Where Will I Live After Retirement? — Why I Still Don’t Have an Answer as an Immigrant

Where Will I Live After Retirement? — Why I Still Don’t Have an Answer as an Immigrant

Whenever the topic of retirement comes up, there is one question that almost always follows “Where do you plan to live after you retire?”

When I hear that question, I usually pause for a moment.
Not because I haven’t thought about it—but because I still don’t have a clear answer.
This post is not about reaching a conclusion.
It is about organizing my thoughts as an immigrant who is still in the process of figuring it out.

1️⃣ Living Only in New York

I have lived in the United States for many years,
but the truth is that I have only ever lived in New York.
I have never spent an extended period living in another state,
nor have I experienced life outside of New York beyond short visits.

Living in a city known for its speed, intensity, and high cost of living,
I sometimes wonder whether I will still be able—or willing—to keep up with this pace after retirement.

Because of that, thinking about where to live after retirement does not feel like choosing a location on a map. It feels more like imagining a life I have never actually lived.

2️⃣ Why Retirement Is More Complicated for Immigrants

For immigrants, retirement decisions often come down to two broad paths.

• Staying in the United States
• Returning to one’s home country

When I think about Korea, the advantages are clear.
Language is familiar, healthcare access is strong, and daily life infrastructure—from transportation to services—is well developed.

At the same time, hesitation follows. I have been away for a long time.

In the U.S., I live as an immigrant. In Korea, I would be someone who has been gone too long.
This in-between position makes retirement decisions feel less like a logistical choice and more like a question of where I truly belong.

3️⃣ Why I’m Focusing on Criteria, Not a Place

Since I do not yet have an answer, I have stopped searching for specific cities or countries.
Instead, I am trying to clarify the conditions under which I could live well.

As an immigrant, additional realities naturally come into play.
If I were to spend more time outside the U.S., what would happen to my Social Security benefits?
Would Medicare still apply?
These questions do not yet have answers—they are simply part of the process.

4️⃣ The Reality of Having No Out-of-State Experience

Another practical concern is that I have never lived outside New York.
Starting over in a completely unfamiliar state— without understanding the local culture or having an existing community— feels far more daunting now than it might have earlier in life.

At this stage, stability matters more than experimentation.

5️⃣ My Current Conclusion: Not Deciding Yet

For now, my conclusion is simple.

I have not decided where I will live after retirement.

Instead, I see this as a phase of gathering information and refining priorities— not a phase that demands final answers.

Retirement does not have to be defined by a single permanent address.

6️⃣ Why I’m Writing This

This post is not meant to tell anyone where they should live after retirement.

What I do believe, however, is this:

The act of seriously thinking about where you want to live after retirement is already a meaningful step toward preparing for it.

Are you still weighing your options, as I am?
Or do you already have a place in mind that feels like home for your next chapter?

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