What keeps you where you are?

Welcome to Wondercafe2!

A community where we discuss, share, and have some fun together. Join today and become a part of it!

Register Log in
My husband when we first retired wanted to move from our city apartment to a house in the country.
I'm so glad we didn't.

Firstly, in many county towns there aren't the medical specialist facilities that are in our larger cities - which would have been a huge problem when he became seriously ill.
Secondly, a house would have been harder for me to manage now that I'm widowed and getting older.
Thirdly, by remaining in an apartment I can prolong my time at home.

Some spouses can't continue living in the home they shared, others -like me - find it comforting. (In a sense, I can still feel John's presence here with me)...
 
My parents will never move. They have a big enough war chest to keep the home and chalet well past their most optimistic expiration dates.

Real estate agents in my area are desperate for us to sell. We get multiple calls every week. Multiple mailings on thick, glossy card stock. When I informed the last caller that I wasn't selling, he cheerfully informed me that I could sell in six months. I told him to go to hell and hung up.
 
chansen said:
My parents will never move. They have a big enough war chest to keep the home and chalet well past their most optimistic expiration dates.

Real estate agents in my area are desperate for us to sell. We get multiple calls every week. Multiple mailings on thick, glossy card stock. When I informed the last caller that I wasn't selling, he cheerfully informed me that I could sell in six months. I told him to go to hell and hung up.
Click to expand...

Even here, I've had those and I could make a tidy profit since real estate has gone up, just not as dramatically as in the GTA. However, until Little M is settled and we are retired or retiring, we'll keep this place. After that, a lot depends on what we do with our retirement and where the boy ends up living in the long haul. If he heads West or South (or both) after uni as he keeps insinuating, I may be on the move eventually since Mrs. M doesn't want to be too far away from him.
 
I take offense at people trying to convince me to sell my home so they get a commission. Especially after I tell them I'm not selling.

Now it's open season. I'm just going to abuse any future callers.
 
PilgrimsProgress said:
My husband when we first retired wanted to move from our city apartment to a house in the country.
I'm so glad we didn't.

Firstly, in many county towns there aren't the medical specialist facilities that are in our larger cities - which would have been a huge problem when he became seriously ill.
Secondly, a house would have been harder for me to manage now that I'm widowed and getting older.
Thirdly, by remaining in an apartment I can prolong my time at home.

Some spouses can't continue living in the home they shared, others -like me - find it comforting. (In a sense, I can still feel John's presence here with me)...
Click to expand...
I hear of people planning to move away from the city as they retire. I don't really understand the appeal. Being able to drive, I would find that too much of a hassle getting to all my specialists. Being far from a hospital seems like a bad idea.

Chemguy's grandparents lived on a farm. If the place was in the city, it would be condemned. As they aged and developed severe health problems they refused to move back, even though they lived and worked in the city when they were younger. Being out there really decreased their quality of life medically, I guess it's not for me to say overall but there were also other issues going on at the farm. They also died sooner than what they likely would have if they had better living arrangements. It was amazing the health rebound of one after a hospital stay, but it was a fight to get them there and they wanted out ASAP.
 
well these days my empty house is full. As well as my 2 hockey billets a young engineering co-op student-and her cat-have moved in to Sept. It\s not what I would have predicted last May and it is working well.

I do like my job but in all fairness the pension is what keeps me there (there are other appealing jobs that come across my computer screen). Having joined the pension plan late every year in this position does help retirement income. Probably 7 years until retirement.

I do know that at some point in the future I will downsize but the right opportunity hasn't presented itself.
 
ChemGal said:
I hear of people planning to move away from the city as they retire. I don't really understand the appeal. Being able to drive, I would find that too much of a hassle getting to all my specialists. Being far from a hospital seems like a bad idea.

Chemguy's grandparents lived on a farm. If the place was in the city, it would be condemned. As they aged and developed severe health problems they refused to move back, even though they lived and worked in the city when they were younger. Being out there really decreased their quality of life medically, I guess it's not for me to say overall but there were also other issues going on at the farm. They also died sooner than what they likely would have if they had better living arrangements. It was amazing the health rebound of one after a hospital stay, but it was a fight to get them there and they wanted out ASAP.
Click to expand...

My aunt and uncle winterized their building at the cottage and moved up there after retirement. Since they always rented, they already had claimed it as principle residence for tax purposes so this just made it official. However, health issues have arisen and I imagine they will be moving to a city before too long. Whether they keep it at that point or move it down the line to their son (who inherits it when aunt dies) I don't know. My brother owns my family's half but it is still a summer-only property.
 
As we look at properties and prices, the question remains -- add on, or move.

Light rail is to come close to our home in the next 5 years -- hospital is close by, downtown, churches, friends.
We have a large property with room for my husband's toys & our trailer, and kids stuff.

Still thinking, and looking.
 
Pinga said:
As we look at properties and prices, the question remains -- add on, or move.

Light rail is to come close to our home in the next 5 years -- hospital is close by, downtown, churches, friends.
We have a large property with room for my husband's toys & our trailer, and kids stuff.

Still thinking, and looking.
Click to expand...

So the K-W LRT is going to include Cambridge, too? Cool. I have seen the work being done in Kitchener and Waterloo but haven't actually been to Cambridge since Dad died.
 
Nova Scotia is growing more and more retirement subdivisions. The newest one is about 40 minutes from Halifax and has its own golf course and lake. Not bad. But the closest health centre/ hospital is really rural and might not be able to deal with increased senior health needs.
 
I think I'd head for someplace like Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's been a retirement mecca for a while so likely has the services developed and it's a decent sized town now. Plus, it's in Niagara region so easy access to the US, the Falls, wineries, fruit belt, etc.
 
Hi StevieG! My ancestors were UEL settlers in that area :-) Beautiful part of the country. So good to hear from you!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top