It’s Not Just an Empty Nest
Washington, D.C. is home. Here, people can name all the presidents in order. Everyone knows that Socks, Sunny, and Emily Spinach are the names of presidential pets. We know which members of Congress voted for or against which bills. Sure, other places have restaurants that stay open for midnight snack, but we are too old to be out at that time of night, so we don’t really miss the nightlife. It gets hot enough that you can reasonably complain about the heat and cold enough that you can reasonably complain about the cold, but there is enough tolerable weather in between that the conversation at social gatherings can quickly return to the subjects of presidential pets and the machinations of Congress. No one is surprised to meet someone who came here for college because they got in-state tuition and stayed because it eventually started to feel like home. Let’s face it, though. D.C. is expensive. The reason you are here is because of your job, which keeps you in constant contact with interesting, intelligent people and pays enough that you will eventually be able to retire, unlike most people who simply work until they drop, scrape by on Social Security for as long as they are healthy enough to live independently, and then enter nursing homes as Medicaid beneficiaries. Time passes quickly in D.C., where there is always something interesting going on, and soon you will be old enough to retire. Should you stay or should you go? For help deciding whether you should continue living in your house after you retire, contact a Washington, D.C. estate planning lawyer.
You Are Not the Only Person Who Is Emotionally Attached to Your House
Some retirees choose to continue living in the house where they lived for a substantial portion of their adult lives; this is sometimes dysphemistically called “aging in place.” Others choose to move to smaller houses or apartments. These have their own unflattering names, from senior living communities to granny pods. Finances are a major factor in the decision. It makes sense to move somewhere less expensive when you are on a fixed income and no longer need to commute to work. On the other hand, your spacious house in the Maryland suburbs of D.C. is, for the beneficiaries of your will, a windfall that is increasingly rare for people of their generation to attain.
Money is not the only factor, though. Staying in your house means more years of family togetherness at the holidays, as your children and grandchildren visit you. It is less costly and more emotionally fulfilling than if the whole family were to meet up at a vacation spot. Of course, you can only stay in your house if doing so is physically safe. Are your relatives nearby to help you if you need them? Do you have long-term care insurance? Does your house require upgrades to make it easier for you to manage if your mobility decreases?
Contact Tobin O’Connor Concino P.C. About Aging in Place
A Washington, D.C. estate attorney can help you decide whether it is desirable or feasible to keep living in your family home after retirement. Contact Tobin O’Connor Concino P.C. in Washington, D.C. or call 202-362-5900.
Source:
msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/home-and-garden/i-regret-downsizing-my-grandkids-can-t-stay-over-anymore/ar-AA29vN8x?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ACTS&cvid=6a754f53c6eb4d22a292ee7cc74663ea&ei=41
