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Take time to discover a perfect retirement location.
ADOBE STOCK
Explore the Open Road to Your Next Chapter
Planning to travel during retirement? Great! What about traveling to find the perfect retirement haven? Check out these tips for locating where to live.
By Katie McElveen
Like many couples, Libbie and Bill Gohn knew that when Bill retired they’d leave their home in Baltimore and move somewhere warmer. But instead of hopping on the computer and wading through cost of living indexes, livability scores and government report cards for various cities and town, the Gohns hopped into their car and headed south to do a bit of on-the-ground recon.
That initial 10-day trip, which included stops in waterfront communities in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, did more than any “where-to-retire” checklist could have: It gave them perspective, on both themselves and each locale they visited. “One of the things we discovered was that access to a single small town wasn’t enough,” says Libbie. “We needed to be part of a larger community. Knowing that helped us narrow our search.”
Pawleys Island, South Carolina
It was fun, too. With no real schedule, the Gohns spent several days in destinations they enjoyed, skipped others entirely and even met up with old friends, who had already made the move from the Northeast to the Southeast. Six months later, the Gohns revisited their top choices again, during a different time of year. By the time they signed a contract on a home in a gated, waterfront community near Pawleys Island, South Carolina—which offered easy access to both Charleston and Myrtle Beach—the couple had spent two additional weeks on the ground, eating at local restaurants, shopping at nearby grocery stores and wandering about the region.
Do you like shrimp and grits? Read Shrimply the Best to read about the best shrimp and grits options.
Not every family looking to move has two years to scout out potential communities, but even a couple of days in a place can reveal the intangibles that make a place click…or not. The key is to go.
Here’s how to research and make the most of a location once you arrive.
Don’t limit yourself.
If you fell for a city or a region during a previous vacation, business trip or visit with friends, there’s no reason not to consider it as a place to live, even if it’s entirely different from anywhere you’ve ever resided. Three years ago, on a family vacation, Dallas resident Marnie Concha discovered the tiny community of Ocean Isle, North Carolina. Today, she’s actively looking to trade the big city for this quiet beach town.
Put the word out that you’re visiting.
Most locals love to share the hidden treasures of their city or town; let friends of friends help direct you to neighborhoods that you might not easily discover on your own, plus hidden restaurants and gems.
Once you’ve arrived, travel like a local.
In large cities like New York and Chicago, residents often use public transport to get from place to place, even when it’s cold, rainy or sweltering. In a smaller community, be sure to check out commuter patterns, rideshare options and, if you enjoy walking and cycling, whether the city is bike- and/or pedestrian-friendly.
Do you prefer mountain views of coastal views?
Know what you need.
Mark and Susan Hall knew they wanted to move to the mountains, but after a number of visits, the couple also realized that having neighbors was as important as the mountain views. “There are a lot of wonderful homes on beautiful acreage that would have worked for our family, but it was important to us to be part of a community,” says Susan. In the end, the Halls chose a home in an established mountain neighborhood on a switchback-laced roadway about halfway between Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina, and Brevard, North Carolina. “From the back of the house we have the view we always wanted, but we also have a fun group of neighbors nearby. It’s ideal.”
Consider a short-term rental.
Nancy Kohn, a Charleston, South Carolina, realtor, says that for newcomers to an area, renting in a neighborhood that seems like a fit will help you narrow down exactly where you want to be. “In Charleston, you can choose to live in town, on a creek, on the ocean or in a resort community,” she explains. “Having a home base in one of those areas for six months or so will help you figure out if that lifestyle is right for you.”
Aerial view of Bend, Oregon
Go where you feel comfortable.
When Milt and Ilene McConnell first traveled to Bend, Oregon, from their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it was to visit friends. When a move to Portland, Oregon, transformed the journey from a three-hour flight to a three-hour drive, the couple visited even more. Before long, they realized they might just have stumbled onto their forever home. “It has the high desert that we missed from our time in Albuquerque, but with water,” laughs Milt. “Once we got serious about potentially moving to Bend, we started staying at hotels and really focusing on finding a neighborhood and a house. In all, we visited at least 10 times before deciding to buy a home here.”
Ready to explore your next chapter? AAA can help you get on the road with trip planning tools and savings on hotels, rental cars and more. Visit AAA.com/Travel today.
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