Looking to learn and make some decisions

Searcher

Searcher

New Member
Hi everyone - I just joined in hopes of seeing how other folks my age (64, female) are figuring out what to do at this stage of life. I'm still working (City government), and am married but no kids. Other than travel and photography, my life has always been very job focused (as long as I like it), and yet I'm getting very tired of working too. I want to go at least 1 more year.

There are a lot of decisions coming up for which I don't have enough info. My 95 y.o. Dad is in memory care nearby, and not to sound crass, but I won't know what our retirement's financial picture will truly look like until he passes away. I am also quite weary of living in a large metropolitan area, though I don't take the tremendous beauty of the Pacific NW for granted by any means. It's just gotten way too populated, spread out, noisy and trafficky in Seattle (been here 35 years). I long for a quieter, smaller place, with a sense of community within or nearby.

Expat communities appeal, and I might do that if I was single, but the older we get the harder moving even a few miles away seems to be. We did it a few years ago! Husband and I also have different ideas of what retirement would look like. I'm tremendously restless; he's happy to chill all day and is already retired.

So, maybe I'll get some ideas here...Glad this resource exists; I'd never heard of it despite spending a lot of time online.
 

I'm roughly the same age as you, retired, but can't advise you as I'm not in the USA...but
Welcome-we-love-new-members.gif
 
Welcome Seattle Searcher, hope you enjoy the many good things
about this site and the forums. I've lived in the Pacific NW all my
lifetime. Some areas I've enjoyed so much! Seattle is a great city
and I've both held jobs there, and also fun social times over the
years, but it is so busy, traffic and all related things. Your longing
for a quieter, smaller place, with a sense of community within or nearby,
I can very much understand that ..
:)
 
Welcome, @SeattleSearcher ! I visited Seattle several years ago with my husband. I agree with you and the others. It was
very busy and lots of traffic. Many here on SF live in rural areas, while others live in apartments in the city. We are all over the place (literally speaking), depending on our needs and desires. The best time to get lots of feedback is during the day hours, as many people call it a night after a certain time. Hope you find what you are searching for.

 
Welcome from Northern Cal.
There are so many things that can affect one's decision as to where to live.
There is climate, how rural do you want to be, how far away is any family (Assuming it matters), political leaning, cost of living, landscape (Coastal, or mountains, or more open areas), and would the area you choose offer the interests that you enjoy.
Personally, I live in a small town in California, and I love the sense of community here. It's in the mountains, so there is always a concern about wildfire, but there is risk almost anywhere of flooding, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, draught, etc.... so one considers the risk when choosing the place.
Granted, it's hard to make a choice till you know your complete financial picture, but if you have a rough idea, that may help.
Anyway, good to have you with us.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top