Italy is a good destination when you become older. Switzerland is perfect, and you travel easily from Geneva to the whole world. Paris is perfect, but you need a lot of money. London, climate is quite well (sometimes rainy), pleasant and they speak English ! Of course, you have to manage one fact, in the eighteenth century, America was a colony... But it is a very old story ! About money. Paris is more and more expensive, and I was an old Parisian. I lived near Paris and I can afford to have a house with a garden right in the middle of Paris. But New York is one of the most exciting towns in the world, of course, a crazy one. You can stay in the states too.
These are all great points and picks. Switzerland is super expensive—it was actually one of the first places I ever visited, and used to dream about moving there. But the opportunity just never came up. Now it's even pricier, and honestly, just figuring out which language I'd need to learn would be a barrier for me. The geography would be my perfect place, but the rest doesn't fit.
On an additional note: New York is ridiculously out of sync with our search, but yes, it is one of the most exciting cities in the world, that's for certain.
We are one of the lucky ones having found a home in Rohnert Park California in 1996 when it was affordable. The weather is beautiful and it is near good health facilities, about an hour north of San Francisco. It is not perfect. There are wildfires and possible earthquakes. We recently got our fire insurance taken away but fortunately were able to find other coverage. We took advantage of a state program to brace and bolt our home in case of an earthquake. I am grateful we have found our spot for retirement.
Yes, you are very lucky to have settled back when it was affordable and housing was available. Those options are now closed for most of us in today's world. The area you're in is one of the best, and it's what I would define as one of the prefect places to relocate to in the US, if one could afford it.
The median listing home price in Sonoma County, which includes Rohnert Park, was $899,000 in February 2025. I don't think this makes sense at 67 years old to invest this heavy, at least it doesn't for us, even if we could make it work.
Unless I'm in danger of getting hauled off to the clink for something awful—or just unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time (and yes, that has happened to me)—political motivation, outrage, or anything like that would be the last reason I'd relocate.
A fixed income, though—that could be a real threat. We never know what life will throw at us, but being mindful and as prepared as possible is something I try to stay aware of.
The prices of houses have derailed us from making choices about where we'd live after retiring. It has been very disappointing to not have the choices we thought we'd have. Instead we are remaining where we have lived for decades. It is not ideal for me although my husband feels content. It remains unclear for me as what to do.
What part of the country do you live in? If you'd had the opportunity, where would you have chosen to spend your retirement years? I'm always curious to hear what others are searching for, where they are now, and whether they've found ways to make their current location work.
Geography is a big driver for me. I need the right environment to thrive—otherwise, I’m just surviving, with no real zest for life. It’s only happened a couple of times in my life, but both instances gave me enough motivation to start thinking outside the box moving forward.
(This gives me an idea for a future article: How do we accept and cope with having to sacrifice or compromise—and still find a way to thrive in a less-than-desirable place?)
I appreciate you sharing this with me. I don't feel so isolated in this dilemma.
I live in Tallahassee FL and wanted to move to a small town and at one time had thought St Augustine FL might be an option however, real estate became outrageously expensive. So now
Fairhope AL is in my thoughts, but it too has gotten expensive. My husband has now decided we just need to " stay put" and instead travel here and there.
I loved this article, Patti. We are at least 6 years (probably closer to 8) away from retiring, and I've already started the search for "where to live," knowing full well that everything could change by the time we get within range of retirement.
In May 2022, we moved from the Richmond, VA area to Washington State (South Puget Sound). We had a few key reasons: He's from here (I'm from Pennsylvania), so we have some family in the area (seeking community, which we didn't have in Richmond), cultural events, and the outdoor aspects (hiking, fishing). So when his job search proved fruitful, we decided it was a "no-brainer" to move.
While there are many things to enjoy about living out here, man, it's silly expensive! Within a year of moving here, my husband said, "We cannot stay here when we retire. It's too expensive." We have a conversation every few weeks about whether it makes sense to move now to a less costly location to try to "make headway" towards retirement, or stick it out here. And this was supposed to be our last move<--- as life laughs! 😂
I chuckled when you mentioned Alabama because we were researching Huntsville, AL when the tornadoes moved through the area. We're no strangers to severe weather, but southern severe weather is scary. We've also discussed NH because we have family there, too, but the cost of housing (+ the property taxes) would be hard for us to digest.
I look forward to following your journey!
P.S. Have you looked into Greenville, SC? That's on my radar.
