The New York Times recently ran an interesting article about planning for retirement.  Their premise?  Consider your family first.

I’m always interested in different perspectives on approaches and planning for retirement, and this one addressed a key consideration for my wife and I – and for many others as well.  Where to live in retirement?

There are many considerations when considering where to live in retirement.  Weather is often a big factor; we’ve lived in Minnesota for several decades and love to be there from May to October, but not so much during the deep-freeze months of winter when it hurts to be outside!

Other factors might include taxes, access to healthcare, activities, etc.  But what the Times noted was that the pull of family ties is becoming stronger when determining where to spend your post-work days.

As the article notes, for most people retirement means relocating to a place with pleasant weather and age-appropriate amenities.  Then they may later have a second move to a ‘continued care’ community – possibly near family.  But now many people are skipping the Sun Belt and heading directly to a retirement community; especially one in close proximity to their adult children.

As one retiree’s adult daughter told her, “Why would you make me worry about you from a distance when you could be living near me?”

Many of these retirees are envisioning a time that they’re going to need their children to take them to doctors’ appointments and help them in other ways. Until then, they’re celebrating holidays together with ease and enjoying everyday experiences.

 “We know that the tables will be turned later on, and our children will be doing things for us,” said one retiree in the article. “But at this point, we’re doing a lot of picking up the grandchildren from school and camp. For now, we can help.”  And be part of one another’s lives.