Weighing country vs. city living in retirement |
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"I would not want my mom to live in a community that is in decline," Ezell says. "Urban centers are vibrant, they are where art lives, where ideas and creativity are born; there is something to do, something to experience in the city every single day, every minute of the day."
An expert's opinion
Warren Bland concedes his prejudice.
"I admit I can't see living in the countryside," Bland says. But that doesn't mean everyone he knows feels the same way. Bland's brother-in-law, for example, savors life in the country, but Bland believes his brother-in-law is in the minority when it comes to retirement. And he knows all about places people retire.
A regional geographer and author of "Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada," Bland ranks areas on a 12-point scale, including transportation, medical care and climate. Of all his evaluation points, climate is one of the most influential when choosing a general area, but doesn't play much into choice of a city or country home. After all, hot and humid are, well, hot and humid -- whether you live in a Savannah condo or on a Georgia farm.
Then, of course, there's shopping. No one can deny the shopping's usually superior in metropolitan areas.
"Retired people have more time than when they were in the work-a-day world and a lot of people like to shop in person," Bland says. "The more retail outlets there are, the more competitive prices tend to be."
Smaller towns and suburban life
Retirement isn't as simple as buying a house on a golf course and teeing off every morning. Although the idea of pursuing one's dreams certainly motivates choice of a retirement location, that remote cabin in the mountains might not be the best choice for you at 85.
Ron Manheimer, executive director of the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement, says he's seeing a migration from rural areas to cities as people age. "They want to be closer to medical services and amenities," Manheimer says.
Most retirees stay in their home state. Manheimer says only about 4 percent to 6 percent relocate to a different one. "The general migration pattern is from fairly dense metropolitan areas to less dense metropolitan areas," he says. "That's why you see people moving into smaller towns and suburbs around the big cities."
While many downtowns are creating walkable communities and trying to lure retirees, Manheimer says the sandwich generation -- those who care for both children and elderly parents simultaneously -- don't want to become a burden on their own kids. Thus, they are choosing places based their ability to live independent lives.
The upshot is that while a cabin in the mountains looks good to you, you might be better off in Roanoke, Va., or Asheville, N.C., which offer mountain living plus the conveniences of larger metro areas.
Another option is to "try on" your retirement before
you commit. Rent in an area you like. That cottage 45 minutes from
town might seem quaint right this minute, but will it hold its allure
six months from now? The same for city living: You may love the
idea of nonstop activity, but is a city really for you?
There's always the option of two retirement homes -- one to placate your heart and a second for when you reach the age that a city bus at your doorstep extends your independence.
Whether you choose to spend your retirement on 800 acres or in an 800-square-foot condominium, remember that no choice is irrevocable. You can always change you mind.
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