Deciding where to spend your retirement years is one of life’s biggest choices, so it’s not one you want to rush.
Photos, reviews, and cost-of-living calculators will only tell you so much. What matters most is how a place feels once you’re actually living there day to day, which is why an in-person visit is something you should seriously consider.
The Short Getaway Retirement Test
Taking a short trip is one of the best ways to understand what a destination is really like.
It gives you the opportunity to run errands, navigate traffic, eat out, and get a feel for the different neighborhoods. Basically, everything that future-you would do once you finally retire.
And if you’re considering a coastal destination, you can take this test a step further by adding a weekend cruise.
Many future retirees find this approach helpful because it reveals their future vacation possibilities. A cruise lets you see how easy it is to get to a port, how well connected the city is to nearby destinations, and what local travel is like.
It might seem like a small detail, but having access to convenient escapes close to home can make a big difference to your overall quality of life after retirement.
Practical Things to Evaluate When Visiting a Potential Retirement Destination
The getaway retirement test only works if you pay attention to the parts of daily life that will have an impact on your day-to-day routines and comfort.
Here’s what you should consider:
- Daily convenience. Take some time to experiment with how easy it is to get through an ordinary day. Try out public transport, visit the places you’d rely on regularly, and take note of essentials like banks and hospitals.
- Affordability. General cost-of-living expenses are important, but pay attention to what you’re spending on food, fuel, and activities as well. Don’t forget those hidden expenses like hurricane insurance and healthcare premiums, either. All in all, consider everything you think you’d spend money on once there.
- Neighborhood scouting. Your specific location within a city also matters, so use this opportunity to really get familiar with different areas and discover which ones suit your lifestyle best. Go from one neighbourhood to another, talk to the locals, and try to get a feel for each location.
- Climate. Think about how the usual climate affects your preferred way of living and whether you’d genuinely enjoy the seasonal changes.
- Community. Explore how easy it is to connect with other people in the community, whether that’s through classes, gyms, or cafes. The social scene should also be a good match for your preferences.
- Connectivity and lifestyle. The final consideration is your lifestyle. Do you need reliable internet, easy access to airports or cruise ports, golf courses, and even the occasional co-working space?
What to Consider If You Still Plan to Work
If you plan to continue working during early retirement or you’re moving abroad for work before you fully retire, there are some extra things to think about.
Beyond lifestyle and the neighborhoods, you will need to focus on visa and residency requirements, the local job market, commute time, and how the cost of living would affect your salary, as every destination will be a little different.
Working and living in Panama creates completely different circumstances than settling in Miami, for example.
Proximity to major international airports becomes especially important if you plan to travel regularly for work, so choose your neighborhood with this factor in mind.
Testing Out a Potential Future
A short getaway is a good break from routine, but it’s also one of the most reliable ways to decide whether a potential retirement destination is right for you. By all means, take the time to relax a bit, but don’t forget to take note of the things that are going to be most important to you during your golden years.
