Are We A Retirement Community or Active Adult Community?

Interesting letter by a J.J. Adams from Middlebury, VT (SC Independent, Aug. 21, 2013) in which the author says, (regarding Sun City where they bought a home) "I'd love to 'sell' the concept of an active adult community rather than a retirement community."
Do you see this as an important distinction in how we refer to our community, or as a distinction without a difference?

 

Yes...in my opinion, it is both. The problem with touting it as simply an active adult community is we run the risk of drawing an even larger percentage of those still working. Long term we will transition to more of that, but for now we still should be trying to attract those who are retiring or retired.

The problem is our entire infrastructure was built around retirees and to ignore that is a fools game. Managing change is almost always about understanding the future. Unfortunately we know people will be working later in life and Sun City will be an attractive option for them. As we go forward we need to shape Sun City to evolve without eroding.

 

Eloquent and concise. Working folks need not be so scared of volunteering--just need the folks whose lives involved it and are in a sort of volunteering habit. If they coached the kids' sports teams and did the PTA and bake sales and car pools etc. and now the kids are grown up, we can fill that empty nest with some new eggs of volunteering projects!

 

Exactly......we need to attract both types of over 55ers....those retiring and those who wish to keep working, that will keep our community growing and give us the variety that people enjoy. Very often one half of a couple wants to keep working while the other does not....but rather than sitting home will volunteer their time. I don't think that by marketing to over 55 working folks we will diminish the number of available volunteers.

 

Yep. Think we all can just be better "matchmakers" if you will. Especially groups like SCHOA and RCSC need a better welcome-wagon/mentoring approach to help with successful and engaged residents. It's in everyone's best interest.

 

When I hear active adult community I still think of the people as mostly retired from full-time work. When I say I will move when I retire I don't tell people it's to an active adult community, it's sounds weird coming out of my mouth and when I first started reading that I did not know what they meant. It looks OK in print and I can understand the marketing for it. I still say retirement community.

 

I hadn't thought about it before but it does make sense for 55+workers who already live near one (and the work place is close) for the reduced taxes and amenities. Or those who work from home.

 

I remember the days of a Welcome Wagon Lady.
Now I doubt if even the president of the homeowners association visits new members.

Here is suggestion for another SC name "Active Retirement Community".
You get both active and retired people!

 

Unfortunately there are still people who view retirement communities as places people go to grow old and die.....I think the term "active adult community" is an attempt to counter that stereotype. I guess we could combine them and call Sun City an active retirement community

 

ROFL....two minds with a single thought Peg.....I wrote my post before I saw your post.......Active Retirement Community it is then!

 

"Active Retirement Community" is the way the Visitors Center site has us and it makes the best sense to me. RCSC has "Affordable Retirement Community" as a banner and I'm not liking that. Yes, we are, but that should not be our prime identifier. "Active" is upbeat and descriptive.

 

Good point Emily.

 

I would think most people will wait till they retire to make such a major move, it's hard to find a new job in a new city....especially in this job climate. If, however, the move is made to go from a full time career to part-time work and to downsize to less expensive living, then it makes sense to me. Or, were you talking more about luring 55 yr olds who live in the Phoenix area?

 

Many people work entirely online for their jobs now and can move anywhere. I have several friends who do.

 

I think 55 was the last birthday I can say I actually looked forward to because it allowed for SC entry. Glad it won't be much longer until you arrive. You almost want to get one of those clocks that tick down the days.....