Paper short abstract:

An increasing stream of Swedish third age retirees are migrating to Southern Europe. When in the fourth age many of them consider returning to Sweden. What cultural meanings do they attribute to the return process? What are the implications of return migration within a discourse of “active ageing”?

Paper long abstract:

An increasing stream of Swedish retirees are migrating seasonally or permanently to Southern Europe. This rise of intra- European retirement migration has largely been attributed to increased life expectancy, early retirement, greater affluence and previous tourism experiences among third age retirees. The number of retirement migrants is increasing, especially as the "baby boom" generation born in the 1940s is retiring. The choices of third age retirement migrants can be understood in the context of altogether dominating discursive ideals of "active ageing", enjoining seniors to be healthier and more active than previous generations before them. Increased mobility is a central aspect in this anti-ageing discourse. However, when retirement migrants reach the fourth age many of them consider, or actualize, return migration to Sweden. There are a number of structural reasons why retirement migrants do not stay abroad beyond the fourth age, such as family concerns, health status, or economic constraints. The aim of this paper is however to explore the cultural meanings, motivations and consequences of return migration. How can we understand the different motives, opportunities and constraints, of senior migrants when they face decisions about staying or returning? What meanings do senior migrants attribute to the return process? What are the cultural implications of return migration within a discourse that idealizes elderly who remain in the third age by staying healthy, active and mobile? How is the idea of "returning" understood by retirement migrants to whom "moving away" have become a central part of their identity as retirees?