Opinion: Things to Look for in a Retirement Location

Yourstuff may vary.

Tecumseh, OKPhoto byCreative Commons: peggydavis66

Two years ago, my wife and I moved back to Tecumseh, OK. from Largo Florida. Generally speaking, Florida is considered the premier retirement destination, but we chose to come back to Oklahoma. A number of factors were involved.

First of all, we were able to sell our house in Florida and the money went a lot farther in Oklahoma than it did in Florida. Plus, we had lived in Tecumseh, OK years ago, and enjoyed it. But beyond that, here are some things to look for when considering a location to retire in.

1: Look for a good doughnut shop.

Ok, that’s somewhat unique to be. I love a good doughnut shop, and Tecumseh had my all-time favorite doughnut shop. A good doughnut helps me get through the morning.

2: The place needs to be easy to drive in.

I hate driving in traffic. And traffic might not be crazy about the idea either. Plus, since my night vision is not great, I have a better chance of seeing what I’m running into in a smaller place.

3: Access to a bigger town is important.

While Tecumseh is small, when I want to go to a place with a few more options for eating or shopping, I go to Shawnee, which is a few minutes away. And if I want to go to a big city, Oklahoma City is only about 45 minutes away. That urge comes up about once a year.

4: The place needs good eating options.

I didn’t use the word “dining” because it sound uppity. Between Tecumseh and Shawnee, there are some nice options. Especially since my taste runs to bar-b-que, Mexican and Tex-Mex food. Your tastes may vary.

5: The place needs good internet access.

Some areas are so remote even the internet is sketchy. Generally speaking, I like most things a little slower, but not my internet.

6: Access to health care is important.

If I need urgent medical care, like if somebody mistakes me for Bigfoot and mistakenly shoots me, I don’t want to be med-flighted for urgent care.

7: There should be access to entertainment.

Of course, my entertainment needs are pretty basic. Access to televised pro sporting events takes care of most of them. I’m not looking for opera or a Broadway play. I will say, a dollar movie theater would be nice. There is a golf course nearby, and I may see if my arthritic shoulders will let me play. Plus, the OKC Thunder are about an hour away, as is the LA Dodgers AAA team.

8: It needs to be dog friendly.

That means I didn’t want a big city or a place too far out in the woods. A house in a small town with a fenced yard works out about right. I’m too lazy to walk the dogs, thus the need for a fenced yard.

9: A built-in support system is nice.

I’m not talking about life support, though that might not be too far away. We moved back to an area where we had friends and family. We thought it was important to get back to an area where we knew people while we could still remember them.

10: Look for an area that’s not booming.

If you are looking for an area to slow things down, avoid a place that is booming. In the Tampa-Clearwater area, things were growing rapidly. Too many old people in one place creates traffic issues, as well as other problems. It’s better if we spread out.