My wife and I will never "retire" in the usual sense... we write for a living and will probably do so until our hands drop off.

But we've already moved abroad to take advantage of the three things that mean the most to us in our "third age" -- lower cost of living, affordable health care, and better weather.

We split our time between Merida, Mexico and Cotacachi, Ecuador. We live on about half of what a comparable lifestyle would cost us in the States. Our property taxes and utility bills are rediculously low compared to back home. We get what we feel is better health care.. the kind the U.S. used to have 50 years ago... at a fraction of the cost of the U.S. And the weather is magnificent... the main reason our utility bills are so low.

Long story short, we hit our three most important "retirment" factors already... low cost of living, affordable quality health care, and better weather... by moving abroad.

Speaking with many who are near retirement or who have just recently retired, the most important factors in planning are to review all areas of your life, determine where you are currently, where you want to be in the future, and take steps to close the gap between the two.

One way I recommend is to use a reliable assessment. What I mean by that is there are many assessments developed by individuals who really don't have the qualifications to develop assessments. The one I used for myself and my husband, and continue to use with clients is the Retirement Success Profile that was developed by a psychologist, Dr. Richard Johnson. He has certified many coaches to use the assessment through a very thorough training and testing of skills. It looks at 15 different areas of life to help you and your coach determine where you are and where you want to be. The coach then works with you on each specific area to ensure your retirement is a success, when you decide to retire. Some find that they aren't ready to retire, sometimes it shows you can retire right now. Your retirement plan becomes customized to you and your situation.

Instead of an assessment, you can find simple questionaires that will look at one area of life or another. My caution with using these are that they usually don't cover the entire life aspect, and as we know, many areas of life are connected to others.

A coach can help you in your decision of where to live, what's important to you when you make that decision, and most importantly when it's right for you to retire. People who invest in themselves by seeking this expertise find they are happier in their new retirement life with less struggle, uncertainty and anxiety.

Tracey Fieber

I haven't posted anything in a long while, but have kept up on reading the new posts. 

I am no further along in deciding where to retire TO, then when I first found this forum early last year.   I continue to do research in all the things that I think matter to me....weather, cost of living, recreation, housing...  The more information I gather the less sure I become about making a decision.

I think part of the indeciveness is while I traveled a fair amount when I was younger, I haven't travelled that much in the last 25 years, and so do not have the first hand knowledge to add to all the data available.  In some of the most recent posts here I've had to run to a map to know what is being talked about!. There are so many parts of the country I haven't visited in years, or ever!

I am planning on retiring in August of 2010 and need to move beyond the fact gathering to the decision making!  Area? Urban, suburban, country....this state, another state, no state!  4 seasons, no real seasons....I think I have to allow myself to stop sweating the decisions to be made, keep alert to new information and opportunity and maybe an obvious choice will pop out!..  Here's hoping, because the "wringing of the hands" approach hasn't worked so far! 

I guess I'm not providing much new information here, probably just dealing with frustration by written word!

Hi Dean

No I havn't .. it's funny, that is a place that I have wanted to go and see for ages and it seems some other vacation plans always come up and I never get there.   They have limited access in winter as the water freezes over and the ferries do not run.  That is like the islands off the coast of Sandusky here.  They are hopping in the summer but access is cut off during the winter.   I think I will pass on the January visit as well.  LOL

Sometimes the research gets old but then I realize that I don't want to have to move again because I didn't check some of the big points.  Besides I considerate relocation my reward for all the years of living here in the cold.  : ) 

Diane

Diane:

Have you been to Mackinaw  Island?   That is one place I've always wanted to visit.   Maybe not in January though.

I probably should just make a decision and stick with it  -- the places I'm considering would probably all work out.

...dean

Hi

Well no doubt it will be a very lovely area... and there are many positive aspects to living near the undeveloped parks and beaches as long as there is still access close enough to the necessities.

No doubt you will find out about the weather there : )  but that is the whole idea of a trial.  It would be like thinking of moving to New Orleans and visiting in December... versus July...  you would get totally different idea !

Well as you think and check things out you eliminate things that won't work and you add possibilities and that is all part of the planning process.  There is no one perfect place but hopefully one that suits you.

Diane

Hello Diane:

Assateague is similar to the barrier islands of North Carolina, but smaller.  Probably it isn't on a barrier island itself, but its just inside Assateague Island which is a barrier island.   It is different from the Outer Banks of NC -- by being smaller & having no development -- just National & State parks & beaches.

The weather won't be as warm as the Carolinas -- I may find out how bad it is :-)

I'm probably not going too much south, because I have more friends around here and north.   But I don't have a clue to what I'm doing yet.........LOL

...dean