2015-06-25

Thinking about making a sea change? Wondering how to go about it? A sea change can be an exciting leap into a new lifestyle, or it can be a demoralising mistake. The Retiree spoke to change consultant Caroline Cameron about the positives and pitfalls of making a sea change.

When we imagine making a sea change we often envisage an idyllic lifestyle living by the ocean, taking long walks along sandy stretches and sipping piña coladas at sunset. It’s a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week holiday lifestyle.

But, there is a lot to consider before packing up your family home, leaving your social network and settling into a new routine and environment. For many who make a sea change, it’s not always a great success. Loneliness, boredom, isolation, financial hardship and regret are some of the negative outcomes.

It doesn’t have to be that way. With proper planning, making a sea change can be the most exhilarating transformations you make, providing a gateway to new friendships and exciting experiences.

Caroline Cameron from Melbourne has helped people make successful sea changes for more than six years. As a former corporate coach, she would often meet clients who were slogging it out on the corporate treadmill dreaming of a life without chaos. “There are an ever increasing number of people wanting a complete change,” Caroline explains.

In an article published in The New Daily in January this year (Trading Places: the best towns to change your life) geographers Chris McNeill Adam Terrill estimate 15,000 Australians are making the shift from city to small towns. Caroline explains further that while not all these people are retirees, they are a large percentage.

“Over the years I have met more and more people asking whether the city life is really for them. They are time poor, commuting, struggling with the cost of living and don’t even have time to spend with their families. “Baby boomers are no different. They are healthier today, than previous generations, and living longer lives. They want a meaningful retirement.”

Caroline coaches people through her business Possibility to Reality, and has indirectly helped many more through her regular workshops and publications. She says successful sea changes are made when people consider all their options and prepare for all scenarios.

“When I see people I get them to do a stocktake; assess what they like about their lives now and what they don’t like.

“Before they embark on a sea change, I get clients to imagine their perfect day in their ideal coastal town, who they are hanging out with, what they are doing,  how they are feeling. I also get them to prepare a must-have list and a don’t-want list and be clear about the reasons for both. Then, we prioritise those.”

There’s one thing that Caroline makes clear. Making a sea change should not be done on a whim. Retirement is a big step in itself and removing yourself from familiar surroundings means considering options carefully.

“With proper planning, making a sea change can be the most exhilarating change you make, providing a gateway to new friendships and experiences.”

“The real question people should be asking is ‘can we afford to not change our lifestyle – what would staying here actually cost us?”

“Every coastal town is different,” Caroline says, “and I always advise people to consider two or three locations before settling on just one. I encourage them to visit at different times of the year, in different seasons. And, don’t just stay for a night or two. Stay for a week and go down the street and talk to the locals. Determine whether you can cope with the busy summer holiday periods which often occur in coastal towns. And, also winter – those same places can become ghost towns in the off peak periods.

“The climate is an important factor, particularly as we get older and don’t seem to cope so well with the humidity.”

Major lifestyle changes always include risks and preparing for those is vitally important. I call it the Plan B. “It’s writing down the worst things that can happen and then coming up with an action plan on how to respond to those things. I get clients to put that aside so it is handy if they ever need it.” A Plan B, Caroline explains, covers scenarios including what you would do if one of you had a heart attack. A Plan B helps you sleep at night,” she adds.

Another consideration people must make when thinking about a sea change is whether they can afford it; consider the home you would ideally live in, what you hope to be doing each day and any discretionary costs. Caroline suggests adding moving costs and a 10 per cent safety bucket.

“A sea change or other life redesign doesn’t have to involve ‘going without’,” Caroline says. “The real question people should be asking is ‘can we afford to not change our lifestyle – what would staying here actually cost us?’”

About

As well as being an executive coach, career coach, author and motivational speaker, Caroline brings her own lifestyle experiences into her role helping people making a sea change. Caroline enjoys great work life balance as the founder of Possibility to Reality (www.p2r.com.au).

Enter to win!

Featuring practical, easy-to-apply techniques, exercises, tools and tips, Caroline Cameron’s book The Great Life Redesign, is an inspirational guide to help you reshape your life to the one you want. It will help turn your dreams to reality. The Retiree Magazine has two signed copies of Caroline Cameron’s book The Great Life Redesign to give away. Simply go to the giveaway section at The Retiree website www.the-retiree.com.au/features/competitions/ The competition opens on 15 May and closes on 15 August. Conditions of entry are on the website.

Show more