimpse of what it might be to live in an area, compared to just visiting, is the first step.
This trip was for her, but principles of relocating are applicable to me and DH for the future in our retirement years. Just a couple first thoughts; I'm not touching on all the factors- just a glimpse.
Getting there/ leaving there: What's it going to be like flying or driving from a new place to call home to an old place, presuming there's still reason to travel back. We'll still have family and friends and the lake cabin to see and manage. My kids, the same.
Getting around in the new place: This will be different at 22 and 62. Is there walkable neighborhoods for essentials or easy public transportation? Is it easy to own, park, and drive a car?
Lifestyle: For the places we consider, what's there to do, and who's doing it? What's the up cost of these activities? Does the place boom with tourist's part of the year and would we be ok with that?
As I said first thoughts and glimpses and no more. The cost to live somewhere starts with the cost to move there. While no guarantees, being sure it's the right place is step one.
For big decisions like these, I believe there is an "Aha!" moment. I had those moments especially when looking for renting or buying apartments. When I was searching for an apartment buy back in 2004, I remember walking into my current home and without even seeing any rooms, I said "this is it to myself". It is so much easier to move to some place new when one is 22. My 22 year old self would've loved to live in DC.
ReplyDeleteShe really liked the school but has more thinking on timing and plans. No Aha yet, but she's got a good mindset. You're fortunate to find, the one place. Our house was like that for us.
DeleteIt took us a couple of years to decide where we wanted to move to when we decided to leave Florida. There are so many things to factor in. Good you're starting early.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!!
And, staying out could be an option and just leave for cold months.
DeleteWe still have a little retirement checklist going, but haven't been doing much exploring yet. We built a grid when we bought our vacation home of factors,and found it so useful to decide on a location. Similarly, we'll do something similar for a (potential) relocation in retirement. We're on the fence if we will even move. It's a hard choice.
ReplyDeleteGlad the trip is going well & is useful for the decision making process.
Grid making for us and the college kid is a really good idea. We too may not move, but with all bedrooms and bathrooms off the main floor, may not be wise to stay.
DeleteRetirement, trying to keep all the kids in one place so we can visit. We do have them all in one state, but still so far apart. Ugh! Good luck on your trip.
ReplyDeleteWe'll if we were wealthy wealthy, we'd buy a beautiful dream home with three additional homes, combined and have a big old compound. Just kidding, but it would be lovely to be able to see and have our own space whenever we want. I'm so curious where Sluggy will choose.
DeleteI will add a big one..CHECK YOUR MEDICAL INS for that area. We had friends that moved out of state (not on Medical) and now are OUT OF NETWORK on of the health ins. We drive an hour one way to STAY IN NETWORK.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a good point. I know we have retirement options that have more flexibility, of course with higher premiums.
DeleteThe other factor I would point is, sometimes life gets in the way of making plans. I had thought I knew exactly where I wanted to live when I retired. In fact, I even took a month off work four years before I retired and lived in the community and it confirmed my desire.
ReplyDeleteFast forward two years and a grandson was born, then two more years and my house did not sell, then the pandemic arrived and all of my plans went out the window. I am again thinking of selling but I won't be moving to where I thought I would be. In fact, I'm not certain where I'll end up but it will likely be close to my kids and grandchild.
Of course you are bringing up what should be obvious, since I've got six years until retirement. No doubt life will keep changing in those years. I appreciate you sharing your story.
DeleteI agree with Chef Owings, my first thought was "medical". While it's different for me in that my insurance covers me worldwide and for any recognized doctors/medical facilities, etc.. I think one of the reasons I will stay in this area (apart from the fact that it's beautiful) is that I have easy access to fantastic medical facilities in Geneva if necessary. Oh they're good in France but you can wait ages to get an appointment, whereas in Geneva it's much quicker (and more expensive of course). So I think medical is a big issue, although not the only one. When I worked in DC I lived in Silver Spring, MD (which was about the extent of our budget to be honest), but the commute gets old (the story of my life), even if the metro system is (was?) excellent!
ReplyDeleteEverything we try and plan goes to medical I think! Learned yesterday big time though one of my bullet points, getting around, is even higher- and medical tire into this.
DeleteI was never given a choice of what place to move and ended up in horrible places. The last location was the one time I had a choice. It was great, but in a year, ex wanted to move, but we stayed, luckily.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you didn't feel you had a choice. I like to think there's always a choice/ everything's a choice, but I understand options in many situations might all be unsatisfactory- no "good" choice.
DeleteI have only ever lived in my city - the concept of moving to go to college doesn't really exist here in Canada to the same extent as the US. We don't really move that much.
ReplyDeleteYou describe a beautiful community and built life, so where you live seems to suit you. I complain every winter!
DeleteWe are not at a place where we are going to make any decisions about scaling down. Though our house is much too big for the two of us, we have some extras here that would not be easy to replicate and they are things we use regularly. (Plus they are what Pip loves best about our house)
ReplyDeleteMost likely we will keep our home base in Birmingham, but might have a small apartment in Portland
Being able to see her more often I'm sure is a dream and I hope life moves you closer. The style of our house will be difficult as we age. It truly was a late 1980's, built for young growing families, suburban Flor plan. I don't think elderly were part of the demographic in mind.
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