By Karen and Erica

Are you free to live anywhere you like, now that you are retired? Or do you at least fantasize about such freedom?

We think that’s one of the most delightful aspects of post-career life–even though we are pretty committed to NYC. (We do wish we were as adventurous as Denise McDonough!) We often think about renting an apartment in Paris or Dakar or Medellin for a month, though. We would love to immerse ourselves in local culture, by shopping and cooking and walking real neighborhoods.

For those of you with a wider vision of retirement geography, these ideas all excite.

1. Portugal. We know several people who have retired to Portugal–moving to Lisbon or Porto. It is a beautiful country, its citizens are welcoming, its food is delicious, and most everything is affordable. Here is a very thorough guide to the benefits and options of moving to Portugal, which differ depending upon your country of origin.

2. Alaska. A recent article extolled the merits of Alaska for retirees. Pretty far from the sunny beaches people usually think about when they think of retiree life. It seems that retirees like it because Alaska is nice, and beautiful, and not really that cold (!), its economic structure is favorable, and there are lots of outdoor activities. Quite intriguing.

3. Florida. Florida is more what we might think of as a retiree haven–warm beaches, towns devoted solely to retirees (not what we would want) and lots of culture. But it seems, partly as a consequence of Covid population moves, that Florida is becoming very pricey. And then there’s its political state of affairs. Still, it is a vibrant and fun place. We love Miami Beach.

4. Cartagena. We enjoy annually consilting lists of the best places to retire. Here’s a good one, featuring Panama, Ecuador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Colombia and Thailand. All are different, all are alluring, and each has specific attributes that are attractive, like colonial cities (Cartagena in Colombia), good healthcare, vibrant street markets, and an American expat community. 

5. Croatia. Travel and Leisure’s list focuses on beauty, and indeed the places it identifies are just incredible. We can confirm that one of the most beautiful countries we have ever seen is Croatia, and Dubrovnik is just remarkable. And affordable. Beauty and history are everywhere, as is Game of Thrones. One of us has considered moving there.

6. Bora Bora. Harper’s Bazaar ups the ante with the top fifty most beautiful places in the world, surely a good place to start when thinking about where to retire. Bora Bora, New Zealand, CapeTown? We’re in! Moscow, not so much.

7. Sydney. The New York TImes had an interesting article (paywall) about cities that were purposefully redesigning urban necessities, like transportation, to make those cities more liveable. We really like the idea of thoughtful planning, including creating parks, shortening commutes with cable cars, and ensuring waterfront access. We were especially drawn to the gardens of Sydney. We want to live in clever spaces!

8. MV Gemeni. Finally, if you just cannot bear the idea of choosing a single place to live, get on a ship and travel around til you find the perfect spot. No, it’s not cheap. But the MV Gemeni stops in amazing places. Could be just what you need before you settle down.

Maybe you don’t want to leave home forever. There was a reason you chose to live where you live, after all. But do go on a flight of fantasy, and enjoy the possibilities. It’s part of the fun of being retired, and you’ve earned it!