45th Birthday
Recycles dryer sheets
From the rumors I've heard about these senior communities, quite a few folks have a "burning" need, and I'm not talking shuffleboard...
Actually, apparently the burning starts soon after the need is met.
From the rumors I've heard about these senior communities, quite a few folks have a "burning" need, and I'm not talking shuffleboard...
Salt water pools are in fact chlorinated. Instead of adding chlorine directly to the water, they utilize a chlorine generator that converts the salt in the water into chlorine, which is what sanitizes the pool water. Salt=NaCl=sodium chloride.
That is not a 55+ retirement community. That is long term care/nursing home - a completely different animal with a much older clientele.I haven't seen anyone mention prices yet. I was stunned to hear the prices my mother talking about as she was contemplating moving herself and my dad into a retirement community. The *monthly* cost would be $7,000 for a memory care unit for my dad, and $4,000 for a *regular* place for Mom. Total $11,000 per month (not year).
She feels uncomfortable leaving Dad alone (he has walked out of the house and wandered around at times) and feels trapped babysitting him 24 hours a day. I tell her just to drop him off at adult day care once in a while. Finally she has agreed to check out an adult day care place, which would only be $95 for a 5 hour block ($19 an hour).
I don't want to meddle in her retirement, but it seems she is panicking a bit since Dad has returned home recently from an operation on a broken hip and is now even more senile and needs to be watched. I guess the question is what to do as time goes on Dad gets even worse. They are both in their 90's. Yikes. No great options, it seems.
This thread is helping me feel better about our public pool. Lap lanes are enforced. The noodle bobbers and weavers have their own time.This thread is helping me feel better about the swim spa I bought this year. I can swim outside whenever I want for as long as I want. But the expense gave me pause. I used to swim at the Y but times and lanes were limited due to classes and swim team. I might spring for a 3 month membership during snowy months however.
I haven't seen anyone mention prices yet. I was stunned to hear the prices my mother talking about as she was contemplating moving herself and my dad into a retirement community. The *monthly* cost would be $7,000 for a memory care unit for my dad, and $4,000 for a *regular* place for Mom. Total $11,000 per month (not year).
No, quite the opposite. I failed to consider how this might be different, but I guess it often is.But you don't live in a "retirement community," do you.
I guess I don't understand this pool thing. Is the pool in question designated as having a lap priority? I picture 20 people wanting to use a pool with 6 lap lanes. Should 14 people get out of the pool so 6 people can have a lane all to themselves? My experience with public pools is a bunch of people show up and do what they please. Some swim, some bob, some dive, some chat, some splash, or whatever.
+1. A rope setting off 2 lap lanes at our pool seems to cover it. Laps in the lane, if you are not swimming laps stay out of the lane.
Gees, fritz. They sound like bullies. Senior bullies.
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Didn't mean to broad brush our retirement community as negative, just that there is a sense of entitlement by some that makes it difficult for the majority. We are a very nice 55+ community and the townhomes/single family homes are spacious and the amenities are very nice. I just think that some who buy in here are a little too self-centered unfortunately.
Clubs and groups abound, and there are many opportunities for those looking to get involved with like minded people in their favorite hobby or activity. Management (professional onsite and offsite) has allowed groups of less than a handful to block out time in common activity areas that should be open to anyone who lives here and pays their HOAs as well. They even pay for trainers for certain activities. This makes some of those areas pretty much inaccessible for most of the day for those wanting to use clubhouse activity areas - especially those areas designated for multi use. Kind of like the Y scenario where I used to belong in my earlier years. You join and hope to utilize what you pay for, but the Y would block out a good percentage of prime times and sell it to members and non-members to have their toddlers/kids learn to swim or play a sport. Not against this by any means, but accommodations should be made to allow all paying members to have some access when paid activities are in process.
. Even worse, though, is all the plastic surgery. It makes some if those folks look like they've risen from the dead. Gives me the shivers...
Women and men alike. Clearly, not all plastic surgeons are equally qualified, and many procedures are overcome by time.Have you noticed how the women start resembling lions after too many face lifts ?
Have you noticed how the women start resembling lions after too many face lifts ?
I am so glad that I am not a member of your retirement community! I want (and have) a peaceful, serene retirement, free of such petty squabbling and self-centered conflicts over facilities..
We are just in a normal neighborhood, that has no facilities like that. No fees, either. So Frank and I belong to one of the best gyms around, whose clientele happens to be mostly older folks like us. There are classes in one of the two huge swimming pools, but they don't take up the whole pool and the schedule is easily available online. The other pool is strictly a lap pool and is kept at a slightly cooler temperature for the comfort of those swimming laps.
