As I watched my parents in their retirement years, I realized, eventually, that to think of "retirement" as one single phase of life is a mistake.
I look back on the photographs I have of them from 1989 when they first retired, to 2012 when my dad passed away, and they remind me of the stages that they went through in that 23 year span.
As I approached retirement ( I retired at the age of 62, 7 years ago) I decided it would be most practical to break it down into 3 phases. Phase 1: still relatively youthful, able to travel, engage in physical activities like golf, pickleball, walking, biking, etc...
Phase 2: bit by bit, I'd be losing some physical activities, but replacing them with other less stressful things.
Phase 3: transitioning into varying degrees of assistance.
Yes, eventually, if I live long enough, I won't be able to drive. I won't be able to play pickleball, or golf, or ....whatever....but now, at the age of 69 I can do all of the things I want to do that make The Villages a perfect fit. If I live long enough I'll have to find another place to live.
I'm OK with that. I didn't move here with the idea that this place has to fit my needs forever, should I live longer than my body will allow me to take advantage of the activities.
Similarly, I spend my summers on a lake in New York. I know I can't stay here forever. This place is an accident waiting to happen for old, uncoordinated people. Uneven beach rocks, boats, docks....however, for now, it's good.
If TV doesn't work for you, don't come here. If it does, great, but it might not be a "forever" place. That's OK too.
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