We are all very different in so many small ways. Yes, there are overlaps and areas of interest that frequently come into play. Still, if careful attention is given to the needs and desires of the owner when designing the plans, no two homes will be a alike. The land where the house will rest should have a huge influence on design. So does budget, taste, climate, mobility, and others.
A good architect is a listener who hears and includes everything you request, or explains a better way.
Your retirement home will probably have the master bedroom and the laundry on the main, first floor. The doors, kitchen and bathroom will allow wheelchair mobility. The exterior walls and roof will be well insulated to reduce fuel consumption. There may be solar panels or a woodstove. A two car garage. Everything can be smaller than when we had a big family at home all the time. You may want the sun to shine into the kitchen and dining area in the morning, and witness the sunset every evening from your livingroom, or perhaps the reverse.
You might have a growing family of grand-folks who like to visit. If so, you might want more bedrooms upstairs under the roof, and a second bathroom.
Finally, your retirement home will probably include some of the furniture, books, lamps, and artwork that you already own. Your achitect will want to have a photo or list of these items to remind him that there must be a place for everything in your new home.
Can anyone add more typical requests for a “home for the rest of your life?”