Senior Center...join or not?

[BUM]

A few months ago DW dragged me to lunch at the local senior center. Since then I visit a few times per week and donate time and money. At the same time, I've met wonderful folks, politions, reporters, philantropists, fishermen, and neighbors I otherwise wouldn't know.

I'm starting to realize that all SC's are not created equal. It seems that if they take state money, lots of strings get attached (some good, some not). A gross generalization is that small town SC's are way more fun than big city SC's. Ours is all volunteer, period. Nobody gets a dime. Great food, big fun. Its really something. The list of free services and things to do, and places to go is daunting. Membership is five dollars per annum.

Saturday night I'm going to Italian Club, whatever that is in NC. I can see DW getting a phone call.... "I'm sorry, he's gone and dere was nuttin' we could do about it, y'all."

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUM Membership is five dollars per annum.

BUM, how you choose to spend your money in retirement is a very personal choice. If you think it's worth the annual membership fee and you can make it fit in your budget, I say go for it!

[Eagle43]

Membership is 5 bucks. Hardly good tip money. Do it if it interests you. DW, who's into line dancing, goes to some dance classes in a SC. I've been to watch a couple of their performances. Lots of food, lots of coffee. No wine, though.

[73ss454]

Bum, I think you can squeeeeeze the 5 bucks into your budget.

[Goonie]

My Mom goes to our local Senior Center, and not only sees people she already knows, but also meets many others that she never would have met otherwise. And like you state, somethings are good and some things are not quite so good, but the good by far out-weighs the other.

They have Tai Chi a few times a week.....also computer classes. There's a monthly potluck where the SC supplies the meat, drinks (non-alcholic), and some other stuff....and each person brings a dish to pass. They also offer a daily hot meal for a very small set cost....something like $3-$4.....and the people can take extra food home home to have for their evening meal (at no additional cost). Of course, I think the "Gamblin' Grannies" really like, best of all, the bingo and bunko games that each happen a couple of times a week.

They have a few day trips each year, but not very many since there are a lot of other day trip options available in our community.....3 of the local banks have travel groups, as well as the local chapter of the AARP, and a tour/travel company that offers a LOT of one-day and multi-day trips at very reasonable prices.

Our SC doesn't have any membership fee....of course they do receive tax $$....and as such, there are some 'strings' attached that place a few limits on what they can and can't do.....but not to tight of a straight-jacket.

[tangomonster]

How old are most of the people at SCs? Like for tai Chi classes?

[haha]

I went for while in my former small town. A lot of well to do accomplished guys, a lot of people well informed about Medicare, SS, etc. Plenty old women, too.

My hang-up as that it smelled like like assisted living. I am always wanting to do free or cheap age appropriate things, but I can't get past the "senior smell". Where I live now, the old people are either poor and living in various senior housing projects, or prosperous-appearing gay men.

Ha

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUM A few months ago DW dragged me to lunch at the local senior center. Since then I visit a few times per week and donate time and money. At the same time, I've met wonderful folks, politions, reporters, philantropists, fishermen, and neighbors I otherwise wouldn't know. I'm starting to realize that all SC's are not created equal. It seems that if they take state money, lots of strings get attached (some good, some not). A gross generalization is that small town SC's are way more fun than big city SC's. Ours is all volunteer, period. Nobody gets a dime. Great food, big fun. Its really something. The list of free services and things to do, and places to go is daunting. Membership is five dollars per annum.

That sounds like a wonderful opportunity, and what a great price! I'd join in a heartbeat. With all those activities, and all the time in the world to enjoy them and to get to know everyone, it sounds like a great resource in your ER.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha My hang-up as that it smelled like like assisted living.

What does assisted living smell like? Ben-Gay?

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire What does assisted living smell like? Ben-Gay?

More like death.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha More like death.

Yuck. It would be hard to enjoy activities under those circumstances, I agree.

