I am lucky that Simon and I have a very similar outlook into retirement. We agree on most parts and there are very few disagreements that we cannot work out.

We have been taking good care of ourselves, consider ourselves healthy enough and would prefer to have an equal quality of life as we retire.

Simon and I are aware that we need to find a good retirement place for us that will cater to our needs and desires. We agreed that we should make realistic retirement estimates about what kind of expenses we will have in retirement; to be honest about how we want to live in retirement and how much it will cost.

I guess these estimates are important when it comes time to figure out how much we need to save in order to comfortably afford our retirement. We’ve saved in the past, but I don’t know if these savings will still suffice for a comfortable retirement life here in the US, considering the current economy.

Being self-employed, I work part time in the confines of our home. Having no boss and with lesser responsibilities, Simon and I agreed that between the two of us, I should be the one to prepare us for future retirement.

Now my goal is to find a balance between a place that will allow us to maintain our financial security and one that doesn’t compromise our quality of life. I guess I have a difficult task ahead of me!

Sometimes retirement itself can be a shock for some folks and creates its own new set of considerations. We prefer to stay put until we sort out our retirement life before we jump into anything as important as relocation. I need to find a place where we can be what we are, and maybe try to be what we want to be when we retire.

When I think of retirement, I always dream of waking up under sunny skies in a spacious place, dotted with lots of flowers and blooms. After a swim and a pitcher of fresh-squeezed orange juice, I will walk around the pool or take a short hike,  go out and volunteer with the community center and in the evening savor a deliciously simple dinner at a charming café.

Then I suddenly wake up from my dream! Where will I find such a retirement place in America that is within our budget?

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