Maybe it's me, but a friend, who is also a pre-boomer, told me he is moving into a retirement facility later this year.
I could not determine if he was pleased or simply resigned to it.
This man is younger than I am, so it got me to thinking about this as an option down the road.
Probably many of us at the farther end of the generation born between 1930 and 1945 have thought about this possibility, so let's explore it.
When I was able to finally convince my parents to give up the house outside Philadelphia and move to Los Angeles, it was a big deal for them.
Both were in the mid-eighties and had lived on the east coast all their lives.
Even after down-sizing to a smaller home, they were reluctant to leave the few friends who were still living, the neighborhood where they felt comfortable and the church in which they were active.
Of course, time was taking its toll.
Dad had a couple of major heart operations and mom had arthritis and an increasingly difficult case of osteoporosis.
So, when I showed them the brochures from several places that met their requirements and pointed out that they could see their grandchildren and great grandchildren on a regular basis, both decided to consider the idea.
Within a few months, they signed up to live in a lovely independent living facility, one with assisted living and skilled nursing as well, and only a few miles from my house.
My folks sold their home, sold the car (which was hard for dad) and had a huge garage sale before the movers packed them up and brought their remaining belongings to the golden state for them to spend their golden years.
Fortunately, they made friends quickly and became active in their new community.
Mom loved not having to prepare meals or do housework.
Dad got used to not driving and was fine with not doing handy-work any longer.
I got to spend time with them and so did my kids and grandchildren.
Doctors came to the facility or transportation was provided for appointments with specialists.
Two years after moving in mom fell and broke her hip, shortly thereafter dad experience a similar.
After both had surgery, they ended up sharing a room in skilled nursing but would never go back to independent living.
They moved into assisted living and spent the last two years of their lives there, interrupted by with many stays in the hospital.
It was sad to see them deteriorate as they aged, but at least we spent lots of time together.
As an only child, I'm grateful for this.
Mom died suddenly just two days after reaching her ninetieth birthday, and dad passed on three months later at age ninety-one.
That was five years ago.
Having them close enough to enjoy visits and outings and being able to celebrate the various milestones together was a blessing for them as well as the entire family.
If it had not been for this retirement community and the care the staff provided, we would have been separated during the last important years.
As a New Senior, I'm not sure what I'll want to do about living arrangements ten or more years from now.
My long-term care insurance provides for home or facility care, and the family is all in the LA area, so no matter what I choose to do, they'll be nearby.
To me, that's the most important consideration.