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Rebecca Weston's avatar

I remember a friend (in his 70s at the time) who said he'd never move to a "retirement" community because why would he only want to be around people over a specific age? He stayed as long as he could in his home in a vibrant neighborhood with people of all ages. I'm happy to see the trend is starting to shift a little. Thanks for sharing your take on this with us. Looking forward to reading more of your work.

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Nikki Finlay's avatar

I was just hearing about The Villages. My husband are I looking into Active 55 communities and a friend sang the jingle. We heard another such community near Knoxville.

But neither is near our grandson. For now, we stay put.

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Bryan Kelly's avatar

That's a wonderful reason to stay put for now Nikki. Plus I'm sure there will lot more options in the near future.

I just covered this in my digest this morning about housing: https://www.ageproofdesign.com/i/173145536/the-housing-mismatch-design-opportunity

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Marylee Pangman, Author's avatar

It’s great that you and your wife chose this community. We have options here in Tucson but chose to live in an in-town executive golf course community. Love it here.

I hope your campaign to share this POV goes fast and wide.

My fiction represents the type of women you’re talking about. (And me!)

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Backroad Portfolio's avatar

Very inspirational advice that I will share with many of my loved ones. Thank you, Bryan!

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JenX's avatar

I'm so fascinated by the mall walkers and the pickle ball players. So competitive? Ran my baton twirler >-------< off the courts every time. So much for sweet granny. 👵🏻

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Bryan Kelly's avatar

Yes, sometimes they are fierce Jen!

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Rachel McAlpine's avatar

Your story has so many interesting implications. Can age-friendly communities be starting from retirement villages? Bring it on.

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Tobin Trevarthen's avatar

I appreciate that you are living your experience as opposed to just writing about it from an outside in view. This is how stereotyping gets neutralized. Keep up the good work. It is infectious.

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Judith Gotwald's avatar

Very reassuring to this 70-year-old

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

I love this and would love to live in a place like it, with more community! I'd want to stay in the SF Bay Area, though. Hope there will be options like that here before long — I'm about to turn 64 and have been longing for more community, and I especially want to ensure my husband and I have that as we grow older.

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Bryan Kelly's avatar

That would be great Rosana. You mentioning this makes me think of the show called Man On the Inside with Ted Danson. Have you seen it? He moves into a retirement community in SF. It’s a funny and lovely story.

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Rosana Francescato's avatar

We did see that show and enjoyed it! I thought it was more of an assisted living place, and it didn't seem like any I've seen in the actual world. ;-) Still a good show, though!

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Jan Hempstead, RN's avatar

Curious if there are any communities like this in the Northeast?

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Bryan Kelly's avatar

Not that I’m aware of at this scale.

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