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.
Good point about the brand new community and that most new homeowners would be about the same age as the rest of the residents. The problem arises when a retiree is older than 55 or so and wants to find a 55+ community that would fit their needs and have residents who are near the same age.
Because of the recession, we have had to hold off moving and now are nearing 15 years older than age 55. So at this point, a brand new community would have residents who are too young for us. And 15 years younger is a whole different place in life than late 60's--not too much in common. It's almost as uncomfortable as spending this part of our lives with people in their 80's. In some ways, I feel like a "tween" (those kids who are age 11 or 12--not little kids anymore but not teenagers either) except this is retirement age.
If you're young at heart, you would be better off in the younger direction!
Regarding a few of the other questions in this thread, here are some things I learned after visiting about 12 different communities (and knowing people at Hot Springs Village, AR). Granted, this is a tiny percentage of the 55+ communities in the US, so YMMV--but it might be helpful never the less.
Without quoting your entire post, this is all really helpful. Not that I am considering this, but one of my sisters is, as well as some friends. Sounds like you have some good basic notes for writing a book on 55+ communities. There are not that many in New England, apparently many in the South. (We do have many AL's however).
My MIL lives in a 55+ community. She loves it though because she's one of those zombies j/k
She's got her daily schedule and variety of card games down pat.
"Stepford Wives" retired is how I best describe it.
She's a social butterfly type and there's always something going on that she can sign up for.
She'd be miserable off on her own.
I tell her if I don't call by 9am then I wait for the next day because I know she'll be out and about.
While it's not the life for me, it is the life for many others.
My MIL is 90 and lives alone in one of these communities. She has a wonderful social life and they all look in on each other!
Not for me, but good for her.
The point I was trying to make is that I did not think it was right for the OP to criticize those who participated in the community by calling them names or criticizing 55+ communities in general. He tried one and found it was not for him and that's fine. Giving the reasons for his disliking this particular community is fine too. But the problems he found in his community might not pertain to all 55+ communities so people need to keep an open mind if they are considering living in one.
There is one over 55 community outside of Portland where people either live in condos or homes. They have activities like hiking, rafting, canoeing, camping and all the outdoor sports one could want. They also go to concerts, plays and movies. They have book clubs, dances and potlucks. They also have offer sports. All activities of course are voluntary. There was a community dining hall for those that wanted it. And dances too. These folks have a really good time. I looked into this community when I was in my 50's but couldn't afford to live there. I don't know if this place is an exception but it sounded kind of nice to me.
As I said, I do not know if they are for me or if I could even afford to live in any of them but being alone, I can see the advantages of living around people of my own age. Right now I live in an area that has become inhabited mostly by twenty-somethings. I would like seeing a few more elderly faces. And to be perfectly honest, I am not crazy about, nor ever have been crazy about living near small children or teenagers.
On the other hand, too many rules for which I could see little purpose would be a problem. That's why I would be sure to familiarize myself with all the rule prior to moving into an over 55 community and I would try to look around the area first to get an idea of what it was like. Maybe if at all possible, I would try and meet some of my potential neighbors.
Now Caladium's post was really helpful. I have learned from that.
Last edited by Minervah; 08-05-2013 at 04:25 PM..
Reason: Came back to give an example I just thought of
Location: Prescott Valley,az summer/east valley Az winter
2,061 posts, read 4,134,075 times
Reputation: 8190
I've spent years living in 55+ parks~ and snowbird between a couple. One thing the remember about 55+ parks, particularly snowbird parks~~the people who live there are retired. Your chances of finding one where most of the inhabitants are under 65 like a lot of people want are practically nil, and as no one wishes to remain in that community past about the time most people retire would make me very leery of going there. The average age should be in the 70's with a mix of 65 yo and 85-90 yo's.
Some places I've been are severely limiting and some pretty much allow almost anything~ shop around until you find one that fits you and your wants. Do remember an audition period in one of the parks I was in ~ the activity directors of the parks met and were listening to auditions of entertainment that they could book in their park. Over 350 activity directors were there. This was in East Valley Az Phoenix to Gold Canyon. I've been in parks where pets not allowed~ allowed only in certain areas~ limited by size and number~ no limitations. Been in parks that had little doing, parks where there was so much going you couldn't do it all. If your thing is playing tennis do not go into a park with no courts and then complain. Don't go into a park where most people drive Harleys and then complain about motorcycle noise. Just remember that most of the residents in a 55+ retire at 65+, spend several years looking around figuring out what they wish in retirement, then find a place to buy and settle in. Then if they live an average age after that you will have some people in their 90's,80's,70's and 60's. Personally prefer the company of the older people.
Just as in any community there are always those that think they need to control everything and complain and gossip about everything. Have learned to ignore those types.
