Where we choose to live the latter-quarter of our lives is important in every way. Being satisfied with the people and choices that surround us means we will be happier and live longer. Very few people I know want to just live longer. They want to LIVE longer. And the key to all of the above is to actually choose our life.

For most of our pasts, our choices have been limited or directed by jobs, family responsibilities, or other obligations. In retirement, for the first time, we can make choices for ourselves. Planning requires that we anticipate needs. We must plan for the person we don’t know — the person we will be 10 years from now. We can be exansive in our imagination and intentional in our dreaming.

Deciding where we will live is the most important decision we can make. Where we live is not just the house or apartment in which we sleep and eat. It incorporates a neighborhood, a city, a State, and the resources that go with these larger environments.

When we choose where to live, we should look at place, people, finances, resources, and lifestyle…

• Place: What geographical touch-points are important to you? Do you want to be near an airport — if not for your travel, for the ease of those coming to visit you? Is proximity to a university important? Do you want fishing opportunities? The ocean? Mountains? What weather is compatible with your anticipated lifestyle?




• People: Do you want to be near specific people? Are those people likely to remain in-place for the next 10 years? Do you plan to see relatives or grandchildren with regularity? Do you have friends — individual or groups — that would be difficult to leave, or whom you want to live near?
  Finances: What have you put aside for the support of your later years? Shockingly, 14 percent of people 65 and older have no retirement savings. None. More than one-third over 55 have not saved more than $10,000. Are you currently living within your means? What adjustments can you make to what you spend and what you save? What will it take to make you reasonably comfortable for the remainder of your life?




• Resources: What do you need or want in terms of support for your health — either in body or mind? A good library? A place to worship, contemplate, or meditate? A place to exercise? Medical follow-up for a current condition?




• Lifestyle: Do you want to be busy with activities involving other people or do you like to spend most of your time alone? How important is cooking? Do you hope that pets will always be part of your life? Do you want to be in a book, dinner, bridge, or Bible study group? Do you want to be around people who are more or less like you with respect to income, ethnic background, religion, education? Or do you crave diversity in your acquaintances? What activities do you love?

Choosing between a continuing care facility and a retirement village, choosing to stay at home, upgrade your home, or move to one that is more suitable to your needs; these choices can be exciting, and can lead to important conversations with family and friends.


Choose your life. Don’t let life choose you.

Adapted slightly from original article by: Starr Mayer’s column “Senior Living” as seen in the Daily Press, Aug 23, 2014. Mayer writes for and about seniors. She lives in Glouchester County and welcomes responses at starrmayer.sm@gmail.com