Have you ever wondered whether your favorite winter holiday destination would be a great place to retire? A warm climate, relaxed lifestyle, and happy memories have tempted many a retiree to pull up stumps and load the moving van.
While it’s great to dream about relocating, choosing where to move is a complicated and very personal decision. Making the proper choice requires understanding and prioritising your happiness and wellbeing now and in the future. Getting it right takes knowing yourself pretty well.
You probably have a favourite holiday destination, and you’ve probably also wondered what it might be like to live there forever.
That much-loved holiday locale looks its best in great weather, but have you ever visited out of season? Or have you tried parking in the main street of that sleepy little coastal town in peak holiday season?
Visiting the area at different times of the year gives you a clearer indication of what life would really be like to live there full time.
If you visit a doctor regularly, or require regular physio treatment, you’ll need a strong sense of the quality of those services.
Explore in full the town and surrounding neighbourhoods to see if the services and facilities you value are relatively handy. If they’re not, be realistic about the time, effort and cost required to help you find services that meet your needs before making up your mind to live there – or not.
An alarming number of pre-retirees who read about a particular locale often add it to their top 10 relocation list without ever visiting it in person.
Depending on your circumstances, your decision may need to be informed by a variety of factors. These might include:
- how long it takes you to visit friends and family
- access to quality healthcare
- the cost of living in that area
- housing prices
- relocation expenses
- whether there are opportunities to keep working and generate income in your new region.
Focus on what matters most and decide where you can compromise and what is non-negotiable.
If it really is your dream to retire in a new location, it goes without saying that you’ll need to do your due diligence. But don’t waste too much time overthinking the move once you’ve answered all the important questions and potential concerns. Life can change in a heartbeat. Don’t waste a moment.
Just make sure you visit, and research the area thoroughly, before filling in those mail redirection forms at the post office.
Read more: The emotional aspects of moving house in retirement
Do you have plans to relocate in retirement? To where are you considering moving? What are you looking forward to most? Or have you already made the big retirement relocation? Why not share your thoughts, experiences and tips in the comments below?