We hope you will find this series of thought provoking questions to be useful as you plan for a carefree retirement destination. While we all dream of the “perfect retirement” most people will need to strike a balance between the myriad of choices and considerations along with financial reality.
What about weather & climate? earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, seasons, average daily temperatures, humidity, snow, rainfall
What about proximity to family? Grandchildren, parents, siblings
What about healthcare facilities? Hospitals, clinics, assisted living, retirement homes, convalescent homes – types of facilities, availability, costs
What about the neighbors? Adult communities, children
What about noise? – private airfields, commercial airport flight paths, road noise from turnpikes, interstate highways and busy local roads.
What about traffic? – tourist activities, festivals
What about privacy? – proximity to neighbors, tolerance for noise, pets, children, skate boards, basketball courts, neighborhood pools and playgrounds
What about gated communities? – advantages, disadvantages, rules & regulations, monthly fees, special assessments, restrictions, security
What about safety & crime? – city demographics
What about education? – colleges, universities, community colleges, adult education
What about golf? – private clubs, public clubs, variety of courses, memberships, availability, PGA tournaments, LPGA tournaments
What about tennis? Types of courts and facilities, tennis pros,
What about boating? – full service marinas, space availability, rack dry storage, boat ramps, access to intracoastal waterway, access to ocean
What about horses? – boarding facilities, riding trails, tack shops, blacksmiths, vets
What about gambling? – Full gaming casinos, offshore casinos, horse racing, dog racing
What about distance to airports? – private, commercial, international
What about “The Arts”?
What about restaurants? –ethnic eating, costs of dining, service, quality, availability
What about speciality food stores? – ethnic delis, markets, fresh produce
What about diversity?
What is my threshold for boredom? – enough different things to do
What types of community voluntarism? – types of volunteers needed
What about proximity to the mountains?
What about proximity to the sea? – distance to the coast, beach driving, access points, pet regulations
What about the view from my home?
What about water sports? – water skiing
What about skiing? – distance to the slopes, difficulty, cross country, snowboarding
What about hiking? – types of trails, difficulty
What about critters? Bears, alligators, snakes, insects, pests
What about football? – adult leagues, NFL teams nearby
What about basketball? – adult leagues, NBA teams nearby
What about baseball? – adult leagues, MLB Spring training, MLB teams near- by,AAA ball
What about auto racing? NASCAR, Indy cars, sports cars, drag racing
What about shopping? – outlet malls, shopping malls, tag sales, flea markets, food stores
What about concerts? – arenas, orchestras, pop music, rodeos
What about theaters? – movies, live theater
What about pets? – vets, boarding facilities, grooming facilities, neighborhood restrictions, condo restrictions
What about hunting? – seasons, types of game, permits and licenses
What about RV’s and Motorhomes? Neighborhood restrictions on parking, facilities for storage
What about fishing? – fresh water, salt water, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams
What about attractions? – cines, rodeos, Disney World, Epcot,
What about clubs? Newcomers, neighborhood, BPOE, ethic clubs
What about real estate resale? – if you change your mind
What about the cost of living? – fuel costs, utilities food, services
What about insurance? – health, automobile, homeowner, boating– costs vary widely depending on many factors including climate, risk of hurricane, tornadoes