A good article on the problem of loneliness in retirement. The author Cathy Severson describes the problem and then offers several suggestions: volunteer, make friends with younger people, take a class, and move your home to one in a community.
Of course, I’m going to point out that by sharing housing one can avoid moving AND reap the benefit of having a person at home. How the housemate interacts with the retiree depends entirely on what they set up as the arrangement.
The arrangement can be simply two people sharing a roof with independent lives. However, there is someone to say hello and good morning. A casual conversation may develop. Or a retiree might specify a desire to share meals as part of the arrangement.
Inviting a younger family member or friend to share a home has worked for a number of people. Also possible is a good friend or someone you know from the community.
There are some programs that do the work of housemate matches – they are listed in the links to the right. In most areas, householders will have to do their own work in finding a suitable housemate. When my book is available, it offers a step-by-step guide about how to find a good housemate. There are parts of it on this site. The key is to interview carefully!
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I live ina17-acre tropical paradise. Alone. I want housemates. There is no rent, no mortgage, just sharing maintenance and the salaries of a housekeeper and a handyman (about$250/mo.) Perfect for early retirees, teachers of English (much in demand here), entrepreneurs of all ages. You’ll probably want a car, 4×4 best. Everyone uses cell phones, and I have Internet at home, too. There are no houses or roads to be seen from my tranquil mountaintop. The weather is perfect- dry, breezy, 75-85 degrees year-round, cooler at night. I have a guest wing for 2-4 people, plus a cottage for 2-3, or one who prefers privacy.
I have bathtubs and hot water, too, which are rare in my adopted country. Don’t believe the U.S. State Department warnings. Honduras is a peaceful, growing country, which I feel safer in than in NY or NJ where my children and grandchildren live. How do I find my housemates?
Gosh that sounds lovely. It does seem that you should be able to find some good housemates. How about an ad in AARP? Or some English as a second language organization? The hitch is the car – that requires a certain amount of capital and permanence. You might do better offering your spaces as vacation rentals with a car – as a way to get started?