In another thread on solar, this question was asked by Peg. Rather than step on that thread, I thought it was a great topic for all of us to ponder. Sometimes thinking like this in Sun City is a tad foreign given long range planning in SC is usually about what you are doing next month. This week I got an email from a sports writer from Nova Scotia I lawn bowl with. He told me of one of our friends who had left his life, left his wife and left California for a whole new adventure in Thailand. This happened about a year ago and he periodically came back for bowls tourneys; he won't be doing that any more though. Seems he was having hip problems, really an active guy who loved to bike. So much so he did those long distance biking trips with others that covered whole states. Last week in Thailand he went into the hospital for a hip replacement. The surgery went fine but a blood clot broke loose, went into a coma and never recovered and died. Long story for a simple answer; live each day to the fullest, you never know how much longer you have. That said, you also need to plan for the future. Last night my mother, who is 83 told me she would probably die next year...she's been telling me that for years. Frankly, I think she should consider a solar lease, just because it gets her in a position to keep those electric costs from running wild and during those years where she most needs to control costs (due to her fixed income and no COLA raises coming). I'm 65 and only God knows how many years are left in this tired old body. But, as I look around Sun City and see thousands of folks way older than me enjoying life, I see no reason that I should be planning my demise or ignoring planning for the future.
20 years seems like such a long time, but the last 20 sure flew by. I say plan for the future even though with all our planning life happens. God it at the helm, but I believe I can help steer the boat in the direction I think I want to go. This theory has proven me wrong a few times, but overall I think I am in charge... sort of. ;-) With my family history of heart disease I may not make it to 81, but what the heck I'm going to plan for it. I say we will be in SC original in 5 years, but my wife is voting for SC Summerlin. Either is a good place to be I suppose, but LV is not my first choice. SCO seems like such a better deal and I would like to be able to keep as much of my retirement money as possible.
Regardless of the date of my departure from Sun City, I hope it is feet-first, as I never want to move again.
Summerlin Sun City LV (Las Vegas) is without question beautiful. We looked at it but two things were the sticking point: The cost of living there was considerably higher than SC (Sun City) and those darned casino's are way tool close for my addictive compulsive behavior. In fact the casino we visit a couple of times per year is a matter of miles from SC Summerlin. I went to 55Places and couldn't find their monthly/yearly fees, but I know when we looked a 15 years back it was three or four times the price and of course Pulte was subsidizing the community.
SC Summerlin Las Vegas is VERY nice, annual fees are pretty close to $1300/yr and historically have increased slightly every year. They also have a community buy-in one time fee of about $1250. In comparison to homes in Summerlin to Sun City Original (SCO) they are definitely newer, but quite a bit smaller both in home size and yard size and cost quite a bit more. I don't know exactly where we will be in 5-20 years, but it will be one of the Sun Cities.
