| Active-Adult retirement communities may be | | | | In the fifties, I remember walking to the |
| your answer if you are over 55 and looking | | | | market for a loaf of bread because it was so |
| for some quiet time. There is something | | | | close--like the village centers in the newer |
| about living in a retirement community that | | | | communities of today. If we forgot |
| is almost unreal because the rest of the | | | | something--no worry-- we would just go back. |
| world is not quite like this--or at least not | | | | The corner drugstore was our entertainment |
| yet. Inside all is serene. It is a time | | | | then for the cherry cokes and, for a special |
| warp. In my retirement community I get the | | | | treat, a fifty-cent banana split. Yes, life |
| same feeling of comfort I had living in the | | | | was simpler then and I guess that is why it |
| fifties when you didn't lock your door and | | | | was more peaceful. If I wanted a "Starbucks" |
| you knew all your neighbors. Your neighbors | | | | I would go there--its in the "village" |
| smile and say good morning sometimes | | | | center. The hair salon and barber shop are |
| reminding me of the old "Mr. Rogers | | | | very popular with seniors keeping their hair |
| Neighborhood" show. At my community, I go | | | | and nails immaculate. If I want to go to the |
| out for a morning walk or an evening stroll | | | | major mall, there is a shuttle |
| at any time of the day without fear that | | | | service.Everything I want is close at hand. I |
| someone will "mug" me. It is in your mind | | | | have hundreds of activities I could do--a |
| that there is a manned security gate and | | | | swim, a walk, to the library, to the fitness |
| patrol cars on duty 24 hours a day. While | | | | center, aerobics -- the list goes on and on. |
| this doesn't guarantee your security, it | | | | They are an easy stroll away. Of course, I |
| feels good.It's very quiet -- your neighbors | | | | can't do them all. I do the ones I want to |
| are of an adult age that there are no "wild" | | | | do the most.Life in a retirement community |
| parties anymore or loud music at late hours. | | | | isn't like life just anywhere--there are huge |
| No one under 18 is allowed to live here. | | | | differences. My life has changed and I like |
| Not that there is no one under 18 but they | | | | the changes. I used to worry more than I do |
| are only visiting. Occasionally in the | | | | now. I never seemed to have time for things |
| summer you hear someone's grandchild but that | | | | I loved but now I do.There are more |
| is all. It is quiet. This is nice because | | | | communities being built with these same |
| you can think and rest better.Every week a | | | | characteristics, with or without an age |
| common task for most people is to lift the | | | | qualification, such as being able to walk to |
| laundry basket to the laundry room. My | | | | a nearby shopping area where you see your |
| laundry room is outside my door in the hall | | | | neighbors and access to community |
| all of 5 steps away. Last week they replaced | | | | entertainment nearby such as walking trails, |
| the laundry machines we had with new ones. | | | | pools or restaurants. People seem to like |
| I thought the old ones looked new. They are | | | | that. If it seems bland, I like bland. It's |
| cleaned every week. The trash goes down a | | | | quiet, friendly, "safe," serene and busy at |
| chute next to the laundry room. The carpets | | | | the same time. It's a good way to live and |
| are vacuumed and if the building needs paint, | | | | seniors have lived it before--in the fifties. |
| it is painted. The landscape is also groomed | | | | Does it seem unreal--the drastic change |
| once a week. If it snows, the roads are | | | | between life some 50 years ago and today |
| shoveled. If it rains, I know the roof | | | | makes the fifties seem unreal even to us |
| gutters have been cleared. If I go on a trip | | | | seniors. I can't imagine how young people |
| the 24-hour security patrol watches my house | | | | today can envision such a life like we |
| and I don't think about it on my trip. I am | | | | seniors had in the fifties. Yet I believe |
| not afraid to occasionally leave my door | | | | these new communities today, age-qualified or |
| unlocked or walk to my car. This has freed | | | | not, are recycling that feeling--safe, |
| up a lot of time to do other things.A great | | | | friendly and making it once again very |
| feature about my retirement community, and | | | | real--today!There may be an over-55 |
| again reminds me of the fifties is the way we | | | | active-adult retirement community near you. |
| can walk to the adjacent "village center." | | | | |