It’s finally happened. Your kids have moved out, graduated, and are settling down themselves. You’ve become an empty nester. Getting your kids out into the world on their own two feet is what parenting is all about, so give yourself a pat on the back, look around, and ask yourself, Now what?
Becoming an empty nester can mean a lot of things. One of the most common things people do once their children become independent is to move into a new home. There are plenty of good reasons to think about moving yourself. You can downsize and free up some equity for your retirement savings. You can move out into the country where you get to enjoy fresh air and zero traffic. You can work with a custom home builder to get the home of your dreams. The world has opened up, and there’s so much you can do.
If you’ve thought about moving as an empty nester, there’s a relatively good chance you’ve come across the term active adult lifestyle communities.
What Are Active Adult Lifestyle Communities?
These are neighborhoods that appeal mostly to empty nesters. Even if there are no age restrictions in place, they tend to attract people whose children have grown up and who are looking to live in a quiet neighborhood with people in a similar situation. It can be a lot more peaceful and easier to make friends when everyone’s in the same boat.
They can exist anywhere, but often they’re found in a countryside or small-town settings, away from busier suburbs that are part of metropolitan areas where you’re dealing with traffic or have to drive a distance to get to somewhere more walkable. The irony of small-town living is that many of them have lively, historic downtowns where you can forget all about your car and walk around without a care in the world. They’re safe, convenient, and many have a lot going on, from surprisingly good dining to antique stores and small craft beer brewers.
What Is Active Adult Lifestyle Living?
An active adult lifestyle is about making the most of life now that you have more free time on your hands. It means making new friends, enjoying the culture and cuisine of where you live, soaking in the outdoors, and following your passions. It’s about how you spend the time that’s suddenly all your own.
What can you do with all that time? Here are a few ideas for making the most of your newfound freedom:
- Reconnect with old friends now that life isn’t getting in the way;
- Put yourself out there by hosting a dinner party or inviting someone out to find new connections;
- Brush up on an old skill and challenge yourself;
- Find a new hobby;
- Adopt a cat or a dog.
There are virtually limitless ways you can spend your free time now. Grab life by the horns and enjoy every minute of it.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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