Oh Tess, do I feel you. At least things will have somewhat evolved maybe more into a pattern by the time you're ready, weather and climate-wise, which will eliminate more choices. I'd rather be in the stage where I'm choosing with desire and practicality rather than in the ruling out stage of the game. I'm glad I chose June of 2026 to pull the trigger on whatever we decide to do. It's going to take that long to shut down things here in Michigan. The summer will allow exploration in parts where the season is at its most unbearable. I'm savvy to brutal winters, but summers (other than Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, and Alabama) I'm not familiar enough to know if they're tolerable. That's why I'm campaigning for another country entirely. There are so many places that are inexpensive, weather isn't in play, and fresh fruit, vegetables, and clean water are plentiful.
The PNW is a place I yearned to live for the longest. I didn't know how long I'd last in the wet, but was willing to give it a try due to geographical amenities.
Cost-of-living is really a driving factor now for relocation. My husband wants it to be our final move. I don't think I can promise it will be due to the Mother Nature's changes. That being said it's almost like nothing is for certain. (Not that it ever really was but certainly more predictable.)
Community might be a down side moving to another country, but I'm rather an introvert so that isn't the top concern, and if I can manage to convince my husband to move to a Spanish speaking country it will be easy for me to learn. On the other hand he loves the idea of Portugal. I have absolutely no desire to learn their language, I'll take my chances with just about any other language, but that's another story.
I haven't looked into the Carolina states. But will take the suggestion. I'm glad we connected on here and you shared your experiences—I'm currently taking a break from writing and researching while battling health issues—but depending on how fast I find "normal" getting back up and running on researching new places to relocate to is my top priority.
The best is that you're keeping an open mind, and willing to step out of the box. As long as you're by my side I feel particularly grounded, you know how I can be, haha. I love you, and thank you for reading and sharing.
I’m not close to retirement but I’ve spent a considerable amount of time thinking about this issue. My parents are in their 70s and have left their home in the PNW in search of warmer weather. They’ve been in Phoenix for the past 9 months and I’m wondering how sustainable this transition will be.
The weather’s warmer, sure. But now it’s almost too warm for them and their dreams of exercising outdoors year-round seem like a pipe dream. They’ve been spending more time indoors enjoying the AC
Shlee, I don't know how sustainable Phoenix is, either. In the summer it's almost unbearable. Maybe try Flagstaff? Or even New Mexico, Santa Fe is really nice. But again, in the summer, I'm not certain how aging people survive the heat. And what if (heaven forbid) the power grid fails? It's a real thing.
This is the stuff I'm researching and learning about before we make our own move. The other issue in the Southwest is water. Big problem. I hate being Debbie Doom, but there are alternatives. I may start a little series on places that may work for people who want to move but no idea where.
Housing, water, cost-of-living, and so much more are really big issues we're going to face, especially as we age. And something I really want to focus on are women who are on a fixed income, single, and need alternatives that they can look forward to, not just what appears on the surface, and feeling they have to sacrifice or compromise.
Patti and Shlee - I'd add ... We lived in Tucson for three years, and the heat is intolerable in the summer. Temperatures are worse in the Phoenix area. You must get outside before 7:30 AM, before the sun gets too intense. However, in the spring, those non-native (and some native) plants come into bloom. With no rain to wash the air, the allergies are miserable for humans and dogs, too.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Arizona is officially ruled out for me. I love Arizona but held little appeal for me. I love it when I can eliminate an entire state (Flagstaff and Sonoma were in the mix for a short time, but quickly eliminated.)
The language might be a barrier. But Spanish and Italian are complementary languages, so maybe Spain is back on the table. That is, if they can understand my horrible pronunciation. I'm learning South American Spanish, and I know Castilian is different. It might be easier—or maybe not. I'm still figuring that out. Oh, but the food, mountains, and sea would certainly make up for the language barrier. Carl would definitely be on board with this, more so than South America.
Italy is a good destination when you become older. Switzerland is perfect, and you travel easily from Geneva to the whole world. Paris is perfect, but you need a lot of money. London, climate is quite well (sometimes rainy), pleasant and they speak English ! Of course, you have to manage one fact, in the eighteenth century, America was a colony... But it is a very old story ! About money. Paris is more and more expensive, and I was an old Parisian. I lived near Paris and I can afford to have a house with a garden right in the middle of Paris. But New York is one of the most exciting towns in the world, of course, a crazy one. You can stay in the states too.
