High in Retirement
Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, we had the carefree life of playing outdoors with almost no threats, leaving doors unlocked, and staying out until the streetlights came on. I was involved playing stickball in the street, Cub Scouts, and Little League baseball. The milk was delivered to our house and dropped-off by the front door. We knew our mailman and newspaper delivery boy by their first names.
A lot has changed in American society since then. Child predators patrol our streets, thieves case our neighborhoods, and porch pirates steal our packages. A far cry from my idyllic youth.
How do we get back to that place after a hectic and sometimes stressful career? The place where we knew almost everyone, felt comfortable meeting strangers, with little hesitation to step outside our comfort zone. In my opinion, I have found the perfect solution. I live in an Active 55+ retirement community.
Homeowner Association (HOA) living is not for everyone. Where I live is the first HOA my wife and I have called home. I was skeptical and apprehensive as I pulled the trigger and bought our house. My mind was telling me there were too many old people living in those places, and I wouldn't fit in. What was I in for?
As it turned out, I overthought the negatives and found an upbeat, welcoming, and affordable community by most accounts, and with what I feel are moderate governing rules that are not exceptionally intrusive. My wife and I moved here in 2019 after making the best decision of our lives.
The descriptive, ACTIVE 55+, is the key. Our community has 2,500 homes sitting on 1,000 acres. We have over 150 clubs, 10 meeting rooms, 2 pools, a full size gym with over 40 workout machines, bocce ball, miniature golf, tennis, pickleball and pop tennis courts, plus an 18-hole golf course and restaurant on site. There are hiking, biking, gun clubs, and numerous card and board game clubs. After moving here, I felt like a kid in a candy story; I wanted to do everything. I immediately got involved in bocce, water volleyball, card games, golf, pop tennis, performing with the theater group, and I started and now run a Veterans club. After living here for five years, I am considered an elder statesman, spending three years on the Board of Directors, the last year as president.
Our HOA community is financially strong, safe from crime, hospitable, and has a plethora of amenities and activities, all in our backyard. I'm living my childhood all over again. As Bobby McFerrin sang in his 1988 hit song, “Don't Worry, Be Happy” it is so apropos for me; I’m living high in retirement.
