<p>It is so great to hear of everyone’s thoughts and plans and to know that many are thinking ahead, have hopes and dreams and that there can be a good exciting life after retirement!!</p>
<p>Retirement. I actually hate that word. It sounds so life ending to me!! Can we think of a new word?! ;)</p>
<p>I have a very good friend whose last day as a school speech and language pathologist is tomorrow. She will wake up Tuesday morning with no place to go and no plans for what to do with her days now. She has no hobbies. She is ready to be done wither job but doesn’t have any idea what she wants to do with her time- I cannot imagine being in this situation. Tis is when “retirement” is like a bad word to me!!</p>
<p>^That’s sad. For me, since I haven’t had a coherent “career” I think of it as more as when do I get to stop working on anything but what I really want to do–and I have so much I’d rather be doing, that I can’t imagine feeling anything but deliriously happy about the prospect. Not that I don’t like what I do; I just have so much I’d rather be doing.</p>
<p>Abasket. I retired from my career as a speech pathologist. I don’t regret it one bit, and have found MANY things to do to occupy my time. </p>
<p>I love the word “retire”. It means that I did a job for a LONG time and have now scaled down. It gives me the opportunity to look for and do this I simply didn’t have time to do when working. Your friend was probably so consumed with work, that she had little time to actually enjoy other pursuits. </p>
<p>I find it sad, too, garland, when people’s lives revolve entirely around their jobs and who have no outside interests or connections. I can’t imagine living like that. Retirement for us is wonderful and we’re busy with community involvement and friends in both locations, and get to spend so much more time with our daughters and their families. We can travel when we want to and participate in activities that we’ve always wanted to, now that our time is truly ours. </p>
<p>Also, re: an above comment. Not all gated communities have age restrictions. Actually, none of the ones we looked at when we bought our home in SC did. </p>
<p>@marilyn, @dadx, Yes, San Diego is almost perfect…weatherwise it can’t be beat, very very few bugs, low humidity, breathtaking views and outdoor opportunities, but, yes, expensive. Housing is the killer, but after that, pretty comparable to the rest of the US. Of course I also agree about keeping family close…take 'em all with you!</p>
<p>Thumper, I’d like to think you are right. And I have actually suggested some different avenues to her to use her speech path to do part time work ( I work in child based health care, education and non-profit). Tags not the problem. The problem is this friend is also suffering from “empty nest” syndrome - she as not had interests of her own for decades. She seriously doesn’t have hobbies, doesn’t participate in outdoor activities or gardening, doesn’t enjoy home decorating or organizing, travels a bit but that is limited to visiting a few cousins in one place. </p>
<p>I worry that things will feel a little “dead end” for her and make her more sad that her kids are grown up and not needing her on a regular basis. </p>
<p>That said, my husband plans to “retire” from his current position at the end of the year. He will likely pick up something part time. Child#2 will launch this spring graduating in education and child #3 will be a senior in high school next year so still paying another year of private HS and then helping out with college. We have a summer place about 3 hours away on Lake Huron so we will never move too far to not reach our cottage easily. However I have a 3-5 year plan to move to a small town nearby and get out of the city limits. Can’t wait!!</p>
<p>I don’t think we would ever permanently relocate although maybe move to a different house. Our kids are all over the place-only one is settled near us right now-but this is still a good base and our friends and other family are here. Our weather has to be among the best anywhere- although there is little difference between seasons, we also don’t have extreme heat or cold or humidity. We can do outdoor activities year round and are very close to the beach and the mountains. We are far enough from a large city to miss the traffic and noise but close enough to go in easily for activities. I really can’t think of a nicer environment than where we are. The one downfall is that the cost of living is high here but we got into real estate before it went completely crazy! I think we will start traveling more and maybe rent places in other locations rather than buy. We still have our last one in college so are trying to keep costs down but are enjoying small trips together already!</p>
<p>We tested out San Diego in 2012 - rented VRBO houses in Sunset Cliffs and Del Mar for a month each. Both were walking distance to the ocean. We enjoyed everything about living there - the weather, scenery, day trips, people, and farmers markets! We worked with a realtor to get an idea of the neighborhoods and prices. </p>
<p>Cost of housing and taxes are the big problems. We live in a highly desirable commuter suburb and can easily sell our house as a knock down - I’ve talked to several builders and know about what we could get. Prices in SD went up last year and back down this year; I think they’re within range. Our current mortgage is paid off and we know about what we can get for a mortgage if necessary. I’ve told DH that we really need to decide if San Diego is affordable or not, and if not, to find another option. I don’t want to wait another 10 years! He agrees it’s the right location but is involved in a complicated financial analysis to see if we can really afford it on an ongoing basis. And something always comes up to delay his decision process.</p>
<p>Don’t need to worry about living near children because DS has boomeranged back home so will go wherever we go. He was in California for three years and would love to go back. I would just love him to find a danged full time job again. :(( I want to settle on a location so I can build up friendships and activities; our family suburb is really not the right place for us and it’s a lonely existence. </p>
<p>Downtown St. Petersburg, Fl. is one of the very few locations in Florida I would consider retiring at WITHOUT a car. Downtown St. Pete has changed so much from a few decades ago. It’s got a lot to offer retirees, and it is possible to get along fine without a car.</p>
<p>International it will be for me. My last day of work is June 5. I leave for Spain on July 10. That will be the final destination, but the move may not become permanent for a couple years. My son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter live there, very near the Mediterranean. My husband is from the capital. When she finishes with her schooling (at least 4 more years), she hopes to go there as well. </p>
<p>I will not spend another winter in this house.</p>
<p>Back when we started dating in 1995, DH told me that he was retiring on 10/8/2010 and moving back to PA. He’d been dragged, kicking and screaming, to northern VA at age 10 when his mother remarried and he’d been plotting to return ever since. By sheer coincidence (DH and I met in VA), his parents now live less than a mile away from my mom in central PA, so I had no objection to moving there. Bought a lovely 4 bedroom house in PA for only $2,000 more than we got for our crappy 3 bedroom townhouse in an iffy neighborhood.</p>
<p>Retirement is wonderful! We take lots of cooking classes and bus tours, joined a gym, and we’ve started square dancing. Don’t miss work at all…</p>
<p>Gloworm - that sounds absolutely fabulous. I assume you are fluent in Spanish. I’m watching Buying Alaska right now - news alert - I’m not moving to Alaska!</p>
<p>H wants AZ and I want FL. He has proposed a one month FL rental next winter. If anyone knows of a place in the southern half of FL that might be available for a month, please let me know. </p>
<p>Toledo, you need to be more specific–which Coast? </p>
<p>I’m staying put, as a long term FL resident. My neighborhood is old FL; no gated entry, no age requirements. People in their 80’s and the newcomers have little children. No iron clad HOA; anyone can come to meetings and join the Board in a year. All my windows and doors are hurricane proof, but I’ve been negligent on getting a generator, probaby because we haven’t been hit in years. Nice bookclub for a few communities. Lots of ducks and kids running around. I’m hoping my former friends move here.</p>
<p>eyeamom-Yes. I met the husband while studying in Madrid in '76. We have a place inherited from his parents, and will look for another on the Mediterranean. I hope to do some volunteering on archeological digs in a year or two, but this year we’ll travel. </p>
<p>pleas,don’t move to austin… very hot in the summer, and crazy traffic and ahuge influx of new folks and not nearly enough water. Check out the lake levels…</p>
We enjoyed everything about living there - the weather, scenery, day trips, people, and farmers markets! We worked with a realtor to get an idea of the neighborhoods and prices. </p>