Using Housesitting to Navigate Retirement Location Decisions
A nomadic approach to testing potential retirement lifestyles through temporary home stays.
1Transitioning to Nomadic Living
At age 55, Amber Campbell shifted from traditional expectations of settling down to a nomadic lifestyle. After raising children in Seattle and living in the San Francisco Bay Area, she sought freedom. Starting at 52, she began housesitting to explore potential retirement locations without depleting her savings or committing to permanent property ownership.
2The Housesitting Methodology
Campbell typically stays in each location for two weeks to three months. This timeframe allows her to experience local grocery stores, nature trails, and community dynamics without signing long-term leases. By living like a local, she evaluates whether specific climates, social environments, and daily conveniences align with her evolving personal preferences for retirement.
3Revisiting Urban Life Realities
Initially, Campbell assumed she would retire in a major metropolitan area. However, a housesitting stint near her former high school in San Francisco changed her perspective. The combination of high costs, traffic congestion, and a 105 dollar street-cleaning ticket highlighted the logistical hassles of city life, leading her to prioritize slower-paced environments instead.
4Embracing Remote Island Solitude
Contrasting her urban experience, Campbell spent time on a remote Pacific Northwest island. Despite the inconvenience of ferry schedules and the need for coolers to transport frozen groceries, she grew to love the solitude. This experience proved she could adapt to isolated living, valuing nature and quiet over the convenience of city amenities.
5Considering International Retirement Options
A five-week housesitting assignment in La Paz, Mexico, introduced the possibility of retiring abroad. Inspired by a client who successfully relocated to the Sonoran Desert, Campbell realized she is capable of moving outside the United States. While she remains undecided, the experience removed her previous hesitation regarding international life and cross-border transitions.
6Refining Personal Lifestyle Criteria
After testing over 50 locations in three years, Campbell has clarified her non-negotiables. She now prioritizes access to nature, a balance of solitude and community engagement, and a sense of belonging. Her journey demonstrates that the 'how' of living often outweighs the specific geographic 'where' when defining a successful and fulfilling retirement plan.
7Financial and Logistical Freedom
By choosing to housesit, Campbell avoided the financial burden of buying property before being certain of her destination. She gave away most of her possessions and placed the remainder in storage to facilitate full-time travel. This strategy provides the flexibility to test diverse environments while maintaining financial stability during her search for home.
8Redefining the Retirement Concept
Campbell’s experience challenges the traditional pressure to settle in one place by age 55. Her three-year experiment shows that retirement planning can be an active, exploratory process rather than a static decision. By prioritizing personal comfort and environmental fit, she continues to redefine what 'home' means through direct, immersive, and temporary life experiences.
Original article: Business Insider — Using Housesitting to Navigate Retirement Location Decisions