Retirement Media: Active Adult Living – Page 17 – Blog about living in a 55+ community

University & Colleges Provide Benefits To Retirees

The idea that College Towns May Be the Best Places To Retire has been around for a while, but the benefits of having a University or college nearby just dawned on me.

Our Del Webb Active Adult Community is not technically in a college town, but for all practical purposes it is. Gainesville is home to Brenau University, North Georgia College and Lanier Technical School. Brenau University is only about 20-25 minutes away and North Georgia College and Lanier Tech even closer at 15 minute drive away from our community. The University of Georgia, the state’s largest University, is only 45 minutes away. I have gotten benefits from each one of these institution since moving here over two years ago.

Benefits I Received From Area Colleges and Universities

Gainesville Theater Alliance is a nationally acclaimed collaboration between the University of North Georgia, Brenau University, Theater Professionals and the Northeast Georgia Community. Mary Ann and I went to see their production of “Crazy For You” and it was one of the most enjoyable plays we have ever seen. We have been back and have tickets to future plays as well. 97% of their season sold out. We have run into many Deaton Creekers and noticed retirees make up the large part of the audiences. Their tickets are reasonably price and there is plenty of close by parking.
Crazy for You
Entertainment – We just went to Pearce Auditorium on the beautiful campus of Brenau University to see the Young Irelanders perform song and dance. The Gainesville Arts Council has entertainment events there often.
The Young Irelanders
Community Events – Last weekend I participated in the Dempsey Dash 5K to raise scholarship funds in the name of a beloved dean. There were people of all ages and the community spirit was in full view. I plan on doing this one again next year.
Robert Fowler at Dempsey Dash
Fairs and Events I attended a fair at Brenau University recently and got a free massage. Their students studying massage therapy were giving them free to the public.
Sporting Events – I signed up on georgiadogs.com for discount tickets for University of Georgia sport team tickets. I got one in Feb for the Lady Bulldogs championship basketball team tickets… for $1. Yes $1 to see a game. I have driven over for a UGA football game. They are so close by and if you are flexible on the dates, you can get some really cheap tickets as well.
University of Georgia
Museums – We went to the Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University. In Athens there is the The Georgia Museum of Natural History and The Georgia Museum of Art, both open to the public. More than one person has told me I should go to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a part of the University of Georgia. The Garden is 313 acres of Displays, Natural areas, and Conservation.

NE Georgia History Center
Classes -Brenau University has The Center for Lifetime Study that provides opportunities for lifelong learning, leadership and cultural exploration to mature adults throughout northeast Georgia. This includes BULLI which offers a wide range of courses from each of four categories – academics, the arts, self-improvement and health and wellness. Several in our community take these classes in Gainesville and Braselton.
I have been taking free on-line university courses that I found out about in my writing class here at VDC from FutureLearn.com. I would highly recommend the Mindfullness course. These are fun and no home work!
Mentorships and Interns – I spoke with an official of Lanier Technical School about using one of their students to help me with my web sites and they put me in touch with their head of computer science department. There is also volunteer and charitable opportunities for retirees I found out.
Lively Downtown – is probably due to the number of colleges and the university in Gainesville. College towns are fun.

When I moved to our Active Adult Community, I didn’t know about or consider how receiving the above benefits would help me enjoy my retirement that much more. If you are looking for a place to retire, you may want to consider proximity to colleges and universities a benefit. If you are already in your retirement home, visit the web sites of area colleges and universities to see what they offer.

Robert Fowler

Exercise is a Habit

During our 10-day motor coach trip and several days before and after, I did not exercise. Now back home, I am finding it hard to do my race-walking and other exercise that I looked forward to before.

Exercise Is A Habit

Once formed, an exercise habit is easy to follow. It is also the greatly increases your chance you will get your exercise done for the day.

Establishing an Exercise Plan

Just start and keep it up. More precisely, established a plan of what days you will exercise. Then plan on the same time on your day of excerise. Many people find the best time to exercise is in the mornings, so that you get it done. If you do not plan what days and times you will exercise, then mostly likely you will have things come up to interfere and not get it done. Taking a scheduled exercise class or joining a exercise group is an excellent way to plan your exercise.

After a couple of weeks, your exercise plan becomes a habit and is much easier. It is something you start to enjoy and will miss, as I did, when you failed to do it.

Becoming an Active Adult

Exercise does not have to be a one and done event. Having several types of physical activities each day is ideal. It keeps things interesting and is actually good cross training on different muscles. So walking in the morning and playing pickleball in the afternoon is an example. I found two or three activities a day to be my limit. Some days you take it easier than others, but try to do something each day.

Becoming an Active Adult has become much easier for me since we moved to our Active Adult Community because there are so many opportunities here to take classes or join in group sports of all kinds. I have walked by myself and with a group. I took pickleball lessons and very much love to play with “Larry’s Group”, as we call ourselves. I am Captain of our bocce leauge and do get some exercise there as well. I did Lisa’s Cardio class for almost two years now and really get a workout in an hour there. Joining a softball team would be fun but I just don’t have time.

More Benefits of Being an Active Adult

There are other benefits of being an active adult in addition to getting some exercise. One is it gets you outside and out of the house. Fresh air and nature are therapeutic. Another huge benefit is that it puts you in touch with people, which turns into socialization and new friends.

So Get Started

As the 1980’s Nike slogan said, just do it. Start today. Make your plan and stay with it. Join a team or group. Try not to miss too many days but when you do, get right back in it. If you want to make a huge difference, move to an 55+ active adult community and try out many activities to find out which ones you really like. This is an easy way to become an Active Adult.