Where to Live: An Experiment

[freedomatlast]

I can certainly identify with not wanting to become a slave to one's possessions. I have more cars than a "normal" person would have, but I like each for specific reasons.

We went from a house close to the city, to an old house and farm in the country, and like you, we didn't enjoy having so much time tied up in constant maintenance and chores. So now we live in what we feel is the best of both worlds where we have privacy in a quiet area with lots of trees, but very close to a town that has all amenities and very close to an excellent hospital. It does take time to find everything you want in one house in one location and within an hour of grand kids.

 

[steady saver]

I wanted to follow up on our experiment here.
After a couple of weeks of writing, I found I was writing pretty much the same things...there was a pattern to it and I found I wasn't getting anywhere, though I did have some insights.

I went to the library to get the How to Retire Happy Wild and Free but while there I stumbled upon a book called The Joy of Retirement by David Borchard. I found that book particularly helpful (lots of written exercises if you like that kind of thing - I do). Interestingly, his chapter on where to live was near the end of the book because, as he pointed out, it is first most important to figure out your identity - has it changed? How has it changed? What would you like to drop and what would you like to do more of? Etc.

This approach has proven helpful and has given DH and I much food for thought.

Our current homes are in opposite extremes - inner city to rural farm. We both are feeling like we are wanting something in the middle of those extremes. So our focus has shifted to what we each individually and together want to do in this next stage of our lives and then picking a location. I know it sounds elementary but really stopping to question what I want now and what is an old dream or goal that might be best let go...is something I glossed over before.
In the meantime, we are continuing to declutter and fix up our homes so that we can enjoy them now and be prepared to put either or both on the market when/if we decide to.

Thanks for sharing in this experiment with me.

 

[Ronstar]

I didn't read all the responses in this thread, so someone may already have mentioned this, but if it were me, I would be concerned about living full time in a rural home that would require nearly a full hour for an ambulance round trip in case of emergency (25 min to house, 25 min to nearest hospital). IMHO, this is probably the biggest disadvantage of rural living for elderly folks. I say this not knowing your current age, but knowing that you will be elderly and at high risk for sudden medical emergencies at some point.

I live in an area where it would probably take at least 50 minutes for an ambulance to get me to the hospital.

But it doesn't concern me one bit. I've had several trips to the emergency room (non by ambulance). All for cuts, broken bones, and a fall through the ice.

Most of my medical emergencies were accidents due to behavior that I no longer have as a senior citizen. So the chances of me needing a quick ride to the hospital now are less than in the past.

I understand that older folks may have more serious conditions requiring urgent care, but I would much rather live in a rural setting than live close to a hospital for the sole reason of getting there quicker in an emergency that may never happen.

 

[Music Lover]

Everyone else's mileage will vary, of course but, for me, the connections I have with people are far more important than the cost of housing, cost of living, climate, or nearby amenities in an area.

For the last few years, I've been considering looking into other areas to live, where housing is cheaper, so that I can either easily afford to rent, or perhaps even buy a small place in the future. A couple of weeks ago, I had a total knee replacement on my right knee and, suddenly, the importance of close friends, neighbors, and family became very apparent. The support I received from my small social network was very important in my recovery. On top of that, it made me think of the times in the past when I have been there for friends and family when they were going through difficult times.

Moving to another area would remove me from this network that has been built gradually over decades. The SF Bay Area does have expensive housing. Currently, I enjoy cheap rent but, if I ever want to move within the area, I will have to accept much higher housing costs. There are many areas in which I could afford a much larger place than the one I currently live in, but I wouldn't have friends and family nearby. I'd much rather have a smaller - even tiny - place close to friends and family, than a spacious one in an area where I have no support network.

Relationships are everything, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm with you on that. I've lived in the same city for my entire 59 years. Both our parents are here, and we've both built a network of long time friends. She has been on the same slo-pitch team for 30 years and we all socialize. I've been in one of my bands for 40 years with the same two guys and we're all close friends. I'm still friends with people I met at work 30 - 35 years ago. Etc.

Winters here are miserable but we just go away for a while. I could make new friends and find other bands if we moved but 40-year long friendships can't be replaced.

 

[street]

I live in an area where it would probably take at least 50 minutes for an ambulance to get me to the hospital.

But it doesn't concern me one bit. I've had several trips to the emergency room (non by ambulance). All for cuts, broken bones, and a fall through the ice.

Most of my medical emergencies were accidents due to behavior that I no longer have as a senior citizen. So the chances of me needing a quick ride to the hospital now are less than in the past.

I understand that older folks may have more serious conditions requiring urgent care, but I would much rather live in a rural setting than live close to a hospital for the sole reason of getting there quicker in an emergency that may never happen.

I really do agree with you on that. I have known a few people that move to the city to be close to the best medical facilities. A couple I know have moved back to the rural area.
I'm about 20 minutes from a small hospital and I figure that is good enough for me. If I have to go to see a specialist then I hop on the plane and can be in the best facility in the state. It is about 35 minute flight and there is 5 flights a day leaving the small essential airport.

Born in a small town and going to die in a small town. I know that doesn't work for everyone, but I don't worry about being close to medical facilities.

 

[RobbieB]

Me neither.

I do care about living close to sushi bars -