If you and your spouse have both retired, maybe you have decided that it's time to make your retirement dreams come true. If those dreams include moving to a fifty-five and over community maybe you've already put money down on a new home. You might have even already started the packing process.

On the other hand, maybe you haven't even decided which city and state you want to live in. Keep reading to get some ideas that might affect the rest of your life.

Check Out The Different Seasons 

Take your time in choosing the city and state you want to live in. Remember that towns and cities can be very different during the four seasons of the year.

For instance, maybe you have visited your children in Arizona during the winter months, You probably fell in love with the mild climate. However, if you go back in July, you might not be able to stand the heat. By the same token, maybe you loved the summer months in Utah. If you go back in the winter months you might find freezing cold snow even in the month of April. Think of doing a study of weather patterns in the states that have drawn your interest for your retirement years.

The same goes with tourist season. If you go to charming towns like Durango, Colorado, and South Padre Island, Texas during the summer months, or during Spring Break, you might find that you have to fight for parking spaces because of the high number of tourists. 

Check Out The 55 Over Gated Communities 

Whether you decide to live in a garden home, a condo, a single-family home, or an apartment, check out what the different 55 over communities offer.

Are you interested in having things like a country club complete with tennis courts, a swimming pool, a five-star restaurant, and a golf course as part of the property? Maybe you want to live in a gated community that offers home garden care. Find out if there will be added fees for any of those items.

If you are wanting to be part of a close-knit community, find out if there are things like bridge clubs, book clubs, and walking groups already in progress. Talk to some of the residents to get their feeling on how much they enjoy living in their particular 55 over community. You might be lucky enough to get invited to visit residents in their homes. You also might be asked to visit some of the special interest groups. 

If you are still undecided about where to live, consider renting a home in the community that attracts you the most. After about a year, you'll probably know if you want to purchase a home of your own in that community.