[coconutmama]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

One of the problems with annual COLA increases and inflation is that inflation happens all the time and the COLA happens in January to SS checks. So salaried people, including SS salaries, are always behind in purchasing power. The recent inflation effect has had quite a bit of an effect throughout the US on the regional / small retail chains everywhere. Likewise the continued decline of the middle class and its purchasing power also doesn't help small retail as well. Several clothing stores here in MA have gone under, and several supermarkets are closing around us this month.

Healthcare and an active retirement life has increased life longevity tremendously for villagers in 40 years, so the turnover is a bit slower than it used to be as people live longer! Yeah! I get to enjoy this life longer than the prior generations! Enjoy it and don't demonize it, as you want an active long retirement don't you?

So I wouldn't judge a retirement community in rural FL by its retail stores when you still have big box options and mail order. For men, this isn't an issue as we start prepping for our eventual move, i have many, many golf shirts, lots of underwear, and socks. . . So I just need occasional jeans and golf shorts replacement. As far as restaurants serving retirees with dietary restrictions and smaller daily requirements, the fewer the options the better for a constant flow of customers eating out 1-2 a week. Though I don't get the attraction of fast food drive throughs for a regular diet.

But the developer doesn't control who moves in the squares, either. Just the rent and revenue cut. Too high and higher turnover. I vote for more breakfast joints to offset the dining only choice. And if you notice that Sawgrass Grove is much smaller retail footprint, focusing more on food. So the developer is adapting to modern times from a 40 year old business model. Lots change in today's world in 40 years, but what's old becomes new again, and that also happens here in TV as well.

So, if you want retire here permanently, I recommend focusing on having the resources to be able to maintain your house / transportation / food purchases comfortably to be able to weather future bouts of inflation or some sort of SS cut or tax increases. Have a good financial conservative forecast to insure your assets are sufficient to support you under multiple scenarios of tax increases, SS cuts and stock market under performances. .

Then whatever happens in your community, you can still enjoy wherever you decide to live here.

Good luck, and if you need an excel 20 year forecast model of income and expenses, to see if you have sufficient assets, let me know and I will send you one. And then if you need help using it, we can zoom through it together.

former finance guy

Very nice post 👍.
Informative, realistic & kind