[Moemg]

I'd join but I don't consider myself a senior yet . Seniors women wear polyester pants and flamingo shirts and orthopedic sandals and have their manicures in shades of light orange and their hair is set not wash and wear . They probably have purses to match their outfits and orange lipstick to match their manicures . They trade in their Lincoln every few years and sometimes switch to a caddy . They go out to eat at 4 not only for the early bird special but the two for one martinis. Their husbands are usually named Carl or Earl and they have white shoes and polyester pants also .They always drive because the little lady gets lost . Okay ,I think I've been in Florida too long .

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moemg Seniors women wear polyester pants and flamingo shirts and orthopedic sandals and have their manicures in shades of light orange and their hair is set not wash and wear . They probably have purses to match their outfits and orange lipstick to match their manicures . They trade in their Lincoln every few years and sometimes switch to a caddy . They go out to eat at 4 not only for the early bird special but the two for one martinis. Their husbands are usually named Carl or Earl and they have white shoes and polyester pants also .They always drive because the little lady gets lost .

You should write screenplays.

Ha

[Notmuchlonger]

Geez I almost got a bit depressed reading this thread :confused:

[mickeyd]

Quote:

Membership is five dollars per annum.

Sounds to me like you have already gotten your $ back on that one.

DW volunteers at a local SC (no $5 fee) and has suggested that I come along one day and give it a go, but I always seem to have something else cooking. I will no doubt get over there sometime in the future and will probably love it which will complicate my life even more!

[tangomonster]

Okay, so inquiring minds still want to know: how old are people at the senior center? At 54, I'm still a little too young for it, I suppose?

[Goonie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangomonster Okay, so inquiring minds still want to know: how old are people at the senior center? At 54, I'm still a little too young for it, I suppose?

The ages of the folks that go to the SC here, start around 60 and go up through mid-late 80's. And most of the the ones doing Tai Chi are late 60's through 80's. One of our friends who goes there occasionally is 81, but doesn't have a lot of time for it, because she's too busy walking or running. She runs in 10 or 12 races a year....5K's, 10K's, and stuff like that.

I think, over all, most of the folks that go to our SC are pretty spry for their ages.

Oh, and the place doesn't have a nasty smell either.

[Achiever51]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moemg I'd join but I don't consider myself a senior yet . Seniors women wear polyester pants and flamingo shirts and orthopedic sandals and have their manicures in shades of light orange and their hair is set not wash and wear . They probably have purses to match their outfits and orange lipstick to match their manicures . They trade in their Lincoln every few years and sometimes switch to a caddy . They go out to eat at 4 not only for the early bird special but the two for one martinis. Their husbands are usually named Carl or Earl and they have white shoes and polyester pants also .They always drive because the little lady gets lost . Okay ,I think I've been in Florida too long .

Oh, so THAT's where Aunt Julia moved!! Hey, if you run into her, tell her to call home...I'm sure the number is in the purse that matches the hula shirt...or she can look in the glove box of the Caddy for the address book. (By the way, you'd know who she is because she's the one who drives all the time with her high beam lights on. Why? Cause she just can't remember to use the thingy on the steering wheel to switch to low beams. She keeps stomping around on the floorboards looking for the switch there!!)

[Eagle43]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Achiever51 Oh, so THAT's where Aunt Julia moved!! Hey, if you run into her, tell her to call home...I'm sure the number is in the purse that matches the hula shirt...or she can look in the glove box of the Caddy for the address book. (By the way, you'd know who she is because she's the one who drives all the time with her high beam lights on. Why? Cause she just can't remember to use the thingy on the steering wheel to switch to low beams. She keeps stomping around on the floorboards looking for the switch there!!)

I read somewhere about senior housing whereby the elderly women were evaluating the men. It seems that the most attractive quality was "still being able to drive at night." Finally I am a hot prospect.

[BanDit1]

We have a really nice, brand new, modern Senior Center only about 1-2 miles from where I live. My problem is that I have the "perception" that everyone going to a Senior Center is 15-20 years older than me and that I won't have much in common with them.

Am I off base with that?