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Why would I want to hang around with a bunch of old people??? In my late 60's I can still do things that other people my age either can't or no longer have a desire to do. Young people can help keep you young.
Why would I want to hang around with a bunch of old people??? In my late 60's I can still do things that other people my age either can't or no longer have a desire to do. Young people can help keep you young.
I guess I could text with them, or learn to play those crazy computer games. That`s about all young people do these days.
We went to one 55+ community by happenstance just to see a model the builder had in that development - and it almost seemed like gangs roaming the neighborhood - but instead of teenagers, it was retirees. We hoped to find a community with friendly people, but we don't want to be besieged. Friends moved to a 55+ community and when they relocated later, they consciously chose one that was NOT 55+ because they found it very depressing because so many neighbors died. I think it's a reminder of our own mortality.
We wound up moving to an area where a lot of retirees are going and we had a house built in a new development. What we've found is that, like us, most of the neighbors are transplants from another part of the country. So far, they're friendly, but not much so - like us, they seem to be content to get to know one another gradually. I think the combination of having moved to a new area and the fact that many are retired and some of us newly retired - has made them a bit more open to developing friends than we might have found in an established neighborhood.
I moved to a regular mixed-age neighborhood. I went to lunch this past weekend with my next door neighbors, who are a very sweet older couple, but I don't really know other people in the subdivision beyond a passing wave. I could probably meet more if I went to our pool during the day, but I go in the early morning to avoid people (children!) so I can swim laps. (Neighborhoods with amenities need HOA's to manage them, so it isn't just about avoiding cars up on blocks, as a previous poster suggested). I am finding my friends elsewhere, which probably works better because they like to do what I like to do.......as in becoming active in my political party, going exercise at the Y and joining meetups for dining out and hiking. I am having lunch with 3 new politically-active women friends this Wednesday and heading downtown on Saturday for a history festival with a friend I met on a hiking meetup. It hasn't been difficult to meet people..you just need to put yourself out there.
Searching for our retirement home, we have been focused on over 55 communities. Wondering, how many of you have moved,to a new state, and have not known a soul, and purchased a home in a regular neighborhood.
Were you able to meet people, find clubs to join, or are you happy in your own little world. It seems to me, being in a retirement community, would give you a support system, people watching out for others. Love to hear your thoughts.
We got super lucky when we purchased our condo unit 2 1/2 years ago. My guess is 80% of residents are over 55 but we got younger families with kids which I really enjoy.
They are what I would call single story garden condo's and one of the HOA rules is you can not rent your condo out so everyone who lives there is an owner...keeps things more stable.
We go to the pool and all the kids know this 71 year old man likes to play like a kid... we got these neat squirt guns we play with but the mommy of me (my wife) always warns me not to splash the adults.
There is just something about half a dozen 7 to 10 year olds and one old 71 year old geezer playing Marco Polo.... and the geezer is it! That and the squirt guns! Kids know I am 12 years old at heart.
We're in a 55+ and love it. It's nice having people our age that we have a lot of things in common with. The size of our lots vary, some people chose 2 or 3 lots while others just bought one. We love having a small yard and pretty much no outside maintenance, we pay a man to mow our lawn now. It's pretty peaceful most of the time and there are a lot of cookouts, pot lucks, days trips and activities for those that want to participate. One of my neighbors from China brought me some homemade egg rolls last night.
From reading the above seems like the best move is to find a community you might like and rent for a year. Maybe snow bird.
When you visit communities be sure to meet with a salesman. You will learn a little about the community, and over time it will help you with a decision on what your want. Remember the salesman wants to sell you a home but you are really trying to evaluate the community so ask about the life style. A lot of communities have stay overs and you should do these. If you can spend some time in the hot tub. Tell who ever is their you are looking at the community and see what follows.
Some communities will match you with resident who will spend a lot of time showing you around. Do this.
Don't fell bad that you probably will not buy. They know most will not.
Really depends on what you like and how important socializing with others is to you. My wife and I don't socialize much but we do talk with friends and relatives often on the phone. We looked at 55+ places and the socializing sounded good but we decided to move to a regular middle class neighborhood instead. Things that didn't appeal to us were: All the houses and streets looked the same, felt a bit claustrophobic. All the people were old, was a bit scary considering we are all at the last roundup. Lots of rules restricting what you could do with your house and property to keep everything in uniformity. Houses were about $100K more and the HOA and taxes were several thousand a year more. Small lots and quite close to neighbors.
On the other hand, our neighborhood is quite the opposite. Houses are different sizes, different styles, mix of one and two story homes. People of all ages live here. We can do whatever we want with our house and property. No HOA, cheaper Real Estate tax. Larger lot, privacy and can't hear the neighbors (and they can't hear the dog barking).
I guess I could text with them, or learn to play those crazy computer games. That`s about all young people do these days.
I'm sure that is the case with many, but not with the ones I know...they don't sit in their rooms and play video games! Now in all fairness, there are a few old timers that like to do some of the very physical things I do....but they are really far and few between. I don't want to sit around and talk about what hurts, discuss the latest operation or read the obits, etc.
Some people are just better than others when it comes to meeting people and making new friends. I don't know if a neighborhood makes much difference.
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