For many retirees, the pull of home becomes stronger with age. After decades spent working, raising families, and navigating life in distant cities or countries, a growing number of older adults are choosing to return to their hometowns. This decision is rarely simple. While the idea of ‘going back’ evokes nostalgia, familiarity, and comfort, it also carries practical and emotional challenges. As social gerontologists, it is vital to examine this trend beyond sentiment—considering the social, economic, psychological, and community factors that influence aging in place, reintegration into familiar environments, and the potential strain on personal autonomy or local support systems.
Couple years ago, I met a close friend of mine, one of the top journalists in the country, to discuss a project. After our meeting, he surprised me by saying he’s relocating to his hometown. I was a bit taken aback—after all, he has lived in Bangalore for nearly 35 years, is well-settled, and both his sons live abroad. He owns a spacious two-storey, five-bedroom house in a posh locality, built just a few years ago. And yet, he has decided to simplify his life and move into a modest one-bedroom home in his hometown. He was only 65 when he took this decision.
After retiring as a scientist from a central government institution, 82-year-old Alexander continued to live in Bangalore, a city he had called home for nearly 50 years. Even after retirement, he remained active, building a wide social circle, and both his children had settled in the same city. No one could have imagined that he would choose to relocate to his hometown—over 600 miles away—at this stage of life. It’s the familiar pull of one’s roots, though such a move is rare, especially at his age. Unlike my journalist friend, Alexander is far too old to start over. But that’s just how some people are—they never truly let go of the place where they were born and raised.
Moving back to one’s hometown after retirement often brings a deep sense of emotional security and familiarity. For many, the hometown is more than just a geographical location—it is the landscape of their memories, formative years, and early relationships. The desire to be closer to relatives, childhood friends, and familiar faces reflects a natural human need for connection, especially during life transitions like retirement. In the quiet rhythm of small towns or familiar city neighborhoods, retirees often find comfort in recognizable surroundings, shared histories, and long-standing traditions. These elements can provide a strong emotional anchor in the face of aging and change.
Moreover, returning home often reawakens a sense of belonging and identity. Being among people who have known them for decades allows retirees to feel seen, understood, and valued—not for their professional roles or achievements, but for who they are at their core. Familiar routines, known community spaces, and even the local dialect can foster a sense of ease and contentment. Emotional wellbeing plays a critical role in healthy aging, and for many, the warmth of home—replete with laughter, shared meals, and spontaneous chats with neighbors—offers a nourishing environment that supports both mental and emotional resilience in later life.
My journalist friend candidly admitted that his decision to move back was not just about answering the call of his roots—it was also driven by practical financial reasons. He wanted to save money and improve his overall financial situation, so he relocated to a more affordable area. As part of this shift, he downsized from a spacious five-bedroom house in the heart of a bustling town to a more manageable one-bedroom home in a quieter, more serene setting. And there was another motivation too! With a smile, he shared that the move brought him closer to the coastal flavors he missed—especially the joy of having more fish in his diet, a fond connection to his Mangalorean heritage.
"Jacob, my city house has become too unwieldy,” he says. “I mostly stay on the ground floor, confined to my room for writing. The rooms upstairs are barely used — they only open when my children visit, which is once in two years for just a few days. Yet they still need to be cleaned and kept tidy. It’s not easy to manage.” Jayaprakash further explained.
Joshua, a retired senior executive from a private FMCG company, decided to return to his hometown primarily in search of more affordable and accessible healthcare. Living in the city had become increasingly stressful, especially without the cushion of a regular pension income. “People like me, without a fixed post-retirement income, are constantly worried about the rising costs of healthcare,” he explains. His wife suffers from chronic arthritis and a neurological condition called dystonia, both of which require frequent medical attention and occasional hospitalization. In the city, even routine care was financially draining. Joshua believes that in smaller towns, not only is healthcare relatively cheaper, but there’s also a greater sense of continuity with familiar doctors and a supportive community—factors that bring both emotional and economic relief. The move, though emotionally complex, was ultimately a practical choice for the sake of his wife’s well-being and their long-term financial sustainability.
After retiring from U.S. government service, Sunny felt restless and unfulfilled—life there had become dull, with nothing exciting to look forward to. The cold weather also worsened his arthritis, making daily life more uncomfortable. Despite his wife’s disapproval and his children’s concerns, he decided to move back to his hometown in Kerala. The change brought unexpected relief and joy. The warmer climate eased his joint pain, and the familiar surroundings gave him a renewed sense of purpose. Surrounded by nature, culture, and a slower rhythm of life, Sunny finally felt happy, healthy, and at home.
Like Jayaprakash, Alexander, Joshua and Sunny, many individuals find themselves drawn back to their hometowns later in life, driven by a complex mix of personal, emotional, and practical reasons. For some, it’s the unmistakable pull of their roots — a desire to return to familiar surroundings, childhood memories, and a sense of belonging that only home can offer. The decision is often deeply emotional, anchored in nostalgia and the comfort of a place where life feels simpler and more grounded.
For others, the move is guided by pragmatic concerns. Rising costs of living in the city, especially on a fixed retirement income, make small-town life more appealing. Access to affordable healthcare, the support of nearby family and old friends, and the slower, more peaceful pace of life are also strong motivators. In many cases, it’s a search for both connection and convenience — a space where aging feels less isolating and more integrated into a known, caring community.
Is every such decision truly the right one? Do people sometimes regret moving back? How can you be sure the choice you made was the right one for your later years? The story of a fictional character, Jayber Crow, offers some insight into these questions.
