<p>@great lakes mom…that is a good point. After awhile, I think it would be depressing to see your neighbors and friends dying all around you. I don’t know what the answer is for us. I’ve been reading this thread with great interest. We are 55 and plan on staying in our home for at least another 5 years. It’s a great neighborhood of 400+ homes, we have our friends, the kids have formed tight friendships and they lifeguard at the pool. There are all ages here. I’d stay indefinitely, but the surrounding area is becoming of some concern. Many more break-ins, etc. and we are wondering if it will be a great place to be in 10 years. I don’t think it will. But what to do at that point? There are so many families here that voice the same concern. We are on then northern edge of the larger city…just 2 -5 miles north are the McMansion neighborhoods.</p>
<p>DH actually wants to do that, as he thinks we will be housing elderly parents, or having boomerang kids and doesn’t want us all to live on top of each other. He also doesn’t see himself retiring at 65. We already live in a 3500 sq ft home with decorated basement and the thought of moving into something larger and new isn’t that appealing to me. I guess I just don’t feel like becoming involved in a new neighborhood with mostly younger people and trying to establish connections in my 60’s. But actually…he wants LAND! His dream is to live on 5 acres. Oh my…I like seeing and being around my neighbors.</p>
<p>I have no idea what we want to do. I don’t see ourselves in a 55+ community. I would like to live around my children if possible. Have a “home base”, and then travel to different places. Not sure if that Home base will be our current home, or where. This transitioning phase is confusing. I am tired of the long winters in the midwest, though.</p>
<p>MIL lives in a 55+ community in N. Ft. Myers and loves it. It’s huge, they do so many things. She is a very “young” 73, better health than me, plays tennis, entertains, is in the shows that are put on for everyone, etc. However, sometimes she does mention that people are “old” in the community. She met her current DH there, though. I have a girlfriend (54) that lives in the Villages and really likes it. Her partner is in his 60’s.</p>