I agree @rosemarya This is a great topic! Here are a few of the things my wife and I considered, @fiesty76

My wife and I first began talking about downsizing when our last child left for college and we wanted a change too.

We began by making a list of those things in our lives we valued the most and wanted to try and preserve as we made this change. Unlike many others, one of the things on our list was that we did NOT want to move to be close to our children. We never wanted them to feel any pressure to not take a new job, etc. because ‘mom and dad moved here to be close to us’. We considered pets, yard space, weather (we love the Midwest and the changes in seasons), low maintenance/upkeep desires, what we could dejunk and what we might want to give to family and friends while we were still alive, and much more. We worked on our list for over a year – and over time items on it did change, move up or down on the priority list, or move off or on. We did this exercise well in advance of my wife’s brain cancer and were forever happy we had done it early.

One of the benefits was we were very aware of the importance to us of floorplan of any place we might live. As it turned out, due to this planning and foresight, we were able to have very doable home hospice care in our home when my wife’s condition demanded hospice care and she really wanted to do it at home.

I will admit our views were tinted by a very unhappy decision my parents made about moving to a ‘graduated care’ community. They discovered there were huge gaps in what was considered ‘full care’ when my father fell ill and as my mother’s needs also changed. While it was a financially very costly decision, my mother finally packed up and left that community. So we had no desire to have one of those in our plans.

We also decided that our decisions would not be ‘forever’ decisions, but look at what we decided as right at the time, but subject to change. I continue to hold this view as I am happy where I am now, but know fully a change in my physical condition, etc. will demand further adjustments.

Now I'm happy where I am, but know full well my physical or mental capabilities could change in the future and demand further changes.

Was this a bit of what you were wondering about?

I am 67 and moved from a spacious 4 bedroom house to a 55 plus community. We went through the sale of our home, plus estate sale, the search for new home, the actual move and all other details it entails. My health recently declined, due to post Covid. I am so glad we moved when we did (2 years ago) b/c I wouldn’t have the stamina to do it now. We were lucky because we sold our home of 33 years in one weekend. However we had to move out within a month so had to find a new place quickly. We looked at smaller homes, both old and new but decided on a new 55 plus community. We are so glad we did. I sometimes miss the old place, especially around the holidays, but I have my memories and it was time to do it. The new place has given me a new vigor. Being smaller, it hasn’t been overwhelming and it has been fun to decorate. Since it is brand new it is nice to have an updated kitchen, bright clean surfaces such as countertops, cabinets, newly painted walls and updated floors. Our small yard is mowed for us as part of the package and we enjoy maintaining the flowers,etc since it is smaller. Neighbors are friendly but respect our privacy.
I do hope you can make the right decision for yourself and enjoy your senior years. It has helped me to know I no longer have those big decisions looming over me. I read, paint, cook relax and feel more carefree than I have in years. Hope this helps. Let us know what you decide.