Anonymous wrote:I came here for this exact question. Would love to retire here post military retirement but not sure it’s affordable. DH argues the cost of living offsets any second career gains here. What makes the hustle 9-5 worth the cost of living?

Look at Vinson Hall and Knollwood. Both non-profits, serving retired military officers/civil service. Keep in mind that with Walter Reed and bases in the area you have access to healthcare and the PX and commissary.

I came here for this exact question. Would love to retire here post military retirement but not sure it’s affordable. DH argues the cost of living offsets any second career gains here. What makes the hustle 9-5 worth the cost of living?

It's a good base with 3 airports, public transportation, rideshare.
Lots of free museums.
I did a lot of fun weekday outings to museums and lunch before covid.
Now I haven't been in a restaurant in 4 years. A plane trip in 3. Go to museums but not much fun as before.
Depends on your age, health, attitude about long covid.
Still haven't had covid.
Have several hundred thousand extra to leave to my Alma mater.

OP, in my experience, how people spend their days in retirement does not look much different than, when they were working, how they spent their weekends. Trips though can be longer, more relaxed, done in off season.

Re: the comment re: weather (9:20 poster here again), think the Mid Atlantic has the advantage of mild weather. Other siblings have 2 homes, in a northern climate, and in a southern climate. They really would not be happy with either year round. It's a lot of hassle, just imo. I can be happy here in the DMV except for July-Aug. I am miserable in the heat here.

Recently retired, about two years now. Love finally having all the time in the world to enjoy things (museums, concerts, day trips) that the DC area has to offer but I didn’t have time or bandwidth for while working. Content with the weather. Would move eventually to lower cost area but not in a hurry to do that until I’ve had time to enjoy this one.

I will pay off my condo just a year after I retire, but it is a building without elevators, so not a good place for aging.

I have one child and would like to live near her, once she is settled professionally and personally. So that is a bit of a wild card. A lot of my friends (albeit single females) seem to want to stay in their child's orbit, especially once grandkids arrive.

I know friends who have moved to independent living communities (in Delaware and on the Eastern Shore). They seem very happy (ie., built in friends and lots of activities on hand).

DMV is base camp for lots of other travels. We did lots of international travel pre covid. Just Love having 3 airports and NE corridor Amtrak. Closest friends are still here. We are in house where our children grew up. No need to downsize. It's not that big. One level living is possible. Kids settled in other parts of the country. We travel frequently to see them and they still have a few friends here so they like to come back. Watching property tax and other expenses, evaluate every few years re: suitability of staying. Don't feel the need to make a perfect decision. No need to maximize our monetary decision yet but have no plans for a CCRC (eventually) in DMV as I think those are too expensive here.

If you retired and stayed somewhere in the DMV, how’s it going? What’s daily life like for you? Is it affordable? What types of things do you do? Did your friends also stick around here?