Creating Your Perfect Post-Retirement Lifestyle

Taking a little time to visualize your ideal retirement lifestyle can make your dreams a true reality.
lkjasdf
Taking a little time to visualize your ideal retirement lifestyle can make your dreams a true reality.

While working to build your career and raise your family, the purpose of life can often feel like simply surviving from one day to the next. Retirement brings the freedom to explore a deeper life purpose. Whether you retire partially or completely, this new phase of life offers an opportunity to design your own ideal lifestyle.

Choosing your lifestyle begins with visualizing the life you want to lead. This means letting go of practical limitations and fantasizing about your ideal life. What would your life look like if money were no object? What things would you do? Where would you go, who would you meet and what would you learn?

Imagining these possibilities can help you identify goals that may be important to you. Perhaps you want to see the world, become more active in your community or write the novel that has been floating around in the back of your mind. Write down a list of your ideas, no matter how extravagant, before you begin to refine them into achievable goals.

It’s good to let your imagination run free while fantasizing, but the next step involves putting your dreams into the perspective of your current life. Be honest while reviewing your list and consider the act of doing these things, not just the reward. For example, do you enjoy the act of writing itself or do you like the idea of being a novelist? Don’t cross items off your list just yet, but make a note of those possible challenges to reaching your goals. This honest assessment doesn’t mean the end of your dreams, but it may change the way you approach them.

Next, you want to make a list of your strengths. What abilities have helped you be successful in the past? Perhaps you have great organization skills, are good at public speaking or have strong computer skills. Maybe you excel in a classroom setting as either a teacher or a student. Look at your past experiences and imagine how the lessons learned could be used in a new direction.

By putting these two lists together, you can begin to correlate ways to use your strengths to reach your goals. Those great organizational skills could be an asset when volunteering within the community, and your love of learning may motivate you to take a class to develop the additional skills you need to enjoy writing that novel.

You can also use these lists to find ways to financially support your ideal lifestyle. If you want to see the world, you may be able to fund your adventures by working as a travel agent or by writing articles, blogs or books to share your savvy travel tips with others. If you want to spend your days painting, playing the piano or practicing some other skill, you may also be able to bring in money by offering lessons in that area part-time.

Retirement, and an empty nest, opens the door to a new phase of life. The possibilities are endless when you take the time to design the lifestyle that is best for you.

Can you spot the $207,744 difference between these identical homes?

Financing is the difference!

Get the details in The 62+ Loan Homebuyers Guide.

55places Mortgage is a joint venture between Mutual of Omaha Mortgage and 55places.com.
Details here.

Share this post:

We're here to help! (800) 928-2055

Call us to speak with a customer service representative.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get Weekly Updates

I agree that 55places and its affiliates, partner providers or agents may call, text, or email me about my inquiry, which may be made with automated means. I understand that my consent is not a prerequisite for buying a property. I may revoke my consent at any time by contacting optout@55places.com. Message/data rates may apply. I also agree to 55places.com’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

The Best Places to Snowbird in 2021

We’ve gathered 25 of the best places for snowbirds, including cities in Florida, Arizona, California, Texas, South Carolina, and Nevada. For each entry, we’ve also provided a list of recommended 55+ communities in the area. If you’re ready to find your own winter retreat this season, here are some of the best places to consider.

Interest Rate vs. APR (And Other Mortgage Questions)

The mortgage process is pretty complicated. Even if you’ve gone through it before, it’s easy to get tripped up with all the steps, documentation, and financial jargon of it all. Are you planning on applying for a mortgage soon? Before diving straight in, here are some answers to commonly asked mortgage questions.

Two 55+ active adults relaxing in lounge chairs by the beach.

How to Decide Which State to Retire In

It’s common for active adults to relocate to a new state for retirement, and with thousands of 55+ communities across the country, it’s difficult to find the perfect place without narrowing the search first by state. The best guideline is to move to a state that can provide the lifestyle you’re looking for.

An asthmatic 55+ woman reaching for an inhaler.

The Best Places to Retire If You Have Asthma

Climate, geography, and access to health care providers are all key considerations for those with a chronic health condition. Let’s explore some of the best places to retire if you have asthma and what factors may be particularly important to you in a retirement destination.

Happy senior couple relaxes while fishing together by the lake in their 55+ community.

55+ Communities for Lake Lovers: Discover the Top 5 Destinations

Boating, fishing, swimming, and other water sports are popular pastimes for many active adults. While these activities are frequently found in coastal areas, water-loving retirees can enjoy living inland when they choose a community that offers access to a lake!

A mature woman explores an art gallery with her granddaughter in one of her favorite retirement cities.

The 4 Best Places to Retire if You Love Art

Retirement is your chance to devote yourself to the pastimes you love! If you love art, a handful of places across the U.S. will suit you best. Today, the team at 55places.com is here to explore communities all over the nation that you’re sure to love.

Blueprints and tools on a desk as home builders plan a construction site.

The Top Active Adult Home Builders

Active adults at the start of their home search often come across multiple communities by the same developers. That’s because the most well-known 55+ community developers in the country have crafted hundreds of luxury communities in many retirement destinations across the nation.

About 55places

We’re changing the way people 55 and older are searching for their perfect next place. With a national network of hand-selected real estate experts, plus comprehensive information, unbiased content, and on-the-go insight about thousands of communities across the country, we’re a trusted resource paving the way from here to home. Whether you’re interested in a low-maintenance single-level residence, an active lifestyle or age-qualified community, an intimate enclave, or anything in between, we can help you make your next move the best one yet.

Scroll to Top