As for living in a community setting my experience is the people with kids don't have time for anyone except those with kids doing what theirs are doing, and if you are perverted enough to talk to the kids without knowing their parents that's a nono. So if you are moving into that area from the outside figure you will be ostrisized for at least the first 10 years or so. I'll stick with my 55+ communities.
First of all when a person says 55+ they are talking about Active Adult. Not assisted living, dining halls, etc. While some 55+ have assisted living places, that is not what people mean by 55+.
I haven't come across any rules that I disagree with. When people move from all over the country and all over the world they have different ideas on what is acceptable behavior. Some people think that they should have the grandkids around all the time and in the facilities. I don't. I like those rules.
In my community, Sun City, there are about 38,500 people. There are about 150 sales a month. In my condo development we range in age from 55 to 95. We have several that are empty but the owners are waiting to age in.
Condos everywhere have pet weight rules. My condo does. I have seen very large dogs at the SFHs in Sun City.
Some people seem to think they lock the gates(which we don't have) and you have to stay in the 55+. Being in a county of 4 million we go and do things in other places. Spring Training, Suns, Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Coyotes, are some of the sports. Casinos. Great shopping. There are so many places to see and go a 55 year old will die of old age before they get to them all.
There are so many activities that a person could stay in the community, if they wish, and never get bored.
We are over 55 and we are mostly white. I also think we are very diverse. Residents are from every state, province, and about 38 different countries. All types of economic and occupational backgrounds.
55+ is not for everybody. If you have 15 grandchildren and you want to see them weekly, don't move here. If you are not sociable and don't like talking to strangers or neighbors, don't move here. But if you like to try new things, meet interesting people, and stay active, you should move here.
I don't think I could ever live in a 55+ neighborhood but we do enjoy our group at the aquatic center that I go to. Most everybody in the class is over 55. We have a couple of people that may not be. They have diseases that require they exercise in the water. There is a singles group that go out to movies and dinner together so they do not have to stay alone so much. They keep telling my husband and me that we can pretend we are single and go with them. Then last week one of them told me they had decided to let couples go out with them too.
We have several friends that live in Sun City on Highway 521 just below the NC/SC border and they seem to like it very much. But there are restrictions as to how long a grandchild can stay in your home or so I was told. That would be a deal breaker for me. We had told our granddaughter that she could live with us and go to a local college. She chose another one closer to her home; but in case she should want to change her mind our invitation is still open.
We have breakfast with our retirement group and these people from the 55+ neighborhood and it seems to me like they are really happy to see someone different for a change. We have a gold course about a mile from us and one of these men hinted that maybe I would want to prepare brunch for him and his friends. The golf club has very good food choices. I know that because I have eaten there.
I enjoy seeing our young neighbors coming home from work and seeing the school bus dropping off our few children on our street. Then I enjoy seeing the young boy down the street on his vehicle running up and down the street. I sometimes get invited to school plays and games, etc. I just don't want to pull that far away from the real world. Maybe later, but not now.
Unfortunately, bullies come in all ages, sexes and hair color. I used to visit my in-laws at their retirement community in Texas. Most people were absolutely wonderful and fun to be around. But there were a couple of bullies. who seemed to be the self proclaimed "rules enforcers". They would yell at me to make my son stop "splashing in the pool" or some meaningless pool rule, etc. There were more instances over the years. It was clearly a simple power play, I knew it, but rather make a scene in front of my child, we just left the pool. I guess there's no way to control jerks in any society, but I was shocked that a retirement community would have blatant bullies running unchecked.
Unfortunately, bullies come in all ages, sexes and hair color. I used to visit my in-laws at their retirement community in Texas. Most people were absolutely wonderful and fun to be around. But there were a couple of bullies. who seemed to be the self proclaimed "rules enforcers". They would yell at me to make my son stop "splashing in the pool" or some meaningless pool rule, etc. There were more instances over the years. It was clearly a simple power play, I knew it, but rather make a scene in front of my child, we just left the pool. I guess there's no way to control jerks in any society, but I was shocked that a retirement community would have blatant bullies running unchecked.
Those bullies are everywhere. We even have some in our pool too. I see them as unhappy people that get upset at seeing other happy people have fun. We have an instructor that stands in front of us with a microphone and shouts out the exercises as we do them and we are not allowed to speak to each other because of a couple of those bullies that complained that they cannot hear the instructor. You can hear this girl talking out in the parking lot. They are just mean unhappy people. Sometimes I am in the mood to go along with the rules and sometimes I might enjoy driving those bullies crazy.
My husband drops me off at the door and says, "Be nice to the instructor, don't drown anyone, have fun and don't get thrown out of the pool." Nay, I just added that last part, but he says it with tongue in cheek because he knows how naughty I can be sometimes.
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.
j/k
