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A Seniors Guide report recounts why retired Kiplinger editor Sandra Block and her husband expect to remain in Northern Virginia, citing nearby healthcare, transit and familiar community ties. A 2024 Transamerica survey found 62% of retirees stayed in their pre-retirement home; the report also notes that costs and future needs can change the calculation.
Retired Kiplinger Personal Finance writer Sandra Block says she and her husband expect to remain in Northern Virginia, rather than move to a popular retirement destination, citing nearby medical care, public transportation and familiar community ties. Her account, published by Seniors Guide, comes alongside a 2024 Transamerica survey finding that 62% of retirees were living in the home they occupied before retirement.
Block says she spent years researching retirement destinations, including college towns, beach communities and places abroad, and often imagined living in locations she visited. After discussing the decision with her husband, the couple concluded they would probably stay near Washington, D.C. The choice reflects their circumstances, rather than a recommendation that all retirees remain where they are.
Among Block’s stated reasons is access to healthcare: their home is less than two miles from a major hospital center, and the wider metropolitan area has specialists. She contrasts that with her rural hometown, where people may drive more than an hour to see a cardiologist and where general practitioners are becoming harder to find, according to her account.
Transportation is another factor. Block says a Metro rail station is less than two miles away, a bus stop is a block from the couple’s home, and ride-hailing services could provide another option if they stop driving. She also describes local parks, museums, adult education classes and neighborly support as ways to make retirement fulfilling without relocating.
Healthcare, Transit and Housing Costs
The decision about where to retire affects access to services and the cost of day-to-day life. Block’s account illustrates how staying near established medical providers and transit may support independence if driving becomes difficult. Those advantages are specific to her location; they cannot be assumed for every neighborhood or retiree.
Staying also has financial trade-offs. Block says Northern Virginia’s cost of living is higher than in many parts of the country and that rising home values have contributed to high property taxes. Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits, she reports, while most other retirement income is taxed at a top rate of 5.75%; eligible retirees can deduct up to $12,000. The report does not compare the couple’s overall costs with those of a potential destination.
For readers weighing a move, the central point is that “stay or go” is not just a lifestyle choice. Healthcare availability, transportation options, housing expenses and relationships can pull in different directions, and those factors may change over time.
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What the Retiree Survey Found
The 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey, as cited in the Seniors Guide report, found that 62% of retirees were staying in the home they lived in before retirement. Among retirees who relocated, 36% wanted to be closer to family and friends, about one-third downsized, and about one-quarter moved to a community with a lower cost of living.
The report also offers examples from Block’s circle: one couple moved across the country to be closer to adult children, friends moved to the Midwest to reduce living costs, and another couple downsized into a 55-plus community. These examples are personal accounts, not a representative sample. The article does not provide the survey’s sample size, field dates or methodology, so the figures should be read with that limitation in mind.
““I’m viewing retirement as an extended staycation.””
— Sandra Block, describing her approach to retirement in the Seniors Guide report
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Plans May Change With Future Needs
Block says the couple’s plan is manageable for now but acknowledges that their neighborhood could change or that aging in place could become impractical. The report does not say whether they have set a date or specific conditions for reconsidering a move.
It also does not provide detailed information on the survey’s methodology or establish that staying near home produces better outcomes than relocating. Individual access to care, transit, family support, housing affordability and tax circumstances varies, and the report does not assess those factors for readers in other locations.
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Reassessing the Retirement Location
Block describes a flexible plan rather than a final commitment: she and her husband intend to remain in Northern Virginia while making more use of nearby amenities and building stronger connections with neighbors. She says they have helped older homeowners on their street by shoveling snow and hopes others may offer similar support to them in the future.
The report gives no scheduled decision point or announced move. The next development in their plans would depend on whether the area continues to meet their needs, including access to healthcare and transportation, and whether the costs and practical demands of staying remain manageable.
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Key Questions
What did the 2024 survey say about retirees staying in their homes?
The Seniors Guide report cites a Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey finding that 62% of retirees were living in the home they occupied before retirement. The report does not include the survey’s sample size or methodology.
Why is Sandra Block planning to stay in Northern Virginia?
Block cites nearby hospital services and specialists, access to Metro rail and buses, and familiarity with her community. She also describes local activities and neighbor relationships as benefits.
What drawbacks does Block identify?
She says the area has a higher cost of living than many parts of the country and high property taxes. She also notes that her plan may need to change if aging in place stops being practical.
Why do some retirees relocate, according to the report?
The survey figures cited in the report say that among retirees who moved, 36% wanted to be closer to family and friends, about one-third downsized, and about one-quarter moved to a lower-cost community.
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