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
We’ve been retired for 15 years now and travel from 4-6 months a year.
1. Mail? Do you have a forwarding service? Neighbors collect it?
We use a mail forwarding service: Alternative Resources 800 477 2664
2. Yard? Obviously we'll need a lawn service, but are leery of strangers knowing the house is empty. It seems asking my neighbors to watch and pick up flyers for months would be a little much.
We’re home during the summer so most of the yard work we do. Our neighbors do have a key and do check the house for us. We contact our local police department to tell them we are out of town also.
3. Security? Do you have friends who periodically enter the house?
Yes,
4. Maintenance? Planning to shut off the water, but a small problems could grow over the course of a month or so (ie. failed freezer, roof leak, etc.)
We do shut off the water and have a light that will come on if the temperature in the house falls below 45 degrees. Each fall before we head out we have our furance checked out.
5. Bills? We're moving almost everything to online, but would appreciate any additional advice on this.
We pay 99% of our bills on line, we have just a few like our city water bill that we can’t and I just mail them an estimate of what I think the bill might be and take care of the rest when we get home. Most of the time I've over paid a small amount.
Finally to those who are retired, but haven't become full-timers, how long is your average trip now? Is it much different from when you were working? It seems we will be able to spend 3-4 or even 5 weeks leisurely working our way around the country, but sometimes the reality is different.
We enjoy exploring and driving the back roads. We travel 2-300 miles a day staying in an area for a few days and move on. Sometime if we like the area we might stay a few weeks. It doesn’t take long and the next thing we know 6 months have gone by.
1. Mail? Do you have a forwarding service? Neighbors collect it?
We use a mail forwarding service: Alternative Resources 800 477 2664
2. Yard? Obviously we'll need a lawn service, but are leery of strangers knowing the house is empty. It seems asking my neighbors to watch and pick up flyers for months would be a little much.
We’re home during the summer so most of the yard work we do. Our neighbors do have a key and do check the house for us. We contact our local police department to tell them we are out of town also.
3. Security? Do you have friends who periodically enter the house?
Yes,
4. Maintenance? Planning to shut off the water, but a small problems could grow over the course of a month or so (ie. failed freezer, roof leak, etc.)
We do shut off the water and have a light that will come on if the temperature in the house falls below 45 degrees. Each fall before we head out we have our furance checked out.
5. Bills? We're moving almost everything to online, but would appreciate any additional advice on this.
We pay 99% of our bills on line, we have just a few like our city water bill that we can’t and I just mail them an estimate of what I think the bill might be and take care of the rest when we get home. Most of the time I've over paid a small amount.
Finally to those who are retired, but haven't become full-timers, how long is your average trip now? Is it much different from when you were working? It seems we will be able to spend 3-4 or even 5 weeks leisurely working our way around the country, but sometimes the reality is different.
We enjoy exploring and driving the back roads. We travel 2-300 miles a day staying in an area for a few days and move on. Sometime if we like the area we might stay a few weeks. It doesn’t take long and the next thing we know 6 months have gone by.
