Growing up in an Army family, “home” was always changing. I was born in Germany, went to high school in Alaska, and, during the years in between, our family moved from one Army assignment to another. Like many military families, we packed our belongings, made new friends, enrolled in new schools, and learned to adapt to new communities. Moving wasn’t unusual—it was simply part of military life.
When my father retired from the Army after 30 years of service, he made the same decision that many military retirees make today. Rather than returning to where they grew up or searching for a completely new place to settle, they retire at their final duty station. Looking back, I understand why. After years of moving from one assignment to another, he was finally able to choose where “home” would be. The community, friendships, and opportunities he’d built there made staying feel less like settling and more like beginning a new chapter.
Today, as a career coach living near Fort Gordon, GA, I work with many military professionals preparing for that same transition. One of the biggest questions they face isn’t simply, “What will I do after retirement?” It’s “Where should we build the next chapter of our lives?” There isn’t one right answer. But every military family should consider a few thoughtful questions before making one final move.
More Than a Place to Live
When retirement approaches, it’s easy to focus on practical decisions. Where are housing costs lower, and the weather warmer? Where is our family located? Those are important considerations. But retirement isn’t simply about choosing a location. It’s about choosing what’s next. The question isn’t only: “Where do the family and I want to live?” It’s also: “Where can we build a meaningful life?” The best retirement decisions consider not only where you’ll live, but also how each family member will thrive.
The Advantages of Staying
Many military retirees choose to remain near their final duty station, and it’s easy to understand why. By the time you retire, you’ve already invested years in building a life there:
- You know the community and have built strong ties.
- Your spouse/partner may already have a career.
- You will have access to a VA hospital or military treatment facility.
- The cost of living may be advantageous.
- You may already own a home.
- Your children may have established friendships and love their schools.
- You’ve built relationships with neighbors, coworkers, and other military families.
- You know the companies that are veteran-friendly.
- You already understand the local economy and where your skills may be a good fit.
- You want the stability it provides the whole family. Less hassle, one less move.
Perhaps most importantly, you’ve already developed a professional network that can help you transition into civilian employment. Those relationships have value.
The Advantages of Moving
For other families, retirement creates an opportunity to begin somewhere entirely new. Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of living near the mountains or the ocean; if you are an older retiree, being closer to children and grandchildren may matter; or you may be looking for a lower cost of living that lets you pursue other dreams.
Moving isn’t simply about leaving. Sometimes it’s about intentionally creating the life you’ve imagined for years.
Neither decision is automatically better. The important thing is making the decision thoughtfully. For some families, moving brings them closer to the people they love. For others, staying provides the stability they’ve spent years building.
Home isn’t always where you began. Sometimes it’s the place you want to build your future.
Look Beyond the ZIP Code
One of the exercises I often encourage clients to do is to stop comparing locations and start comparing opportunities.
Instead of asking, “Which city do I like best?” Ask, “Which city gives the family and me the greatest opportunity to build the life we want?” Consider:
Career Opportunities
Many military retirees choose a second career; some consult, teach, and some start businesses. Often, civilian contractor positions are available at the fort or base. Others join nonprofit organizations or government agencies. Many military retirees also discover opportunities in education, healthcare, local government, entrepreneurship, and consulting. Ask yourself:
- “What industries are growing there?”
- “Which employers value military leadership?”
- “Are there networking opportunities?”
- “What salary ranges are typical?”
- “Will my spouse/partner also have opportunities?”
- “Are there military transition programs or veteran employment organizations nearby?”
Education
Retirement often creates time to learn. Look for communities with:
- Universities
- Community colleges
- Continuing education programs
- Professional certifications
- Museums
- Lecture series
Curiosity doesn’t retire. My father is a wonderful example. After retiring from the Army at age 50, he went back to college to earn an accounting degree. Using the GI Bill, he attended school while working part-time as a night auditor at a local hotel. After graduating, he began a second career as a civil service accountant for the federal government, where he worked for another twenty years. His retirement wasn’t the end of his career. It was the beginning of an entirely new one.
Giving Back
Many retirees discover a new purpose through volunteering.
Explore:
- Veterans’ organizations
- Schools
- Museums
- Hospitals
- Nonprofits
- Mentoring programs
One meaningful opportunity can completely change your retirement experience.
Building Community
This may be the most overlooked consideration. Ask:
- “Who will your friends be?”
- “Where will you meet people?”
- “How will you become involved?”
Community doesn’t appear automatically because you’ve changed your address. It grows because you intentionally invest in it.
Healthcare
It’s not the most exciting part of retirement planning. It may become one of the most important, particularly if you choose not to be near a military installation. So, all your medical care will be local. Research hospitals, specialists, healthcare systems, and access to care before making your decision. And of course, if you are near a military base or fort, you’ll have options there too.
Don't Leave Your Experience Behind
One of the greatest misconceptions about military retirement is believing you’re starting over.
You’re not.
You’re bringing decades of experience into your next chapter. Those experiences don’t end when military service ends. They find a new place to make a difference. Reflect on your strengths – talent, skills, and knowledge that you’ve developed throughout your military career, and how they transfer to civilian employers in the areas of:
- Leadership
- Problem Solving
- Project and Operations Management
- Communication
- Working with Others
- Developing Others
- Personal Effectiveness
- Technical Skills
Questions to Discuss Before You Decide
Before making one final move, consider talking through questions like these as a family:
- “What kind of daily life do we hope to create?”
- “How important is being close to family?”
- “Do we hope to continue working?”
- “Where can each of us thrive—not just one of us?”
- “What opportunities will help us continue growing?”
- “Where will we find a sense of belonging?”
- “Five years from now, what decision do we think we’ll be grateful we made?”
As an Army child, I didn’t always enjoy leaving friends behind. None of us did. But my father always included our family in conversations about each move. He explained why we were moving, what opportunities the new assignment offered, and what we could look forward to in our new community. Looking back, those conversations helped us feel like participants, not passengers, in the journey.
Whether your children are young or teenagers, involving them in age-appropriate discussions can foster communication, confidence, and a stronger sense of belonging.
Final Thoughts
Military life teaches us to adapt. Retirement gives us something different. It allows us to choose.
For many military families, this may be the first time no one else decides where “home” will be.
Take your time. Think beyond the moving truck. Imagine the life you want to wake up to every morning. Choose the place that gives you the greatest opportunity to build the life you want, not simply the place that looks best on a map.
“Military service teaches you how to adapt to change. Retirement allows you to choose the place that gives you the greatest opportunity to build the life you want.” — Katie Weiser
Continue Your Journey
Military retirement is more than leaving a career—it is the beginning of a new chapter filled with important decisions about work, purpose, family, and community. If you’re thinking through what’s next, I’d be honored to help you explore your options and make those decisions with clarity and confidence.