<p>@Marilyn: Look into Rancho Bernardo near San Diego. My parents moved there in 1979 and lived there until my mother’s death (in 1985) and my father’s (1998). There are one-level single-family homes, lots of walking, and shops within a mile or two drive. </p>
<p>Is the only consideration that it’s an over-55 community? what about the plusses and minuses, the homes, the local community? And the real interests of people living there. Over 55 is still young. this would be so different f the demographics there skewed to 20+ years older. And not sure why a clubhouse is a showstopper. Many neighborhoods or apt complexes have a clubhouse of some sort. </p>
<p>We also love NYC. Grew up in Brooklyn and moved to Long Island in my mid 30’s when older D was 4. Love our community–great shopping, near beaches, great towns with excellent restaurants. When older D graduated college 2 years ago, we rented an apt by the high line in Chelsea. D lives there full time and pays a portion of rent. We come and stay whenever we want because we pay an even larger portion of the rent It has worked out really well. D responsible for keeping apt clean. I know she is safe and in a good neighborhood and full service building. Younger D graduating next year and will attend grad school in city. She will move in too. So for a few years it may get crowded on weekends. The plan is that hopefully both girls will move on and we will keep both the apt and the house on Long Island. Long Island home might be more of a summer/ weekend house, since husband is tired of commuting. That would mean retiring early from teaching for me, but I’m thinking of attending college classes in NYC at senior rate and tutoring reading for some income. Probably wont retire for another 5 years though.</p>
<p>To start, I am in Fl. My community is not gated, open to all ages, babies to 90 year olds. Everyone can participate in HOA meetings, but few care to.</p>
<p>That said, there are many gated communities in my county. The constant is a clubhouse and gym, pool. Most have breakfast/lunch cafe. Not all are 55 over. What I envy about all these places is that they offer so many lectures and activities at the clubhouse. They have language classes, art classes, pottery, computer, current events, and fitness classes of every sort. Their dues are higher than mine, but cable, lawn care, outside work, is included in their dues. To be able to build a large community, the builders are required to donate land for a new elementary school, if needed. </p>
<p>When I first moved to FL, country clubs and high priced communities dominated the gated scene. The non-CC communities often had park for kids, but no gyms or clubhouses. Things changed. </p>
<p>patsmom - thanks for the suggestion. We are hoping to start the looking phase soon - with a plan to relocate in the next 5-6 years. I like the idea of all the activities held within the community - and organized trips. Seems like a fun way to make new friends, start new hobbies, etc. We also like the idea of owning a single family home - but without the maintenance hassles. Hoping reality lives up to what we envision.</p>
<p>I always used to think the ideal retirement would be to sell the suburban house and move into a nice doorman buildng in NYC. Unfortunately prices in the city have gotten completely ridiculous. Now I think our best bet would be to buy a condo near one of the MetroNorth stations.</p>
<p>I’ve always been repelled by the idea of the Florida retirement community but I happened to see a story about this one on PBS Newshour and I’m quite intrigued by it. Apparently, the new trend in “senior” living is to integrate into a major university and the one featured on the program is apparently one of the best. It’s called Oak Hammock and it’s in Gainesville Florida, affiliated with the University of Florida. It is far from inexpensive but it seemed very impressive and offered just about anything anyone could possibly want in terms of living options. The webpage offers a link to the PBS story which mentions other similar communities at other universities but indicated that Oak Hammock was the standard by which the others should be judged.
