A REWIRED Relocation

There are many ways to REWIRE your future.  One of them is packing up your belongings in boxes, loading the van and relocating.  Some people thirst to begin their next act in a new home or in a new area of the country with better weather or job opportunities.

Since we wrote Don't Retire, REWIRE! we have seen so many articles about the glories of retirement relocations.  They are endless.  We love the list of the top 20 places to retire outside the U.S.  Most center on the a lower cost of living with a slower paced lifestyle.  At the beach, in the mountains, in friendly cities with great views.  The lists include destinations so far off the beaten path that friends and relatives would have to travel for three days to get there.  Really convenient? Not.

The reality is that a very small percentage of retirees move.  Somewhere between 5% and 10% is probably accurate.  Retirees who do move or downsize do so very close to where they have lived up until they retired. The majority who move do so within a twenty mile radius of their current home.  Remaining close to family and friends is important.  The older we get the more we will rely on our social networks and our social networks will rely on us.  It goes both ways.

For those intent on going somewhere else, it is best to test market new locations.  Rent for a month and see how you like it.  Draw up a list of criteria and measure your potential new home against the list.  Is it close to an airport, good healthcare, museums, performing arts venues. places where you can expand your hobby or interests, is there a college or university nearby.

If you want to continue working, do some research on the job market in the targeted area.  Is unemployment low? The lower the unemployment rate the better the opportunity for older workers.

If you decide to move to be near your adult children, be realistic enough to imagine that they might get a job transfer or a better offer somewhere else.  Best to make sure you like the area with them or without them before you take the plunge.