I found the article interesting, and possibly a way to go, but seen from an eye that is younger, and somewhat opinionated.
Jeanie and I have "been there, and done that"... no, not quite the same, but the first 20+ years in our Florida Lake Griffin Harbor community. A young and super active life that most can only dream about. Close knit, happy, busy community with everything a retiree could wish for. Dances, parties, boating, pool bobbing, and short travel to Daytona once a week with the local car-a-van.
And a loving help-one-another feeling. Something to do, each day... every day. Several youtube videos.
A wonderful life at a very low cost.
That was half the year. the other half, no less busy, close kit smaller neighborhood. Eight close knit families with one objective... FUN. Yeah, in a campground with 6500 sites.
We could have continued, but we got older, and looked around for a better fit.
Yeah... I admit it... older, slower, no late nights, no seven to midnight parties or dances. No more emceeing or organizing trips.
Contentment is a matter of perception. Our CCRC DOES have activities and trips, and just about anything we want or need, but the peace and quiet of our home... watching TV, playing in the computer and indulging all of those interests that we never had time for are more in line with what we enjoy as we go through our eighties.
I gave up my 25 mile bike rides a few years ago, and my canoeing is more like half hour rides... no more rivers.
An interesting aside. Of the hundreds of people who lived the "over55"" dream when we were snowbirding, almost all have returned to their northern homes and families as they got to their 70's. Plus... believe it or not we like the seasons... snowing lightly right now.
We love hearing stories about those guys and gals in their 90's...still touring the world, running marathons etc... but it ain't us.
Margaritaville... nice to have choices, eventually a lot like The Villages...choices unlimited, but eventually limitations of age. If it had been an option back in the '90's we would probably have looked, as we did with the Villages (which we couldn't have afforded).
Still, no regerts