In my apartment area in Silicon Valley, there are not only many very young kids, but also many very pregnant women. Most of them seem to be new immigrants - these days it appears many young immigrants are in their very “productive” age, even when many of them may not be very financially established yet.
A few anecdotal examples within my company: (they are all 20 something.)
In the new immigrant camp: A was married last year and he is just 3 years out of grad school (MS only.) But his wife works in the other (south) side of California and they actually do not have a lot of chances to be with each other due to the long distance (probably Skype each other a lot – actually C and D (below) told me that they Skype their parents every evening!) B just got married with someone who she had met for less than about 1.5 years (and it appears to be a long distance relationship during most of this period). C and D are 2 years out of the grad school, and both said they would likely get married by the end of next year. They have met their partners likely less than half a year or at most one year.
In the non-new-immigrant camp: Both E and F (both from the east coast originally) have had a close GF for 3.5 and 5.5 years, respectively. None of them has had any solid plan for the marriage.
You could easily see that the people from the former camp “rush” to the marriage more easily.
@swimcatsmom, it seems it will be quite a while before you will have grandchildren. (I think it will take a quite a while for me as well.)
Just spent a few hours planning September trip to Hilton Head. We are hoping to see two very different communities - Sun City - which is huge -8200 homes and the much smaller Haven - only 500 homes. Open to suggestions for other communities in that general area to consider - but we do want 55+. (So many parallels to the college search - like touring a small college and a large university to get a feel for the size you like best).
My parents moved to one in Toms River, NJ not too long after they both retired. My Dad died less than a year after they moved in. I was so glad that my Mom lived in this community because she was able to make new friends and have a very active life. She lived for 20 years after my Dad died.
I do have to say that some of chocchipcookie (#38) points about the pros and cons were spot on. However, in my Mom’s community the homes were not identical in style or color and people could do there own landscaping around their homes.
H and I actually gave some thought to buying my siblings out for the house after my Mom died. The community was solvent, well maintained and monthly HOA fees were actually very reasonable. There was a big community center with pool. And my Mom’s place was right on the golf course at the start of the ninth tee. So no balls flying in! And it was a short trip ( 20 or so minutes?)to the Jersey Shore.
But she died in the house and had a rough last year. Wasn’t sure I wanted those memories. But I still think we may regret our decision.
Funny about Del Webb. They were one of the big builders in Phx when I was a kid. We constantly heard the name.
One way to keep costs reasonable is to go to an established area that is NOT new development. The old Sun City in Arizona, some of the older retirement areas in Florida. In the housing bust Boca Raton had amazing deals on fully furnished condos. Not sure about now. Just looking now, the 55+ community in Del Ray Beach where my inlaws lived has 2000 squ ft houses going in the $160,000 range.
How’s 55+ community better than a retirement living community? Is the average age younger? I don’t know if I want to move twice once to to 55+ and then to a retirement community when I am 70+.
My parents lived in The Villages, Florida. They really liked it a lot. 70,000+ people in a network of neighborhoods of homes of varying sized/prices. Several downtown areas, lots of restaurants, shops, golf, pools, tennis. Soon after they moved there, my mom was a cheerleader for a polo team (there is also polo there). My dad played golf. Both played pickleball. Mom played majohng and Hand & Foot. When my mom got sick, her neighbors (friends) were so helpful; after she died, they checked in on my dad regularly. It is a great place for many people.
After my parents passed away, two of my brothers kept the house - they currently rent it out, but they plan to live there down the road. They love it there. Me, not so much … not a FL person. But for the right person, it’s terrific. You can visit and tour.
These are a thing now here and IMO they are just about being able to build apartments that can legally exclude children, which is all good here in family central… The ones I see are not built around facilities or land, they are just apartment buildings, cheap construction and not attractive. 55 isn’t old and I assume some people will just use them for ski season.
Look for stuff on the causeway. All the buildings on Honeymoon Island are 55+, and within walking distance to a big park and one of the few dog friendly beaches in Florida.
it makes me very sad to be strictly among those of my age, I am much older than OP.
We are buying a second home, but not in the place for oldies, like us.
We just got back from a trip to Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida looking for something similar. We were not able to see anything in Hilton Head because the realtor had a sick kid the day we were scheduled to meet within her! (We had flown across country and had limited time). We saw Frippe Island and thought it was too isolated. We fell in love with The Landings on Skidaway Island near Savannah and are seriously considering it.
That must have been disappointing, you’d think they could provide another realtor! I don’t want isolated so that is good to know about Frippe island (we currently live in a small town without many amenities and 100 miles from a large city. Don’t have to live in a big city but would like easier access to one). I’ll add the Landings to my list, thanks :). My son lives in Charleston so we are interested in the Carolinas to be closish to him (Hilton head is on the list) and also Florida.
Quick update. We just looked at Sun City Hilton Head - which we thought would be perfect based on reviews and website - and were both kind of disappointed. The new section which is be built now looked very sterile - liked the houses - but very boring just rows of houses being built very close together. More than that, however, was the age range. It might be a 55+ community - but the residents we saw were 70+. Felt like it was more suited for a generation older. I don’t know how it would feel 5 years from now when we are ready to buy - but questioning the 55+ idea at the moment.
What I have heard is that the 55+ communities have “generations.” When one is built, folks 55 to 60 move in, and of course after 20 years of living there they are 75 to 80. Someone who is 55 to 60 wouldn’t want to move there. But then, like neighborhoods, there is turnover, and younger people move back in.
Thanks for the update,rvm. Looking to next steps in housing, yet do not feel ready to choose a community by age. Likely any option that appeals to us could draw others at our phase of life, just don’t have a preference that a community be 55+.
I picture AL or close to it as being the time when I’ll be okay with choosing housing with age parameters. Keeping an open mind going forward.
Thanks for the update. We had planned to look at Sun city Hilton head back in July when I flew into Charleston for a few days to visit my son on the way back from the UK. Ended up not happening because my Mum died unexpectedly while I was in the UK which delayed my trip then my flight got cancelled which delayed it another day.
I have an old friend who moved to Valencia lakes in FL. She loves it. They are very into tennis though and we have no athletic abilities at all.
I think it is not so much the age restrictions that made me think about 55+ communities but the fact that the built in social activities would make it easier to meet new people.
We live near Leisure Village in So. California. It is a very large retirement community with a a range of duplexes and unattached homes varying from very small to quite large. Our Health Care District provides Care Giver Support Groups and Counseling there and also holds a Health Fair there so I am there frequently. There are several pools, tennis courts and a small golf course, although it is not primarily a golfing community. Also shuffle board, a fitness room and many other activities. 24 hour security provides screening for entry as well as quick emergency response for health issues. If someone needs help if they have fallen, etc, they are right there. They coordinate with our local dial-a-ride to provide transportation to shopping and Dr.s appointments. There are many clubs and outings for just about any interest. Yard maintenance is provided but each resident has a nice patio they can garden on. A shopping center on one side caters to the village with food, nail and hair salons. Since many people have similar needs, they sometimes share the expense of caregivers and housekeepers. It has a lot of benefits.
There are things to consider other than the lack of various ages. The HOA is pretty restrictive. People below age 55 can stay for only limited periods. We know of someone who unexpectedly got custody of 2 grandchildren and had to sell. ( in our area, units are in high demand and sell easily). Residents are limited to 2 pets.
Most people seem to love it. Our city caters to the village and provides a lot of support as does our hospital. Definitely a type of community to look at for many people.
