How to spend the time formerly dedicated to work, and where to live are two major considerations baby boomers must face when they're approaching retirement.
With the boomer generation taking center stage in retirement planning, this segment of the population is not ready to check into the nearest assisted living facility, and may find the homogenous retirement communities a bit boring. Moving to an urban neighborhood in a metropolitan area can be a dynamic alternative.
Retirement Living in the City
Retiring to the city does not have to mean living in a condo on the 25th floor of a high rise. What it can mean is living in an historic neighborhood that borders on the downtown. Most of these neighborhoods have a thriving business district of their own with restaurants, bars, cafés and retail shops. After living in the suburbs, where everything is done by getting in the car and driving, it can be invigorating to be able to walk to most things within an urban setting.
How To Choose a Retirement Location
First thing to do is decide on a region of the country that is of interest, then begin to do some research on what different cities in that region have to offer.
- Find the city government website and see what services the city government offers.
- What’s important to the mayor of the city?
- Read local newspapers online to get a feel for the issues that are part of life in a particular city.
- Find out the demographics of various neighborhoods within the city.
- Are there active neighborhood associations?
- Are there art museums, theaters and other entertainment venues?
- Are there an airport and train station near by?
Visit Places for Retirement Living
Once the research is done, choose a few cities to visit. Instead of staying at major hotels that are either out on the highways or are downtown in the financial district, find a bed and breakfast or an inn that is in or near a neighborhood that would be an interesting one in which to live. Ask questions of the B&B owner and talk with the person who runs the local café. See if there are enough opportunities to do what is of interest within walking distance. Ask people if they like living in the neighborhood.
Some things to pay attention to and consider when choosing a neighborhood within an urban area:
- Do the buildings look in good repair?
- Are there neighborhood parks?
- Are people out on the street taking a walk or walking their dogs?
- Are there flower boxes on the windows and tree square gardens?
- Is the business area thriving or are there boarded up retail spaces?
- Is public transportation easily available and frequent?
- Is there a local public library?
- Is there a grocer, grocery store or farmer’s market nearby?
How to Choose a Good Place to Live in Retirement
If the city has been selected, plan to rent an apartment for a year. If there is still a question of this move being right, hold onto the old homestead and rent it out for a year. If living in an area with a college or university or corporate transfers, a one year lease for visiting faculty or an executive could be just the ticket for keeping the homestead occupied. If possible, keep the family home as a place to return to for part of the year.
Finding the right place for retirement living is a personal matter. Living in an urban neighborhood can enhance the retirement experience and provide a vibrant new lifestyle for retirees.
Barbara Shema - Barbara Shema is a freelance writer and artist from the USA currently living in Europe to teach English as a foreign language.
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