Q for Retirees... re: Extended trips
For years, retirement was a distant concept to us, but now it's getting close and we're starting to wrap our heads around the idea. We're mostly empty-nesters now, and it appears the kids are that mo...
Forum Discussion
Some people have neighbors or relatives take care of mail. If that's not an option and you really are going to travel a lot, consider renting a private mail box at a UPS Store or similar place. Then switch all your house mail over to it, except for any you don't really care about. It's a lot easier to call the UPS Store and have them forward your mail in a parcel than to deal with USPS. OTOH if you are talking mostly about one long trip per year, then you can just use the post office's system. But for several trips a year, that is too much hassle IMO.
Yard & Security. No matter how hard you try, people are going to know that you are gone. Alarm system and good neighbors are your best bets. Obviously you have to find someone to mow the grass. And someone has to have a key in case of emergency.
Power failure. We bought an alarm on amazon.com which monitors for water in our sump pump, freezing temps, and power failure. It has a battery and connects to a phone line. It calls 3 programmed numbers in case of alarm. Works nice, although when it calls we keep looking at our cell phones and saying "why are we getting calls from home???" So far we've only had the power outages.
Bills. Move everything online. There are always a few things that can't quite be done that way, but usually they are known in advance. Tax bills etc.
Length of trip. 3 weeks is nothing once you get your system working. 1-2 months has been the limit for us due to logistics at home, though.
Yard & Security. No matter how hard you try, people are going to know that you are gone. Alarm system and good neighbors are your best bets. Obviously you have to find someone to mow the grass. And someone has to have a key in case of emergency.
Power failure. We bought an alarm on amazon.com which monitors for water in our sump pump, freezing temps, and power failure. It has a battery and connects to a phone line. It calls 3 programmed numbers in case of alarm. Works nice, although when it calls we keep looking at our cell phones and saying "why are we getting calls from home???" So far we've only had the power outages.
Bills. Move everything online. There are always a few things that can't quite be done that way, but usually they are known in advance. Tax bills etc.
Length of trip. 3 weeks is nothing once you get your system working. 1-2 months has been the limit for us due to logistics at home, though.
