Pros and Cons of Moving After Retirement

Retirement is a new chapter in life – time for relaxation and reflection, for focusing on the self, and enjoying the fruits of past labor. You no longer need to dedicate your time and energy to your job, your kids are likely grown and independent, and you can concentrate on your own needs, interests, and wishes. You can finally do what you want to do, not what you have to do.

In other words, you can pack up and move to the place you’ve always dreamed about. Or to a new area that will offer you new opportunities and new adventures. Or back to your hometown where your roots are. Or just to a smaller home to save money.

The possibilities are endless. Once you have hung up your hat, there is nothing to stop you from moving to wherever you want to. If you want to move, that is.  

As common a thing as moving after retirement may be, if you’re happy where you’re, there is really no reason to move away. You’ve built a life for yourself in your current location, made your house a home, and created beautiful friendships – it doesn’t make sense to move away from all that in your golden years. Except when it does – when you believe that your life will be better someplace else.

There are many pros and cons to moving after retirement – you need to consider them all in order to decide if relocating in the autumn of your life is right for you. And you need to be completely confident in your decision before making the big step.

Here are the major advantages and disadvantages of moving after retirement to help you make the best choice for you:

Benefits of Moving After Retirement

The single greatest advantage of moving after retirement is that you get to live where you want to live.

In your younger years, you may have moved for work (because you could not find a job in your current area, were offered a good job in another state, were transferred to another branch of your company located in another city, etc.) or in search of a better location to raise your family (a better school district, a safer area, a more child-friendly neighborhood, etc.). When you retire, you’ll be able to move to wherever you want to just because you want to live there – because there is something that you love about this place or because you believe that it will offer you a better life.

Relocating after retirement will give you the opportunity to choose where to live and, therefore, the chance to:

1) Live closer to family

Many retirees move specifically to be closer to family – so they can be with their loved ones and help each other.

If your children and grandchildren live in another city or state, it makes perfect sense for you to move there once you don’t have a job to tie you to your current location.

Moving closer to family after retirement will bring you a lot of joy and a new sense of purpose – you’ll be able to spend a lot of time with your loved ones and will have the opportunity to help raise your grandkids and build a close relationship with them. And your family will be there to help you out when you need it, as well. 

You can move in with your child (if that is what everybody wants) to save the cost of owning or renting a place or you can buy or rent a home in the same area, so you’re close to your loved ones but still live independently.

Important: If you’re planning to move to be closer to your children, you need to consider the possibility that they may need to relocate in a few of years (for work, for school, etc.). Think about how likely your family to stay put and what you’re going to do if they have to move to another city or state.

Good to know: Moving back to hometown after retirement is also a common scenario. If you moved away for work when you were younger, you may decide to return to your hometown when you retire – especially if you still have family there.

See also: Tips for moving back to hometown

2) Save money and improve your financial situation

When you stop work, your income will decrease significantly, so you’ll need to lower your expenses too. The best way to do so is to cut your living costs – by moving to a cheaper area or by downsizing your home (or both):

Moving to a more affordable area

Some states are cheaper to live in than others, so moving to another state after retirement – a state with a lower cost of living – may go a long way toward improving your financial situation:

• Selling your expensive city home and buying an affordable property in a town with significantly lower housing costs will leave a lot of money in your pocket;
• Moving to a state with lower property taxes and/or income taxes will help you keep more of your money;
• Your everyday expenses will be much smaller when you live in a cheaper city.

See also: Moving to a cheaper city

Downsizing to a smaller home

Now that your children have grown up and moved out, your family house is probably too big for you – you don’t need so much space and so many household items anymore, and you don’t need all the work and costs that come with maintaining a large house either. Downsizing your home in retirement will bring you a number of financial benefits:

• You’ll get more money from selling your large family house than you’ll spend on buying a small home, so you’ll end up with a lot of extra cash in your savings account;
• You’ll be able to pocket some money from selling unneeded items in good condition;
• Your living costs will be smaller when you live in a smaller home – there will be fewer maintenance costs, the utility bills will be lower, you will pay less in property taxes, etc.

See also: What to know when downsizing home for retirement

3) Live in a house that is better suited to your needs

As nice as your house may be, it may no longer be safe enough or comfortable enough for you – climbing stairs, getting in and out of a bathtub, and many other simple daily tasks and activities get more and more difficult with age, so living in your sweet home may gradually become a challenge for you.

Modifying the house to accommodate your changing needs may be extremely difficult and very expensive – it will be much easier and much cheaper to simply move to a more senior-friendly home (a single-level home with a walk-in shower, slip-resistant flooring, etc.).

Moving house after retirement – moving to a convenient, easy to maintain home that is free of hazards and has all the necessary amenities – will allow you to spend your golden years in safety and comfort.

