anyone here live in senior only housing?

[viva la]

8. I've made a deposit on a "continuing care community"--

But haven't bought in yet.
It's very nice and convenient, and supposedly you get to stay there for life. This is a non-profit and there's a foundation that pays for those residents who run out of money (supposedly-- I don't trust anything longterm .

We go out there for functions and whisper, "Everyone is so OLD." Most are over 80. Some are very active, playing pickleball and doing aerobics and all. But there are a lot of people on walkers too. We're still pretty spry and don't feel ready yet, so we're keeping our house for the time being. We are decluttering and selling stuff off to get rid of junk slowly-- no matter what we decide to do, that will be useful.

My big problem is, predictably, DEI. It's mostly old white people. We live in a diverse community now, but this place is moderately pricey, so it's mostly upper-middle class. It's also, of course, just old people, meaning much less involvement with kids and teens and young families. (I'm a schoolteacher, so young people matter to me.) I don't like the whole gated community system, after living in a walkable neighborhood in the middle of town where I constantly encounter people I don't know. Also I live in a blue area, and am used to complaining about Trump without offending anyone. Probably there are a lot of Trumpers in the retirement villages (though also a lot of non-trumpers, or so the local Dem precinct committeeperson told me).

But... it's really very nice and very convenient, and we can't count on always being able to walk into town or deal with our own household chores. Right now we're putting it off for a few years. But, you know, one broken hip and we might decide to hurry it up.

I like the idea of a built-in social life and lots of activities. Whether I (the late-in-life introvert) will take advantage of that, I don't know. But it's nice to consider that there could be a concert tonight and it's a golf-cart ride away, not all the way downtown with the parking issues. And I'd love to have a nearby bookclub and walking buddies, since my local walking buddy is ... moving to a senior community.

There are just so many considerations! I was even slightly tempted by "Margaritaville," which is, yes, a retirement village for old stoners, I guess. I also was interested in "intentional communities" which have more of a mix of residents.
https://time.com/intentional-communities/

I guess I'd ask you-- first, what about finances?

I know my house capital gain will be less than the exempted amount, but it sounds like yours will be more. I saw this article about it. I was hoping you could just quick re-invest in a new house without tax, but they got rid of that.
https://smartasset.com/taxes/sell-house-750k-for-retirement-home-capital-gains

Animals probably aren't a problem in most communities-- well, maybe not 2 Great Danes, but smaller pets, I see them at these retirement places.
I am with you-- love my house, love my neighborhood. But the house needs a lot of work-- same thing, not dealbreakers for me, but you know, renters would want a working dishwasher and so on.
You have a great space, so maybe you have more options, like having a younger/older (I mean, like 50) lady living with you and helping out for reduced rent, or a college student or two who can do chores, maybe even one who can FIX THINGS.

There are also "over-55" communities which aren't as all-encompassing but still have some amenities and socializing.

It's a very hard decision. We keep going back and forth. I just have this feeling it's like retiring from life, you know? I know it's not-- you don't have to answer to anyone just because you live there. You can still leave and have a job and go on long trips (with a maintenance crew for the apartment even!). But it... just feels like kind of checking out of the life that involves inconvenience and kids at the bus stop and volunteering and being involved.