After 30 years in the U.S., a retiree moved back to Canada — not for taxes, but because 'it feels a lot safer'

When you’re planning for your retirement, there are the hard decisions, and then there are the fun ones.

Thinking about travel, spending time with family, or having more time to volunteer or pursue a hobby are all upsides when it comes to planning your golden years.

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But it’s important to consider what implications come along with these decisions. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of moving south in retirement. While warm weather is an obvious plus, you may also be leaving behind your family, community and social support network.

For some, meeting new people and building new relationships is an exciting endeavor, but for others it could be a challenge that might even lead to isolation.

Retirement plans are unique to each individual. Here’s how you can make sure your decisions are going to set you up for a retirement that’s fulfilling and secure.

Making a move

For one retiree, making a big move in retirement meant leaving the country. Maureen McMahon explained to Business Insider why, for her, moving back to Canada in retirement made sense. (1)

McMahon moved to the U.S. because of a romantic relationship when she was 40, she told Business Insider, but in 2024, after about 30 years, she made the decision to return to Canada for her retirement.

Although the marriage she moved to the U.S. for ended after five years, she continued living in Las Vegas because she loved her job. She also enjoyed being able to take road trips across the U.S., taking in new sights.

McMahon said that while she doesn’t regret her time living in the U.S., now that she has returned to Canada, she feels a sense of contentment.

While many people opt to move to warmer climes for their retirement, McMahon says she’s glad to be back in Edmonton, Alberta, since she loves winter activities such as cross-country skiing and skating.

McMahon also noted that she had a scary “what if” experience when a shooting occurred at a concert in the U.S. that she was supposed to be at, but ended up not attending because she was visiting Canada. She says that, for her, the tighter gun control laws in Canada give her peace of mind.

“It feels a lot safer,” she told Business Insider.

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McMahon likened making a move in retirement to buying a car: “Before you buy a car, I think you should rent it and see if it’s really what you want. Same with moving. I think you should spend some time in the city, talk to people, and do some research before moving,” she told Business Insider.

Research your options

If you are set on moving when you retire, it’s important to research your potential new home. While cost of living is always a big concern when it comes to retirement, there are other factors to take into consideration.

Census Bureau research has found that the most popular states that older Americans move to are Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Nevada and South Carolina. (2)

When it comes to climate, retirees often opt to head south. However, it’s also important to consider all aspects of the climate you’re moving to, including severe weather events. Aside from the obvious threat, areas with severe weather are increasingly seeing rising home insurance prices, so be sure to include these potential costs in your budget.

Other factors to consider are crime rates, access to green spaces, what percentage of the population is over 65, and access to cultural and physical activities. (3)

Figuring out what’s right for you

There are so many choices to make when you’re planning retirement, it can feel overwhelming. But if you think you want to move when you’re retired, the choice can be made easier by asking yourself a few questions.

When weighing the pros and cons of a move, ranking what matters most to you can help sort out your feelings. Is your top priority being in a warmer climate? Do you want to move to a state with lower taxes or housing costs to stretch your retirement savings? Or is being near family what will make you feel most secure?

Ask yourself how moving will affect your relationships: Will it be hard to stay in touch with friends and family, or have them come visit you? Do you have an easy time making new friends and joining new organizations or groups?

Health care is also an important factor to consider. Look into what providers will be available in your new home, and how easy it will be to access them — and consider whether you’ll be able to drive, take transit, or walk to your medical appointments. It’s important too to consider what you would do if you had a medical emergency, or a medical issue that impacted your ability to care for yourself, and how you’d cope.

If you think you’d like to move to a retirement community, do research in advance to see what is available, what current and future costs will likely be, and whether you need to get on a waitlist.

Whether you plan to stay put in the community where you have roots, branch out by moving to a new place, or move back home after years away, if you build your retirement plan around what matters most to you, it can help you have peace of mind when your golden years begin.

After 30 years in the U.S., a retiree moved back to Canada — not for taxes, but because ‘it feels a lot safer’

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