4) Get better or cheaper healthcare

Access to quality healthcare is important in all stages of life, but even more so with advanced age. Considering that most senior citizens need frequent and specialized medical care and spend about 15% of their income on medical expenses, it comes as no wonder that the quality and cost of healthcare can be the determinant factor in a retiree’s decision where to live.

When you retire, it’s only logical to move to a place where you’ll get better healthcare – or where you’ll have to pay less for the same quality medical care as you’re getting now.

This means that moving to the countryside, for example, may not be a good idea despite its many benefits – as you may need to drive for several hours to see a doctor. Moving abroad after retirement may also be problematic when it comes to healthcare – in terms of health insurance, availability of specialized medical care, communication with medical professionals in a foreign language, etc.

5) Live in a climate you love

The weather is one of the main reasons for moving out of state after retirement – retirees who have come to hate the weather in their current location are eager to move someplace else where the climate is more to their liking.

If you’re sick and tired of shoveling snow and freezing in subzero temperatures, you’ll probably want to move to a warmer state. If you’re weary of scorching temperatures and biting insects, you’ll likely wish to relocate to an area with a cooler climate.

Personal preferences aside, the climate in your current area may have a negative effect on your health (allergies, respiratory problems, frequent colds and flus, etc.). In such a case, it makes a lot of sense to move to a healthier climate after retirement – without the commitment of a job, you’ll be free to choose where to live, so it’s only natural to choose a place with a more favorable climate for your health (drier climate, warmer climate, etc.)

All in all, moving to a sunny state with year-round mild climate has many benefits for aging adults – increased intake of Vitamin D, less frequent diseases, more opportunities for outdoor activities, safer roads, less home maintenance work, etc. Moving to Florida after retirement is such a common thing for a reason.

6) Have an enjoyable lifestyle

When you retire, you’ll have much more free time than you’re accustomed to. You will be able to relax, enjoy your hobbies, and engage in whatever leisure activities you like.

To be able to make the most of your new-found free time, however, you need to have the opportunity to practice your preferred activities – and you need to be in the right environment for you. So, you may need to move to a new place – a place that offers the natural amenities and recreational options you want and fits your preferred lifestyle.

Since you’ll be finally free of job concerns, you’ll be able to prioritize your personal preferences when deciding where to live after retirement. Think about what things you enjoy and what type of environment makes you feel best and consider your options. Depending on what you like and how you want to spend your sunset years, you can move to:

• a big city – so you have access to all kinds of services and to a wide variety of recreational and entertainment options (See also: What to know when moving to a big city);
• the countryside – so you can lead a peaceful life close to nature and pursue various outdoor activities (See also: Pros and cons of moving to the country);
• another country – so you experience a different culture and broaden your horizons (See also: Top countries to retire and move to); etc.

Relocating after retirement can add adventure to your life, bring you closer to desirable amenities, and offer you numerous opportunities. Ultimately, it can give you the chance to create the lifestyle you’ve always wanted for yourself.

7) Get a fresh start

Moving away after retirement allows you to leave bad memories behind – to get away from everything and everyone that reminds of you past traumas and start anew. You will be in new surroundings, will have a new community, and will be able to build a new, happier life for yourself in your golden years.

Despite all this, however, there are many considerable disadvantages to relocating after retirement, as well.

Downsides of moving after retirement

Retiring and moving to another state may seem like an exciting option to some people, but it’s a scary prospect to others.

Moving to a new town in retirement will take you out of your comfort zone and will present you with numerous challenges – you will have to deal with great changes, develop a new routine adapt to a new environment, and build a new social circle. Worst of all, you’ll feel homesick and will miss your old world.

So, before you decide to pack up and move, you need to carefully consider the drawbacks of relocating after retirement:

1) You’ll have to leave your sweet home

Your home – the home where you’ve spent so many years of your life, where you’ve raised your children and experienced so much joy and so much sadness – is your safe haven. You’ve worked hard to make it the best home for you – functional, comfortable, cozy, and beautiful – and you’re happy there. Everything is where you need it to be and how you want to be and the entire place is full of cherished memories and warm feelings.

The emotional attachment to your home will make it very difficult to move away in retirement. And you’ll be sorry to leave the safety and comfort of your family nest too.

See also: How to say goodbye to your home

2) You’ll miss your family

If your children live in the same area as you, moving to another state after retirement will take you away from them. This fact alone may be enough to cause you to give up the idea of relocating – if you move away, you’ll miss your loved ones very much and won’t be happy in your new area, no matter how wonderful it may be.

Modern day technology will help you stay in touch, of course, but phone calls and video chats are poor substitutes for spending time with your loved ones. Besides, you’ll have no family members nearby to count on, if you need help.  

See also: How to deal with moving away from family

3) You’ll miss your community and your friends 

One of the biggest disadvantages of moving after retirement is that you’ll lose your social circle.  If you’ve lived in one location for a long time, chances are, you will have a lot of social connections there – and a number of good friends.

