Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Looking for some thoughts from folks considering a 55+ community for retirement.
Is the location of a retirement community more important than finding a community that really fits what you are looking for? Would you consider someplace outside the area you currently reside if it truly met AND exceeded your expectations of a retirement village?
Things like mild weather, being close to an airport, good hospital, lots of culture, low taxes are givens... it's the little things that make a community unique and worth moving to.
I would say both are equally important. You don't need to make a choice between them; look for a community you like in a location that you like.
Would I consider a community I like outside the area I currently I currently reside? Absolutely, in fact that's my goal. Would I consider a community I like, if it was in a location I didn't like? No. Would I consider a community I didn't like, because it happened to be in a location I loved? No.
I would say the community. Its like comparing the same house in the Ghetto verus in a nice community. Its the same house just a question of can you live there. Reminds me of a friend who lived in a very large city and I asked now it was to live there. He said the best ;if you can afford the it and hell if you can't.
'Garages' where folks could get together to play music... studios where talented folks can teach us less talented folks how to play music, sing, paint... you get the idea. A large community with smaller homes so it isn't so easy to 'nest'... forcing you in a way to be more active. A community where you could be employed if you chose or needed to.
False dichotomy. I didn't vote in the poll because both are important. For starters, I would not live in any Gulf Coast state, period, because of the summer heat and humidity. But otherwise, both are important.
I think both are important as well. I have that now. A quiet, crime free community and it's in a beautiful location. A small hospital is about 7 miles away but the big hospitals are fairly easy to get to.
Looking for some thoughts from folks considering a 55+ community for retirement.
Is the location of a retirement community more important than finding a community that really fits what you are looking for? Would you consider someplace outside the area you currently reside if it truly met AND exceeded your expectations of a retirement village?
Things like mild weather, being close to an airport, good hospital, lots of culture, low taxes are givens... it's the little things that make a community unique and worth moving to.
Thanks
It's a two-part decision/consideration for me. Location of the community will be important. But, too, the "community", the make-up, the demographics, and the physical facilities/amenities.
When I looked at Century Village in West Palm Beach, FL what I liked about it was 1) seasonally nice (Winter) weather, compared to where I live now, 2) public transportation (because that's what I want to rely on); 3) proximity to shopping (particularly groceries and pharmacy but some restaurants as well); and 4) physical aspects of the development. The demographics, or lack thereof was and has been a negative consideration.
I've anlayzed the same factors, and some different ones for other 55+ communities, in Florida and Airzona primarily.
If I do move to a 55+ community I'll need to satisfy myself as to both parts of the process. One will be as important as the other, with minor variations/differences allowed for.
If you pick the great general location but fail to luck out on the community in terms of friendliness, cooperation, cleanliness and quiet, you can be pretty miserable.
If you choose a great community with everything you want (BTW, employment opp's and cultural stuff are not "little things") but the location is in an area of brutal/high-risk climate, or far from outside amenities (outside the community), or near a crime-ridden area, you can be pretty miserable.
For me location would come first, hand in hand with the quality of the community (friendliness, cooperation, cleanliness, and quiet). After those are met, then the final thing would be those particular details I'd want. You can probably find those details nearby outside the 55+ community, if you choose the right location. Unless it's an intentional community (for the arts, for ex), it's not likely you'll find your artistic stuff concentrated in one typical community.
Three couples I know in 55+ places find them somewhat confining after living more rugged individualistic lifestyles earlier in life. They prefer to interact on a wider basis in close-by towns or city.
False dichotomy. I didn't vote in the poll because both are important. For starters, I would not live in any Gulf Coast state, period, because of the summer heat and humidity. But otherwise, both are important.
I feel the same way. Too many variables to get it down to an either/or choice.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
