Making living arrangements

Maybe, your retirement dream includes relocating to someplace warmer, to someplace foreign, maybe just someplace closer to your grandchildren. No matter what your motivation, leaving your old haunt requires a lot of thought, and planning. Any move even one that gets you warm sunny climes all the time or the company of your children and grandchildren means giving up certain things: your doctor; your church or synagogue; your neighborhood; your network of good friends It may even mean giving up or in some cases getting better deals on expenses such as insurance and health care. Consider the total cost of living In a survey conducted for the Longevity Alliance by Harris Interactive, the "cost of healthcare" ranked number three of five factors relocating retirees considered important, behind the "overall cost of living (important to 92 percent of survey respondents) and "climate (important to 81 percent). And according to information from the Longevity Alliance, those costs can vary greatly from region to region. "For instance, an average annual premium for a Medicare Supplement insurance policy in New York could be $3,700. If the same policy holder moved to Phoenix, the premium for the same Medicare Supplement plan could be as low as $1,200," cites an article provided by the Longevity Alliance Regional differences in health care costs, therefore, should be an important consideration in any retirement move. So should the fact that costs may increase again if you choose to relocate back to your old home state. Consider your "setting" Maybe you're part of the population that's weighing the pros and cons of moving to one of the new adult communities designed for active adults age 50 and over. Or maybe you're even planning further ahead, and starting to think about a move to a retirement community in 15 years or so. Susan Moore, director of marketing and communications for The Loomis Communities in Amherst, South Hadley and Holyoke, has some tips for evaluating how your next abode be it a villa in Europe, a new home or condo in the South, or an active adult community right here in the Northeast fulfills your dreams and meets your goals. Moore said projected trends indicate that the boomer generation is going to want to be in the thick of things, with lots of opportunities to access cultural experiences and lifelong learning. "The other thing we know about what baby boomers are going to be looking for is a lot of fitness and wellness activities," she said. "But not so much golf courses; people aren't migrating south for that. People want walking trails, indoor pools . it's much more important than it was 10 years ago." A checklist for relocating But beyond the hot button musts for any relocation, what else should you consider before calling the movers? Here's a checklist to help you evaluate your next home or community: 1. Cost. "First and formeost, consider the financial aspect," said Moore."Is it affordable [to relocate there]?" 2. Activities in the community. "Look at what's going to beavailable in terms of activities and cultural events" she said, both on the grounds if its a gated community and in the surrounding neighborhoods. She said to also investigate any oppotunities for lifelong learning experiences at local schools and colleges as well as volunteer opportunities with local organizations. 3. Services. Whether you're considering moving to a new part of the country, overseas, or into an active adult or retirement community, check out the amenities thoroughly. For communities, check out such things as maintenance plans, meal options and in-house transportation and events. If you're moving to a new city or country, investigate such things as available public services such as trash collection (and any fees), transportation options (maybe you don't need a car!), cultural and entertainment opportunities, health care access, and of course, job and volunteer opportunities. 4. Talk to the locals. People who actually live in a community or area are going to give you the lowdown on what it's like to be there 24/7, and that will be a much better picture of what life is like than any pitch from a salesperson. 5. How long will this [house, condo, location] really suit you? Ask yourself, "is this place going to suit my needs for the next five years, ten years?" Moore said. People are living longer and you need to think ahead to how this location will meet future needs, she said. "It's very difficult, even for a person in their mid-70s to think about how they might need, at some day, skilled nursing care." she said.