Friends at 55+

Maybe You Should Consider a 55+ Community. 

Citrus Trees and Palm Trees

I never considered living in a 55+ community, but the housing market in Phoenix pushed me into one.

We relocated from the Dallas area to Phoenix in the summer of 2021, when buyers were willing to pay anything for a house-well, almost anything, and we decided not to participate in the "I'll pay anything for your house" game that was so popular.

Every open house had a steady stream of buyers, most of them willing to pay above the asking price. By the time we finished looking at a house, the listing agent told our agent they already had 5 or more offers above the list price. We just said, "Okay. Bye."

So, I figured we could cut the competition by looking at houses in 55+ communities. They weren't in areas I was familiar with, but hey, we needed a place to live, so we ended up in Sun City West. 

I didn't even know there was a Sun City West. I'd lived in the Phoenix area for about 35 years, so I was well acquainted with Sun City, but I'd never heard of Sun City West. Having spent all my Phoenix years in the east valley of Scottsdale, Tempe, and Mesa, Sun City West (SCW) felt like eastern California.

The house our realtor found was perfect; it was updated and extremely well cared for. We loved the palm tree lined streets and the golf courses. We made the offer, did some deals, and got ready to close. 

A hefty capital improvements fee was added to our closing costs. We knew it was to maintain the recreation centers that include golf courses, pools, jacuzzis, weight rooms, and about a gazillion club activities. But since my husband and I are not old enough or rich enough to retire, we didn't think much about the amenities.

Although I exercise daily, I don't have time to attend a weekly dance or workout. My husband joined the Automobile Restoration Club (ARC), which is mind-boggling. The ARC is a huge, state-of-the-art building where you can work on cars, trucks, and other things that go vroom. It has four lifts, tons of tools, and its own paint booth so you can even paint your car/truck/boat, etc! He needs to change the clutch in his little BMW, and will do the work at the ARC, but honestly, he's been a member for almost a year and this will be the first time he's taken advantage of the ARC membership. 

Paint Booth at the Sun City West
 Auto Restoration Club

Sun City West Auto Restoration Center

The pools, Jacuzzis and golf courses are well kept and we've used them some. The putt-putt miniature golf course is a regular source of entertainment for us and maybe one day we will use the full size bowling alley. But the amenity I appreciate the most is the opportunity to develop friends in a 55+ community.

If you've lived in the same city for most of your life, you may still be close with friends from high school, college or early in your adult life.

If, on the other hand, you've lived a nomadic life as I have for the past 25 years, you've probably learned to hold your friends loosely. Even with Zoom, FaceTime and every other social media device, it's hard to maintain relationships from a distance. 

People change. They move on. Their families and lives grow, extend, filling up their hearts and schedules. 

I've found it difficult as a mature adult to develop friends as I've moved from Michigan to Phoenix to Michigan to Lubbock to Round Rock to Dallas to Lafayette, Louisiana to Sache, TX because most people establish their circle of "peeps" in their 20s and 30s. If you arrive in their town when they (and you) are in your 50s and 60s, you're too late. Their group is set. Their table is full when they have a dinner party. There's no room for two wandering strangers.

But in SCW, (and I would assume, other 55+ communities), everyone is in the same situation. A few folks move here with their besties, but most leave their friends and family to enjoy life without snow, icy roads, and plummeting winter temperatures. People aren't locked into seeing their grandchildren every weekend or doing the same thing with the same folks they've done it with for the past 20 years. They're open to making new friends.

I've joined a few Christian women's groups and a political group that meet monthly for lunch and inspirational messages, and through them, I've made some wonderful friends. 

They call me and text me! We  have lunch or dinner together! We go to other meetings together! They come to my house to ask my advice about things. It's something I haven't had in over 20 years, and I am thankful.

https://suncitywest.com

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