If management of our gym starts doing nutty things with the pool scheduling, like management at your retirement community has done, all we need to do is take our $$ elsewhere to another gym. Hasn't happened, though, probably because they know members can do that.
We've thought of moving (next year) and doing exactly what you're doing. Glad to hear that it works so well for you. We've investigated gyms and find it difficult as some are muscle gyms (no pools) and others are private versions of YMCAs (heavily focused on the family). What gym have you found that works so well?
fritz said:Another annoying thing is that we now regularly sponsor special interest groups that put on presentations at our clubhouse - usually with a meal or refreshments to make it attractive. This is medical (health related), insurance (annuities), investments (banks/investment companies). I get worried that some old person (who has lost their financial edge and the family doesn't know it yet) will get taken advantage of by one of these groups and his lawyer will sue everyone including us for sanctioning the presentation. We also regularly do this with local businesses with home improvement fairs. We do all this for money and the funds are used throughout the community.
Great thread! We REALLY wanted a 55 plus community for all the reasons that have already been mentioned. But, we've signed papers on a house that's not in a community, because we want something that's in town. Most of the retirement communities that we found in Texas are too removed from town. I know I'm painting with a broad brush here. We just knew that we'd end up every night staying in the community because "it's too far/much hassle" to drive into town to do whatever. Plus, we didn't want to pay a premium to live in a golf course community. I love golf, but it's an on-again/off-again relationship and I'll play at the muni course and keep my $$ in my pocket.
It was a tough decision, as we really dislike the whole screaming kids deal in the subdivision,
We'll have a nice house on an 80 foot lot in Conroe, TX. Paid a premium for one of the bigger lots. We're really hoping we don't get the 'neighbors from hell'. Been there, done that. It's a master planned community, so there's an HOA.
As far as the age in the community, isn't there a big group of residents that are all reasonably close in age? And this age can be extrapolated back to when the community opened? Especially with the newer communities? So, there's a ton of 55-65 year olds in the new community. Fast forward 20 years and there's a ton of 75-85 year olds.
I hadn't noticed but if I see a woman that looks like this, now I'll know why!
I'd probably run away really fast!
Ours is one that is associated with a local hospital. I think most of the doctors send their cardiac patients there, and so on. But also, the firefighters can come there for free (and do), so not everyone at the gym is old and feeble. We have almost nobody under 25, though, and I'd guess that 90% are over 50.
Great thread! We REALLY wanted a 55 plus community for all the reasons that have already been mentioned. But, we've signed papers on a house that's not in a community, because we want something that's in town. Most of the retirement communities that we found in Texas are too removed from town. I know I'm painting with a broad brush here. We just knew that we'd end up every night staying in the community because "it's too far/much hassle" to drive into town to do whatever. Plus, we didn't want to pay a premium to live in a golf course community. I love golf, but it's an on-again/off-again relationship and I'll play at the muni course and keep my $$ in my pocket.
It was a tough decision, as we really dislike the whole screaming kids deal in the subdivision,
We'll have a nice house on an 80 foot lot in Conroe, TX. Paid a premium for one of the bigger lots. We're really hoping we don't get the 'neighbors from hell'. Been there, done that. It's a master planned community, so there's an HOA.
As far as the age in the community, isn't there a big group of residents that are all reasonably close in age? And this age can be extrapolated back to when the community opened? Especially with the newer communities? So, there's a ton of 55-65 year olds in the new community. Fast forward 20 years and there's a ton of 75-85 year olds.
Ours is one that is associated with a local hospital. I think most of the doctors send their cardiac patients there, and so on....
...Typical photo below - - I just use the gym floor, and not the pools, but this is the typical clientele and lack of crowds at our gym.
The one we go to is almost exactly what W2R describes. Affiliated with the local hospital (it is within sight) and the upper two floors have medical offices and labs, x-ray facilities, etc. There is also a space walled off for the cardiac rehab classes....
...Equipment is clean and well-maintained, it is rare to see one broken and if so it is repaired quickly.
Have you noticed how the women start resembling lions after too many face lifts ?
If the lineup at the festival is anything like Bonnaroo, I'm guessing most except Harley would skip it lol.
Not exactly the right demographic.
I meant lower populations of mosquitos!
We live in Windsor Hills, (The Woodlands) a 55 and over community of single family homes in Conroe, like you. We have no golf course and the homes are 15 years old and average between 1700 - 2900 square feet in size. The Woodlands is a township with 100,000 people in it. Did you look here?