If you relocate when you retire, you’ll have to leave your community and your friends behind. You will miss them – you will miss their company and their support, the comfort they provided and the joy they brought to your life. You will probably make new friends in your new area, but that won’t make you miss your old pals any less.

Related: How to make friends after moving to a new city; How to say goodbye to your friends when moving

4) You’ll have to adapt to a new environment

Moving away after retirement means leaving the area where you’ve put down roots and finding your place in a completely new world – you’ll have to develop new routines, get used to new surroundings, establish new relationships, etc. You may even experience some culture shock if you move far away enough – such as when moving overseas after retirement, for example.

Good to know: Learning how to adapt after moving in retirement can take a long time – much longer than it would take young people to adjust to a new environment after moving. And you may feel quite homesick – and quite upset, depressed, and anxious – during that time.

See also: How to adapt to a new environment after moving

5) You will need to find a new doctor

Aside from the psychological, emotional, and social challenges of moving to a new town in retirement, there is one more significant disadvantage to consider – you will no longer be able to see your usual doctor.

Your current physician knows your health history and your specific health needs very well because you’ve been seeing them for years – so they can provide you with the best possible treatment.

If you move someplace new, you’ll have to find a new doctor – and even if the quality of medical care in your new area is better than it was in your old one, it will take time before your new healthcare provider gets to know you well and before you can build a good rapport with them.

See also: How to find a new doctor after moving

6) Moving is difficult, expensive, and stressful

Moving is difficult – even more so in advanced age:

• You will have accumulated a lot of things over the years and it will take a lot of time to sort them out and decide which of them are worth moving to your new place. What’s more, paring down your possessions will be extremely difficult and distressing as many of your items will have a special meaning to you and you’ll be reluctant to part with them. You need to remember that discarding an item does not mean discarding the memories associated with it and that the fewer things you decide to relocate, the easier and the cheaper your relocation is going to be;
• The paperwork involved in the moving process may seem overwhelming and it may be difficult for you to deal with it all;
• Packing for a move requires a lot of effort – you may not have the energy to complete the job by yourself;
• Heavy lifting isn’t something you should do anymore, so you shouldn’t even think of loading and unloading your items yourself.

Your best bet will be to hire professional movers – the experts will do all the hard work for you and will take care of your move from start to finish, so you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Many reputable moving companies offer senior relocation services, so it will be easy to find experienced and trustworthy movers to work with. Just make sure you do your homework well (read moving reviews, check movers’ ratings, get quotes from several reputable companies, request in-home estimates of your moving costs, carefully research the movers you consider hiring for your relocation, etc.) and choose the best moving partners for you.

Needless to say, you’ll have to pay the movers for their services and will incur a lot of other relocation-related expenses as well, so you need to assess your finances and make sure you can cover the cost of moving without breaking the bank. Do not forget to budget for your post-relocation expenses too.

See also: What is the average moving cost; How to make a moving budget

Moving is physically, emotionally, and financially draining and you may not want to go through all that in your sunset years.

7) It may turn out that the new place is not as you hoped

When retiring and moving away, you will choose a place to move to that you believe to be better than your current one. Yet, once you relocate it may turn out that your new home and/or new area is not as great as you thought it would be.

You may have been dreaming of living in the countryside all your life – of being close to nature, enjoying a peaceful and quiet lifestyle in a friendly rural community, etc. – but you may not have accounted for the limited access to services and goods, the annoying insects and critters, or the poorly maintained roads. You may have always wanted to live abroad, but never considered how frustrating and challenging the rules, social norms, and cultural practices in another country may be. You may enjoy the benefits of living in a smaller home, but your new apartment may not feel like home at all. 

If your new place doesn’t meet your expectations, you may come to regret your decision to move away after retirement.

See also: What to do when you regret moving

8) Your partner may not want to move

Even if you think that moving after retirement will be extremely beneficial for you, your spouse may not agree – they may want to stay put. Or they may want to move to a different place than you want.

If you and your partner are not on the same page about relocating after retirement, it may lead to serious conflicts. You must agree on a compromise, so you can enjoy your golden years together – you can move temporarily to a new city to see how each of you feels there or you can stay in your old home for a few more years to see how things will work for you there.

Discuss your options, your desires, and your feelings with your lifelong partner and come up with a solution that you both like.

Now that you’re aware of the pros and cons of moving after retirement you can decide whether it’s the right step for you to take.

Should you move after retirement?

So, should you move to a new place when you retire or not?

You’re the only one who can answer that question. Think about what you’re going to lose and what you’re going to win if you move to a new place after retirement and decide what is more significant to you.

Take all relevant factors into consideration – proximity to family, healthcare issues, financial concerns, lifestyle preferences, etc. – and weigh the excitement of new experiences against the comfort of familiarity.

You deserve to spend your golden years in a place that you truly love, enjoying things that you love, and surrounded by loved ones. You just need to decide if that place is your current home or someplace else (and where exactly that someplace else is).

The choice is yours – make sure it will make you happy.