Convenience Living for Seniors

L

Lon

Well-known Member
Location
Central California
I got to thinking this morning when I went for a appointment with my Primary Care physician, how he and other doctors I use have offices 10 minutes from me & how fortunate I am to not only live in a nice facility with a number of amenities, but to be so close to places that I need to frequent on a regular basis. The pharmacy (chemist), Lab Testing, fresh fish & meats,barber shop, massage, food market, golf course, movie theaters, Italian, Thai, Chinese,Indian, Armenian eateries, gas station are also no more than 10 minutes from where I live. The air port, Mall, another golf course., another Mall are no more than 15 to 20 minutes driving time. As we age it's nice to not have to travel to hell and gone for things we need to do. Also, My daughter, grands & great grands are no more than 20 minutes away. So how about the others of our Aging Community. How convenient is it where you live?
 

I planned my move to the area accordingly, so I knew ahead of time, all those things would be right where I needed them, of course I forgot about needing the family and friends near by, that was a big mishap, but, I still love the area where I reside and feel I made a great choice for the most part.
 
Lon, it sounds like you are in an ideal place, for you!

I didn't choose where I live, my husband had it before we met. But I'm very happy he bought this house as a place to retire. Nothing is only 10 minutes away, but I'm happy for things to be a bit farther away so that I can live in a very peaceful and pretty area. Town is 10 miles away. Doctor is less than 5. Prescriptions are picked up at the doctor's office. For serious shopping it's a day trip to Glasgow which is a 20 minute ferry ride then a bus or train or car for 20 miles. Airport is there as well.

My family is not nearly close enough - across the ocean.
 

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Large Krogers 2 blocks away. We can walk to get groceries or prescriptions, there.
Hospital and out-patient clinic less than 1 mile.
Emergency care facility, 1 block.
Primary care physician, 2 miles.
Medical building with specialists for everything from cardio to urology, 3/4 mile.

Retired farmer and his wife next door. Retired police officer and his wife lived across the street. He passed a while back, but she still lives in their home. Good neighbors... Easy access to everything we might need... Daughter and her family 1 mile from our home.
 
It a 50 mile round trip to see a lung doctor. Most Rx are mailed to me. Groceries are fifteen .minutes away, so is most everything else.
 
Both of us have lived a rural lifestyle most of our lives. Indeed, it's 20 minutes or so to the nearest town, and 45 to a large city. We don't have to worry about doctor visits-we have our annual physicals and that's it. We don't take any prescription drugs so a pharmacy isn't a concern. We don't eat out-we cook at a level that makes most restaurant food a let down anyway.
We do have the peace and quiet of living in a rural area. We can sit outside on a summers evening and not hear anything man made. We can look up and see an incredible blanket of stars in the sky. In the summer we can walk out to the garden and put a meal on the table that was on the vine 20 minutes earlier.
It's a trade off, but one that we're more than happy to make.
 
My house in town is great for those kinds of things. You can catch a bus within a block if you have to and go most anywhere downtown. Small grocery store, Waffle House, Subway, and a couple more upscale restaurants are within walking distance. Two hospitals in town. I can drive, but if I ever can't, I can always call a taxi. Nothing more than 4 miles away. Very safe location, too, without being in a community with a homeowners association.

Now out at the property in the country, it is totally different. You are not within walking distance of anything. Twenty five miles to the nearest hospital. No busses, no taxis. Nothing. But it sure is pretty and quiet out there.
 
Lon said:
I got to thinking this morning when I went for a appointment with my Primary Care physician, how he and other doctors I use have offices 10 minutes from me & how fortunate I am to not only live in a nice facility with a number of amenities, but to be so close to places that I need to frequent on a regular basis. The pharmacy (chemist), Lab Testing, fresh fish & meats,barber shop, massage, food market, golf course, movie theaters, Italian, Thai, Chinese,Indian, Armenian eateries, gas station are also no more than 10 minutes from where I live. The air port, Mall, another golf course., another Mall are no more than 15 to 20 minutes driving time. As we age it's nice to not have to travel to hell and gone for things we need to do. Also, My daughter, grands & great grands are no more than 20 minutes away. So how about the others of our Aging Community. How convenient is it where you live?
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I have about the same as you and am very blesse like you. Great to live in the USA. Not saying this is the best as I like drifter and DoItMyself style also. Isn't it the matter of how one wants to live. I am not bragging are you Lon?
 
AprilT said:
Ditto, not this time, but many times, take the thread which intended to mean calling girls something, but, it kept reading to me as "Call Girls" Everytime I saw the heading, ladies of the night was how I would read it. LOL!
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LOL. I misread things often and I'm not due for an eye exam.
 
Back in 2006, hubby and I, both "died in the wool" city kids, thought our ideal retirement spot would be a rural farm house.. Ha!! Now it's on the Market and we are trying to decide what we will do. It certainly won't be out in the country away from any convenience... you can be sure of that.
 
I pretty much chose convenience when I bought my place 40 years ago and can't think of a place that's better or more affordable. The only 2 issues I have are with my doctor and dentist who are about 1/2 drive from me. I expect that I will change my doctor down the road to someone local; however, I'm truly happy with my dentist. I expect if the time comes that I don't want to do the drive, I can always use the county bus system.
 
There is no reason to move from our house unless there are serious physical issues or dementia for one or both of us. Even if neither of us were allowed to drive any more there is a free bus that goes past our house every hour. When I take it into town now I see the same people on it - other OAPs who probably go in every day just to get out of the house and do a wee bit of shopping each time so they don't have to carry it all at once.

Our location is really ideal for us and would really hate to have to move. DH says if we get so old and frail that we can't do certain things like take care of the big garden, or wash the windows, etc, we'll just stay put and hire people.
 
I like being close to the amenities and I find I have less and less need to go into the busy downtown core. Its a tiny walk from my place to the bus stop which gets me to my usual destinations.

It's important for me to be close to shopping, entertainment and medical facilities, as well as support groups (friends, family), and I like living in my 'villagy' neighborhood and also having the stimulation of the city within easy reach, should I want to venture further.
 
I moved here in 1988 and I can get anywhere by using city streets instead of the freeway. The most convenient of all is Santa Anita Park which is a 12 minute drive from my door to the parking lot. I had no interest in racing before making the move, but now I've spent pleasant afternoons watching the horses run. For me, it's not the betting; it's the horses being ridden by some fearless jockeys and the ambiance surrounding the grandstand, paddock, saddling area and clocker's corner. Also there are weekend tours of the barns of some famous trainers.
 

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