Hi Stitchnripper,
It's about 5 miles from where I live to my studio. And I will still have a multipurpose machine and serger at home. But the bulk of my machines (including the long arm and a mid arm) and stash (enough for five lives) will be at the studio. The studio is in an old mill building with about 300 artists and artisans, is available 24/7, has public access during the day, and sponsors open studios at least one weekend a month. It's cheap space, and will be glorious once I build it out. Two 4' x 8' windows in my studio look out over the canal.
While I have no intention of moving when I retire, the reality is that the time may come to downsize. My rental studio and my plots at the community gardens provide insurance that I have the work spaces that are important to me no matter where I live.
And the studio is big enough that I can share space, or give classes, if that ends up right.