How to Decide Where to Live After Military Retirement

One of the most exciting parts of retiring from the military is finding a permanent location to call home. Families need to consider many factors when making this decision. Organizing their thoughts on paper will help families make an informed decision. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Make a list of your family's priorities. Things to possibly consider are proximity to extended family, weather, cost of living, employment opportunities, local school districts or higher education opportunities.
2. Prioritize the items on the list your family has made. Select two or three items that are most important and which things are “must-haves” in a location.
3. Brainstorm with your family to construct a list of places that are desirable to live. Build a list of places where you definitely don’t want to live.
4. Using the first list of qualities you want in a new home location, narrow down the locations to two or three. Research each location you have included on your list.
5. Visit each location on your short list for a couple of days to get a feel for whether you would truly want to be a permanent resident. Some places are great to visit, but when you consider your family’s needs, it may not be somewhere you want to live.
6. Make a decision. Good Luck!

Tips & Warnings

• Utilize internet resources to learn cost of living, school resources, and employment opportunities.