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Retirement Choices
On average, 10,000
people a day retire in the U.S. We all go through major
transitions in our lifetimes, and retirement is one of the
biggest ones. One hu ndred years ago, retirement was a signal that
your life was coming to a close. Today, though, it is a signal
for new and exciting times for a new phase of your life. I can
remember when my step-dad retired some fifteen years ago. He
worked hard for Amoco Oil Production for most of his adult
life. During that time he was always cranky. After retirement,
his inner kid came out. He took up golfing and started going to
the coffee shop every day with other retirees. I have never
see n a happier person. I was out golfing with him one day and
he made the comment (while giggling and I don’t remember him
ever giggling) that he just didn’t know how he had ever had time
to go to work!
One of the biggest decisions that has to be made during this
transition is whether or not to move. There are several factors
that might motivate you to make the choice to move. Probably
the biggest factor is the kids and/or grandkids. Some people
want to be closer to their children to help them and their
children. Some people want to live further away from their
families. Some people want to move because of their empty nest
and just want a smaller, more easily maintained home. Another
reason retirees move is health concerns. Bad knees or bad backs
make it difficult for some to climb stairs and they want to move
to a single-story home. Others just want to get their equity in
cash and downsize. Another reason to move is simply that some
people just want to make a complete lifestyle change with more
travel and lots less responsibility. Whatever the reasons are
to move, active adult c ommunities are often an attractive option
for the activities and social opportunities they offer with
people with like-minds.
There are four major things that should be considered before
making a decision on where to live after you retire. The
biggest factor is really all about the lifestyle you want to
live. This requires some thought about how you really want to
spend your time. Do you want to golf everyday? Do you want to
see the grandkids everyday? Do you just want to hang out with
persons in your same situation? Move to where you can do
whatever it is you want to do and that will narrow your choices
down. The weather is another factor to consider. If you
dislike snow, the Northern states probably aren’t for you. If
you dislike the heat, maybe Texas and Arizona aren’t for you. Wikipedia has climate information with temperature averages for
most states. Taxes are something else to consider. Some states
are kinder to retirees than others. Most states have an income
tax but some don’t tax retirement income. Some states have
exemptions from real estate
 taxes for retirees. Personal
property taxes and sales taxes should also be explored. Most
State and city governments have websites that state their tax
policies.
Another factor to consider when deciding where to live when you
retire is health care. It’s no secret that as we age, health
issues are more commonplace. If you have an existing condition,
you will want to be sure appropriate care is available near
you. If you are generally healthy, you might want to consider
having nearby general care services with more serious care
within driving range. Most active adult community
r epresentatives can tell you what health services are in
proximity to their properties.
While all these things
may seem obvious, what isn’t so obvious is the reality of how to
fill your time when you don’t have to punch the proverbial clock
anymore. The real key is figuring out how to enjoy the time off
to its fullest. A lot of free time can actually get boring
after awhile. While you may have prepared financially for
retirement, you also need to prepare for it emotionally. You
now have to identify yourself outside of the workplace. It’s
now the time to stop working just to enjoy life and to start get
busy living life. How you spend your retirement is very
personal and it should be tailored to your wants and needs. It
should be your time for true enjoyment with no time constraints
on enjoyment, relaxation, adventure and freedom.
You also need
to consider how your retirement affects your mate. You may
suddenly be together way more than you used to be. My mother
retired a few years after my step-father. It was something of a
problem for her to adjust to his having lots of free time and
even time alone when she didn’t. After she retired, they had to
m ake adjustments in their relationship to accommodate being
together almost all the time.
All that said,
retirement is a time to renew old friendships, make new friends
that share your new interests, spend more time with family,
start a part-time job on your terms and even take on new
hobbies. Whatever you decide, it is your time to dare to be
happy.
To help you with your
moving decisions, look over our website at
www.activeadultliving.com for our national directory of over
3,000 active adult and active lifestyle communities. In an
effort to serve you better, we are also proud to announce we are
now going to publish our newsletter bi-weekly, major holidays
excluded. Look next time for our issue on Southern Florida
life. As always, I welcome your comments, suggestions and
questions.
Dee Chandler,
Editor
Dee@ActiveAdultLiving.com |
Right
now there are thousands of couples enjoying a comfortable
retirement. They don't worry about the cost of utilities...
medical coverage... club memberships... or housekeeping.
Amazingly,
they all retired rich without having saved much during their
working years. 
Unfortunately,
you won't see it advertised on television. Not in the
newspapers. No financial firm is going to pitch it to you. There
simply is no profit in it for them. 
White
Township (Belvidere), Warren County NJ Active Adult Community
Single family home, 1835 SQ, 2 B/R, 2 Full Baths, Den/3rd
B/R, EIK, Great Room, Formal Living Room & Dining Room, 2 Car
Garage, Top of the Line upgrades, Low Taxes, Maintenance Fee
$125 monthly includes all lawn maintenance, snow removal, trash
collection, clubhouse facilities including exercise room,
billiards, library, heated outdoor pool, bocce, tennis courts.
$419,900 Call (908) 475-4608 / (908) 797-1790