Most of us look forward to the day when we can leave the company we work for, even if they've given us years of gainful employment. Because eventually we want to sit back and enjoy the fruits of those years of labor before we become too old and infirm to do the kinds of things we like to do. If you're planning to retire soon, it's time to start thinking about where you will live. This article will give you some things to think about.

Many retirees choose to spend their retirements in the same house they have lived in and raised their family in for many years. Reasons for this vary from the sentimental value of the home to the need to have extra space when family comes to visit, but regardless be aware that a large home will become difficult to clean and maintain when you are alone in it. Therefore you may want to budget for hiring landscapers and a maid service to help you keep your home in ship shape.

Lots of other retirees view their big old homes or office as a noose that is tied around their necks weighing them down, so their first act as a retired person is to sell their home. If you want to stay in the area, you might consider buying a smaller home, a condo, or even renting an apartment in your old neighborhood. Downgrading size can help you keep up with the maintenance, but beware of any building with a lot of stairs - especially if it has no elevator.

If sticking around town will make it too easy for your relatives to come and ask for money to pay for their photo booth rental for their kids party, why not move to a vacation destination and retire there? Moving to other counties with weaker economies, such as Jamaica or Mexico, can help your money stretch further. You can buy a property there as a permanent residence or just opt for a time share that you can occupy for the part of the year where you're not living with family.

Alternatively, if you want to make new friends in your retirement, you might consider retiring to a retirement community. These communities exist all over the world, from an apartment complex in your hometown to a trailer park in Florida to a cottage neighborhood in a vacation town abroad.