“Why didn’t we do this five years ago!” How many times have you heard that phrase? After nearly 20 wonderful, exciting, fulfilling years in Sun City, Gina and I finally decided to sell the house and move to an Independent Living Facility. Among the first things we said to ourselves after we settled in was: “Why didn’t we do this five years ago?”
So, why didn’t we do this five years ago? Lots of reasons. First, we were well ingrained in the social structure of Sun City, enjoying the extensive amenities, and had fabulous neighbors. We had also become part of the governance structure, both in Sun City and in Georgetown. As I expressed at nearly every public forum in which I participated (and there were many): “Georgetown/Sun City is the best place we have ever lived, and we have lived in a lot of really nice places.” So why in the world would we even consider leaving?
Well, things change. Sun City and Georgetown didn’t change; in fact they got even better over the years. We changed. As we got older, our bodies began an ungraceful atrophy. It got harder to get out and enjoy the amenities. Even though we did our best to remain active socially, politically, and with volunteering, “getting there” became a chore. It was clear we needed to consider downsizing and take a serious look at some of the independent living facilities.
We dreaded the idea of moving into an “old folks home”. The thought of us in an apartment where neighbors were “a touch away”, suffering through institutional food, and having to beg property managers for even simple repairs, just wasn’t part of our game plan. So we delayed the decision for several years.
But last year it became apparent that either we were going to make the decision to downsize and move on our own, or circumstances would force that decision on us, at an inconvenient moment. We wanted to control our own destiny, so we made the decision to sell, downsize, and move.
We’ve been here for nearly a year and it’s obvious our concerns were entirely misplaced. Social interaction, physical activity, and healthy eating are keys to thriving after 55, and most certainly when you reach our ages. Now, and to my amazement, we’ve had more social interactions in the first months of living here than we had in the last few years in Sun City.
That’s not to denigrate Sun City; it’s just that we couldn’t get out and enjoy what we had there. Here we only have to open the door and the world awaits within the complex. There’s a wide array of exercises programs, ranging from Light and Lively in the morning (aka, “morning stretch”), to balance classes, to more intense aerobics, to the very peaceful practice of yoga. Then there’s beanbag baseball (a sport in and of itself….), complete with teams and an eight-week recurring seasonal competition.
Board and card games abound. For musical entertainment, there’s karaoke (where the whole audience sings), and then a quarterly theater production (last time was Guys and Dolls, prior to that it was The Jungle Book).
There’s regular trips and tours (locally and to nearby sites) and an art studio (with a resident artist-teacher), a very active performing arts group, gardening, and a hair/nails salon. We have our own chapel, with resident pastors.
There’s a fascinating weekly lecture series, sponsored by several retired university professors, titled “Turning Points in World History”. We have both modern and “age appropriate” movies (i.e., oldies but goodies), and even old time radio with replays of programs from our youth!
The dining room is a socialization hub and the food is excellent, healthy, with multiple options, and a far cry from being “institutional food”. There’s no reserved seating, and sitting with a new person, or persons, is part of the lifestyle. People linger, stories are shared, as plans and new friends are made at the dining table. It’s not a restaurant; it’s home. And that’s nice.
Finally, yes it’s an older crowd, so we’re all “in the same boat”—but it’s a cruise boat! We have so many opportunities to do things that Gina and I have a “scheduling conference” each Sunday to make sure we’re not missing anything important, or, at the other end of the spectrum, wearing ourselves out. If you’re bored, or if you can’t find an activity to join, then it’s of your own volition. We love it!
So, “why didn’t we do this earlier?” Two reasons. First, we didn’t fully appreciate how isolated and insulated we had become by not being able to get out and about as much as we had earlier. And second, we weren’t well enough informed about the actual environment in an independent living facility.
It’s obviously worked out very well for us and I encourage you to at least do some investigation once you cross the age 55 threshold so you understand the nature of the choice.
One final note. If moving to an independent living facility is in your future, I strongly suggest you do some research and facility tours well ahead of time. Each facility is unique, and each individual has unique wants and needs. Site visits can tell you a lot about not just the amenities, but the vibe and tempo of the facility. Then, if you have a preference, get your name on the waiting list. The lines can be long (years long in some cases) for the type of unit that fits your needs.
And then, when the time comes, you can —
Go For It!