Retirement Media: Active Adult Living – Page 20 – Blog about living in a 55+ community

The article posted the question, “What do we want most in our retirement years?”.

The article was one that caught my eye since I read just about everything I see about retirement. It turned out to be a sales promotion by a financial advisor. You know the type that says us Boomers are doomed because they don’t think we saved enough and we need their help. The caption under the large photo with the retired couple with the man’s hands around his head in despair was: Have we saved enough for retirement?

I find these type articles distasteful and probably unhelpful to those who actually need help, but like most things, there was a bit of truth in it. The question they raised “What do we want most in our retirement years?, was answered with three words: Financial Security, Health, and Companionship.

I thought since we are writing about 55+ Active Adult Communities, it would be fun to see how those relate.

Financial Security: To live in a 55+ Active Adult Community, at least the large ones like those of Del Webb, Cresswind (Kolter), Robson Resort, Lennar or any of the other Top Active Adult Community Builders, you need to have at least the average amount of financial resources. You don’t have to be wealthy by any means, but you need some means. Most people that live in these communities have successfully accumulated funds for a good retirement.

Having said that, I think living in an Active Adult Community is a wise step that does help to protect your financial security by letting you know your housing costs, having some expenses like landscaping included in the HOA fees, providing entertainment and activities.

Health: Active Adult Communities are excellent in providing all sorts of physical and mental activities to keep you healthy. Physical activities including walking, swimming, pickleball, softball and many more. Mental activities are important also and these communities provide forums and learning opportunities, games and activities to keep your mind working. Plus most of these communities are located near a hospital and medical buildings full of doctors. Floor plans are of the Universal Design that includes one level living with no steps, higher counter tops and commodes and many other features that promote safer and easier living.

Companionship: There is a calendar full of socialization opportunities for just about every day of the week. You can just walk out your door and pretty soon you will be talking with someone. Some activities recur several times a week, weekly and monthly. You get to know those who share the same interests as you do.

I think at least a third or more of my community are single. There are active single clubs and informal single groups that do things together. Plus singles are better assimilated into activities here because of so many group activities.

So if the article is correct and what we most want in retirement is Financial Security, Health, and Companionship, living in an Active Retirement Community can help.

Now, let me see if I can find a happy photo of retirement for the top of this post (me with a friend last week at the Gainesville Botanical Garden), not this one with the distraught couple worrying about retirement (below).

Since moving in to our Del Webb community, Mary Ann and I learned to share many activities but there are some activities we both do on our own.

One activity Mary Ann enjoys is the ladies card games, especially something called Hand and Foot. It is kind of like playing Canasta I have heard.

There is a large group that plays at our clubhouse, but Mary Ann plays with a group of ladies on our street and they take turns playing at each other homes, usually playing for several hours the same day each week. It seems like Thursdays are the hot card game day of the week in our community. The group is either 4 or 6 and they play as partners of two. The regular schedule makes it easy.

Mary Ann says it’s good mental exercise but I suspect it is the social aspect that the players enjoy the most. Mary Ann always comes home with a bit of neighborhood news. Coffee and snacks are served.

Other benefits of playing Hand and Foot with this group is that it keeps you in contact with your neighbors. When we were new to the community, it was a great way to really get to know your neighbors.

These types of card games are going on almost every day of the week throughout the community and at the clubhouse. Just because I give the example of the ladies card game, it in no way implies men don’t play. There are plenty of men playing card games and not just poker. Anyone can just show up at the clubhouse when any card or table game is on the schedule and be included. If it’s just you, you will have no problem finding partners to play with. It fact it’s a great way to meet people and find new friends.

As far as popularity, I would guess that card and table games are enjoyed by more people than any other activity at a 55+ active adult community. It’s easy to learn, to find people to play with and you can play all year long.

To give you an idea of how popular card cards are, just looking at our schedule this month, here are some of the card games scheduled (not even counting the many table games).

Shanghai Rummy is a card game for 3 – 8 players. In some parts of the country, it is called May I?. It is a version of Contract Rummy consisting of a series of rounds.
Duplicate Bridge Club, Rusty Bridge Club, Contract Bridge Club
Double Deck Pinochle Group
Hand and Foot has been a huge hit in our community. If you are in an existing Hand and Foot Player and just can’t get enough OR you would like to join others in the fantastic game similar to Canasta, join this group and let’s get started with some more Hand and Foot!!
The Men’s Poker Group meets every Tuesday in the clubhouse lounge. A third table has been added so there’s now space for more players.
Hearts Group
Co-Ed Texas Hold’em Group
Spades Group
Euchre Card Game Club
Daytimers Texas Hold’em Group

If you don’t see a card game you would like to play, you can just start a group.