These are all great points and picks. Switzerland is super expensive—it was actually one of the first places I ever visited, and used to dream about moving there. But the opportunity just never came up. Now it's even pricier, and honestly, just figuring out which language I'd need to learn would be a barrier for me. The geography would be my perfect place, but the rest doesn't fit.
On an additional note: New York is ridiculously out of sync with our search, but yes, it is one of the most exciting cities in the world, that's for certain.
We are one of the lucky ones having found a home in Rohnert Park California in 1996 when it was affordable. The weather is beautiful and it is near good health facilities, about an hour north of San Francisco. It is not perfect. There are wildfires and possible earthquakes. We recently got our fire insurance taken away but fortunately were able to find other coverage. We took advantage of a state program to brace and bolt our home in case of an earthquake. I am grateful we have found our spot for retirement.
Yes, you are very lucky to have settled back when it was affordable and housing was available. Those options are now closed for most of us in today's world. The area you're in is one of the best, and it's what I would define as one of the prefect places to relocate to in the US, if one could afford it.
The median listing home price in Sonoma County, which includes Rohnert Park, was $899,000 in February 2025. I don't think this makes sense at 67 years old to invest this heavy, at least it doesn't for us, even if we could make it work.
For those on fixed incomes or desire to survive the political outrage, the politics of an area may change and add stress to your choice of relocation.
Unless I'm in danger of getting hauled off to the clink for something awful—or just unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time (and yes, that has happened to me)—political motivation, outrage, or anything like that would be the last reason I'd relocate.
A fixed income, though—that could be a real threat. We never know what life will throw at us, but being mindful and as prepared as possible is something I try to stay aware of.
Good reminder, thank you.
The prices of houses have derailed us from making choices about where we'd live after retiring. It has been very disappointing to not have the choices we thought we'd have. Instead we are remaining where we have lived for decades. It is not ideal for me although my husband feels content. It remains unclear for me as what to do.
What part of the country do you live in? If you'd had the opportunity, where would you have chosen to spend your retirement years? I'm always curious to hear what others are searching for, where they are now, and whether they've found ways to make their current location work.
Geography is a big driver for me. I need the right environment to thrive—otherwise, I’m just surviving, with no real zest for life. It’s only happened a couple of times in my life, but both instances gave me enough motivation to start thinking outside the box moving forward.
(This gives me an idea for a future article: How do we accept and cope with having to sacrifice or compromise—and still find a way to thrive in a less-than-desirable place?)
I appreciate you sharing this with me. I don't feel so isolated in this dilemma.
I live in Tallahassee FL and wanted to move to a small town and at one time had thought St Augustine FL might be an option however, real estate became outrageously expensive. So now
Fairhope AL is in my thoughts, but it too has gotten expensive. My husband has now decided we just need to " stay put" and instead travel here and there.
I checked into Fairhope, which led to Taladega. Fairhope is skyrocketing... not to mention high-end housing developments are in the works.
Did you ever imagine this would be an issue in our later years? I certainly did not and am not caught with my pants down.
I'm still hoping, it's not over... until it is.
I loved this article, Patti. We are at least 6 years (probably closer to 8) away from retiring, and I've already started the search for "where to live," knowing full well that everything could change by the time we get within range of retirement.
In May 2022, we moved from the Richmond, VA area to Washington State (South Puget Sound). We had a few key reasons: He's from here (I'm from Pennsylvania), so we have some family in the area (seeking community, which we didn't have in Richmond), cultural events, and the outdoor aspects (hiking, fishing). So when his job search proved fruitful, we decided it was a "no-brainer" to move.
While there are many things to enjoy about living out here, man, it's silly expensive! Within a year of moving here, my husband said, "We cannot stay here when we retire. It's too expensive." We have a conversation every few weeks about whether it makes sense to move now to a less costly location to try to "make headway" towards retirement, or stick it out here. And this was supposed to be our last move<--- as life laughs! 😂
I chuckled when you mentioned Alabama because we were researching Huntsville, AL when the tornadoes moved through the area. We're no strangers to severe weather, but southern severe weather is scary. We've also discussed NH because we have family there, too, but the cost of housing (+ the property taxes) would be hard for us to digest.
I look forward to following your journey!
P.S. Have you looked into Greenville, SC? That's on my radar.
