2 Things To Look For When Moving To A 55 And Over Community
Once you retire, you may decide that you are ready to sell your house and move into a community that is designed for people who are 55 years old or older. If that's what you want to do, there are several things that you should look at before you make your final decision:
Transportation
You may get to a point where you can't drive, or you are uncomfortable driving. If that happens, you don't want to be stuck in the house, so you should investigate what kind of public transportation services are in your area of interest. Some communities offer their own shuttle services to places like grocery stores and pharmacies. They will have a regular schedule that they keep. That means that you know when they will be at a particular place and where they are going. You may also be able to schedule special rides. For example, if you want to see a movie or get your hair done, you can call up the transportation center and arrange for a ride to come pick you up and take you then bring you home. You will likely have to schedule at least a day in advance so that there aren't other people who want to use the shuttles at the same time or so that they can consolidate rides.
Activities
Just because you've retired from your job doesn't mean that you've retired from life. In fact, you have more time to do things now than you did before. So, check to see if the community you are interested in has activities that you can take advantage of. Those activities could be anything from classes in underwater basket weaving to weekend trips to other cities for sightseeing or to go to the theater. You may also want to see if they have weekly groups that meet. For example, there may be a luncheon group which meets at a restaurant once a week, which would let regulars try different restaurants, hang out with friends, and just socialize in general. Or, you may be able to find a wine lovers group, photography group, or anything you are interested in. If you didn't have the chance to learn a hobby that you always wanted to, this could be the time to learn that hobby.
If you have retired, you may want to downsize your house and move into a senior citizen community. Contact local 55 and older communities for more information and assistance.
