| Geography is a big deal when we start to think | | | | figure out which grocery store is the best and |
| about retirement. Most of us either want to travel | | | | where to buy your favorite version of coffee. |
| or to live somewhere else--or both--once we | | | | This may be the best set of challenges you could |
| leave work. There is great peril in making these | | | | ever hope to find, but take the time to confirm |
| decisions lightly, yet much of what we use to | | | | that likelihood before you start packing boxes. |
| decide comes from a few vacation trips or | | | | The questions to ask are the same whether |
| someone else's opinion of the value of going | | | | you're looking at a permanent move or a |
| there. | | | | significant travel adventure: |
| Travel is an important way to learn. Living | | | | * What about this location makes me want to |
| somewhere different is guaranteed to push you | | | | spend the time, money, and energy to be there? |
| out of your ruts. But take the time to figure out | | | | * Is this location the best way to get that? |
| what you really want before you buy the RV or | | | | * Are there other ways to honor this need that |
| put the for sale sign on your current home. | | | | would give me the same thing--or maybe even |
| Take the time to be sure you're going | | | | more--for less money, time, and energy? |
| somewhere you really want to go. If all you plan | | | | * Is there any way to try this on a small scale |
| to do is lie on the beach, it's a whole lot simpler to | | | | before I commit to it in a major way? Do I need |
| go to Florida or San Diego, or even the shore of | | | | that? |
| Lake Michigan in August, than to deal with the | | | | Please don't think I'm telling you this based on a |
| hassles of international travel. | | | | few Caribbean cruises and downsizing from a |
| Why do you want to go to this place? If you | | | | house to a condo in the same community. I tend |
| yearn to watch them run the bulls in Pamplona, | | | | to deal in MAJOR geography--a 67-day cruise |
| you're pretty much talking about a trip to Spain. | | | | involving calls on five continents (missed South |
| But if you want to watch something exciting that | | | | America and Antarctica) and a permanent move |
| involves large four-legged animals with horns, | | | | from the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies to |
| there are probably plenty of options closer to | | | | the Pacific Northwest, for example. |
| home. | | | | There are many reasons to move. But there are |
| Make sure you want to experience doing | | | | also many pluses about where you are. Those |
| whatever you are going to do at that location | | | | tend to get lost in the romance of "going |
| before you commit to an expensive trip. You can | | | | somewhere else" once you start to explore the |
| zip line many different places. Is it important that | | | | possibility. Consider both sets of pluses in your |
| you do it in Costa Rica? If so, fine. But at least | | | | decision-making. Know what's important to you |
| ask yourself the question. | | | | that makes you want to change your geography. |
| And the question is even MORE essential if you're | | | | But be honest with yourself--and your spouse or |
| thinking of LIVING somewhere else. Unless you've | | | | anyone who's going to be part of it--about what |
| been uniquely successful at not collecting | | | | you will be leaving behind. And about what you |
| possessions, getting all your "stuff" from here to | | | | expect to achieve with the change. |
| there is a major undertaking. Just the cost to rent | | | | A downturn makes you take a longer look before |
| a U-Haul is enough to give you pause these days. | | | | you spend money, so this is the perfect time to |
| And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Moving | | | | learn to do geography on purpose. Don't just |
| costs money once you get to the new place, | | | | wander around so you can say you've been |
| too--for everything from utility deposits to a new | | | | somewhere else. Choose your geography with a |
| trash can. And the costs aren't just financial. You | | | | clear idea of what you want and how the new |
| will need to find a new doctor, tax person, | | | | environment is going to be key in helping you get |
| hairdresser/barber, mechanic. You will need to | | | | it. |