<a href=“http://www.oakhammock.org/”>http://www.oakhammock.org/</a></p>
<p>I haven’t read this whole thread yet, but winter in VT is becoming a problem in my 60s. I love it here, but we’re already sort of trapped by ice and snow. It isn’t even officially winter Gah!</p>
<p>I do not understand why people say they would never want to live in a 55+ community where you own your own home. They are becoming prevelant everywhere, not just Florida. Living around friends of similar age ( did not have that since college), organized activities that you can partake in or not ( again like college), one floor living (one never knows how mobile they will be age 65-85), snow removal and lawn mowing taken care of yet still have a private yard to plant, if desired. If it is gated, it protects you from unsolicited salespeople. AND, it is not prison. You can get involved in activities, or interact with people younger than 55 to your hearts content. And you can have your children and grandchildren visit as much as they want and stay over for days. At least this was my Mom’s experience in New Jersey. Really saw no negatives other than they had restrictions on what you could do to your home. I live near towns ( not retirement) that have similar restrictions.</p>
<p>If my Mom had been in my childhood home when my Dad died, all of the homes around her would have been empty during the day because people would have been at work. She would have found something to do, it was her nature, but it would have been more difficult. </p>
<p>I’d like to be part of an established community with all ages – but open to newcomers. Many neighborhoods aren’t. Not because they are unfriendly, but rather because their family and existing friends already meet their needs. Ideally I’d like to find a walkable neighborhood with a village concept similar to that founded in Beacon Hill Boston, where residents determine their own future (rather than social workers or agencies). Google “village movement”.</p>
<p>@Marilyn, check out La Jolla Shores. It is not inexpensive. The JCC in UTC, on the east side of UCSD, is really nice and has been well supported by the Jacobs family (founders of Qualcomm). If you can afford it, a community down at La Jolla Shores is just the ticket!</p>
<p>If I’m choosing a “community” to live it, it’s going to be a community that is based on something other than “being 55 or older”. A community that is full of foodies that enjoy cooking, trying new foods/restaurants, taking cooking classes? - maybe. A community where people have a commitment to wellness- healthy eating and exercise?- maybe. A community that is “family friendly” - fun runs, holiday get togethers in the park, game nights, etc. - MAYBE. But a community based (or the common denominator/requirement being) on age/aging??? Nope! Not for me! </p>
<p>Being fully honest I have a real problem with people my age (55) who spend half their conversation saying, “I’m feeling old”, “back in the day”, “young people don’t…”, “I’m too old to…”. Sorry if that doesn’t sound nice but it’s truly a beef of mine! So, you probably wouldn’t want me in your 55+ neighborhood!! :)</p>
<p>From afar, I watched my inlaws age in their Florida 55+ community. It was a lovely place, and I certainly enjoyed visiting. One of the real issues however, is that after a few decades of happy retirement, you and your neighbors tend to grow into old/old and then you are facing decline and death all around you. </p>
<p>At least as of a few years ago, there were many bargains to be had in the 55+ communities on the Atlantic side of Florida. </p>
<p>Working with folks of that demographic, many certainly enjoy their lives in 55+ places, especially in the sunbelt. </p>
<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>
<p>I think that priorities may change every 5-10 years and it is hard to know exactly what they will be. For instance in my 20s live where there is a good school, 30s where I can work and raise my kids , ditto 40s, ditto 50s, 60s where I can have a home base for us and our adult kids and where they would like to visit if they can, and ways we can travel and explore . hmmm 70s too far ahead. Just too many variables. Ability to change is a sign of not aging, I hope for this.</p>
<p>ItsJustSchool, I wish I could afford La Jolla Shores! I’ve already planned what classes to take at that JCC; another reason why I don’t want to be too far inland - that “half hour drive to everything” issue. There are plenty of lovely smaller towns but we’re looking for a broader community to easily access. I don’t think there are planned communities (other than maybe a condo type) close to city centers and shorelines - land is probably just too expensive. So we’re sticking with the single family home in a walkable neighborhood.</p>
<p>@Marilyn, you may look at Kensington/Normal Heights or Golden Hill down by the zoo. RB (recommended to you in an earlier post) is nice, but less walkable and more upscale. There is plenty in UTC, but it is more “Mall Walking” than neighborhood walking. Great hikes in the canyons. You may want to look for something near a Coaster station, so you can access city centers by rail. There is hope up in Carlsbad or Oceanside, too.</p>
<p>We’ve got our eye on Point Loma/Ocean Beach, North Pacific Beach, and parts of North Park near Balboa. We’ve been working with a realtor and were just out there looking at a few houses. We’re pretty conversant with the neighborhoods at this point. My main point was that there aren’t 55 plus or other planned communities in near-metro areas, they’re all somewhat far flung. </p>
<p>DH ruled out UTC because he feels if you’re just going to live in a suburb, why pay San Diego house prices. He ruled out north county because too far from the city. He still doesn’t really understand the difference between beach towns and suburbs. We both ruled out Kensington etc. because it’s kind of buffered from the rest of the city and looked quite family oriented. We ruled out, wait, we didn’t exactly rule out Golden Hill but it looked like all the blocks were multi-use and not really “neighborhood-y”. La Jolla and Del Mar ruled us out price-wise, as did north Mission Hills. As you can see, we’re hard to please! (Not to mention the part where we want a fairly flat lot with not too many outside steps.)</p>
It has worked out really well. D responsible for keeping apt clean. I know she is safe and in a good neighborhood and full service building. Younger D graduating next year and will attend grad school in city. She will move in too. So for a few years it may get crowded on weekends. The plan is that hopefully both girls will move on and we will keep both the apt and the house on Long Island. Long Island home might be more of a summer/ weekend house, since husband is tired of commuting. That would mean retiring early from teaching for me, but I’m thinking of attending college classes in NYC at senior rate and tutoring reading for some income. Probably wont retire for another 5 years though.</p>