Welcome to the Weekend: Lifestyle Update
Happy weekend ladies! I was thinking mine would be a quiet one but a lifestyle decision has kicked us into high gear. If you’ve followed me for a while you know that we’ve hunted for a place to live in retirement. We now live within commuting distance of both Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Because my husband is retired and I can write my blog from almost anywhere, we no longer need to battle traffic and pay higher prices for everything.
We’ve found many great and not so great places but not the one. So with no decision on the horizon, we decided to pack our belongings and move. It seems ass-backward but the market is high and the interest rates are threatening to go up which would make our home harder to sell.
We’ve decided to rent a home in an active retirement community. We’ve been fascinated with their concept and this is a great way to try it without the commitment of buying.
We spent a day there last week and got increasingly excited. It feels like heading to summer camp. Lots of friendly people to meet, all close to our age and at the same stage of life.
This place has 2 lodges, 2 indoor and 2 outdoor swimming pools, Bocce courts, tennis and pickleball courts, softball diamond, golf and miles of walking trails. It has several restaurants, 2 fully equipped sports complexes, a lunch spot, every kind of group and club you can imagine plus a summer concert series in their amphitheater.
The best part? It’s 20 minutes from my grandson! That’s the biggest score for me.
If we like the lifestyle we’ll check out homes to buy next year.
I’m already packing my brains out and wondering why I own so many things! I’ll keep you posted on our progress!
And now for some retail therapy. Here are some of the great sales this weekend:
Ann Taylor is giving 40% full priced tops and sweaters with the code TOPSTYLES.
Chico’s is giving 40% select styles and buy one, get one 50% full-priced tops, jacket, and sweaters with the code 81876
Banana Republic is giving up to 40% off “must have” styles, no code needed.
J.Crew Factory is giving 40-60% off select with the code DETAILS.
Macy’s is giving an extra 20% off with the code WKND25. Now is the time to get another color in this awesome denim jacket because it’s down to $38.39!
Loft is giving $25 off full price pants and jeans.
Have you thought of living in an active retirement community?
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Hi, Jennifer. I am very interested in retirement communities. I have been looking in Arizona and New Mexico. I am excited to see what all you share with your readers. Good luck with the packing and selling. I enjoy your blog. Thanks for your hard work.
Thanks Linda. I will let you know the good, the bad and the ugly that we find. Thanks for being here.
How exciting Jennifer! We are planning the same although the real estate market is no longer hot here after being on fire early last year. I just want to rent while we wait for that right home and location. In the meantime we are still working long hours in our careers. It’s hard to do it all these days and retirement sounds great . Until then I look forward to hearing about your adventures!
We have not rented for almost 40 years so this will be interesting. I hope things open up for you Janet. Those fires were devastating for those who lost homes and those who lived near them.
Our neighbor told us the key word when you move. Ruthless. When you are packing and donating and discarding and selling all the stuff you acquire over the years, you need to be ruthless. If one of us hesitated over an item, the other one would say ruthless, and out it would go. My mother was a hoarder. I don’t ever want to do that to my children. And I have never missed any of the stuff we got rid of!
So true Pam. You and I know this but my husband is still struggling to let go of stuff “we may need later”! In fact, he packed the packing tape inside a box today:))
Exciting times!Hope your packing goes well and I bet there is an element of relief in your decision.Who knows what you mind find!
There is relief in deciding this. I was so stressed not knowing what we should do but knowing that we had to do something:)
Congrats! We are packing and putting our house on the market soon, too. Not going to an adult community–but getting closer to a couple of my granddaughters. Good luck to us both. Change is a lot of work, but so exciting!!!!!
Awesome Beverly!! It is stressful but the rewards will be so fabulous for both of us! Good luck
Congratulations! I echo your interest in an active retirement community. It sounds like college all over again but with out all the studying. I just moved so I understand the fatigue and constant decisions of what to put where. We downsized to a smaller house as we house hunt. I also want to congratulate you on the relocation to a spot closer to your grandson.
