My Mom and her BFF of 50+ years live a ‘Golden Girls’ life. Both are widowed, so they live together in my Mom’s house. Their expenses are amazingly low (house is paid off, taxes are high but affordable, utilities manageable) while both live on SS and investments. Both have Medicare and Mom also has (low cost) health insurance through her previous employer.
They are 88 and 85 and both in very good health, physically and mentally. They both still drive. They are very active in their church and having lived in the same town for 50+ years, they have a ton of friends and a great support system set up for things that need doing that they no longer can do (lawn mowing, raking leaves, general home maintenance, etc.)
They have been living this way nearly 10 years, now. We six kids & the six Grandkids are all hoping to keep them both happy at home with no nursing home expenses in the future. It’s looking good so far!
Ideal....