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Location, Location, Location In New Zealand, we might ‘graduate’ to retirement at the official age of 65, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stay put and pop our slippered feet up on the footstool. Let’s investigate some outside of the box living choices for your golden years… Are you ready to get creative?  Suzi Brown explains Independent review website aged advisor has found 36.9% of people who returned reviews say location was the most important factor when making their retirement choice. So, what are our choices? Who’s got a bit clever and successfully thought outside the box. Are our only options to live with family, continue in our own homes for as long as possible, or graduate to the retirement village? Cruise Ship Living Retirement is an opportunity to throw the 9-5 routine out the window and invent a new life for yourself. Take a look at the resource ingredients you have to hand and bake yourself a ‘one of a kind’ retirement - like retiring to a cruise ship! If you look at the idea of retirement falling into thirds of progressive ability - the first third being active, this idea isn’t as outlandish out there as you think. A cruise ship offers the same amenities a retirement community does, while afloat! Lodgings, dining and scheduled activities are conveniently bundled into one price, plus the opportunity to explore places you have never been. In fact, cruising the world could actually be cheaper or similarly priced than other options. For those who are good at budgeting and economical with activities, it’s worth considering. Cruises include WIFI, laundry, food and shore excursions too. Retiring on a cruise ship is an intriguing idea, whether you book a year’s worth of back-to-back cruises on a traditional cruise ship or purchase a floating apartment on a residential ship. Companies that cater to the retirement community include Storylines MV Narrative, which offers a new way to cruise, creating luxury residential communities at sea. It is set to circumnavigate the globe every three years, stopping at ports as it goes. Another well-known company is “The World’, and Victoria Cruises Line has plans to refurbish two vessels for residential ships for long-term living. Some even allow you to bring your pets on board! You can lease a cabin for years at a time and pay yearly living charges which include food. Thinking outside cost, you will build a real spirit of community with those doing the same. A floating retirement community if you will? A few hints would be:
It’s a maintenance free lifestyle, you won’t have to worry about shopping, meal prep or boring home maintenance (and you can forget about washing the windows). You might also be able to rent out your cabin when you’re not using it, helping offset the cost of your cabin. It may not be for everyone but allow yourself a moment to dream! When the cost of living is skyrocketing, it’s the one thing that remains free.  Communal multi-generational living Communal multi-generational living might not be everyone, but there’s no denying it would benefit those older people suffering from loneliness when they leave a family home, social connections and employment. Many developers of urban senior-living rentals have cottoned on to the value of intergenerational living. Basically this means integrating senior apartments with younger renters with the idea of sharing costs and creating friendships and community. This concept is taking off globally, with seniors jumping at the opportunity to continue to feel vital to community rather than a traditional retirement village. Some developers have purposely built senior living facilities near university campuses – meaning students get a chance to live closer to campus while learning from elders real life experience and companionship. It’s an idea that also works well for city businesses too, who benefit from retirees helping support shops, cafes and local amenities. It’s not a new idea for many cultures around the world, but one that has got a bit lost in western society. Pasifika families particularly want their children to grow up with their grandparents. It takes a village to raise a child, and that’s particularly true for Pasifika whanau who don’t want to leave anyone behind. In New Zealand, our first multigenerational state home has been planned and built with this idea in mind. There are five new state homes built in Auckland’s Papakura which each have three to six bedrooms with two storeys and were designed by Pacific architects for extra size and circulation and are wheelchair accessible. The Motorhome Life If travel appeals to you while you enjoy the ‘first third’ of retirement living, but cruise ships aren’t your cup of tea, think about swapping a boat for wheels. There are some really flash motorhomes available where you can feel extremely comfortable and live frugally for as long as your health allows. No mortgage or rent cost is enticing and there are lots of other retirees in the same boat..err camper! To choose this route, start planning with plenty of time before your official retirement. You’ll need to consider how you’ll pay for your new home on wheels and that might include learning to live on a reduced budget which will set you in good stead for once the wheels start turning on your new adventure. A motorhome is most likely smaller than your current abode so think Marie Kondo and thank each unneeded item for its service and input in your life, then move it on to the donation box. A less cluttered life is truly a blessing if you can allocate a few hours every so often to have a clear out, and you’ll thank yourself when the time comes to move into your new home. Just don’t get rid of too much! You’ll still need your fishing gear and keep some good quality plates and glasses. Join up to the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association and you’ll only play $5 a night as opposed to campgrounds which can be up to $50. Yes, there are some drawbacks like a potentially long period of rain causing you to stay in a small indoor area for a long time, so don’t discard all the board games during your tidy out! Teeny Tiny Whare A tiny home could be just the ticket if you’d like to live a more simple, inexpensive retirement, while enjoying independence in your twilight years. Release some money from selling your family home and afford a caravan to get around while enjoying the benefits of a new and comfortable tiny home. Connected to the multi-generational living concept - you can have a tiny home on your child or family member’s property and enjoy the combination of having your own space but also your grandchildren and whanau close at hand if you’d like extra company, or to support you in sickness. If it all sounds a bit teeny for you, add a large wrap around deck for outdoor living with roof and an additional ‘pod’ as a nice little office or workshop for those who need the space. Issues could include connecting sewerage, water and power, but there are solutions for each of these with a little research and imagination depending on what is available on the land you choose to settle your tiny house on. There are some very satisfying other solutions too for storage and if you get the right architect, you can get everything including the kitchen sink comfortably in a tiny house sized footprint!  Flee the country!
Have you seen the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith?” The basic premise is that several British retirees decide to move to Jaipur, India, to stay in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, advertised as an exotic retirement home. After an eventful journey to Jaipur, the retirees discover the hotel is a dilapidated site, run by the energetic, but inept manager. The idea I’m getting at is this, although the movie plot was off to a somewhat jumpy start with the retirement home not being all it was cracked up to be, why not grab onto the idea to move to Ecuador, Portugal or India? Foreign countries can offer top class hospital assistance, fantastic weather, and if you don’t choose a normal tourist spot – it can be as cheap as chips too. The low prices in Ecuador are a big attraction for expat retirees. Both the cost of day-to-day living and real estate can be far cheaper. You can receive up to 50% off public transportation, utilities, recreational activities and events, plus reduced or eliminated income, capital gains, estate, property, vehicle and sales taxes. You are also eligible for duty free importation of household goods and expeditated services (skipping the lines in places like banks). A pensionado visa in Ecuador allows you to work even though you’re meant to be retired. This means you have the option of topping up your pension by doing a part time job such as teaching English. In Britain, Portugal is becoming an increasingly popular retirement option. Lured by the climate, outdoors lifestyle and lower cost of living, Portugal also has a reputation for safety, and the added bonus of friendly locals. An expert in the field, Christina Hippsley from the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in London says, “Apart from the 3,000 sunshine hours a year in the Algarve, the country has more doctors per capita than England, and life expectancy is longer – no doubt due to the healthy diet and outdoor lifestyle.” For whatever option you choose, it would be prudent to organise a trip to dip your toe in the water of foreign retirement and get a feel for the place first. While you’re there take the time to have a chat with retired locals – before you know it you could be ready to take the plunge into more sunshine and improved lifestyle! Whatever option you decide to pursue, cruise-ship, communal living, tiny house or overseas, be sure to do your due diligence, plan and discuss with others who have experienced similar adventures. And remember to step outside your comfort zone – life is for living! Ref: Aged Advisor NZ NZ’s Best Magazine Comments are closed.
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AuthorShonagh O'Hagan Archives
May 2025
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