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I can understand moving to a place which serves two or three meals a day if a person is to the point where cooking is becoming difficult and/or if the person no longer drives. That way regular, good nutrition is no longer in doubt; it is conveniently right there at the community dining room.
But what is the primary draw of these Del Webb communities (and various others) that I've been reading about in the Retirement forum? Are they arranged with shopping facilities so that it is easy to live without a car? Perhaps the main attraction is the organized activities so that retired people can easily participate right near home?
If it's not those two (ease of living without a car and easy access to organized activities), I'm not sure what the draw would be. No teenagers having loud parties late at night?
You can see this thread is really a question and not an argument for or against something, although readers can probably guess my own personal disinclination to live in an age-segregated setting. But I am asking with an open mind because communities such as Del Webb have been the choice of a whole lot of people and there must be reasons for so many people making this choice.
Lots of activities and friends to go with them. That would be the draw for me but I know everyone is not like that.
I've always had to work so much it seems it would be nice to get into a place where there was a lot to do and I would not feel like I missed out on all the fun life has to offer.
We live in a great place now but I worry about people/friends/family moving away and being lonely.
There was a whole thread about Del Webb communities, did you see that one? Anyway, just to clarify: An over-55 community doesn't mean you get three meals a day -- THAT would be assisted-living. To me, the advantages of over-55 would be no kids (though you do get visiting grandkids), pool and clubhouse with activities. I don't know about specific Del Webb communities, but I know Laguna Woods in Southern CA is a HUGE over-55 with tons of clubs and activities. The problem is, the median age is 78...and I'm 60. The Villages in FL is another big, extremely popular community....every person I know who's moved there, loves it. Not sure of the average age there. My mother's in a small over-55 in FL that has a clubhouse and some activities like group dinners, card games, etc. It's starting to get some boomers, but for the most part, it's still a pretty elderly crowd.
There are also drawbacks to over-55's, which I listed in the other thread, so I won't repeat all of it here.
Oh, and I also forgot, another advantage is being able to downsize from the big single home with all the maintenance costs, to a small (or maybe not-so-small) single home or condo where all the maintenance is taken care of. Many of the newer over-55's are small, detached single homes....close together, but still a single nonetheless, with garages and one-floor living. However, I decided to buy my own small single because I wanted a fenced yard for my dogs, and I don't think you own the yard in those over-55's....I think it's common area. Or at least that's how it is in the ones around here.
Do del webb communities include long-term assisted care & skilled nursing facilities for those who eventually need them? Or are your fees just paying for senior resort living while you're independent & active? I've always wondered why some senior would choose a dedicated 55+ community versus a multi-age development with golfing/tennis privileges.
There are some 55+ communities that you do own the land. Look for the words "own" land or "deeded" land. Then you have just a small fee usually for the pool and lighting, club etc.
Granted, these "owned land" communities are harder to come by, but they are there if you check.
I have personally liked the all age community with golfing, pool, club activities.......The rules on family visits are always great in that case. Families visits are welcomed and not timed or alloted.
Hearing the kids in the distance heading out to the beach and having fun is a good thing........
Having your good friends bring their daughter along for dinner makes for great conversation and
a well rounded evening.
Location: Prescott Valley,az summer/east valley Az winter
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in an open community you have parents whose entire life is wrapped up in their children's activities and have no time for anything or anyone else~ children who's parents think that anyone speaking to them must be child molesters or worse. 55+ communities are a way of meeting people that actually have time to become freinds and share activities that we enjoy without suspicions of ulterior motives. Actually can meet children because other grandperents will share!
Plus in my park we have 2 pools~ ballfields~ 16 shuffleboard courts~ dances twice a week~ 12 pool tables~ weight lifting equipment~excirsize room~ tennis courts~ bridge,canasta,pinokle.500. canasta, joker,cribbage, potlucks,proffesional entertainment in the park, lapidary, woodworking shop, goldsmithing, painting classes, stained glass, scrapbooking, quilting,movies, line dancing, ballroom dancing, clogging. If you cannot find anything to do its your own fault!
Oh how I wish it was "only" teens who were guilty of being such obnoxious inconsiderate aholes, but sadly, a disturbing number of alleged adults fit this category as well...not just parties but playing music (in home or car) ridiculously loud, letting their dogs out at ridiculous hours to bark their heads off for lengthy periods, their darling children screaming their heads off....I could go on.......
My primary desired feature of a place to live is quiet - not tomb-like quiet, just a reasonable level - and so I wish I could live in such a place, and I'm nowhere near 55+.
Joey 2000 has an excellent point. Reasonable quiet at night is probably the norm in a 55+ community, and that would have to be one of the attractions I was asking about.
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Over 55 communities