Great analogy. It does seem like college without the stress! Downsizing is stressful but ultimately a smart move for us.
Good luck with the move! How exciting. And smart to move while the economy/interest rates are good. We’ll eventually have to do a move, but we’re hoping it’s not for a while yet.
Thanks Laurel!
Good luck to you! We are in a similar position but not quite ready to move just yet. Being closer to the grandchildren though is a great motivation!
It was not our original goal but we’re thrilled it’s working out this way.
I wish you both the best with this decision and renting for a year should help with your final decision. Personally, I can’t imagine moving from my home of 52 years. I still have two single adult sons living here, but it’s definitely more like housemates than mom and sons. We share the expenses and responsibilities. We all have busy schedules, and I can be gone for days or weeks at a time since I can also run my Avon business from anywhere . I love not having to worry about anything when I travel. There’s always someone around the house to do the yard work, do minor house repairs, and care for the pets. I honestly feel like I have the best of both worlds, an independent semiretired widow and a mom/grandma who loves spending time with her family.
Retirement communities are a nice option for many and I hope you learn if it’s what you want.
It sounds like you do have the best of both worlds Norma! Way to go.
My grandson is less than ten minutes away so I know how much it means to you having your little guy closer! Renting is something we are contemplating seriously. I don’t foresee any issue selling our current house as it’s in a highly desirable urban area of our city. It’s just that we don’t want to ‘settle’ on any condo available because a new owner wants us out ASAP! My husband is the kind of guy who really values home ownership so renting even for a short time might be a stretch. Also #2 is still home and has two more years of University so proximity to that is important. Once he leaves the nest we could consider a condo in a suburban neighbourhood but our plan is to only keep one car and walk as much as possible and I love living in the city!
Gosh, so many decisions! Wise to clear out all your ‘extras’ now!! My two brothers and I must now wade through the hoarders nest that was our 92 year old parent’s townhouse now that they are ensconced in a retirement home….
Good luck weeding through your parents’ things Alison. That’s such an emotional time. We will be renting a single family home because my husband won’t consider anything smaller. I’d be fine in a condo but he wants a house. Being closer to my grandson will be the greatest joy!!
Best of luck on your move! I know you will enjoy being near family, especially your grandson!
Thank you! We will and are so excited to spend more time with him
I look forward to hearing all about it! Having spent our careers as elementary school teachers, hubby and I are so accustomed to having children around that we’re not sure how well we would adapt to an adult only retirement community. We are thinking of making a move though, but like you we’re not sure where we want to go. Houses in our area are not selling well right now, so we may not be able to go anywhere in the near future, but I think I’m going to start sorting and getting rid of stuff anyway so that we’re ready if and when the time comes.
It’s a good idea to clean out early. It’s such a long process. This neighborhood has lots of visiting grandchildren and children.
You have had home ownership and now your finding a new way of living without as much responsibility. I’m sure you will enjoy renting and not having to worry about the next thing you have to get repaired. So happy your going to be closer to your Grandson. The very, very best wishes to you.
I am really looking forward to that lack of responsibility. It’s a whole new way of living which will be fun to explore. Thanks, Valencia!
I have childhood friends that chose to live in the retirement communities and are extremely happy. I have a hard time leaving my bayfront view.
Trying to make a color decision on denim jacket – white or blue – white washes me out but more cruise and summer worthy.
I’d have a hard time leaving a view of the water too. If white washes you out, choose something that doesn’t. White is dressier then blue.
Wow! What a big adventure. Wishing you the best on this new phase in your life. It’s really interesting to follow you as your life changes. Thanks for taking us all along – and reading above, I’m so glad to be one of your friends!
Thanks Kathleen! It’s a ton of work but so exciting! Thanks for being here xx
We did it in December of last year and are constantly asking why we didn’t pull the trigger sooner. We are having a great time. We feel like we’ve moved away from home and have gotten our first apartment all over again! I would recommend it to anyone. We rent – home ownership was a real joy for us for many, many years but sitting through last night’s North east storm and not worrying about what was happening outside our door is so freeing. For those thinking about it, go for it!!