In Wendell Berry’s novel Jayber Crow, the title character, Jayber, does return to his hometown of Port William after spending years away. It may not be a perfect comparison, as his return wasn’t after retirement but rather after a long absence. Initially, his return is driven by a longing for belonging and a sense of coming home—to the land, the people, and the simpler rhythms of rural life. He becomes the town barber and gradually integrates into the community.
Few of us are like Jayber Crow—initially drawn back to our roots by a deep sense of belonging, only to find that expectations and reality do not always align. After years of living away, reintegrating into a once-familiar community can prove unexpectedly difficult. Vijayan Menon, a former officer with the Enforcement Directorate who had served across various parts of the country, felt a strong pull to return to the quiet hamlet of his childhood. It was a homecoming he had long imagined with warmth and nostalgia.
However, just a few months into the slower rhythms of village life, Vijayan began to feel strangely out of place. Despite having been born and raised there, something had shifted—perhaps in him, perhaps in the place itself. The familiarity he had longed for began to feel distant, and the community he once knew seemed harder to reconnect with. In many ways, his experience mirrors that of Wendell Berry’s character Jayber Crow, who also returned to his hometown only to discover that belonging is more complex than geography—it’s also about inner alignment, timing, and the invisible changes that life etches into both people and places.
While he does experience feelings of being out of place or emotionally isolated at times, he chooses to stay. Jayber Crow does not move out of Port William after returning—he remains there for the rest of his life. Jayber lives a quiet, contemplative life as the town barber and caretaker of a church, gradually withdrawing from some aspects of community life but staying deeply connected to the place itself. His staying is symbolic of Wendell Berry’s broader themes of place, memory, and belonging, even when those come with personal sacrifice or quiet sorrow.
Moving back to your hometown after retirement may seem appealing, but it comes with emotional costs. You’ll have to leave behind the comfort of your familiar home, and your family may not support the move—your children might be studying or working elsewhere, and your spouse may not be keen either. This can lead to separation from your immediate family. You’ll also miss your current community, neighbors, and close friends, making the transition lonelier than expected. It’s important to think through these changes before making the move.
Sometimes, your partner may not be ready—or willing—to make a move, leaving you feeling stuck. Their hesitation can delay or even derail your retirement plans. Even if they agree in principle, timing can still be an issue. In our retirement readiness program, many new retirees share a common refrain: “My wife is still working, so my plans to move back home are on hold.”
Take Alexander, for example. As we discussed earlier, he had to wait for his wife to retire before making any big changes. But just as they reached that milestone, they stepped into a new role—helping their children raise grandchildren. What started as a temporary delay stretched into nearly 20 years. Although both partners were aligned in their vision for the future, life circumstances—career commitments and family responsibilities—kept postponing their return to their hometown.
Moving later in life is never easy—it’s costly, emotionally taxing, and logistically challenging. For many, it involves more than just packing boxes; it’s about uprooting a life.
Take Alexander, for instance. He built a new house in his hometown, hoping to settle down peacefully at a very advanced age. Sunny and Jayaprakash did the same—investing in new homes at the twilight of their lives, a bold and expensive decision. Joshua was a bit more fortunate—he inherited a house. But it was old and in disrepair, requiring a complete renovation just to make it livable.
This is the price many pay when trying to return “home.” And yet, once they settle in, some discover that home isn’t what it used to be. The town feels different. Familiar faces are gone—some lost to time, others having moved away with their families. The sense of belonging fades. You realize, painfully, that you’re now a stranger in a place that once felt like home.
Returning to one’s hometown after retirement is often driven by a powerful combination of emotion, memory, and practicality. For many, the move symbolizes a return to simpler rhythms, cultural roots, and a comforting sense of identity. It can provide emotional grounding, a more manageable lifestyle, and financial relief—especially in regions where healthcare and housing are more affordable. The slower pace and familiarity of a known environment can help ease the challenges of aging and promote wellbeing.
However, this decision is rarely straightforward. The hometown of memory may no longer exist in the same way, and retirees may find themselves out of sync with the community they once knew. Social ties may have weakened, or the physical and emotional cost of relocation might outweigh the benefits. Moreover, family obligations and differing desires between spouses can complicate or delay the move. Ultimately, returning home should not be a purely nostalgic decision but a carefully evaluated choice based on emotional readiness, practical support systems, and long-term life goals.
Pros of Moving Back Home After Retirement:
1. Emotional Security and Nostalgia:
Familiar surroundings evoke a deep sense of comfort and emotional wellbeing.
2. Sense of Belonging:
Being among people who have known you for decades can reinforce identity and connection.
3. Financial Relief:
Downsizing and lower cost of living in hometowns help retirees stretch limited resources.
4. Improved Health Access:
Smaller towns may offer more affordable healthcare and easier access to familiar doctors.
5. Cultural and Lifestyle Comfort:
Retirees may reconnect with local food, climate, language, and traditions.
6. Simplified Living:
Smaller homes are easier to maintain and may suit the slower pace of post-retirement life.
Cons of Moving Back Home After Retirement:
1. Emotional Dislocation:
The hometown may no longer feel like “home”; places and people have changed.
2. Separation from Immediate Family
Children and spouses may not share the same enthusiasm or readiness for the move.
3. Loss of Current Community:
Leaving behind trusted neighbors and friends can lead to loneliness and social isolation.
4. Practical and Logistical Challenges:
Moving, renovating, or building homes later in life is financially and physically demanding.
5. Delayed or Derailed Plans
Spousal career commitments or family caregiving responsibilities can indefinitely postpone the move.
6. Mismatch of Expectations vs. Reality
◦ Long-cherished memories may not align with the present-day reality of the hometown.
