🏡 How to Know If a 55+ Community is Right For You (AARP Article)

[Winter2025VA]

FROM THE ARTICLE.

7 Questions to Ask Before Moving to a 55+ Community.

Are you ready to downsize? And do you like to be social? Here's what to know before joining a community for older adults.

By Matt Swenson, AARP.

*** There is 1 comment on the AARP Website. Stop by to add yours. ***

Published July 09, 2025.

Connie Beck and her husband, Michael Beck, knew it was time to move on when her father-in-law passed away in 2018. Their caregiving duties were the last connection to Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, which they felt was a nice place to live but not retire.

USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE.

https://www.aarp.org/home-living/is-over-55-community-right-for-you/

[Winter2025VA]

(1) Anyone living in an Age 55+ Community?  🤔

(2) If YES, any tips to share?

(3) And anyone wanting to move into one?

(4) If YES, what steps have you taken to accomplish your goal?

Take care,

Nicole  ‌👴‌‌👵‌  (Retirement Forum)

[Winter2025VA]

I wonder IF the community in Ocala, Florida paid AARP to mention them in this article & feature a couple living there.

Not saying this a bad thing, but from someone who moved from Florida to Virginia in 2015 = NOT the state to retire in. But we all have to retire WHERE we want to.

Any retirees in Florida?  🤔

Take care,

Nicole (Friends & Family Forum)

[GailL1]

Ocala, FL has long been known as a retirement area - inland FL, still mid weather most of the time - but cost have soared because people have decided to retire there and not just the budget minded seniors - all these amenities cost lots of money.

I looked into them but it wasn’t my style - I prefer the solitary lifestyle; not much on socialization or golf.  I am definitely not a POMS girl even though I love the movie especially Diane Keaton.  

Funny how the AARP article says nothing about the price.  Are communities like these what seniors talk about when they discuss affordability?  

Guess AARP has to have something for every style and price point for seniors.  

“retire WHERE we want to” ?   Has now been modified to mean “retire WHERE one can afford”.  

[Winter2025VA]

Gail @GailL1 , an excellent comment as usual!!! 👍

I guess everyone has to decide what they want their Retirement Housing to be.

Personally, like you - I am a loner and dream of getting back to the "peace & quiet" I had as a child (lived in country,lots of land).

Now as I age (age 67), commonsense REMINDS me that I will need to be able to get to the important stuff (grocery store,Medicare doctor,dentist,mechanic). Where I am in Virginia, I am within a couple of miles of them ALL.

Lol, BUT, my neighbors are driving me crazy.

Take care,

Nicole!