Excellent point!! We haven’t rented since we were newlyweds. It’s going to be fun!
That was so smart of you. Our current home is 2 story which is tough with his knee and my hip. Getting old is not for sissies.
I think we should all move with you! It sounds fabulous!! Good luck with all the packing. When we built our house 25 years ago and were young things, we built it handicap accessible so we can hopefully stay here the rest of our lives. Little did I know I’d be having an accident last summer and needing a wheelchair! But it all worked great.
Where is this community, it sounds like where I am in Sacramento!
Close to Sacramento. It’s a Dell Webb!
Is it Sun city Lincoln Hills? That’s where I live, and I work at Sun City Roseville, they are both Del Webb communities. Gosh, we could be neighbors!
I retired this year, wanted to move south but am afraid I may not like it. Did you put your home on the market?
It will be on the market in several weeks. We are frantically packing and getting ready to show it at its best. I may not like where we go which is why we are renting. That leaves our options open.
We live in a Del Webb retirement community in Georgetown, Texas and it has exceeded my expectations. I never want to live anywhere else. Just this week we enjoyed a great dinner in one our neighborhood restaurants and then enjoyed a live theatre production — all without leaving the neighborhood.
That sounds perfect! This is a Dell Webb too.
We moved out of LA to Auburn Lake Trails. Not a retirement community, but has trails and golf and a pool. We don’t own horses, but many people here do.
My daughter and family live in the Bay Area, so we are close enough without the expense of living in the Bay Area. We love it!
That sounds fabulous Anne. The Bay Area is insanely expensive if you don’t need to live here.
We are a little behind you in that aspect. My husband has been retired for 2 years now but I still want to work for a couple of years. Not sure what we want to do but we sure don’t need our big house right now. The kids left (but their dog is still here). Thinking that an adult community might be just what we need to look for. Keep us posted!
They left their dog? We’ve been considering this option for awhile. They have so many activities it seems like great fun. Hopefully it will be.
How exciting. Very smart to rent first.
You may wonder why you own lots of things, knowing you they will all be well organized.
Mine is pretty organized but the Mr’s are not! But, I can’t do it all so I have to let that go;)
Jennifer,
I would love to hear more of your thoughts in the coming months about the active retirement community and what it has to offer.
As an interior designer, many of my clients who are retired are having to make life decisions on either staying in their city, move near their children, and downsize.
Active retirement communities are becoming a topic of decision for my baby boomer clients.
Hugs,
Robin
I will certainly share here Robin. Many of us are at the same stage.
I want to tell you how much I enjoy your personality, irreverence and humor in your writing. You sincerely care and put effort into looking good and teaching every small detail to help your readers. You ability to share your thoughts and travels and adventures make me wish I had you as a friend. We would certainly have some laughs.
Thank you June! I think of you all as my friends.
Smart move to rent for a year! It gives you time to see if you like the Community. Good luck!
Exactly!! It’s hard not to jump and buy but I want to get to know the area first.
I am so excited for you! You may end up loving the lifestyle so much, that you do not want to leave…and how wonderful it is so close to your grandson!
Exactly!! I sure hope so.
You’ll Love active adult community. It has been a great decision for us. We’ve made many friends with common interests. Best of Luck
I tried a retirement community and I was bored, every resident still believed that FDR was still President and squawked their progressive policies during ‘discussion’ groups held at the retirement community bar, without allowing response from retirement community conservatives. We ran and found friendlier quarters in the back gardens of a former Japanese Prime Minister who fled his country. We’re waaaay out in West Virginia and we’ve been happy ever since, sick on sushi but stylish and happy.
Yay, I’m so happy to hear that!! That’s our hope too.
That’s what we’re hoping for Jane!
Sounds perfect!! You must be so excited to have a plan in mind. Good luck with the move.
It is exciting to have a plan. Hopefully we’ll love it there.