This year’s Tour de France began with a time trial in Copenhagen, Denmark. But I have another kind of time trial on my mind.

I hope to retire early next year; and I haven’t ruled out relocation. I wish I could take the advice given to retirees who want to relocate: to give a “new spot” a time trial (aka trial run). As long as I’m still working I can’t take the time for a proper trial run; and I don’t have the means for such experimenting. In effect, relocation for me is grabbing blind.

Visiting a place is not the same as living there; and it can take a while before you’re sure whether you really like any location. It might take a full cycle of seasons before you know whether the local climate is a good fit. You might love hot weather; but how long is the hot season in “Newplace”? Is it suffocatingly humid; or so arid that your skin shrivels up? Do you love snow; but hate shoveling it? Even if you don’t mind the shoveling, are you physically capable of doing it throughout your golden years?

In New Orleans, we spend at least six months out of the year worrying about hurricanes. I wouldn’t mind being out of their immediate reach; but suppose the Newplace I have in mind is tornado prone? That’s no improvement at all! With hurricanes we have several days’ warning, or even more; but with tornadoes it can be mere minutes. I don’t think a blizzard-prone area is a good fit for me, either.

Is my Newplace bicycle friendly? Can I get around easily without a car? Is there a good public transit system? Of course I have to factor in the cost of rent; and the cost of essential goods such as groceries. What about the crime rate? And much more.