The short answer
Three filters in order.
Good destination decisions apply three filters in order: people, care, housing. Applied in order, this filter produces destinations that consistently correlate with higher post-move satisfaction than moves driven primarily by climate or tax.
Filter 1: People
Start with a concrete list — not a category. Who specifically do you want regular contact with? Map where they live.
Filter 2: Care
Given age and known health trajectories, what does healthcare access need to look like? Specialist availability, hospital quality, in-home care depth.
Filter 3: Housing
Does the destination’s housing stock actually contain what you want — single-level, walkable, community format?
What refines, not drives
Climate. Tax. Cost of living. ‘Amenities’ in a vague sense.
Key takeaways
- Apply filters in order: people, care, housing.
- Climate and tax refine; they don’t drive.
- Rural destinations often fail the care filter.
- Rent a year before buying — best hedge against destination regret.
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