{"id":2368,"date":"2012-11-26T08:11:57","date_gmt":"2012-11-26T12:11:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=2368"},"modified":"2012-11-26T08:11:57","modified_gmt":"2012-11-26T12:11:57","slug":"pbs-next-avenue-where-single-women-might-want-to-retire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=2368","title":{"rendered":"PBS, Next Avenue: Where Single Women Might Want to Retire"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\u201cThese days, there\u2019s a place for everyone,\u201d retirement consultant Jan Cullinane writes in her new book,\u00a0The Single Woman\u2019s Guide to Retirement<\/a>. She\u2019s referring to retirement communities and housing that appeal to people \u2014 women in particular \u2014 based on their backgrounds, interests or sexual preferences.
\nFor example, when I retire, I might consider an equestrian community. Horses and riding are my passion. They aren\u2019t my spouse\u2019s, but perhaps I\u2019ll be single when I get to that stage of my life. In her book, Cullinane mentions one for the horsey set in Ocala, Fla., where homes begin at $400,000. Seems a little pricey, but who knows?<\/p>\n

(For full article, click here.)<\/a><\/p>\n

‘Living With a Twist’ Locales<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cullinane\u2019s book has a fascinating section called \u201cLiving With A Twist\u201d that describes all types of intriguing ways and places for single women to live in retirement. Ever thought about retiring in a home nestled in a vineyard community? Or living alongside other former letter carriers or astronomers? It\u2019s possible, Cullinane says.<\/p>\n

(MORE:<\/strong>\u00a0The Ideal Places to Grow Older in America<\/a>)<\/p>\n

And if you can\u2019t find a place for people like you, she says, go to the\u00a0Fellowship for Intentional Community website<\/a>\u00a0to learn how to start a community geared to your ideas or interests.<\/p>\n

As I wrote in an earlier Next Avenue post, \u201cShould Women Buy or Rent a Home?<\/a>,\u201d purchasing a house or a condo solo in retirement can be intimidating. But if you\u2019re moving to a place where the fit will be just right, this step will probably be less scary.<\/p>\n

Fascinated by Cullinane\u2019s tips for single women interested in \u201cliving with a twist\u201d in retirement, I called her to learn more. (Most of the single women she spoke with for the book wanted to maintain their privacy, so she often used their first names or middle names and last initials, which she did in our interview.)<\/p>\n

Kerry Hannon:<\/strong>\u00a0Why is housing such a dilemma for single women in retirement and how can living with a twist address these issues?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jan Cullinane:<\/strong>\u00a0When you look at the advertising for retirement communities, much of it is targeted to couples \u2014 couples walking on the beach, couples dining with other couples, people traveling in pairs. It can be difficult to ferret out good places to live if you\u2019re a single woman.<\/p>\n

But communities or lifestyles that have a certain focus can be great for single women in retirement because they pretty much guarantee the element of social support.<\/p>\n

KH: Can you tell me about homesharing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JC:<\/strong>\u00a0More than half a million single women are homesharing: finding roommates to save money, to have company and to pool resources. For instance, I know two sisters who have shared a residence in Palm Coast, Fla., for the last seven years. They moved in together after their spouses passed away.<\/p>\n

AARP found that almost half of mature women are willing to consider having a non-romantic roommate in retirement.<\/p>\n

KH: What\u2019s another unconventional living arrangement for single women in retirement?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JC:<\/strong>\u00a0Barbara Traynor has had an inventive approach. She has moved around from one volunteer opportunity to the next in Florida, Alaska, Arkansas and New Mexico and her food, lodging and sometimes even a stipend were included.<\/p>\n

(MORE:<\/strong>\u00a0How to Use Your Home to Stay at Home<\/a>)<\/p>\n

She enjoys the camaraderie of like-minded volunteers and living this way has really stretched her retirement income. Between her volunteer stints, she has stayed in her son and-daughter-in-law\u2019s home in a one-bedroom apartment with a separate entrance.<\/p>\n

