What comes to mind when you think about retirement? Spending time with grandchildren? Traveling to the beach or other favorite locations? Spending time on the golf course?

Those might be common paths in retirement, but many retirees are blazing their trail. You can chart nearly any course you want in retirement. Below are some examples of non-traditional lifestyles that are growing in popularity among retirees:

Retirement on a cruise ship

Did you know you can live on a cruise ship? There is one cruise ship – The World – that is specifically dedicated to retirees who live at sea. You don’t have to choose that ship, though, if you want to spend your retirement on a cruise ship traveling the world. Many cruise lines offer extended options so you can spend months or even years aboard a ship.

One study found that living aboard a cruise ship could be more comparable to an assisted-living facility. At the time of the study, a year on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship cost just over $33,000, versus $28,000, for a year in an assisted-living facility. This could be a legitimate option if you want to travel the world in retirement.¹

Retirement in an RV

Perhaps you’d like to downsize, reduce your spending, and also travel the country. An RV may be the way to do it. There’s an entire community of retirees – known as workampers – who have downsized into an RV and travel the country. They’ll often trade labor or other services for free rent at campsites or other compensation.2

The benefits of a workamping lifestyle include reduced spending and perhaps greater financial flexibility. Of course, you’ll also need to be comfortable with a mobile lifestyle and a smaller living space. It’s not for everyone, but if you have a limited budget in retirement and want to explore the open road, this could be an option to consider.

Overseas

In 2018, more than 400,000 U.S. citizens collected Social Security retirement benefits while living overseas. Canada was the most popular location, with Japan, Mexico, Germany, and the United Kingdom rounding out the top five.³

Why retire overseas? The reasons vary for each person. Individuals may have a strong family or professional connection to a country. However, other retirees may choose a country because it offers an affordable cost-of-living, a warm climate, inexpensive health care, or other benefits.

Starting a business

Did you know that more than one-quarter of all new businesses in 2017 were started by those between ages 55 and 64? Entrepreneurship isn’t a young person’s niche anymore. Businesses started by those nearing retirement or in retirement increased 15% since 1996.⁴

In many ways, retirement could be the perfect time to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams. You have the time to invest in the project, and you may not feel the pressure to turn a profit immediately. Just be sure to stay within your budget and not risk your nest egg on your new venture. A financial professional can help you fit your entrepreneurial dreams into your retirement strategy.

Of course, these are just a few examples of non-traditional retirement paths. You can chart any course you want, and we’re here to help you make your dream a reality. Contact us today at Caprock Financial Group. Let’s connect and start planning your unique retirement.

1https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2020/01/23/did-you-know-you-could-retire-cruise-ship/

2https://www.today.com/series/starttoday/what-s-workamping-guide-downsizing-embracing-rv-lifestyle-t107322

3https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-no-1-country-retirees-move-to-when-they-ditch-america-2019-07-26

4https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-20/retirees-are-becoming-new-entrepreneurs

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