You’re thinking about retiring in a small town. Your kids have grown up and moved away, so it’s time for you to downsize and enjoy life out of the hustle and bustle of the big city.

You’ve heard that there are plenty of things to do in small towns and that people are friendly, helpful, and welcoming, all reasons why you should give it a shot.

The retirement quiz questions are the best way to show you whether or not a small town is right for you. This quiz will paint a realistic picture of what life will be like in a small town so that you’ll know if it’s right for you before making any decisions.

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Before you make your move, though, consider these five reasons why retirement might not be as perfect as you think:

1. Not enough things to do

You might be thinking, “This small town is so charming and quiet. It’s perfect for me to spend my retirement years peacefully.” But before you pack up your bags and head off to your new home in the country, consider this: a small town doesn’t have enough things to do. Let’s take a look at some of the problems that arise when retiring in a small town.

2. You miss the city

In a small town, there’s no nightlife to speak of and not much in the way of cultural events. The restaurants are limited to chain stores like Applebee’s and Olive Garden (and their delicious but not particularly adventurous menus). In cities, you can get anything from Korean tacos to Bahn mi sandwiches on any corner, but in the country? Not so much.

So if you’re going to retire elsewhere than where you live now, it may be because you’re looking forward to something that a small town just can’t provide: excitement.

3. Social isolation

The third reason you should avoid retiring in a small town is that it’s easy to become socially isolated. In a big city, you have a wide variety of social opportunities available to you: the office, bars and restaurants, and community events like art shows, and fundraisers. You may even work with friends or people who share your interests.

But once you move away from all those things, it’s harder for them to continue on into retirement age.

You simply don’t have the same level of access to groups or organizations that keep older adults active and engaged with others.

And even if there are some options in your new neighborhood (like volunteer activities), chances are they won’t be as diverse or interesting as what was available when you were younger.

And they likely won’t include anyone close enough in age that they can become friends outside of these events either.​

4. Limited resources and services

If you’re used to having everything at your fingertips, living in a small town can be a shock. The resources and services available will be much less than what you’re used to.

For example, if you like shopping at malls or going to the movies on weekends, or even just walking around downtown for an afternoon of window shopping and people-watching, it’s unlikely that there will be anything comparable in your new town.

Similarly, if you need public transportation or taxis to get around town on days when your car isn’t working (or if it’s just too cold or rainy), don’t expect those options in most small towns.

You may also have difficulty finding local libraries that have extensive collections of books and DVDs; depending on where you live, they may not even exist at all.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the number of restaurants and bars may be limited as well; after all, not many people want to eat out when there aren’t very many places nearby where they can go.

5. Healthcare can be an issue

In many small towns, you’re likely to find fewer doctors and longer wait times at the local hospital. If you need some specialized care and are ready to retire in a small town, then make sure to research the local healthcare situation first.

Conclusion

While retiring in a small town can be a great option for some people, it’s important to consider the downsides as well.

Let’s say if you miss city life, then retiring to a small town might not be right for you. Also, if you like having access to healthcare services close by or don’t want to feel isolated then it may not be ideal either.

However, if none of these apply then there are still many reasons why living in a small town could be wonderful for your retirement years.