Several scattergun thoughts....
We took a retired relative out of their community a few years back to do what all agreed was the best for their care. Soon became clear moving them 100mls to a place where there was not one familiar thing or person was a step too far. Also taking them from their familiar support network meant self and wife became their only support and this was very hard on us and our children.
Our holiday in half-term just gone was to a great small seaside town where wealthy (mostly) folks seem to go to holiday in second homes and also live out their retirement.
Chatted to several of the older residents (all had moved there to retire, none local) who said it wasn't all they'd expected. They said outside the main holiday periods half the houses were empty so there was no community to call on and when the houses were occupied it was with a different set of tenants every week. Also because the town was biased towards holidays lots of things were expensive and the shop types were skewed towards the holiday market and little use for day to day living. Finally they expressed doubts about living in an aging community as they missed seeing young folks about.
In our own village the rural life and cheaper house prices has drawn several couples to retire from north London/Herts area. I know some who have found it very lonely being away from previous friends and all the places that were familiar to them.
It all needs lots of thought.
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