Oh Tess, do I feel you. At least things will have somewhat evolved maybe more into a pattern by the time you're ready, weather and climate-wise, which will eliminate more choices. I'd rather be in the stage where I'm choosing with desire and practicality rather than in the ruling out stage of the game. I'm glad I chose June of 2026 to pull the trigger on whatever we decide to do. It's going to take that long to shut down things here in Michigan. The summer will allow exploration in parts where the season is at its most unbearable. I'm savvy to brutal winters, but summers (other than Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, and Alabama) I'm not familiar enough to know if they're tolerable. That's why I'm campaigning for another country entirely. There are so many places that are inexpensive, weather isn't in play, and fresh fruit, vegetables, and clean water are plentiful.
The PNW is a place I yearned to live for the longest. I didn't know how long I'd last in the wet, but was willing to give it a try due to geographical amenities.
Cost-of-living is really a driving factor now for relocation. My husband wants it to be our final move. I don't think I can promise it will be due to the Mother Nature's changes. That being said it's almost like nothing is for certain. (Not that it ever really was but certainly more predictable.)
Community might be a down side moving to another country, but I'm rather an introvert so that isn't the top concern, and if I can manage to convince my husband to move to a Spanish speaking country it will be easy for me to learn. On the other hand he loves the idea of Portugal. I have absolutely no desire to learn their language, I'll take my chances with just about any other language, but that's another story.
I haven't looked into the Carolina states. But will take the suggestion. I'm glad we connected on here and you shared your experiences—I'm currently taking a break from writing and researching while battling health issues—but depending on how fast I find "normal" getting back up and running on researching new places to relocate to is my top priority.
Love the article.
Fully understand what you are saying.
It sucks growing old.
Haha, no getting old doesn't suck. Our options narrow. We have to navigate staying ahead of the game and get comfy with pivoting. I'm practicing.
We can figure this all out. It's daunting when you try to take it all in at once. Great article my love 💓
The best is that you're keeping an open mind, and willing to step out of the box. As long as you're by my side I feel particularly grounded, you know how I can be, haha. I love you, and thank you for reading and sharing.
This was so well-written Patti!
I’m not close to retirement but I’ve spent a considerable amount of time thinking about this issue. My parents are in their 70s and have left their home in the PNW in search of warmer weather. They’ve been in Phoenix for the past 9 months and I’m wondering how sustainable this transition will be.
The weather’s warmer, sure. But now it’s almost too warm for them and their dreams of exercising outdoors year-round seem like a pipe dream. They’ve been spending more time indoors enjoying the AC
Thank you!! (Thank you for the restack😍.)
Shlee, I don't know how sustainable Phoenix is, either. In the summer it's almost unbearable. Maybe try Flagstaff? Or even New Mexico, Santa Fe is really nice. But again, in the summer, I'm not certain how aging people survive the heat. And what if (heaven forbid) the power grid fails? It's a real thing.
This is the stuff I'm researching and learning about before we make our own move. The other issue in the Southwest is water. Big problem. I hate being Debbie Doom, but there are alternatives. I may start a little series on places that may work for people who want to move but no idea where.
Housing, water, cost-of-living, and so much more are really big issues we're going to face, especially as we age. And something I really want to focus on are women who are on a fixed income, single, and need alternatives that they can look forward to, not just what appears on the surface, and feeling they have to sacrifice or compromise.
Patti and Shlee - I'd add ... We lived in Tucson for three years, and the heat is intolerable in the summer. Temperatures are worse in the Phoenix area. You must get outside before 7:30 AM, before the sun gets too intense. However, in the spring, those non-native (and some native) plants come into bloom. With no rain to wash the air, the allergies are miserable for humans and dogs, too.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Arizona is officially ruled out for me. I love Arizona but held little appeal for me. I love it when I can eliminate an entire state (Flagstaff and Sonoma were in the mix for a short time, but quickly eliminated.)
This sounds great! I think a lot of people would be interested in researching what you discover.
I’m hoping my parents move back to the PNW, at least for half the year so we can be closer.
But for me personally, I’d love to move over seas if possible once I’m retirement age (or preferably before)
I'm right with you, Shlee. If I can make it work that's the plan. The other option is six months here and six elsewhere.
This is really great. Very compelling. Move to Italy!! :-) We'll basically be neighbors.
The language might be a barrier. But Spanish and Italian are complementary languages, so maybe Spain is back on the table. That is, if they can understand my horrible pronunciation. I'm learning South American Spanish, and I know Castilian is different. It might be easier—or maybe not. I'm still figuring that out. Oh, but the food, mountains, and sea would certainly make up for the language barrier. Carl would definitely be on board with this, more so than South America.