Where are you moving when you retire?

[Anonymous]

My house in DMV has a 2,000 sf basement I rarely use but it has two large bedrooms, a huge living room and den area and full bath.

I also have 5 bedroom upstairs.

I plan on spouses and grandkids coming holidays and everyone can stay over.

[Anonymous]

The current plan is for San Diego, CA. The weather is perfect (I lived there and did not miss the seasons). People are genuinely happy. Lots of outdoor activities. Good healthcare. Some culture, and trips to LA for more are doable. And a great place for the kids to visit. The downsides are: high cost of living, hard to get to Europe.

We still have 10+ years to go, so who knows what will actually happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably wherever our only child puts down roots. If it’s someplace we hate then maybe a condo there and a condo someplace we prefer more, but we don’t want our only child having to deal with the stresses of elder care and aging parents from a long distance.

Sandwich generation realities are rough.

What if they're a rolling stone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably wherever our only child puts down roots. If it’s someplace we hate then maybe a condo there and a condo someplace we prefer more, but we don’t want our only child having to deal with the stresses of elder care and aging parents from a long distance.

Sandwich generation realities are rough.

What if they're a rolling stone?

I'm PP and that's a fair point. If that becomes obvious, then we'd probably simply pick a place and stay put. We aren't expecting to have DC be our caretaker, but we've been down that road with aging parents ourselves. Even if care plans are in place locally, you are back and forth, you are dealing with doctors, you want to see them as they get close to end of life, you are the executor of the estate.

We have about 10yrs before we retire so we'll evaluate at that point.

[Anonymous]

Pawleys Island, SC

[Anonymous]

Really hard to deny the attractions of coastal California, anywhere from Newport Beach and Laguna Niguel down to San Diego. I would love to retire there.

While housing is expensive, we could get a decent place with views up in the hills. The real problem is the insane state government and all the social problems that aren't getting better but worse because no one is willing to be responsible about it. And they're taking it out on the taxes in a way I do not trust.

[Anonymous]

Better not go to a red state.

Florida might secede which means no social security or medicare.

[Anonymous]

South Florida and Colorado at the same time. I plan to keep my NOVA house to use for storage.

[Anonymous]

Wherever my kids settle down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents tried to live in a retirement community-they hated it.

Moved into a normal neighborhood with a mix of ages and are much happier now.

The “mix of ages” thing is overrated IMO. Once you’re in your forties, you’re pretty much invisible to younger people. There are lots of millennials & Gen Z in our neighborhood but we have almost zero interaction with them. I’d rather save my energy to focus building relationships with folks our own age.

I am guessing that your lack of interest is a reason you have no interest in them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I raised my kid in our 1,200 square foot house. Now that I’m an empty nester it’s more than enough room. 400 square feet, on the other hand, seems too tight.

I’m planning to stay in Maryland unless DD moves elsewhere. Then I’d have to reconsider, primarily based on climate, cost of living and access to healthcare.

I’m the PP who said that less than 1200 square-feet is unlivable. Two points. First, it’s different when you’re away all day at work versus in retirement when you’d be home ALL. THE. TIME. (In my case, I’m not retired but I work from home and can confirm that you will go crazy if you spend all your time in a tiny box of less than 1200 square-feet.)

And second, I was referring to a condo/apartment since the PP mentioned a 400 square-foot apartment in Paris. There is a HUGE difference between your 1200 square-foot house and a 1200 square-foot apartment. Being able to step outside in nature for a few minutes a few times a day makes a small interior much more bearable.

So yeah, for those planning on living in an apartment in retirement, anything less than 1200 square-feet is unlivable.

I am absolutely not going to be home all the time when I'm retired. Particularly if I live in the Latin Quarter in Paris. Good grief.

And are you under the impression that one can't access the outside, or nature, from an apartment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents tried to live in a retirement community-they hated it.

Moved into a normal neighborhood with a mix of ages and are much happier now.

The “mix of ages” thing is overrated IMO. Once you’re in your forties, you’re pretty much invisible to younger people. There are lots of millennials & Gen Z in our neighborhood but we have almost zero interaction with them. I’d rather save my energy to focus building relationships with folks our own age.

Even if this is true (and I'm guessing that your demeanor contributes to your problems connecting with younger generations), I have absolutely no desire to be around all old people all the time. I saw my grandparents do it - no thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our plan is May-September in Rehoboth Beach (already own a place) and the rest of the year in Florida.

This, to me, is the absolute number one worst retirement plan ever. It is the cliché from hell. I cannot imagine it.

While you were typing this, someone posted that they're retiring to the Villages.

THAT is literally hell on earth to me. If I were given the choice of living in the Villages or going to prison, I would have to think about it.

+1 I have a friend who moved there in her late 40s with her early 40s husband. I. Do. Not. Get it.

You're too young to get it. It's like when I was young and single and couldn't imagine going to an all inclusive resort instead of traveling to an exotic locale. Then I had kids and realized how easy and fun the resort would be and how hard it was to wing it with kids somewhere more exciting where you have to plan every meal and activity.

I wouldn't move into a retirement community now. But when I'm 70 and most of my friends moved away, I might see the appeal of having immediate friends and activities. It's just easy. At 70+, many people want easy.

Oh I get retirement communities -- my mother (80) lives in a beautiful independent living facility in California. She's thriving. Best thing she ever did.

The Villages is a very different thing. The Villages is hell on earth.

It's actually Hell's waiting room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My house in DMV has a 2,000 sf basement I rarely use but it has two large bedrooms, a huge living room and den area and full bath.

I also have 5 bedroom upstairs.

I plan on spouses and grandkids coming holidays and everyone can stay over.

It's nice that you have given so much consideration to their wants and needs, particularly with respect to their spouse's families.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in the D.C. area, 90 percent of my family is in the D.C. area, my spouse's family is four hours away, and most of my friends are in the D.C. area. So I think I'll be retiring... in the D.C. area.