Active Adult Communities A Day in the Life: Active Adult Community 9/27/2023 | By Kari Smith This day in the life of a hypothetical resident of an active adult community can help you envision what life would be like for you or a loved one. If you’re pondering a move, picture yourself as part of a day like this one. Jane woke just before her alarm this sunny Wednesday. It was a game, this waking before the alarm, as it always seemed like a small but lucky victory to turn off the alarm before its noisy jangle startled her out of sleep. She peeked out the window, as she did every morning at 7 a.m., to see her neighbor Leigh walk up the wide sidewalk with his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Copper. Like clockwork, that Leigh was. He looked like such a nice man, and Jane wondered again – just as she had yesterday – if she should stop being shy and say more than hello to him one of these days. As they ambled slowly by, the sprinkler system in her perfectly manicured lawn turned on, and while Copper quick-stepped out of range of the spray, Jane thanked her lucky stars that she didn’t have to worry about maintaining that beautiful green grass. She padded in her slippers down the hall into her kitchen and pulled out a coffee mug. The low cabinets, designed for the needs of older adults, made it so much easier for her to reach what she needed. After a minor fall from a stepstool in her old house the year before, she understood the risks better. As she began to brew her coffee, she picked up the phone to call her new friend Evelyn to confirm their pickleball game later that morning. She had met Evelyn at an intro to pickleball class at the community’s recreation center, and the sport had quickly become their new favorite activity. It kept them fit and active while having fun and socializing. Jane checked the weather to see if she would be able to make the walk to the neighborhood community center or if she would need to make the quick drive. Fortunately, with no rain in the forecast, she could enjoy the walk. She liked to leave early, because on nice days like this, many of her neighbors would be outside on their porches or also taking walks, and she would stop to chat briefly with each of them. She had met so many wonderful peers since her move into this age-restricted neighborhood. Their friendships had eased the loneliness that had started to seep into her post-retirement life. Learn more about Active Adult Communities right here at Seniors Guide She showered and began getting ready for the day, donning the new tennis skirt that she had purchased for pickleball games while listening to her latest obsession – a true crime podcast. When her doorbell rang, she remembered that Marta and her cleaning team were coming today. Although the active adult neighborhood that she lived in did not offer cleaning services, the friendly community representative had made an excellent referral and Jane gladly subscribed to regular cleanings. Although she was grateful to still have good mobility, especially after that stepstool scare last year, she preferred to spend her time socializing and enjoying her friends and recreation opportunities. “I’ve earned this, right?” she always thought to herself whenever Marta came. And so she had. Jane had retired (long overdue, she would say) from a government job a year ago, where she had always thrown herself into her work wholeheartedly. As she answered the doorbell and showed Marta in, she chatted with her for a few moments about what needed to be done this week. Because Jane had always chosen to throw herself headlong into her career, she had not married and had no kids, and she truly enjoyed these brief moments of socialization with the always-happy Marta. Social wealth in her active adult community After bidding farewell to Marta and her team, Jane began her walk to the community recreation center, where Evelyn was waiting with two other friends on the pickleball court. Jane loved not only the time with friends, but the opportunity to learn something new while staying active. Their game was a lively one, with as much time spent laughing and sharing stores as serving and volleying. When the match was over, the ladies headed to the small clubhouse café. The foursome enjoyed a light lunch while making plans to attend tomorrow’s scrapbooking group, which they saw advertised in the clubhouse lobby when they walked in. Afterward, Jane walked home while contemplating a nap – pickleball is hard work! She waved and chatted as she walked, thankful for the gently sloped curbs that meant she didn’t have to step down off a steep curb at each stop sign. Although she had healed from the ankle sprain that occurred in her stepstool slip-up, she was still acutely aware of hazards that could cause her to reinjure her weakened ankle. She decided on a short nap when she arrived home. In her previous home, she would have been awakened by the screeching brakes of the bus and loud chatter of her neighbor’s kids after school, so she was grateful for the peaceful quiet of the age-restricted community. Jane was still feeling a bit tired when dinner time rolled around, and she decided to use that new app on her phone to order food for delivery, grateful for the community’s proximity to some of her favorite restaurants. It would give her the opportunity to watch her favorite game show while eating dinner in the comfort of her own home. As the evening wrapped up, she set the next day’s alarm 15 minutes early – enough time to get up and be out on the porch with her morning coffee to greet that handsome Leigh and his beautiful dog Copper. Who knows where THAT might lead? Read More Kari Smith Kari Smith is a frequent contributor to Seniors Guide, helping to keep those in the senior industry informed and up-to-date. She's a Virginia native whose love of writing began as a songwriter recording her own music. In addition to teaching music and performing in the Richmond area, Kari also enjoys riding horses and farming.