However, not all of our friends have made the same decision. In fact, when I mention to them how much we enjoy living in our community, they are often adamant that they would never consider moving to a retirement community. On several occasions I have asked them to tell me why they feel so strongly about not moving into an age restricted community, since there are several of them in the area. You will see their reasons further on in this article.
If you are trying to decide whether an over-55 retirement community for active adults would be the right lifestyle for you, here are some of the reasons people decide that they either want to live in one, or do not want to live in one.
The Advantages of Retirement Communities
Access to a wide variety of affordable activities is the number one advantage mentioned by people who like to live in retirement communities. Depending on where you live, you may have easy access to golf, tennis, swimming, art studios, woodworking shops, garden plots, live theater, clubs and social activities.
Security is the second most common reason many people give for wanting to live in an age-restricted community. The majority of retirement communities are gated and many also have private security that is a visible presence in the neighborhood. In addition, with so many residents home during the day, someone is almost certain to be aware if thieves try to break into a home.
Other reasons given for living in a retirement community include:
They are usually near medical facilities;
Most residents are quiet, without loud teens or social events in the neighborhood;
There are opportunities to meet other people in your age group;
The housing is typically designed to provide easy access for the elderly and handicapped.
The Disadvantages of Retirement Communities
The number one reason people have given me for not wanting to live in a retirement community is that they are happy living in their current home or neighborhood where they have lived for a number of years. If you have close ties to your neighbors and your community, you may see no reason to move to a new community where you would have to form new relationships.
Another reason people have mentioned is the fact that they have adult children or grandchildren who are living with them, and they know these family members would not be welcome in an age-restricted retirement community.
Even when they do not have young people living with them, some people like living in a community where there are mixed ages. They enjoy seeing children in their neighborhood, as well as young couples who are just starting out.
Another group of people, especially those in their 50's and early 60's, have expressed the opinion that they believe the residents of retirement communities are "old" and they do not want to live with all those old people. Often these people view themselves as too young to live with other people in their 60's, 70's or older.
A final reason I have heard is that the Homeowners Association fees in many retirement communities are a little high. All that easy access to golf, luxurious clubhouses and "free" amenities does not come cheap. If people do not play golf, or they do not think they will use the other services, they sometimes feel that paying a large association fee is not worth it.
Where Should You Live After Retirement?
There is no answer that is right for everyone. Whatever you decide is perfectly valid. If you are happy where you currently live, or if you live in a household with an extended family, you may not want to move to a retirement community.
On the other hand, if you want to try some new experiences and live somewhere with enhanced security, then an over-55 community may be the right choice for you.
Look over the reasons that others have used to make their decision, and you will know which choice is right for you.
If you are looking for more ideas about where to retire, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.
If you do decide you want to live in a retirement community, here are a few articles that may interest you:
Over 55 Retirement Communities by Del Webb
Over 55 Retirement Communities by Four Seasons
Sun City Texas is a Premier Retirement Destination
Tellico Village Retirement Community
Laguna Woods Village Active Adult Community
You are reading from the blog: http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com
Phone of clubhouse in Laguna Woods Village taken by author.