KH: What about lesbian retirement communities?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JC:<\/strong>\u00a0They make residents feel more welcome and may offer social support and services as they age.\u00a0The Resort on Carefree Boulevard<\/a>\u00a0in Fort Myers, Fla., is a thriving, all-woman community that bills itself as \u201cSouthwest Florida\u2019s premier lesbian destination.\u201d It\u2019s gated, which provides privacy and a sense of security.<\/p>\n

I spoke with Kathy H., who has lived there since 2003, and she has loved it. \u201cWe are small enough to be acquainted with everyone and help is always available if someone is in need,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Also,\u00a0Fountain Grove Lodge<\/a>, in Santa Rosa, Calif., is a new LGBT community for older adults that provides independent living and continuing care services.<\/p>\n

KH: You write about something called \u201changar homes.\u201d What are they?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JC:<\/strong>\u00a0They\u2019re airport communities where you land your plane on an airstrip and park it in a hangar next to your home. Examples of these communities are\u00a0Mountain Air<\/a>\u00a0in Burnside, N.C., and\u00a0Fox Harb\u2019r<\/a>\u00a0in Wallace, Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to be a pilot to live in a hangar home. Ann P. isn\u2019t one, but she has friends who are and she purchased a second home in Mountain Air. Her primary home is in Charleston and she enjoys the tranquility and lower humidity of the mountains during the steamy Charleston summer months.<\/p>\n

KH: Next Avenue has written about women who love\u00a0living out of an RV in retirement<\/a>.<\/strong>Why might that be a good idea for some single women?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JC:<\/strong>\u00a0I spoke with Laurel K., who has been doing just that since she retired at 66. She had the itch to travel and to help others.<\/p>\n

First, Laurel journeyed from Ohio to California in her RV, took in the sights, stayed in private RV parks, taught water aerobics and joined in the activities. Then, she became a volunteer in state and local parks, working in the visitor centers, on the trails and as an interpretive ranger. She told me, \u201cI enjoy meeting people, not only from the United States, but also from around the world, and learning about new places.\u201d<\/p>\n

KH: Can you suggest some websites where women can learn more about \u201cliving with a twist\u201d destinations?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

JC:<\/strong>\u00a0If you\u2019re interested in homesharing, visit the\u00a0National Shared Housing Resource Center site<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For more information about retirement living as a volunteer, go to Barbara Traynor\u2019s site,Second Career Volunteer<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0\u201cGet Involved\u201d area of the website for the National Park Service.<\/a><\/p>\n

For hangar-home communities, there’s the\u00a0Living With Your Plane<\/a>\u00a0site.<\/p>\n

And there are two good websites about RV living in retirement:\u00a0RVing Women<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Loners on Wheels<\/a>.<\/p>\n

KH: Are there any drawbacks to \u201cliving with a twist\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JC:<\/strong>\u00a0Having a passion for a particular lifestyle or a niche community is a good reason for making decisions about how or where to live, but it\u2019s also important to think about the other aspects.<\/p>\n

So ask yourself questions like these: Will there be good medical care and will your insurance be accepted? Will you be happy with the climate, the cost of living, transportation and proximity to friends and family? Will you find lifelong learning opportunities and cultural and recreational opportunities?<\/p>\n

KH: Should single women rent or buy homes in retirement if they like the idea of living with a twist?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

JC:<\/strong>\u00a0I suggest trying out a community or lifestyle before jumping in. That\u2019s why renting can be an excellent idea. Some communities permit only long-term rentals, while others may allow short-term rentals. So you\u2019d have to check that out.<\/p>\n

posted by\u00a0Kerry Hannon<\/a>, October 17, 2012\u00a0More by this author<\/a><\/h4>\n
\"BookKerry Hannon has spent more than 25 years covering personal finance for Forbes, Money, U.S. News & World Report, and USA Today. Her website is\u00a0kerryhannon.com<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@kerryhannon<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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