By Jean Sutherland
The Baby Boomers have no intention of sitting in a rocker and get old.
This generation has a whole new way of retiring and a lot of different ideas on how to do it. Their parents look on with longing envy. Baby Boomers are finding that retirement can mean reinventing themselves and having the time to do all the things they ever wanted to do while they had growing children.
Whether it is finding an active lifestyle community in the United States or moving to a completely new country, these Boomers are on the move. In a slowing Real Estate market these communities are booming and will only increase in value.
Another thing the Boomers are turned onto is the home improvement market. Now that they have the time, they are not decorating inside but outside. These are active seniors and that means an active outdoor lifestyle. Now they concentrate on decks, barbeques, and gardening as well as looking beyond their yards and to the activity of the streets.
When it comes to activities they are turning to cycling, skiing, hiking, tennis, swimming and the list goes on. Any builder, who has the foresight to see what these Baby Boomers want, is now designing whole communities around their needs. This is a health conscious generation and if builders do not cater to these needs, these retirees will go elsewhere. Any community where there is no yard to mow and no pool to clean becomes an attractive area for Boomers. Add to that the ability to have a yard that needs little tending, a patio to enjoy with friends and family, an area where they can grow roses and vegetables and develop an entire area for outside enjoyment, and you have a great community for this age group. Giving them the opportunity to pursue hobbies, take up volunteer work and be able to enjoy the streets with a feeling of safety and it becomes the perfect place to live.
Some builders such as Del Webb have age restricted communities, a huge plus, with complete recreation centers, meandering paths, golfing onsite or nearby and have even created bicycle paths. The recreation centers are large enough for lap swimming, water aerobics and usually have spas and sauna for relaxing. Along with the golf courses many feature tennis courts, handball courts and fully equipped exercise rooms. The biggest plus for owners in these communities is that they do not have to do all the cleaning chores associated with these amenities.
So if you are a boomer thinking of your retirement years, take heart.
Builders are out there just waiting to cater to your every need. These communities will draw other like-minded seniors, lovers of the outdoors and activities, and friendships will develop easily.
With these communities seniors get everything they are looking for as well as the knowledge that their properties will retain their value in the years to come. It's the best of all worlds.
Jean Sutherland is a writer for magazines and newspapers and currently is retired and living in Mexico. She runs the successful online site that helps others to find retirement communities in their desired area.
Visit her site at: www.adultretirementcommunities.org for more information. --- |
